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Belfius & ULB Chair in Decumulation Launch (Thursday 24/04/2025) – Communiqué de presse Exec Sum / Version Longue (FR), Persbericht Exec Sum / Lange versie (NL), Knack, HLN (paper version), Spaargids, GrenzEcho, Nieuwsblad, GVA, Business AM
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Over the past 20 years, asset-backed pension pillars have become central to global retirement systems, with $56 trillion now invested—about half of global GDP. In 2024, the OECD issued a recommendation to improve these pensions, focusing on better retirement outcomes.
Decumulation is gaining attention due to two trends: aging populations are straining social security, leading to reforms like higher retirement ages, and there’s a global shift from defined benefit to defined contribution systems. As a result, retirees now face more individual responsibility and need tailored solutions that consider differences in careers, coverage, and life expectancy.
In this context, Belfius—one of Belgium’s leading bank-insurers—will launch a research Chair at ULB in 2025–2026, led by Professor Jennifer Alonso Garcia. The goal is to develop optimal decumulation strategies using advanced behavioural finance models.
« Le maintien du statu quo présente des risques : soit une protection insuffisante en matière de longévité, soit des revenus de retraite trop faibles. Cela compromet l’objectif
fondamental de l’épargne retraite qui est essentiellement de financer la pension. Ce que j’ai pu analyser dans d’autres pays
mérite d’être étudié au profit des pensionnés en Belgique. »Prof. Jennifer Alonso-García (ULB)