More than 50 workers are on strike at Timberland Equipment Ltd. in Woodstock, Ont., after the company and the union failed to reach an agreement regarding pension plans. According to a press release from the United Steelworkers, most workers are long-time employees who have a defined benefit pension plan, while a smaller group of more […]
Scotiabank is supporting its employees’ financial well-being with a week of information sessions in June. Ayman Alvi, director of global benefits at Scotiabank, says the sessions taking place the week of June 20 will focus on all aspects of financial well-being, including the bank’s pension plan and other financial benefits available to employees. “These events have […]
An article on how employers can create health benefits and retirement plans for gig workers was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Expert panel: How employers can design health benefits, retirement plans for gig workers 2. Hitachi, Unifor agreement includes DB, DC pension […]
Whether they’re delivering takeout, chauffeuring passengers, or fixing leaky sinks, most gig workers in Canada don’t get benefits. Classified as independent contractors rather than employees, they’re excluded from employer contributions to Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance, they may not be protected under worker’s compensation and they can’t participate in tax-advantaged benefits programs like registered […]
An article on the potential future of pension plans in the private sector was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Expert panel: Are private sector employers heading toward a pension renaissance? 2. A third of Canadian employees retiring sooner than planned: survey 3. Mental-health […]
Representatives from a few of Canada’s most progressive pension plans weighed in on topics ranging from plan design to the various challenges posed by legislation and governance during a webinar hosted by the Association of Canadian Pension Management last week. Orla Cousineau, executive director of pensions at the University of British Columbia, said the province’s […]
Canada drops to No. 10 among developed nations for retiree well-being after spending two years in a row at No. 8, according to Natixis Investment Managers’ annual global retirement index. The index, which provides an overview of the relative well-being and financial security of retirees in 44 countries, examined several factors, including whether a country […]
Anyone flipping through a prospectus for an employer’s defined contribution pension plan or group registered retirement savings plan will notice a recurring theme when it comes to statements on investment fees: “Better than retail!” they might as well scream. It’s a familiar refrain from both capital accumulation plan sponsors and providers trumpeting the lower rates […]
Many defined contribution pension plans contain a built-in contradiction. During accumulation, they offer an array of investment choices — sometimes too many. In decumulation, by contrast, the choices are very limited — perhaps to a conservative balanced fund and an annuity. Many plan sponsors don’t pay enough attention to decumulation because they’re focused on removing […]
Defined contribution plan members saw a bounce-back in equity markets in the second quarter of 2020, boosting their gross income replacement ratios from the lows of the first quarter, according to Eckler Ltd.’s latest capital accumulation plan income tracker report. A typical male DC plan member retiring at age 65 at the end of June […]