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Retirement Planning 1 December 2025 - 1 April 2026

Fidelity to Close Eight Canada Funds as Freedom 2045, 2015 Beat Benchmarks in Q4

Fidelity to Close Eight Canada Funds as Freedom 2045, 2015 Beat Benchmarks in Q4

Fidelity Investments Canada will close eight funds, with most terminations expected around July 24. The closures include several high-income ETFs and funds, plus two corporate-class funds pending securityholder approval in June. The affected products are already closed to new investors. Separately, Fidelity’s Freedom 2045 and 2015 funds outperformed their benchmarks in late 2025.
1 April 2026
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Corebridge, Equitable Seal $22 Billion All-Stock Merger to Create New U.S. Retirement Giant

Corebridge, Equitable Seal $22 Billion All-Stock Merger to Create New U.S. Retirement Giant

Equitable Holdings and Corebridge Financial will merge in an all-stock deal valued at about $22 billion, forming a group with over $1.5 trillion in assets and 12 million customers. Corebridge CEO Marc Costantini will lead the combined company, headquartered in Houston and trading under the Equitable brand. The merger requires shareholder and regulatory approvals and targets completion by the end of 2026.
26 March 2026
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EPFO 3.0 is coming: PF withdrawals via UPI by April, Rs 25,000 cap and a new portal in the works

EPFO 3.0 is coming: PF withdrawals via UPI by April, Rs 25,000 cap and a new portal in the works

India’s EPFO plans to allow provident fund withdrawals via UPI through the BHIM app from April, capping transactions at Rs 25,000 each, officials told Indian Express. The move is part of a broader “EPFO 3.0” tech overhaul, including a new portal and core banking backend. The system is being built with C-DAC, NPCI, and SBI. A tender for the IT platform is in final vetting, with Wipro, Infosys, and TCS shortlisted.
22 January 2026
India extends Atal Pension Yojana to FY31, keeps gap funding in play for 86.6 million subscribers

India extends Atal Pension Yojana to FY31, keeps gap funding in play for 86.6 million subscribers

India’s cabinet approved the extension of the Atal Pension Yojana through FY2030-31, maintaining government funding for outreach and “gap funding” to support the scheme. The plan offers a guaranteed monthly pension of 1,000–5,000 rupees from age 60. Enrolment stands at over 86.6 million as of January 2026. The extension aims to sustain coverage for low-income, informal-sector workers.
21 January 2026
EPFO’s UPI withdrawal plan could roll out by April — plus “Suvidha” helpers to fix PF snags

EPFO’s UPI withdrawal plan could roll out by April — plus “Suvidha” helpers to fix PF snags

India’s EPFO will enable provident fund withdrawals via UPI by April, allowing direct transfers to members’ bank accounts with UPI PIN authentication, officials said Friday. The agency is piloting licensed “Suvidha Providers” to help members file claims and resolve issues. Faster processing will still require verified KYC and fraud safeguards. A Central Board of Trustees meeting in February will review the proposals.
17 January 2026
Canada’s 2026 TFSA limit is $7,000 as tax brackets rise: key CRA dates ahead

Canada’s 2026 TFSA limit is $7,000 as tax brackets rise: key CRA dates ahead

Canada’s federal income tax brackets for 2026 will rise 2% with inflation, and the lowest rate will be 14%, according to CRA payroll tables. The TFSA annual limit remains C$7,000, with new room added Jan. 1. The RRSP contribution deadline for the 2025 tax year is March 2, 2026, and the tax filing deadline is April 30, 2026, for most individuals. Overcontributions to a TFSA incur a 1% monthly penalty.
30 December 2025
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France Pension 2026: Official Minimum Contributory Pension (MiCo) Levels and Payment Dates for CNAV, Agirc‑Arrco, SRE, CNRACL and Ircantec

France Pension 2026: Official Minimum Contributory Pension (MiCo) Levels and Payment Dates for CNAV, Agirc‑Arrco, SRE, CNRACL and Ircantec

France’s minimum contributory pension (MiCo) for full-rate retirees will rise to €756.29 gross per month from 1 January 2026, with the increased MiCo set at €903.93. The MiCo revaluation rate is 1.18%, reflecting the SMIC increase, while base pensions will rise by 0.9%. Official payment calendars for 2026 have been published across all main pension schemes.
28 December 2025
CPP Increase 2026: Canada Pension Plan Payments Rise 2%—Official Payment Dates, New Contribution Ceilings, and What “Revalorisation” Really Means

