A third (33 per cent) of Canadian women aren’t confident they’ll be able to afford their desired lifestyle in retirement, according to a survey by RBC Insurance. Women between the ages of 45 and 54 (38 per cent) were more likely to report this uncertainty than those aged 65 or older (22 per cent). Single women (36 […]
In a showdown between tax-free savings accounts and registered retirement savings plans, Canadians have a clear favourite: more than half said they prefer to put their money in a TFSA, according to a new survey by the Bank of Montreal (BMO). The problem is almost one-third (32 per cent) don’t know the difference between the two savings plans. Among millennials, […]
The Actuarial Standards Board is consulting on changes to key components of how the commuted value for a pension plan is calculated. The commuted-value standard is used to determine how much to pay a terminating plan member who chooses to take their pension payment as a lump sum. It’s also a key part of calculating […]
Portable non-employer retirement benefits could be a useful tool in addressing the underperformance of the U.S. retirement system as a whole, according to a new report by Common Wealth and the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program. These programs, which would be tied to employment but not to a specific employer, could be sponsored by a number […]
From banks to insurers to the federal government, retirement calculators are a regular feature of the financial planning landscape. At their most basic, they use data, such as age, income and current assets, to provide recommendations for how an individual can aim to meet their retirement goals. But can these tools truly provide a reliable […]
Defined benefit pension plans aren’t just better for Canadian workers, but for the country’s economy in general, according to a new study by the Canadian Public Pension Leadership Council. Statistics Canada data from 2018 showed 37.5 per cent of Canadian workers have some type of pension or retirement savings plan through their workplace, and 25.2 per cent […]
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is appointing Melanie Jeannotte as the national president of its benefits services group in Canada. Prior to the new role, Jeannotte was area president of Western Canada for Gallagher’s benefits and human resources consulting practice. She also spent eight years as a managing partner at Vital Benefits Inc. in Calgary. […]
Baby boomers want to keep working in retirement, but most said their company doesn’t offer the option, according to a poll by research firm Harris Insights & Analytics. The poll found the majority of working baby boomers are satisfied with their current job and would stay in the workforce if semi-retirement was an option. However, many […]
Despite market turmoil, Canadians are saving more in their registered retirement savings plans, led by strong growth among millennials, according to the Bank of Montreal’s annual RRSP study. Nationally, the average amount held in RRSPs is $101,155 — a 21 per cent increase from $83,635 in 2016. Millennials account for the greatest increase in amounts held, at 87 per cent […]
The union representing 1,900 non-academic workers at the University of Saskatchewan is raising objections to a proposal the school has tabled to eliminate its defined benefit pension plan replace it with a defined contribution or target-benefit plan. In December, the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ bargaining committee proposed a jointly sponsored DB plan as a compromise, said […]