Pension plans have developed an appetite for real assets in recent years, but what does the term actually include? In response to demands from asset managers for more information about real assets, the S&P Dow Jones Indices created a benchmark index for the area in 2015, said Jodie Gunzberg, the organization’s managing director of product management. “We […]
Financial concerns weigh heavily on employees’ minds both at home and at work, according to a new survey by Ernst & Young. As such, many organizations recognize the need to help their employees by providing a financial wellness program. The majority (86 per cent) of human resources professionals surveyed said their organization offers such a […]
The irony of pensions and benefits is that employees tend to ignore them until they need them or until their employer changes them. And whether it’s good news or bad news, there are almost always trade-offs. Changing pensions or benefits can be a tough sell to employees. When employers say “change,” employees often hear “change […]
As pension plan administrators and sponsors seek to improve member engagement, new research shows more straightforward language around disclosure could hold the key to better results. Recently, Invesco Ltd.’s consulting group teamed up with political consultants and the word specialists at Maslansky + Partners to conduct a large and comprehensive study of financial language. The study included […]
A consultant’s role was historically a passive one, says Martin Leclair, who recently left a role at Toronto-based consulting firm Proteus Performance Management. The consultant’s role centred on the various aspects of developing pension and benefits plans for employers, from choosing fund offerings and implementing target-date options and automatic enrolment to decisions about formularies, step […]
Retirement is a notion fraught with paradox. For some, it resonates with the possibility of finally having more time to do, well, just about anything. For others, it triggers concern about whether they’ll have enough saved to retire comfortably and securely. And still, for others, it induces a kind of investment-anxiety paralysis filled with self-doubt. […]
Bob Bellamy started working as a handyman in 1947, when he was just 16 years old. Over the next 70 years, he moved up through the ranks at real estate development company Armel Corp. in Guelph, Ont., and continues to work there today as a construction manager. “He used to work for my father, and […]
Following the implementation of a workplace wellness program, there are two groups of employees that require followup and support. My last column covered how to help wellness champions maintain success. But participants who haven’t progressed also need extra attention. It’s not enough to be satisfied with a majority of participants improving. You should strive to […]
As part of its celebration of its 40th anniversary, Benefits Canada followed up on research undertaken five years ago into plan sponsors’ attitudes towards their pension and benefits plans. How do the results today compare to the 2012 findings? It’s no surprise that, according to Benefits Canada’s research, plan sponsors find costs the biggest challenge […]
As we celebrate Benefits Canada’s 40th anniversary, it’s a good time to look ahead to the next 40 years. Looking ahead, I see the inevitable trend of health benefits moving to a defined contribution approach from a defined benefit one. I expect the trend to mirror the developments in the pension area over the last […]