Ljubljana, 8 October 2026 – Demographic changes and the growing need for financial security in retirement call for stronger supplementary pension savings. This was the key message of the 2. Pension Funds Conference, organised by the Ljubljana Stock Exchange in cooperation with Modra zavarovalnica, PRVA pokojninska družba, Generali zavarovalnica, Pokojninska družba A, Triglav pokojninska družba and Sava pokojninska družba.

Participants highlighted the importance of the long-term sustainability of the pension system, shared responsibility and the role of pension savings in developing the capital market.

Building Better Pensions and Stronger Capital Markets

Matti Leppälä, Secretary General and CEO of PensionsEurope, emphasised the importance of workplace supplementary pensions, adequate contributions and cooperation between employers and social partners.

Together with Matej Golob Matzele, CEO of Modra zavarovalnica, he discussed how European best practices could be implemented in Slovenia. The discussion focused on increasing employee participation, raising contribution levels and ensuring appropriate pension payout options.

Rok Jakelj, CEO of PRVA pokojninska družba, highlighted the benefits of pension funds, which offer an effective way to save for retirement and reward employees through long-term returns, age-adjusted investment strategies and tax incentives.

The Future of Pension Systems Requires Long-Term Decisions

A panel discussion moderated by Nataša Hajdinjak, CEO of PRVA Osebna zavarovalnica, brought together Miran Vičič from the Ministry of Finance, Robert Leskovar from Generali zavarovalnica and Jože Sambt from the School of Economics and Business to discuss the challenges facing the pension system.

The panellists stressed the need to adapt to longer working lives, strengthen individual responsibility and encourage greater employer involvement. The key question is no longer whether the system will change, but how quickly we will be prepared for those changes.

It's Not Just About How Much We Save, but Also How We Use Our Savings

Blaž Hribar, Member of the Management Board of Pokojninska družba A, emphasised the importance of flexible pension payout options. The proposed new regulation on pension annuities introduces a broader range of withdrawal options tailored to individual needs.

Dino Šterpin, Director of Marketing and Sales at Triglav pokojninska družba, pointed out that communicating the expected amount of savings at retirement, along with flexible payout options, could be particularly effective in engaging younger generations, as it provides a more tangible savings goal.

Strengthening the Second Pension Pillar Requires Shared Responsibility

The closing panel discussion, moderated by Vida Šeme Hočevar, Member of the Management Board of Triglav pokojninska družba, explored the responsibilities of the government, employers and individuals. The discussion featured Štefan Kušar, State Secretary at MGDŠ, Andrej Plos, CEO of Sava pokojninska družba, Marijan Papež, Director General of the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZPIZ), and Zdenko Lorber, President of SZS Alternativa.

Although 68% of employees are enrolled in supplementary pension insurance, contributions are actually paid for only around two-thirds of those enrolled. Average savings amount to less than EUR 6,300 per member.

Strengthening the second pension pillar will require broader participation, higher and more regular contributions, and automatic enrolment with an opt-out option.

Pensions Are Not Just a Matter for the Future

The conference reaffirmed that timely action and cooperation among all stakeholders are essential for the long-term sustainability of the pension system. Strengthening supplementary pension savings can improve individuals' financial security while supporting the development of Slovenia's capital market and economy.

The future of pensions does not begin at retirement, but decades earlier. The time to act is today.

We sincerely thank all speakers, panellists and participants for their valuable contributions.

If you missed the conference, you can watch the full recording here: https://youtube.com/live/nt_Q5WavTx4?feature=share.