Breakfast (Waterfront Ballrooms A and B)

Opening remarks and icebreaker (Waterfront Ballroom C)

Robots vs. humans: Implications of artificial intelligence for investor bias

The use of artificial intelligence in the asset management industry is rapidly expanding, posing both opportunities and challenges for investors, firms and professionals. This session will consider the extent to which AI can – and can’t – help DC plan members mitigate adverse financial outcomes that arise from human nature.

Speaker:

Lisa Kramer, professor of finance, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Women and investing: Supporting your workforce equitably 

Research shows women commonly allow someone else to manage their financial affairs and that often, a challenge or crisis is the catalyst for many women to take charge of their money.

This session will present original research on the financial futures of women in the sandwich generation, divorced women and/or widowed women. It will highlight the unique circumstances they face and how plan sponsors can help educate and empower them as they navigate their way through their savings journeys and into retirement.

Speakers: 

Elisha Ribeiro, national sales director, integrated and group retirement services, Canada Life 

Christine van Staden, regional vice-president, group customer, national accounts, Canada Life 

Networking break (Waterfront Ballroom Foyer)

Enhancing employee experience through emerging technologies

Emerging technology can enhance plan education, foster collaboration and communication, automate processes and provide personalized and timely feedback. This session will discuss some of the latest trends, such as advancing the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace and how plan sponsors can adopt emerging technologies to improve employee engagement, satisfaction and well-being.

Speaker:

John Bradley, director of emerging technologies, Fidelity Investments 

How the Australian Retirement Trust is innovating decumulation

In 2021, the Australian Retirement Trust, previously the QSuper, launched a unique and innovative lifetime income stream. It’s a pure experience-based annuity, also known as a dynamic pension or a modern tontine. This session will present the origins, features, challenges and current level of take up for the product, alongside observations and learnings for the Canadian defined contribution plan industry.

Speaker:

Brnic Van Wyk, head of asset liability management, Australian Retirement Trust

Lunch (Waterfront Ballrooms A and B)

Understanding the impact of advice and financial planning

Defined contribution pension plans have been offered in Canada for close to 40 years. While much has changed since DC plans were first introduced, plan members’ retirement readiness has always been a pertinent topic. This session will help attendees better understand the impact of advice and financial planning and explain why the Association of Ontario Midwives Benefits Trust made the decision to extend financial planning to their diverse workforce and how it has increased members’ confidence in both setting and achieving their future financial goals.

Speakers:

Jennifer Katzsch, regional vice-president, client relationships and education, Desjardins Insurance

Nicole Mellin, executive director, Association of Ontario Midwives Benefits Trust

Are Canadians retirement ready?

Canadians are retiring amid growing headwinds, from volatile markets to rising interest rates and inflation. This session will discuss what employees need as they near retirement in an uncertain economic environment.

Speaker:

Marc-Antoine Morin, assistant vice-president, product development, group retirement solutions, Manulife

Roundtable interactive activity
This interactive session will do a deep dive into four key topics:

1. Innovations in DC investments
2. Automatic features
3. Financial education, communication and engagement
4. Financial priorities shifting across generations

Networking break (Waterfront Ballroom Foyer)

Implementing real assets in DC plans: What are the options?

While the benefits of real assets within a diversified portfolio are widely recognized, the question arises: what are the specific asset classes that should be prioritized by DC plan sponsors? This session will explore the different ways to achieve exposure to real assets and uncover optimal solutions tailored for the DC market.

Speaker:

Andrew D. Knox, managing director, Franklin global real assets fund, Franklin Templeton Investments

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan: A flexible, low-cost savings option

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan, a pooled multi-employer defined contribution pension plan is unique because it requires no employer relationship; instead, membership is owned by the individual. But it’s still a great choice for employers looking to offer a low-cost, professionally managed plan because it offers 100% flexibility in determining how much to contribute and how and when to change contributions. It also offers learnings for other DC plan sponsors, including through its journey to decumulation and its recent removal of annual contribution and transfer-in limits.

Speaker:

Shannan Corey, executive director, Saskatchewan Pension Plan

Cocktail reception and dinner (Princess Louisa Suite and Foyer; ARC Restaurant)