Group benefits and retirement professionals are so hard to come by these days that one post-secondary institution has collaborated with the industry to launch a new course designed to stream students quickly into the field. The first of its kind in Canada, Georgian College’s benefits and pensions course will blend online curriculum borrowed from the […]
Canadian equities are losing their lustre while investment managers are growing bullish towards the United States, according to a report. In the latest Investment Manager Outlook report, Russell Investments says more than 95% of investment managers think the Canadian market is fairly valued or overvalued. Bullishness towards Canadian equities has dropped to 33% from 43%, […]
Other Brieflies this week:| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | Phased retirement changes have been passed into law in Quebec with some modifications, according to a Mercer Communiqué. Under the new rules, plan members can, subject to certain conditions, receive a pension from a defined benefit (DB) plan or a benefit […]
The average plan member is by no means a financial expert, and the choices offered by many service providers can leave some members bewildered and in need of advice. Plan sponsors and service providers have been understandably averse to providing such advice due to the risks involved, but one company thinks it has found a […]
BCE has reached a final agreement with the buyout consortium led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in a $52 billion deal, the largest leveraged buyout in history. The agreement includes “fully negotiated and executed credit documents for the purpose of funding the transaction,” at a purchase price of $42.75 per share Teachers’ director of […]
The tax-free savings account (TFSA) is expected to be a hit when it comes into effect in 2009, but it seems individual Canadians won’t be alone in taking advantage of the new savings vehicle; many employers have indicated they will be offering group TFSAs, according to a survey. A poll of more than 250 employers […]
Three and a half million Canadian workers are being left out in the cold when it comes to retirement income, according to pension expert Keith Ambachtsheer, and he thinks he’s found a solution. In a recent report published by the C.D. Howe Institute, Ambachtsheer suggests that adequate savings could be attainable for most Canadians […]
Keith Ambachtsheer seems to have a lot of friends these days. Ever since the renowned pension consultant published The Canada Supplementary Pension Plan (CSPP): Towards an Adequate, Affordable Pension for All Canadians, pension reform has become a hot topic in industry circles. His cause was given a boost recently by the former head of the […]
Manulife’s Group IncomePlus is unique among retirement products and is expected by many to take the industry by storm. But steep fees have some consultants saying it’s too expensive. Launched in mid-June, Group IncomePlus is based on Manulife’s highly successful IncomePlus GIF Select retail product and offers plan members an investment option based on a […]
The recent trend of increased private sector ownership of infrastructure assets has resulted in a surge of investment into the asset class, but investors need to realize that the term ‘infrastructure’ does not guarantee profitability, according to an expert. In a speech to the Toronto CFA Society on Tuesday, Rob Prugue, senior managing director at […]