CPP Increase 2026: Canada Pension Plan Payments Rise 2%—Official Payment Dates, New Contribution Ceilings, and What “Revalorisation” Really Means

Canada Pension Plan benefits will rise 2.0% in January 2026, reflecting inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. The increase applies to retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, with the first higher payment set for January 28, 2026. Service Canada confirms payments will follow the regular monthly schedule. The maximum retirement pension will rise by about $28.66 per month.
27 December 2025
Canada Tax Changes 2026: New Federal Tax Brackets, 14% Rate Cut, TFSA & RRSP Limits, CPP and EI Updates

Canada Tax Changes 2026: New Federal Tax Brackets, 14% Rate Cut, TFSA & RRSP Limits, CPP and EI Updates

Canada’s lowest federal income tax rate drops to 14% on the first $58,523 of taxable income starting January 1, 2026. Tax brackets and credits, including the Basic Personal Amount, rise with a 2% inflation adjustment. CPP and Employment Insurance ceilings increase. The Canada Revenue Agency faces new oversight and pressure to improve service ahead of the 2026 filing season.
27 December 2025
CPP Investments Pushes Back on Co‑Investment Fees as Retail Money Reshapes Private Equity—And Why Canadians Debating CPP at 60 Should Care

CPP Investments Pushes Back on Co‑Investment Fees as Retail Money Reshapes Private Equity—And Why Canadians Debating CPP at 60 Should Care

CPP Investments warned it may stop working with private equity managers who charge fees on co-investments, breaking a long-standing industry practice. The shift comes as private equity firms seek more retail and high-net-worth capital, reducing traditional perks for large institutions. Meanwhile, Canadians face key decisions on when to start CPP benefits, with government data showing timing affects monthly payments.
12 December 2025
UK ‘Two‑Tier State Pension’ Row: What Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget 2025 Means for Your Taxes and Retirement

UK ‘Two‑Tier State Pension’ Row: What Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget 2025 Means for Your Taxes and Retirement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed pensioners with only state pension income will not pay income tax during this Parliament, following the Autumn Budget 2025. Retirees with any additional income, such as a private pension, will still be taxed. The policy has drawn criticism for creating a “two-tier state pension.” The full new state pension will rise 4.8% to £241.30 per week from April 2026.
7 December 2025
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Vanguard’s Grim 10‑Year Forecast Puts the 4% Retirement Rule at Risk — What Retirees Should Do Now

Vanguard’s Grim 10‑Year Forecast Puts the 4% Retirement Rule at Risk — What Retirees Should Do Now

Vanguard projects U.S. stocks will return 2.8%–4.8% annually over the next decade, below expected bond returns of 4.3%–5.3%. A MarketWatch column warns that a prolonged period of low stock returns could threaten retirees relying on the 4% withdrawal rule. About 11,400 Americans turn 65 each day in 2025, the peak of the baby-boomer retirement wave.
3 December 2025
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Legal & General Group Plc (LGEN) Stock on 3 December 2025: High‑Yield FTSE 100 Giant Between Reform, Risk and Record PRT Deals

Legal & General Group Plc (LGEN) Stock on 3 December 2025: High‑Yield FTSE 100 Giant Between Reform, Risk and Record PRT Deals

Legal & General shares closed at about 248p in London on 3 December 2025, with a market cap just under £14bn and a dividend yield near 9%. The stock sits mid-range for the year, up modestly, and has returned just over 7% year-to-date. Analysts note strong pension-risk-transfer growth but remain divided due to high leverage and a complex payout ratio. Management maintains plans for over £5bn in shareholder returns.
3 December 2025
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Fidelity Investments 2025: Stablecoin Tests, 401(k) Access Fight and What Comes Next for a $17.5 Trillion Giant

Fidelity Investments 2025: Stablecoin Tests, 401(k) Access Fight and What Comes Next for a $17.5 Trillion Giant

Fidelity’s assets under administration reached $17.5 trillion in Q3 2025, up 17% year-over-year, with $6.8 trillion in discretionary assets. Average 401(k) balances hit a record $144,400. New security rules blocking third-party access to 401(k) accounts have sparked client lockouts and industry criticism. Fidelity is also testing a dollar-pegged stablecoin and has liquidated several thematic ETFs.
2 December 2025
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Social Security December 2025 Payments: Full Schedule, $967 SSI Checks and the Early 2026 COLA Boost

Social Security December 2025 Payments: Full Schedule, $967 SSI Checks and the Early 2026 COLA Boost

