While estimating the longevity of a pension plan’s membership isn’t a new concept, developments in using big data and new tools in predictive modelling could go a long way to making predictions more accurate. “Traditionally, most benefit plans were using standard mortality tables and not really differentiating how much longevity risk they had,” says Manuel […]
The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities has released an update on pension plans using leverage. “What makes it of particular interest to pension regulators now, is that it is being used more commonly and more intensively by pension plans, principally as a component of investment strategies aimed at achieving better asset-liability matching (through higher […]
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ office of the chief actuary has appointed Assia Billig as chief actuary, effective April 15, 2019. She will succeed Jean-Claude Ménard, who will retire in mid-April after 20 years as chief actuary. Billig has worked in the office of the chief actuary for more than a decade, specializing in actuarial […]
Three-quarters (77 per cent) of Canadian executives predict significant disruption in human resources in the next three years, according to Mercer’s 2019 global talent trends study. The study, which polled more than 7,300 senior business executives, HR leaders and employees from 16 countries, found this is higher than expectations from the U.S. (65 per cent) […]
Though the term ‘corporate social responsibility’ varies across companies and countries, it’s generally considered to be a form of organizational self-regulation focusing on an employer’s approach to sustainability across a variety of topics, such as environmental efforts, human rights, corporate governance, health and safety and economic development. Unilever’s sustainable living plan sets out ambitious targets […]
As a job title, ‘drug case manager’ can imply different things across the health-care and benefits industries. In Canada, a drug case manager may be part of a drug manufacturer’s patient support program or an insurance company’s preferred pharmacy network, while hospitals have case managers at various levels, says Suzanne Nagy, drug consulting leader for […]
British Columbia’s College Pension Plan board of trustees selection panel has appointed Bita Jenab as its director of research and analysis for the college and public service pension plans. Jenab has more than 30 years of consulting experience and extensive experience as a consulting actuary working with jointly sponsored pension boards. She will provide the board with strategic […]
Not all chiropractors practice according to the same philosophy. This is leading some in the benefits industry to believe more scrutiny is necessary when it comes to paramedical expenses and determining whether they’re being used for evidence-based treatments. A recent article in the Globe and Mail highlighted a divide within the chiropractic profession between those who practice evidence-based treatments and those […]
In the fourth industrial revolution, technology is changing at a fast pace with a rolling effect on various industries. It’s also changing how people work, spend their money and save, said Jean-Philippe Provost, senior partner and wealth business leader at Mercer Canada. At the consultancy’s annual retirement outlook event on Thursday, Provost walked through current practices in the Canadian retirement […]
In the fourth industrial revolution, technology is changing at a fast pace with a rolling effect on various industries. It’s also changing how people work, spend their money and save, said Jean-Philippe Provost, senior partner and wealth business leader at Mercer Canada. At the consultancy’s annual retirement outlook event on Thursday, Provost walked through current practices in the Canadian […]