Latest news in Conference Coverage

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…

A look at the Australian Retirement Trust’s approach to decumulation

Inspired by the University of British Columbia’s variable payment lifetime annuity option, the Australian Retirement Trust is taking a similar approach to decumulation, which, in…

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,…

Are Canadians retirement ready?

Manulife Financial Corp.’s latest financial stress survey found two-thirds (64 per cent) of employees aged 55 and younger and 50 per cent of workers aged…

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…

How can DC plan sponsors solve the decumulation problem?

During a panel discussion at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Defined Contribution Plan Summit in February, three defined contribution plan sponsors shared their respective decumulation journeys and…

How DC plan sponsors can take the guesswork out of retirement planning

Technology plays an increasingly important role as defined contribution pension plan sponsors seek to deploy decumulation support and retirement advice at scale, said Jean-Michel Lavoie,…

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How employers can prioritize women’s health in benefits plans

Amid a wave of frank and open discussions about women’s health, more plan sponsors are beginning to review their benefits and human resources policies with…

Coverage of the 2024 Chronic Disease at Work conference

For nearly 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for plan…

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A closer look at menopause-inclusive workplaces

Employers can support employees going through menopause by improving their workplace culture, communication and accommodation policies and employee benefits, said Janet Ko, president and co-founder of…

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Plan members with Alzheimer’s still have plenty to offer the workplace: patient advocate

After her husband Mike Kessler was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, Karen Kessler admitted she would hover around him. The Windsor, Ont. couple…

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What employers need to know about pulmonary arterial hypertension

Employees with pulmonary arterial hypertension can experience significant impacts to their quality of life and workplace experience, said John Granton, a respirologist with the University…

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How plan sponsors can support employees with inflammatory bowel disease

With the increased availability of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, patients can achieve longer periods of remission, said Vipul Jairath, a gastroenterologist at the London…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: Can institutional investors expect a recession in 2024?

The “most widely anticipated recession in history” could arrive in 2024, said Eric Lascelles, chief economist at RBC Global Asset Management, during the keynote session…

Coverage of the 2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum

On Dec. 6, the Canadian Investment Review hosted its annual Defined Benefit Investment Forum. With the close of a year marred by financial fragility and global…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: How exposure to multi-family real estate can optimize risk-adjusted returns

Multi-family real estate is set up for long-term sustained returns given the extreme dislocation between housing supply and demand in Canada and record-high federal immigration…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: How quality investing can help plan sponsors navigate uncertain markets

A quality investing strategy has some of the same benefits of a well-made pair of sneakers, said Ranjit Sufi, managing director and head of institutional…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: Managing liquidity through listed assets

After the simultaneous sell-off of both equities and bonds in the first half of 2022, many defined benefit pension plan sponsors were forced to “pay…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: The value of active management in emerging markets

With historic perceptions of emerging markets and equities no longer matching reality, institutional investors have the opportunity to scoop up good companies at low valuations,…

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: How policy-makers, plan sponsors can manage, mitigate cybersecurity risks

Pension plan sponsors must effectively employ care, diligence and skill when facing cybersecurity threats, said Sandeep Kakan, board trustee and secretary at the Canada-Wide Industrial…

Coverage of the 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum

On Dec. 5, 2023, Benefits Canada held its annual Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum, the industry’s most popular drug benefits conference. Industry experts…

High-cost drug claims lead to 20-times greater cost per claim for small plan sponsors

A recent survey by Innovative Medicines Canada found there are growing listing delays among Canada’s private drug plans, said Joe Farago, the organization’s executive director…