eläke, TELA, mies, nainen, vanhuus
Other

Pensions and the sustainability of the pension system

Guest: Suvi-Anne Siimes, CEO of TELA – Interviewer: Political reporter Robert Sundman

Pensions. The issue that once seemed self-evident—and which today sparks as many questions as it does coffee-table conversations. Will we be able to retire? Will we have enough money? And what on earth is a system built in the 1960s doing in the world of the 2020s?

The latest Pension Barometer (2025) from the Finnish Centre for Pensions reveals an interesting fact: about half of Finns trust the pension system—but that trust has waned slightly in recent years. At the same time, birth rates are falling, the population is aging, and careers are becoming more diverse than ever. No wonder the topic is of interest.

Event information

Date

19.03.2026

Time

15:00-16:30

Location

Striimi

Themes

Economy and investment

Language

Finnish; English

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So, what will we be discussing?

  • Is the pension system sufficient for future generations?
  • What does last year’s pension reform really mean?
  • Will pensions still be payable in the future—and under what conditions?
  • Why is employment the superpower of the entire system?

In the recent reform, pension insurers were given more leeway to invest funds in a more yield-oriented manner. The goal is to strengthen the system so that contributions won’t need to be raised, at least in the coming decades—even if there are fewer contributors.

One thing is certain, however: working life and employment are the backbone of the pension system. The more people who work and build up their careers, the stronger our collective security will be.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your pension is a myth or a reality, this discussion is worth listening to.

Welcome to the discussion!
 

Suvi-Anne Siimes

Suvi-Anne Siimes

Suvi-Anne Siimes has served as CEO of the Finnish Pension Fund (TELA) for 15 years and thus has a broad understanding of the entire occupational pension sector. Prior to her tenure as CEO of TELA, she worked as a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry. She has solid experience in national politics, having served as a party leader, minister, and member of parliament. Siimes holds a licentiate degree in political science (economics) from the University of Helsinki. She also has extensive experience serving on the boards of various large publicly traded companies operating in regulated industries. 

Sundman Robert

Robert Sundman

Robert Sundman works as a political reporter for Suomen Kuvalehti. He primarily covers domestic politics and the labor market, and occasionally also foreign and security policy as well as EU affairs. He has previously worked as a political reporter for Helsingin Sanomat and YLE, and has also served as editor-in-chief of Ylioppilaslehti, among other roles.

 

The pension system is like a seaside cliff: it absorbs heat during your working life and releases it in your later years.
- Suvi-Anne Siimes, Toimitusjohtaja
Keywords:
pension, event