When you unpack the moving boxes together, you don't immediately think about your retirement. And when you're cutting the wedding cake, there's something more important than retirement. Nevertheless, it is useful to know a few things about your pension. And what to do if you move in together.

It is in the news all the time: the funding ratios of almost all pension funds in the Netherlands fell at the end of 2018. The decline was greater for one than for the other. But overall, the last quarter of 2018 was not favorable for pensions. The funding ratio has also decreased at Mars Pensioenfonds. But we're still in good shape.

As of 1 January 2019, we will increase the pensions in payment by the full supplement: 1.41%. Mars Pensioenfonds takes the supplement decision every year in November. This is done on the basis of the price index and the policy funding ratio of September of that year. In September, the policy funding ratio was well above the required equity capital (approx. 123%). This is an important condition for granting a full supplement. A full surcharge means 75% of the price inflation.

There is a vacancy in the Advisory Committee of the Employee Selection Plan (MSP). The committee advises the pension fund board on the investments of the MSP, the funds that are available for opt-out and is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the investment policy and risk attitude. As a member of the committee you represent the participants of the MSP pension plan.

There have been some appointments within Mars Pensioenfonds (MPF). You can read more about this in this news item.

Very small pensions will expire from 1 January 2019. Suppose you leave Mars after 1 January 2019 and you have accrued no more than 2 euros gross per year in pension. According to the law, this pension then reverts to the pension fund.

As we were able to report earlier, the policy funding ratio at the end of 2017 was above the required equity of 132%. As a result, the financial position of Mars Pensioenfonds is healthy again. So healthy that we have decided to reduce the investment risk. In this way we can safeguard the financial position of the fund in steps.

Harold van Heesch has been nominated as a board member on behalf of the employees for Mars Pensioenfonds (MPF) for a term of 4 years. With this he will fill the vacancy that arose after the departure of Jack van Lith. Harold was appointed as a candidate board member by the MPF board in June 2016 and has started his training to become a board member. He has since been approved as a board member by De Nederlandsche Bank.

Wim van de Laar has been on the board of Mars Pensioenfonds (MPF) since 2003 as a board member on behalf of the employees. Wim will say goodbye to Mars as an employer on 1 July. But Wim has indicated that he would like to continue as a board member after that (his term ends in 2021). The board agrees to stay on and sees this as a good guarantee for continuity.

From 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies. The GDPR replaces the current Personal Data Protection Act (Wbp). Both regulations concern the collection, processing and management of personal data. From 25 May 2018, Mars Pensioenfonds will comply with the requirements of the GDPR.