While the pension industry has traditionally spent a lot of time focusing on active management and its impact, the right result is driven by strategic design, said Brett Sumsion, portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2019 DC Plan Summit in Banff, Alta. in February. “A strategic design [is] about diversification, […]
Looking at the role of plan design in driving member outcomes, it comes down to data and experience, according to Margaret Rux, principal and department head of retirement plan client services at the Vanguard Group., at Benefits Canada’s 2019 DC Plan Summit in Banff, Alta. in February. Capturing data from five million members and more […]
Simplifying DC plan enrolment should begin by eliminating the “tyranny of choice,” making it easier for plan members to just get started, according to Tom Reid, senior vice-president of group retirement services at Sun Life Financial. “We’re not saying choice is bad, but at certain moments choice is really not the most welcome thing and […]
A new paper from Ryerson University’s National Institute of Ageing is calling for the creation of workplace tax-free pension plans to better support Canadians’ financial security in retirement. Under the current workplace registered pension plan model, noted the research, lower to middle income Canadians are essentially discouraged from saving for retirement due to the potential financial […]
In its 2019 budget on Tuesday, the federal government confirmed it will work with partners to move forward on three foundational elements of national pharmacare. The initial steps are the creation of a new national drug agency and a national formulary, which were both recommended by the advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare in its interim […]
If there’s one thing Canada’s pension industry can agree on, it’s the work that needs to be done around defined contribution pension plans. In February, on the second morning of Benefits Canada’s DC Plan Summit in Banff, Alta., a roomful of plan sponsors, record-keepers, investment managers and consultants compiled a wish list for DC plans. […]
When the Canada Pension Plan enhancement took effect on Jan. 1, 2019, did you feel the pinch in your first paycheque of the year? The answer is probably no. In the first stage of enhancement, employee and employer contribution rates will rise from 4.95 per cent each to 5.95 per cent each, for a total […]
For many people, the holidays are a time filled with family and friends, comforting food, dazzling decorations and all the fixings that instil a spirit of seasonal goodwill. But amid all the presumptive festivities, we don’t typically acknowledge the inherent stress that accompanies the yuletide. Financial expenses build up, end-of-year deadlines loom and even family […]
In my formative school years, it was mandatory for all students to learn cooking, carpentry and typing, among other non-academic pursuits. While I’m certainly grateful to have those life skills, as I get older I wonder why we weren’t taught to invest in the stock market, save for retirement or do our taxes. Generationally, I […]
In helping employees save for their future, the Royal Bank of Canada recognizes the importance of meeting its staff where they are on their financial journeys. Over the past few years, the bank noticed employees weren’t saving enough into its pension plans. In particular, new hires and younger workers who were invited to join the […]