The solvency positions of Canadian defined benefit pension plans declined slightly in the third quarter of 2019, according to new surveys from Aon and Mercer. Aon’s latest median solvency ratio survey reported a drop to 98.6 per cent from 99.3 per cent in the second quarter, while Mercer’s pension health index recorded 94 per cent […]
In the current market environment, there may be good reasons for investors to consider increasing their portfolio’s allocations to cash, according to a new report by Mercer. At the end of August 2019, cash yielded more than long bonds, says Dave Makarchuk, partner and Western Canada wealth business leader at Mercer, noting Canadian 91-day treasury […]
Morneau Shepell Ltd. is acquiring U.S.-based MorningStar Health Inc. The acquisition will allow Morneau Shepell to enhance its U.S. presence in absence management, including leaves, disability, absence reporting and accommodation. MorningStar Health’s plan sponsor clients and employees, including its leadership team, will join Morneau Shepell but will remain based in Grand Rapids, MI. Read: Morneau Shepell closes acquisition of some of Mercer’s […]
Investors seeking regular income are limited because traditional sources aren’t producing the results they used, says Dave Makarchuk, partner and Western Canada wealth business leader at Mercer, noting bond yields are really low and coupons are low. “And so dividends can be an attractive option for those who are seeking regular cash flow,” he says. […]
Middle managers, as the bridge connecting those at the top of an organization with the wider workforce, are an integral part of how a company runs. According to a 2016 study by Harvard Business School, performance tends to be higher among employees who sense their tasks are significant to an organization and are provided with […]
Canadian executives who think they can manage disruptions in their industries could be in for a big surprise if they don’t do more to include human resources in their transformation plans. Millions of jobs — and the people who fill them — will be affected by artificial intelligence and automation between now and 2022. Organizations that […]
The majority of Canadian organizations are continuing to invest in salary increases, with just six per cent reporting a salary freeze for executives and 4.8 per cent reporting a salary freeze for non-executives in 2019, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. This year, merit budgets increased to 2.6 per cent, on average, and […]
Three managing general agencies in the benefits, pension and investment industries are combining forces. The firms — Financial Horizons Group, headquartered in Kitchener, Ont.; Torce Financial Group Inc., based in the greater Toronto area; and Vance Financial Group Inc. from Vancouver — will join forces to build on the strengths of their operations and advisor networks, according to […]
Compared to the preceding years, 2019 appears to be the year of steady when it comes to progress on hot topics that resonated in the industry in 2017 and 2018. While no single topic has disappeared from the slate, neither have any new ones risen to become topics of urgency among consultants. “Last year, we […]
Compared to the preceding years, 2019 appears to be the year of steady when it comes to progress on hot topics that resonated in the industry in 2017 and 2018. While no single topic has disappeared from the slate, neither have any new ones risen to become topics of urgency among consultants. “Last year, we […]