Agenda at a glance

Wednesday, Feb. 26

4:00 – 6:00 PM: John Lennon and Yoko Ono suite experience activity

4:30 – 5:30 PM: Speaker rehearsal

6:30 – 10:00 PM: Opening cocktail and dinner reception (Marché Artisans)

Thursday, Feb. 27

7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Sessions

12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch

1:30 – 4:00 PM: Sessions

4:00 – 5:30 PM: John Lennon and Yoko Ono suite experience activity

6:00 – 9:00 PM: Cocktail reception and dinner (Gold Floor Lounge)

9:00 – 11:00 PM: Games night and Y2K dance party (Gold Floor Lounge)

Friday, Feb. 28

8:00 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast

8:15 – 8:45 AM: French breakfast breakout session

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Sessions

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Closing lunch

Confirmed sessions:

Navigating geopolitical challenges: The future of finance and society

As the founder and chairman of Signum Global Advisors, Charles Myers is a leading expert in geopolitical and macro risk as it relates to financial markets, corporations and the general public. Drawing on Myers’ experience and network within Washington, D.C. and beyond, this session will unpack some of the key issues facing North America and the world today, including climate and infrastructure, inequality and inclusion as well as global trade and security.

Speaker:

Charles Myers, chairman, Signum Global Advisors

Economic outlook 2024/25: The big easy

The economic focus has shifted from managing inflation to managing growth; policy-makers, especially in the U.S., are close to achieving that goal. Canada’s economy is sluggish, but inflation has slid below the two per cent target as the Bank of Canada has been the most aggressive of the G10 central banks to cut rates. The U.S. economy, however, has been remarkably resilient and cooler inflation gave the Federal Reserve the comfort to finally start easing. Still, there are plenty of risks in the horizon, beyond the U.S. election, including further trade wars, the threat of retaliatory tariffs and geopolitics.

Speaker:

Douglas Porter, chief economist and managing director, BMO Financial Group

Bell Canada’s DC journey

Over the last 20 years, Bell Canada’s DC plan has evolved significantly as it faced the changes and developments in Canada’s DC pension industry. This session will discuss the company’s approach to decumulation, the introduction of additional flexibility, its progress with default investment options and what it sees for its DC plan’s future.

Speaker:

Robert Marchessault, director, pension and benefits, Bell Canada

Engagement (r)evolution: Boosting retirement outcomes

Personalization, driven by advanced marketing technology and innovative content strategies, can significantly enhance member engagement and outcomes in group retirement plans. This session will provide practical insights on how to leverage technology to enhance member engagement and strategies for evolving governance in the era of personalization.

Speaker:

Speaker information coming soon. This session has been made possible by Manulife.

The decumulation dilemma

Decumulation is a complex problem – arguably harder than accumulation, where plan members have a common goal: save and invest for retirement. Once in the decumulation phase, each plan member’s needs, wants and situations vary. At the core of solving the dilemma is a decumulation ecosystem that includes investment vehicles with the highest risk-adjusted returns.

Speaker:

Nicole Lomax, vice-president, portfolio manager, institutional asset allocation, TD Asset Management Inc.

All times listed above are in Eastern Time. This agenda is subject to change.