Just as plan sponsors are moving away from defined benefit (DB) pensions, so too is global consultant Mercer. On October 7, Mercer told its 24 public U.S. DB clients that it will no longer be offering investment consulting services. Charles Salmans, partner and director of global public relations with Mercer said the company is working […]
Members of Australia’s Mercer Super Trust are getting a helping hand. The new retirement calculator will help them assess their superannuation and predict the impact events such as share market volatility and a career break will have on their retirement income. The simulator also features a ‘stress-test’, which helps members to see the impact of […]
Mercer will acquire the HR knowledge provider ORC Worldwide for an undisclosed amount. In a press release, Mercer said it valued ORC’s compensation surveys, global peer networking services, educational seminars and conference services. “Clearly, this combination will further enhance Mercer’s market position as the provider of choice for solutions around global workforce management,” said M […]
The U.K. government’s proposal to give workers access to their pension fund prior to retirement will only undermine the country’s retirement system, warns Mercer. The new coalition government’s ‘Programme for Government’ document states that it will “explore the potential to give people greater flexibility in accessing part of their personal pension fund early.” Such early […]
Organizations with less than 1,000 employees now have a new option when it comes to online benefits enrollment services. For companies facing additional benefits enrollment challenges as a result of U.S. healthcare reform, Mercer’s EnrollNetSM offers a portal for employees to elect benefits, communicate benefit elections to insurers and gather the necessary information for completing […]
Recovering equity markets and rising interest rates combined to nudge the overall health of pension plans upward this past quarter, according to Mercer. The Mercer Pension Health Index—which shows the ratio of assets to liabilities for a model pension plan—increased to 74%, up 1% from the beginning of the fourth quarter and 15% from the […]
Other Brieflies this week:MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | Mercer’s health and benefits business has launched an advisory service for companies concerned about the impact of pandemics, including the H1N1 virus, on their workforces. The service allows clients to identify oversights in company responses to pandemics, covering core areas such as […]
While some have described 2008 as a roller coaster ride, Mercer compares it to a big jump off a steep cliff. In light of that, it’s not surprising that Mercer’s 2009 Fearless Forecast predicts a “soft year for the economy.” However, while expectations for 2009 are low, they are not dismal and, some positive investment […]
Recovering equity markets and rising interest rates combined to nudge the overall health of pension plans upward this past quarter, according to Mercer. The Mercer Pension Health Index—which shows the ratio of assets to liabilities for a model pension plan—increased to 74%, up 1% from the beginning of the fourth quarter and 15% from the […]
Growing demand for Mercer’s responsible investment (RI) consulting services has led to the appointment of six new specialists, including two in Canada. Jordan Berger joins the team in Toronto as head of RI for this country. He has spent the last 10 years working with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) where he worked […]