The interest credit for the ARP plan for the first half of 2019 has been determined: for active participants this is 4.02%. For former participants this is 3.63%. In the second half of 2018, this was 4.88% for active participants and 4.51% for former participants (on an annual basis).

At the beginning of June 2019, an agreement was reached between the social partners (employers and trade unions) and the government on a new pension system. For many pension funds there was a great need to agree on new pension rules. In the new proposal, pension funds will soon be able to move more easily and more quickly with the economy. The state pension age will be frozen until 2021, after which it will increase more slowly than was previously agreed.

On the website mijnpensioenoverzicht.nl you will find information about your pension and the AOW. You can see, among other things, the pension that you have accrued with Mars Pensioenfonds. From October 2019 something new will be added. Next to the amounts that you have always seen, you will see a picture with 3 amounts.

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.