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2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference: The role of mental-health care, support in DEI strategies

As employers increasingly embrace diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, strong mental-health support can be a key pillar in those efforts, said Joby McKenzie, managing director for Canada at Teladoc Health, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. Highlighting statistics showing the mental-health disparities across diverse groups, she noted a third of Indigenous people […]

  • November 20, 2023 November 20, 2023
  • 07:57

2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference: How can plan sponsors support employees with menopause?

Since menopause often hits women at the peak of their careers and can have an impact on their workplace productivity, employers must re-evaluate their benefits plans and workplace policies to better support women through the transition. While the common age range for menopause is between 45 and 55, it can also happen before age 40, […]

  • November 20, 2023 November 15, 2023
  • 07:56

2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference: Supporting employees’ financial well-being amid rising inflation, interest rates

As Canadians face the dual effects of the rapidly rising cost of living and interest rates, the resulting financial stress has major implications for plan sponsors, said Valérie Fernandez, senior advisor of workplace health best practices and strategic support for group insurance at Beneva, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference in October. Indeed, employers […]

  • November 20, 2023 November 15, 2023
  • 07:54

2023 Healthy Outcomes Conference: How can employers provide targeted chronic illness support?

As the proportion of Canadians living with one or more chronic disease continues to rise, plan sponsors have the opportunity to provide specific solutions to some of the most common conditions in their employee population, said Karen Callaghan, senior director of chronic disease education and patient support at Novo Nordisk, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Healthy […]

  • November 20, 2023 November 15, 2023
  • 07:53

2023 DC Investment Forum: The importance of strategic asset allocation in target-date funds

Since defined contribution plan members will experience a wide variety of market conditions over the course of their working lives and into retirement, it’s important for the strategic asset allocation of target-date funds to be diversified and able to stand the test of time, according to Jon Knowles, institutional portfolio manager for global asset allocation at […]

  • November 6, 2023 November 1, 2023
  • 07:58

2023 DC Investment Forum: How real assets in DC plans can give members a ‘much smoother ride’

In volatile market environments, adding real assets to defined contribution pension plan portfolios has the ability to provide diversification benefits and give members a “much smoother ride” to retirement, according to Andrew Knox, managing director of the Franklin global real asset fund at Franklin Templeton Investments. Speaking during Benefits Canada’s 2023 DC Investment Forum in […]

  • November 6, 2023 November 1, 2023
  • 07:57

2023 DC Investment Forum: Why DC plan sponsors should consider a distinct credit exposure

While fixed income has long had the reputation of being the conservative and stable supporting partner in the traditional balanced portfolio, unbundling fixed income into its sub-components presents opportunities for enhanced risk-adjusted returns, said Aaron Young, vice-president and client portfolio manager at CIBC Asset Management. When investors buy the FTSE universe bond index or even […]

  • November 6, 2023 November 1, 2023
  • 07:56

2023 DC Investment Forum: How longevity risk pooling can help DC plan members meet their retirement income needs

Larry, a hypothetical defined contribution plan member, is facing a difficult calculus as he prepares to retire. Between his personal and DC plan savings, he’s accumulated $620,000 in savings for his retirement and is also expecting roughly $1,000 a month from the Canada Pension Plan and $650 in old-age security benefits. He has to determine […]

  • November 6, 2023 November 1, 2023
  • 07:55

2023 DC Investment Forum: Target-date fund glide paths evolving to meet DC plan member needs

Plotting out a glide path is the most important part of designing a target-date fund — not only does it take members on a roughly 40-year investing journey, but it also has the most significant impact on their retirement outcomes. Glide paths must also address the key risks facing defined contribution plan members, said Satwick […]

  • November 6, 2023 November 6, 2023
  • 07:54

Proactive, customized health and wellness strategies must consider pandemic impacts

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, employers will likely start to see more chronic diseases in their employee population and should consider proactive strategies for supporting workers’ overall health, said Peter Nord, chief medical officer at Medcan, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Chronic Disease at Work conference in early February. “Employees are looking around for […]

  • February 27, 2023 February 15, 2023
  • 07:59