While retirement income security is top of mind for many Canadians, British Columbia’s public sector pension plans are noteworthy models that can be emulated by sponsors seeking plan design solutions, particularly when it comes to governance. Some other Canadian jurisdictions have introduced, or are in the process of developing, pension governance models similar to British Columbia, but […]
Conduent Inc. has completed the sale of its human resources consulting business to a fund managed by private equity investment firm H.I.G. Capital. The business, which was formerly known as Buck Consultants, has relaunched under that name. It will offer global integrated HR consulting, benefits administration and technology services. The deal, as reported in May 2018, included the […]
Cashiers will often ask Canadian consumers if they’d like to donate to a charity as they pay for items at retail stores. But what about applying the concept to retirement savings? A pilot project in Mexico is taking voluntary contributions at the checkout counter to a whole new level by nudging people who are buying […]
While there are nuances, I consider a target-benefit plan to be one that determines benefits to members on a defined benefit basis while setting out employer contributions on a defined contribution basis. To allow for that mix, target-benefit plans permit benefit reductions when contributions fall short. My goal is to share what I consider an […]
Quebec-based insurance broker Lussier Dale Parizeau Inc. is acquiring employee benefits advisor Trinome Conseils. Following the acquisition, Lussier Dale Parizeau will have nearly 800 employees located in 28 branch offices and serving more than 155,000 employer clients. Trinome Conseils provides group insurance, pension, human resources and occupational health and safety services for employers. Read: Hub International […]
Great-West Life Assurance Co. has made three appointments to its executive team. Karrina Dusablon has joined the company as vice-president of national accounts for its plan sponsor services division. Issa Guindo has been appointed assistant vice-president of group customer data and analytics. And Derrick March has been named vice-president of business development for the group customer practice, […]
Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Ontario-based Benefit Broker Services Inc. Benefit Broker Services, which is located in Wallaceburg, Ont., is a provider of services related to employee benefits and pension plans. The terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. Scott Ewing, the firm’s president, and Stacey Ewing, its co-founder and owner, will join Hub Ontario, reporting […]
The Nova Scotia Pension Services Corp. finished 2017 with $11.5 billion in assets between the Public Service Superannuation Plan and the Teachers’ Pension Plan, according to its annual report. The PSSP closed out the year with a $207-million surplus, resulting in a going-concern funded ratio of 103.4 per cent, down slightly from the 104.1 per cent it posted […]
There was a lot of news to share from the pension, investment, benefits and human resources industries this month. Here are the 10 most popular online stories of the month: 1. Employer-paid benefits to be subject to new B.C. health tax 2. Ontario government to become second payer under OHIP+ changes 3. Great-West Life’s Jeff […]
Federal officials overseeing billions in benefit payments to millions of Canadians are hoping artificial intelligence can resolve ongoing snags in the system. The government is looking to “push the boundaries” of what artificial intelligence can do to improve a variety of services, including the pace of benefit decisions to Canadians applying for disability pensions, say […]