A New Brunswick task force charged with reviewing pension reform wants to hear what you think. The task force is examining new forms of risk management practices and regulatory structures adopted by other jurisdictions, and assessing whether these concepts can be adapted in New Brunswick. The three-member panel of pension experts includes Paul McCrossan, an […]
At the end of last year, pension fund asset levels in most countries had returned to their pre-crisis levels; however, growing risks due to the euro zone crisis and other financial market issues are making the outlook less clear, says the latest report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The 2011 edition of […]
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) is the latest organization to speak out against the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s (CFIB) recent campaign against public sector pensions. PIPSC has released a video indicating plans to launch an awareness campaign targeted specifically at disproving the CFIB’s claims. In the video, PIPSC vice-president […]
Watch this video To simplify your DC plan for members, consider addressing the savings side rather than the investment side, says Marc Poupart, director of pension and retirement programs for Hudson’s Bay Company. Am I going to have enough to retire? When can I retire? How can I do it? These are the basic questions […]
Sponsors of DB pension plans continue to face the same old struggle: managing risk. That was the main theme of the DB track at Benefits Canada’s 2011 Benefits & Pension Summit. DB experts examined risk in detail and also provided attendees with perspectives on investment strategies relating to currency management and emerging and frontier markets. […]
Originally from our sister publication, Advisor.ca. An individual pension plan (IPP) can be an effective vehicle for funding a business owner’s retirement and minimizing their personal taxes. It can also play a part in corporate tax planning. And yet it remains something of a rarity in Canada. Recent growth has been steady but not stellar. […]
There have been many negative headlines around the world about DB pension plans. Some DB plans are facing severe funding problems and, in some countries, governments have stepped in and “frozen” DB plans to new entrants. Critics say DB plans are too expensive for single employers to operate; others feel public sector employees should get […]
While pension plan sponsors continue to use their fixed income (FI) assets primarily to meet liabilities, there’s been an unmistakable shift over the past few years in the types of FI holdings found in Canadian plans. Many are moving away from the “vanilla” government bonds that have typically made up the majority of FI portfolios […]
For Larry Ketchabaw, manager, pension and benefits for Unisource Canada, the key to helping employees better understand their pension plans is better education. He stresses the importance of going beyond traditional teaching techniques through the use of webinars and Internet-based communications, and encourages plan sponsors to always find new ways to educate. Find out more […]
Target benefit pension plans and target date funds (TDFs) may be similar in name, but they are worlds apart when it comes to the benefits they provide—and the communications strategies required to help them succeed. Target benefit pension plans vs. TDFs Target benefit pension plans are a special breed of pension plan. They combine a […]