CIR news

Latest news in DC

Coverage of the 2024 DC Plan Summit

At the 2024 Defined Contribution Plan Summit, which was hosted in Vancouver on Feb. 27-29, attendees learned about the various challenges and solutions for DC…

How AI is impacting DC plan members’ financial decisions

While artificial intelligence may one day be able to remove human bias from financial decision-making, that development remains far in the future, said Lisa Kramer,…

AI can enhance DC pension communication, employee experience

Employers can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance the employee experience, including improvements to defined contribution pension communication, said John Bradley, director of emerging technologies at…

Association of Ontario Midwives Benefits Trust supporting employees with financial literacy, DC plan options

Financial literacy initiatives and a wide range of capital accumulation plan options are key components in supporting the financial health of midwives, said Nicole Mellin,…

What are the options for implementing real assets in DC plans?

While real assets are largely absent among the investment options offered by Canadian defined contribution pension plans, they can offer significant long-term benefits to plan…

A look at the SPP’s evolving investment, decumulation options

From its roots as a retirement plan for Saskatchewan farmers, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan has grown over the past four decades to accommodate Canadians from…

What can Canadian DC plans learn from U.S. pension legislation?

Features such as automatic enrolment in 401(k) savings plans are helping U.S. employees become retirement ready, said Mark Iwry, a non-resident senior fellow at the…

AI presents opportunities, disruptions for DC pension plan investments

The evolution of artificial intelligence is creating new challenges and investment opportunities for defined contribution pension plan members, said Kathrin Forrest, equity investment director at…

74% of U.S. DC pension plan sponsors to conduct plan fee review in 2024: survey

Three-quarters (74 per cent) of U.S. defined contribution pension plan sponsors say they’ll review plan fees throughout 2024, according to a new survey by investment…

  • By: Staff
  • May 8, 2024 May 8, 2024
  • 15:00

Back to basics on investment glide paths

Simply put, a glide path is a calculation designed to support an employee’s desired retirement timeline through investments in a target-date fund. When an employee…

Global pension assets up 11% in 2023: report

Global pension assets increased by 11 per cent to reach US$55.7 trillion in 2023, up from $50.2 trillion at the end of 2022, according to…

  • By: Staff
  • March 14, 2024 March 13, 2024
  • 09:00

Halifax Port ILA/HEA assessing past, future of DB pension plans

While Blair Richards understands why the industry is moving away from defined benefit pension plans, he worries about what may be lost in the process.…

45% of U.S. DC plan sponsors considering adding emergency savings options in 2024: survey

More than two-fifths (45 per cent) of U.S. defined contribution pension plan sponsors say they’re considering implementing emergency savings features, according to a survey from…

  • By: Staff
  • January 23, 2024 January 23, 2024
  • 15:00
Copyright_Sergey Nivens_123RF

Expert panel: Risk management, target-benefit framework among themes shaping pension industry in 2024

While it’s impossible to predict exactly how pension case law will evolve in future, one can offer an educated guess at some legislative developments and…

Copyright_thodonal_123RF

Pension plan sponsors more vigilant of cybersecurity risks when dealing with third-party vendors: expert

Data management and transference is a key area of risk for pension plan sponsors as the vulnerability of engaging with third parties creates opportunities for…

Copyright_Romolo Tavani_123RF

Can IBM’s retirement benefit account revive the traditional DB pension plan?

After closing its defined benefit pension plan nearly two decades ago and replacing it with a less riskier defined contribution plan, International Business Machines Corp.…

Copyright_rawpixel_123RF

Financial market regulators establish committee to implement total cost reporting plan

The Joint Forum of Financial Market Regulators is establishing a committee to help implement its total cost reporting plan. The plan aims to increase investor…

  • By: Staff
  • December 15, 2023 December 15, 2023
  • 15:00

Head to head: Is it time for DC plan sponsors to quit the balanced fund?

One defined contribution plan sponsor sings the praises of the traditional balanced fund, while another outlines a different option that better matches risk levels according…

Would Brazil’s new bond work in Canada?

RendA+, an innovative bond instrument in Brazil, is serving as a relatively safe asset for defined contribution pension plans and lowering retirement risk, especially for…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • December 15, 2023 December 14, 2023
  • 08:55

Gap persists between DC plan sponsor, member views on retirement readiness: survey

While the majority (87 per cent) of defined contribution pension plan sponsors feel their members are somewhat or very prepared for retirement, only 63 per…

  • By: Staff
  • December 11, 2023 December 11, 2023
  • 15:00
Copyright_singkham_123RF

Contributions to B.C. pension plans increased by 10% in 2022: report

Contributions to British Columbia-based defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans increased by 10 per cent in 2022, while contributions to target-benefit plans increased by…

  • By: Staff
  • November 17, 2023 November 16, 2023
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2023 DC Investment Conference

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago, the global economy has faced a bumpy ride, led by the lingering public health crisis,…

2023 DC Investment Forum: Silver linings for retirement savings, investment trends and younger generations

Defined contribution pension plan members are currently in a different place, especially the younger generations, who are likely feeling as though their financial priorities don’t…

2023 DC Investment Forum: The importance of strategic asset allocation in target-date funds

Since defined contribution plan members will experience a wide variety of market conditions over the course of their working lives and into retirement, it’s important…

2023 DC Investment Forum: How real assets in DC plans can give members a ‘much smoother ride’

In volatile market environments, adding real assets to defined contribution pension plan portfolios has the ability to provide diversification benefits and give members a “much…