Our life cycles and investments are evaluated on a regular basis to ensure the right balance is struck between risks and returns. From now on, we will be investing more in equity due to the low interest rate. We will also be delaying the moment that we start scaling back the investment risk and the interest rate risk. It is our expectation that these amendments will lead to a higher pension for you. However, this strategy does carry a slightly higher investment risk, meaning your pension could turn out to be lower.
Please note: Employees who have decided not to invest their pension contributions, but to use them to accrue guaranteed capital, will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to access their capital on the retirement date. The guaranteed capital can then be used to purchase a pension on the retirement date.
The pension scheme gives employers the freedom to decide whether they want their employees to have a great deal of investment choice, a limited investment choice or no investment choice. If an employee has been given no investment choice, their capital will be invested in a manner that is in line with a Neutral investment profile. In other cases, they will be able to choose whether they wish to invest along the lines of a Defensive, Neutral or Offensive investment profile. If an employee has been given a great deal of investment choice, they will be able to opt for self-directed investment as well as profile investment. Self-Directed Investment allows the employee to select one or more funds from a broad range of funds.
To obtain more detailed information about our investment proposition, consult our Pension Profile Investment and Free Investment brochure.
We adjust the investments in the investment profile because we strive for an optimum ratio between risk and return. We will already do so in the autumn of 2017. At that time, we will be adjusting the percentage that is invested in shares, among other things. As from 1 January 2018, we will be renewing the composition used to phase out the risks, and investments in corporate bonds will have longer maturities. This is how we create more certainty about a good return on your retirement date. You can find more information in the Pension Profile Investment and Free Investment brochure.
You can choose within the Neutral and Offensive investment profiles for a fixed pension or a variable pension. The Defensive Pension investment profile only provides for a fixed pension. Visit Choosing a fixed or variable pension in advance for a further explanation in respect thereof.
The ratio of equity and property (i.e. shares) to fixed-income securities (i.e. bonds) has been adjusted in the ASR Pension Mixed Funds. A new government bond, the ASR Pension Government Bond 20+, has been introduced to ensure the interest rate risk in the life cycles reflects the new situation. The scaling back of the life cycles will be adjusted on 21 November 2019. To view this information in a chart, please consult the following overview: Aanpassing lifecycles a.s.r. Pensioenen (Adjustment life cycles of a.s.r. Pensions – available in Dutch).
To obtain more detailed information about the investment profiles and life cycles, please consult our Profielbeleggen en Vrij beleggen brochure (Profile Investment and Self-directed Investment – available in Dutch).
Some pension schemes offer members an alternative option to profile investment by allowing them to make their own investment decisions through self-directed investment. We will be broadening our Self-Directed Investment range of funds at the end of November 2019 to include the ASR Pension Government Fund 20+. The new investment proposition will comprise both actively and passively managed funds.
To obtain more detailed information about our new investment proposition, please consult our Profielbeleggen en Vrij beleggen brochure (Profile Investment and Self-directed Investment – available in Dutch).
If you wish to amend an investment decision, you can do so. Simply log onto the online My Pension portal and amend any decisions. You can log in using your DigiD details and then select the ‘Investment choices’ tab.
Please keep an eye on this website to ensure you remain up-to-date on any changes in legislation or in the products we offer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. You can call us on work days from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. at +31 (0)30 257 42 66. Alternatively, you can complete our contact form. We are here to help.