Launch of BETTER FINANCE’s 12th Annual Pensions Report

Join us for a crucial press conference as BETTER FINANCE unveils the 12th edition of its highly anticipated annual pensions report this November. This year’s findings bring to light a troubling long-term trend that highlights the precarious state of pensions, and offer critical insights into how hidden costs, asset allocation inefficiencies, and inflation are reshaping your retirement prospects and long-term savings.

Our report reveals how widespread issues are affecting savers across Europe, with alarming statistics and critical insights into the future of pension security.

Date: 5 November | Venue: Virtual Press Conference | Time: 10:00 – 11:00

Key Highlights

“Asset Allocation Alarm: Why Most Pension Products Miss the Mark” – Understand the widespread inefficiencies in asset allocation strategies within pension products. Find out how these suboptimal choices could be stalling your financial growth and learn how to adjust your investments for improved outcomes.

“The Cost Conundrum: How Hidden Fees Are Draining Your Savings” – Discover how excessive fees are undermining returns and jeopardising your retirement income. Our research unveils the true impact of these costs on your pension and long-term savings performance.

“Inflation: The Silent Retirement Killer” – Uncover the severe effects of inflation on your savings and why your pension products must consistently outpace inflation to ensure a comfortable retirement. Our report offers strategies to keep your savings ahead of rising costs.

“Transparency Issues in the Pension Industry: What You Need to Know” – Explore the challenges surrounding transparency in the pension industry. Many savers find themselves without clear information about their pension performance due to inadequate communication from insurers, trade associations, and regulatory bodies. This lack of clarity can leave individuals uncertain about their financial position.

Register Here for the Virtual Press Conference 

Press Conference Programme

10:00 – 10:05 – Welcome and Introduction

The importance of the 12th Annual Pensions Report.

Arnaud Houdmont, Director of Communications, BETTER FINANCE

10:05 – 10:25 – Presentation of the Overall Findings

In-depth look at the report’s key findings, focusing on costs, asset allocation inefficiencies, and the impact of inflation on retirement savings.

Sébastien Commain, Research & Policy Officer at BETTER FINANCE

10:25 – 10:35 – The Tepid Rollout of the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)

Evaluating the limited adoption of PEPP, highlighting challenges and opportunities.

Ján Šebo, Senior Researcher at Matej Bel University

10:35 – 10:45 – The Belgian Case: A Snapshot of the Widespread European Pension Crisis

Detailed examination of the underperforming Belgian pension products and the implications for savers.

Laetitia Gabaut, Economist at the Observatoire de l’Epargne Européenne

10:45 – 11:00 – Q&A Session and Closing Remarks

Open floor for questions from the press and participants.

The Belgian Pension Bloodbath: A 24% Real-Term Loss Exposed

Staff members at BETTER FINANCE are not just researchers and financial policy experts; they are also long-term savers and investors, much like you, diligently setting aside funds for the future. As such, we recently reviewed the information available to retail pension investors about the state of our retirement savings. What we uncovered was alarming and, even at a glance, confirmed the troubling trends we’ve identified over the years.

Read Belgian Pension Savings: A Sting? and join us on 5 November to see how these findings align with our broader research and discover the dire state of Belgian pensions with an alarming case study of the Branch 21 pension insurance product.

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