Beyond the controversy and the scandal that generated the viral video of comedian Álvaro Lemmon, recorded selling backpacks at traffic lights, This case reveals a discouraging picture of the savings for old age in Colombiaa widespread problem in the country.
(The crossroads that has the Colombian pension system in crisis).
Yes OK, Álvaro Lemmon himself confirmed that he receives a pension close to $1,800,000 per monthafter his work of more than 40 years in the program Happy SaturdaysAsofunds figures indicate that it is one of the few that can access a pension allowance today.
According to the union entity, which represents the activity of the Administrators of Pension and Unemployment Funds (AFP), currently In Colombia there are more than 6 million adults over 60 years of age, but only 1.7 million of that total have an old-age, disability or survival pension.
For their part, another 1.7 million older adults belong to the Colombia Mayor program and receive only a subsidy of 80 thousand pesos per month.
In other words, today more than 3 million older adults do not receive any pension or subsidy for their old age.
WHY DON’T YOU SAVE?
A survey carried out by the Bank of Opportunities indicates that the main reason why Colombians do not save for their old age is because the money is not enough for them (25.2%)the second reason is because not affiliated with any pension fund (22.1%)and thirdly because they are not interested (17.7%).
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Other reasons is because do not have a job (14.2%) Y they do not know how to do it (6.9%).
On the other hand, the high rate of informality, which means that millions of Colombians only have to live on a daily basis, means that Colombians do not save enough and do not have a retirement plan.
IN ADDITION TO INCOME, LACK OF EDUCATION
However, beyond income, another serious factor means that Colombians are not saving for old age: lack of financial education.
And it is that for many, especially among the youngest, there is a myth that they will not retire, a situation that arises due to the lack of knowledge about savings tools and an adequate financial plan.
“In the case of young people, there are myths around pensions, which contributes to the fact that this issue does not interest or concern them; they even believe that they will not retire, but the answer as to whether it will be possible or not will depend on each one, taking into account the decisions that they make from a young age regarding how they project and plan to ensure their income in old age”, explains Marcela Giraldo President of Colfondos.
According to experts, to ensure savings for old age, you must start young and be constant.
In the market there are several channels and tools, in addition to the traditional pension funds, in which you can save.
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It is also important to keep a balance that allows you to establish a clear goal, in addition to not going into debt or acquiring new financial obligations after the age of 40. The most convenient thing is to invest in safe sectors that do not have so many risks that they can cause shocks when retirement age approaches.
“It is essential to develop certain essential practices such as the habit of saving, starting to invest and avoiding unnecessary debts in order to carry out good pension planning from a young age, which provides future stability in order to meet life goals. proposed”Giraldo concludes.
THE COMEDIAN’S VERSION
Faced with the controversy that his case unleashed, the comedian clarified that he receives a pension allowance from Colpensiones but that despite that it is not enough for his maintenance and the university of his youngest son, so he has had to resort to other jobs.
“Of course I have a pension that was granted to me by Colpensiones which I contributed with the 45 years that I have been working for Canal Caracol, and that is not $4,500,000 as my colleagues say, but $1,800,000 with all the discounts that they make me healthy. With this I pay rent, services and studies for my youngest son and I am left without a peso”He said.
He added that “Due to the pandemic, face-to-face events do not come out, so I have my music shows made on DVD, I sell backpacks in shopping malls as well as my book.”
BRIEFCASE
