Defined Contribution Investment Forum
January 21, 2022 | Virtual event
Jan. 21, 2022
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Keynote speaker
Strategy in a world of disruption
Today, the world is undergoing a paradigm shift. It’s not only changing because of technological innovation, but it has now been permanently accelerated. And business leaders are now looking for new ways of approaching work. Navigating this disruption, will require organizations to abandon the set of ideas and practices that may have been successful in the past. It has forced them to make bold decisions in a world of uncertainty. How can companies build a culture of innovation? How can they manage the increased gigification of work? How can they incentivize and reward talent when their work has fundamentally changed? Today, organizations need to be bold, brave, and experimental. In this session, Shawn Kanungo will provide a roadmap for the future. He explores how businesses can take unexpected approaches to innovation and behavioural insights to remain relevant.
Speaker:
Shawn Kanungo, disruption strategist and partner, Queen & Rook Capital
12:00 – 12:30 PM
Target date: Key considerations as plan design evolves
As plan design evolves to meet the changing plan member landscape, what are the key areas of focus for target date funds? This presentation will discuss key considerations for plan sponsors and explore how market regimes can be used to create a more resilient strategic allocation for investors of all generations. It will also discuss a more robust definition of risk along the glide path that considers not only investment risk, but also plan member needs and sensitivities.
Speaker:
Ruthann M. Pritchard, institutional portfolio manager, global asset allocation, Fidelity Investments
12:30 – 1:00 PM
Responsible investing: From ambition to action
Countless investment managers have publicly announced some form of commitment to responsible investing. But how many are shifting from ambition to action and how can we assess a manager’s progress in systemically implementing their declared approach? Join Satwik Misra as he discusses industry trends and hurdles relating to responsible investing, and Adelina Romanelli as she shares several criteria used in assessing a manager’s progress in their responsible investing journey, and whether they’re on the path to achieving the intended outcomes.
Speakers:
Satwik Misra, director, institutional business development and client relationships, Ontario, Sun Life Global Investments
Adelina Romanelli, manager, responsible investing, SLGI Asset Management Inc.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Target-date funds 2.0: ESG, private assets and glide-path innovation.
Target-date funds have been a solid solution for many defined contribution plan sponsors and members the last 20 years. They are, by definition, a one-size-fits-most type of solution. Plan sponsors and members, particularly those in the 20 years prior to retirement, are interested in considering new risks and opportunities in their investment design. This presentation will highlight three areas of innovation occurring in Canadian and U.S. target-date fund structures and portfolios.
Speaker:
Wylie Tollette, executive vice-president, head of client investment solutions, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions Franklin Advisers Inc.
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Manager selection: Choice, outcomes and the active value of global equities
Selecting an appropriate investment strategy requires making choices that are guided by a plan’s mission, goals and investment objectives. Today’s investment landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities for plan sponsors to deliver on those goals. Multi-asset solutions strategist, Som Priestley will share insight on debunking myths about active and passive investing, framing trade-offs across key metrics and why active global equity managers may be critical to achieving desired outcomes.
Speaker:
Som Priestley, multi-asset solutions strategist, T. Rowe Price
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 2:45 PM
Implementing ESG in fundamental equities
With environmental, social and governance issues standing out as a nuanced and evolving topic for defined contribution pension plan sponsors, it’s critically important for fundamental investment managers to understand the challenge of integrating ESG into their investment processes. This session will look at Capital Group’s approach to ESG integration.
Speaker:
Kathrin Forrest, equity investment specialist, Capital Group
2:45 – 3:15 PM
Making the ESG connection in DC
This session will provide an overview of why environmental, social and governance factors matter for defined contribution plan sponsors, as well as how ESG can be implemented in a DC plan. It will be a candid conversation about ESG, providing plan fiduciaries with some points to consider and sharing a few resources to help further explore the topic.
Speaker:
Darren Patrick, managing director, relationship management, global client group, MFS Investment Management
3:15 – 3:45 PM
The benefits of liquid alternative investments as a portfolio diversifier
In an effort to optimize expected risk-adjusted returns, institutional investors have been increasingly allocating alternatives to their portfolios. While allocations to illiquid alternative assets have dominated in the institutional space, defined contribution plan sponsors are now able to include liquid (daily-valued) alternative investment options. This session will discuss the importance of different facets of investment breadth, including exposure to independent/diversifying sources of return and an appropriate portfolio liquidity profile. It will also demonstrate how an eclectic mix of robust liquid absolute return strategies can help improve these facets of breadth and offer significant additivity to portfolios by complementing allocations to traditional assets. And it will discuss the positive impact of integrating liquid absolute return strategies into target-date funds through a dedicated allocation to this asset class.
Speaker:
Michael Sager, vice-president, multi-asset and currency management, CIBC Asset Management Inc.
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Discussion panel: How are DC plan sponsors approaching ESG?
During this discussion panel, three DC plan sponsors will share their philosophies around environmental, social and governance factors and describe how these factors are reflected in their plans’ investment lineups. They’ll also share their insights on ESG integration, the challenges or barriers facing DC plan sponsors and the lessons they’ve learned in the process so far.
Speakers:
Tom Keenleyside, associate director, investments, Western University
Christine McCloskey-Bruno, senior total rewards manager, KPMG Canada
Daniel Simard, strategic advisor, Bâtirente