SSI recipients will receive two payments in December 2025: one on December 1 and another on December 31, the latter covering January 2026 due to the holiday. The maximum federal SSI payment is $967 for individuals. Social Security checks for retirees, survivors, and SSDI beneficiaries will be issued on December 3, 10, 17, and 24. A 2.8% COLA increase takes effect with the December 31 SSI payment and January 2026 Social Security payments.
1 December 2025
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Stock Market Today

  • QuidelOrtho (QDEL) Shares Slide 23% in a Month Amid Valuation Debate
    April 8, 2026, 9:37 PM EDT. QuidelOrtho (QDEL) shares slipped 22.86% over the past month to $15.32, despite a 2.27% gain on the latest trading day. The stock's 1-year total shareholder return tallies 46.90%, showing past momentum is fading. Analysts flag a sharp valuation gap: market price trails the $34.67 fair value estimate by over 80%, spotlighting risks in execution and reimbursement trends. Expansion into global markets like Latin America and Asia Pacific offers growth potential, underpinned by demand for early detection and immunoassay technologies. But COVID testing normalization and product discontinuations weigh on revenue diversity and margins. Investors should weigh these mixed signals carefully and consider broadening healthcare AI exposure rather than concentrating on one stock story.

Latest article

Why IREN Stock Is Back in Focus as AI Ambitions Meet Funding Fears

Why IREN Stock Is Back in Focus as AI Ambitions Meet Funding Fears

8 April 2026
IREN shares rose 1.8% to $35.74 Wednesday as investors assessed its $6 billion share program and shift from bitcoin mining to AI cloud services. The company’s revenue fell to $184.7 million last quarter, with a net loss of $155.4 million. IREN recently announced a five-year, $9.7 billion AI cloud deal with Microsoft. Options trading volume hit 103,000 contracts Tuesday, with sentiment described as mixed.
Amazon Stock Could Jump 50% as Wall Street Reconsiders Its $200 Billion AI Bet

Amazon Stock Could Jump 50% as Wall Street Reconsiders Its $200 Billion AI Bet

8 April 2026
Amazon closed at $213.77 Tuesday, with BNP Paribas maintaining a $320 price target, citing strong AI demand despite Amazon’s planned $200 billion capex for 2026. The company’s February forecast of higher spending sent shares down 11.5% after hours, even as AWS revenue rose 24% to $35.6 billion in the December quarter. Alphabet and Microsoft are also ramping up AI infrastructure spending.
Sensex Soars 2,946 Points, Nifty Near 24,000 After Iran Ceasefire and RBI Pause

Sensex Soars 2,946 Points, Nifty Near 24,000 After Iran Ceasefire and RBI Pause

8 April 2026
The Sensex surged 2,946 points to 77,562.90 on Wednesday, its best day in five years, as a U.S.-Iran ceasefire and steady RBI rates pushed Indian markets higher. Brent crude fell 14.4% to $93.49 a barrel, easing pressure on the rupee, which rose 0.5% to 92.58 per dollar. All 16 major sectors gained, led by financials and auto stocks. The RBI kept its repo rate at 5.25% and forecast slower growth ahead.
Netflix Stock Draws Fresh Institutional Buying Ahead of Earnings After Goldman Upgrade

Netflix Stock Draws Fresh Institutional Buying Ahead of Earnings After Goldman Upgrade

8 April 2026
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. increased its Netflix stake by 1,141.9% to 29,074 shares in Q4, while Ethos Capital Management disclosed a new 19,610-share position worth $1.84 million. The moves come ahead of Netflix’s April 16 earnings report and follow a Goldman Sachs upgrade to Buy with a $120 target. Insiders Reed Hastings and Greg Peters sold shares earlier this year under preset trading plans. Netflix last traded at $98.82.
Alphabet Stock (GOOG, GOOGL) Faces Split Fund Bets Ahead of Earnings After Fresh 13F Reports

Alphabet Stock (GOOG, GOOGL) Faces Split Fund Bets Ahead of Earnings After Fresh 13F Reports

8 April 2026
Zevenbergen Capital increased its Alphabet Class A share holdings by 27.4% in Q4, while Lombard Odier and Empirical Wealth Management reduced their Class C positions, according to April 7 filings. Alphabet will report first-quarter results on April 29. GOOG and GOOGL traded near $304 before Wednesday’s U.S. open. The filings reflect holdings as of December 31 and may not show current positions.
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