As inflation hits a record high in Canada, employers are helping workers weather the storm through various benefits and compensation offerings, according to several experts. In October, the Canadian inflation rate increased year over year by a record 4.7 per cent, the largest increase since February 2003, according to Statistics Canada. The Bank of Canada […]
More than 19 months into the coronavirus pandemic, employers are focusing on enhanced mental-health offerings and streamlined communications for their benefits and pension plans. During a virtual roundtable on Oct. 14, the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists discussed the changes brought about by the pandemic and how they’ve adapted their benefits and pensions offerings, while looking […]
A majority (63 per cent) of U.S. employees said their employer doesn’t offer a financial wellness program, according to a new survey by the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association. It found only 18 per cent of respondents have access to financial wellness resources through their employer and, of these respondents, just eight per cent have […]
With many employees struggling with finances since the coronavirus pandemic started last March, two experts weigh in on the viability of offering a workplace emergency savings benefit. Elizabeth Mulholland, chief executive officer of Prosper Canada Policy-makers should absolutely be considering ways to facilitate a wider range of affordable, quality workplace savings options and to more […]
Possibly getting rich quick with a few swipes on one’s phone certainly sounds appealing and based on recent statistics and news reports, more and more Canadians are diving headfirst into the choppy do-it-yourself investing waters. According to Investor Economics, a financial services research firm, Canadians opened more than 2.3 million gross new accounts between January […]
The financial well-being of Canadians has declined over the last year, according to a new survey by Morneau Shepell Ltd. It rated Canadians’ overall financial health as of January 2021 at -2.8, indicating a decline from the previous year. Women reported a lower score (-5.1) than men (-0.6), with male respondents reporting improvement in some […]
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic raising economic concerns, the Arthritis Society is taking a responsive approach with its Financial Literacy Month initiatives during the month of November. “We’re reading the pulse,” says Cheryl McClellan, the organization’s chief operating officer. “We haven’t seen a lot of people stressed directly in our organization, but generally, we understand […]
While working Canadians expect to retire, on average, at age 62, they’ll require $878,000 in retirement savings, more than twice the amount of current retirees, according to a new study by Mackenzie Investments. It found 45 per cent of respondents who are still working said they plan to continue doing so in some capacity, compared […]
Retirement income can be sliced into three broad categories: what an individual receives from their employer, what they receive from the government and everything else. While plan sponsors are naturally most concerned with what they provide for plan members, including all forms of income in the conversation is integral to properly planning for retirement, says […]
Retirement and savings programs should motivate plan members to think about how they want to spend their time in retirement as well as their money. “If we focus in just on the financial part of the equation and then [plan members] get to that point where [they’re] retiring, not only might they not have enough money to do the […]