A third (34 per cent) of global institutional investors say they’ve already incorporated or plan to add digital assets to their investment portfolios in the near future, according to a new survey by Northern Trust. The survey, which polled more than 100 institutional investors, found two-thirds (66 per cent) said private assets will benefit the […]
An increase in the frequency of digital breaches among financial organizations is pushing institutional investors to take the necessary steps to prevent cyberattacks, says Sebastien Betermier, executive director at the International Centre for Pension Management. The complexity of the industry as well as the investment patterns of Canadian pension funds can create increased risk in […]
In the fight against cybercriminals, institutional investors and other financial organizations are managing cybersecurity just as seriously as any other type of business risk, with standards that can accommodate the integration of new practices and assessment tools. “We’re finding that, pension plans included, enterprises more broadly are taking [cybersecurity] more seriously and putting in place […]
While there are multiple opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence in the employee benefits space — including making the claims process more efficient and personalizing the plan member experience — one of the biggest advantages of the technology is the ability to streamline administrative tasks, allowing employees to focus on more value-added work in […]
Manitoba’s auditor general says the provincial government has introduced information technology security measures to help employees work from home, but some improvements are needed. Tyson Shtykalo examined information technology systems after government employees began to work remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. His 23-page report says the province uses encryption to protect data, but some settings […]
Information technology risk has become a more prevalent concern in recent years, so it comes as no surprise that Canadian pension regulators are focused on ensuring that plan administrators manage this risk effectively. IT risk is associated with an entity’s IT infrastructure as a whole, including risk caused by error or malfunction, as well as […]
In the coming year, the Association of Canadian Pension Management is looking forward to the possibility of participating in final consultations on policies and legislation determining variable payment life annuities, says Todd Saulnier, a principal at Mercer and president of the ACPM board. The 2023 federal budget proposed amendments to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 […]
On Dec. 6, the Canadian Investment Review hosted its annual Defined Benefit Investment Forum. With the close of a year marred by financial fragility and global discontent, leaders from Canada’s defined benefit pension plan sponsor community gathered to shed light on the challenging economic landscape of 2023 and make informed predictions about the hurdles and opportunities ahead. Here’s what […]
Pension plan sponsors must effectively employ care, diligence and skill when facing cybersecurity threats, said Sandeep Kakan, board trustee and secretary at the Canada-Wide Industrial Pension Plan, during a session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum in December. Cybersecurity concerns are rising in the aftermath of the MOVEit hack, which compromised […]
More than two-thirds of global employers view the lack of key talent and uncertain economic growth (68 per cent for both) as the top threats to their businesses, according to a survey by Russell Reynolds Associates. The survey, which polled more than 2,500 global board directors, C-suite leaders and next-generation leaders, found 62 per cent of […]