April 2009

Governance/legislation

Andrea Garson, vice-president of HR with Workopolis, discusses the Canadian job market and shares strategies for managing your workforce during tough times. How severely has…

After emerging from the horrors of 2008, the folks at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec were no doubt looking to 2009 with…

How fiduciary liability insurance can help Plan sponsors guard against future member litigation. The current economic turbulence, combined with increasing numbers of retirees, is creating…

The challenge of managing pension plans during an economic downturn requires employers and administrators to revisit their legal responsibilities. The global financial and economic pressures…

Capital accumulation plans

Are target date funds a healthy choice for plan sponsors concerned about member engagement? Many plan members remain in a state of investment and retirement…

DC plan member engagement is even more important in an economic downturn. But how do you get the message out? Imagine you’re a 25-year veteran…

Engagement and adequacy: are they mutually exclusive? Defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors have generally operated on the assumption that engaging members is the ultimate goal.…

The next generation of DC investment products. Despite the success of lifecycle funds and related products globally, there are two improvements that would greatly enhance…

Understanding the role that behaviour plays in plan member engagement. In the evolving climate of group retirement savings, getting members to play an active role…

Helping plan sponsors to mitigate risk, strengthen plan governance and improve their investment platforms. Plan sponsors face numerous governance challenges in the operation of their…

Addressing risk tolerance: choosing a target date solution for Canadians. Compared with investors in other countries, Canadians tend to be more risk-averse where their finances…

The need to consider strategies that have limited exposure or low correlation to the investor’s industry. If you ask typical plan participants what their single…

Employers should consider the needs of different generations in their HR programs. As the baby boomers approach retirement, employees are becoming immensely important to employers.…

A TDF primer for DC plan sponsors. TDFs have become staples of DC retirement plans over the past decade. But in moving to TDFs, plan…

New trends in transitioning to retirement. Planning for retirement is a psychological and emotional journey. For many, it is also a source of anxiety—especially when…

Could auto features offer the smoothest road to adequate retirement savings for CAP members? Two-thirds of Canadian households are saving at levels that will not…

Health benefits

The group insurance industry isn’t immune to the current economy. However, insurers are expecting to bring change and innovation to the marketplace as a result…

Employers need to keep long-term goals in mind when implementing short-term workforce strategies. The economy has cooled down to uncomfortable temperatures, but Canadian employers are…