While some may still dream of an early retirement, the world where freedom 55 seemed like a genuine possibility is no longer the world we live in today. However, in some ways, the retirement systems established by Canada’s government don’t reflect the current reality — in order to achieve a financially healthy retirement, Canadians will need to […]
In this time of global pandemic, the coronavirus is shaking up everything, with high market volatility and changing work arrangements. Everyone is worried — not only for their immediate futures, but also for the long term. “It’s pretty hard to watch the market go through the volatility that we’ve seen over the last couple of […]
In this time of global pandemic, the coronavirus is shaking up everything, with high market volatility and changing work arrangements. Everyone is worried — not only for their immediate futures, but also for the long term. “It’s pretty hard to watch the market go through the volatility that we’ve seen over the last couple weeks,” […]
The majority (seven in 10) of Canadian women age 45 and older said they feel confident they’ll be able to afford the lifestyle they want in retirement, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. This is a significant shift from five years ago, when another RBC survey found 75 per cent of Canadian women didn’t […]
While Canadians said they plan to retire, on average, at age 62, 59 per cent said they can’t estimate how much money they’ll need to enjoy a comfortable retirement, according to a new survey by BMO Financial Group. The survey of 1,500 Canadians also found only half of respondents are hopeful they’ll have enough money […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is asking the federal government to develop a strategy for access to high-cost drugs and to make flexible annuity options available for a variety of retirement savings vehicles. In its 2020 budget submission to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the association called for the federal government to work with provincial and territorial governments and […]
While more than half of Canadians agreed tax-free savings accounts (59 per cent) and registered retirement savings plans (57 per cent) are a crucial part of their savings strategy, 27 per cent admitted they don’t know the difference between the two options, according to a new survey by TD Canada Trust. “Many Canadians have both […]
As Mountain Equipment Co-op makes major changes to remain viable, the Vancouver-based retailer is investing in its frontline employees. MEC converted more than 950 jobs classified as casual, non-permanent roles into full- and part-time positions. Those employees will now receive MEC’s benefits package, which includes extended health and dental coverage, a tuition assistance benefit, a […]
About a year ago, Benefits Canada introduced a few new columns and features, including our Head to Head, where every month we choose a hot industry question and open up a two-person debate. I’m often tempted to join in the discussion, but ultimately fall on the side of restraint. This month, though, I can’t resist […]
The Swedish word “tack” translates to “thank you,” which is precisely what IKEA is saying to employees with its Tack! loyalty program. In Canada, the program operates as a deferred profit-sharing plan and is part of employees’ total rewards package. “The [program] was launched in 2013 based on the wish of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad […]