Do you accrue pension with SNPS? At the end of January, you will receive your new value statement in my-Shell pension. In it you will see the latest figures of your accrued pension capital as of 31 December 2022.

We invest your pension capital for the long term
SNPS isn't led by short-term developments, but invests for the long term. This strategy helps us to limit the risks and increase the chance of positive returns. It is not true that if there are setbacks in the stock market, they immediately result in lower (expected) pension payments. This is because your expected pension benefit is determined by how much pension capital you have accrued as well as the interest rate.

What has happened in the financial markets?
2022 has been a year to remember in more ways than one. Shares, credit bonds and government bonds all ended the year with substantial losses. It was the first time in decades that both shares and government bonds showed negative returns at the same time. This had everything to do with the strong increase in inflation, caused for a large part by the war in Ukraine. Central banks increased the short-term interest rates in an attempt to temper the inflation. Long-term interest rates on capital markets also rose sharply.

So what does that mean for your pension?
A negative return on investments is reflected in a lower pension capital. But there is good news, too. The interest rate determines how much pension benefit you can buy with your pension capital. The higher the interest rate, the more pension benefit you receive. Exactly what impact the return and interest rates have on your pension is different from person to person. In spite of the developments in the financial markets, on the whole we are seeing an increase in pension capital compared to Q3 2022. This amount does vary from one person to the next. Want to know what impact it has on your pension? View the latest status of your pension on my-Shell pension under the heading ‘How is your pension developing?’. Your value statement gives a snapshot at the end of 2022.

What can you do yourself? Review your investment profile
Did you know you also have a say in the value of your pension? That's because you can choose an investment profile: defensive, neutral or offensive. Your choice can help your pension capital to increase, but it can also decrease. By reviewing your own pension capital and expectations regularly, you will learn more about your pension and have more certainty that your pension matches your situation. Want to know how it all works and what the returns have been in recent years? Read this article by our investment expert.

Are you working at Shell? You can get personal financial advice through your employer
Your financial well-being is a fundamental part of your overall well-being as a whole. Shell is always happy to help you. To understand more about your financial situation and how you can reach your plans and goals, you can get personal financial advice through your personal budget (POZB). Check your employer's website for more information.