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Ontario DB pension plans’ average solvency ratio declining to 119% in Q1 2025: FSRA

The median solvency ratio of Ontario’s defined benefit pension plans reached 119 per cent during the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report…

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UPP reviewing investments with stress tests, engaging union on Israel divestment calls

An uneasy economic landscape between Canada and the U.S. is pushing the University Pension Plan to perform more stress testing for new and existing investments…

Conference Coverage

Coverage of the 2025 Global Investment Conference

Against a backdrop of unpredictability on the global stage, Canadian institutional investors continue to face several competing headwinds, including a push from the federal government…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: Trump accelerates uncertainty, cost of resources for businesses around the world

The cost of doing business under the current U.S. administration is getting more expensive and uncertain, said Cliff Kupchan, chairman at Eurasia Group, during the…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: Uncovering private debt’s emerging opportunities and risks

While private debt continues to draw strong interest from institutional investors, the market is surrounded by conflicting narratives — some believe it’s a great opportunity…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: How institutional investors can integrate energy transition assets into their portfolios

In recent years, the energy sector has been unloved and out of favour, sitting at just below four per cent on the MSCI World index,…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: The interconnectedness of credit markets and attractive opportunities for investors

The uncertain geopolitical climate and the ensuing market volatility are offering a variety of entry points into credit markets, according to Bill Bohnsack, president and…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: Is credit playing a larger role in portfolio allocation in the uncertain economic environment?

Many factors have contributed to a proliferation of debt at the sovereign level, including the coronavirus pandemic and central bankers subsequent fight against inflation. “A…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: A look at the evolution of fund finance structures and the opportunities for investors

Over the past 10 years, several macroeconomic changes, including increased bank regulations, interest rate volatility and the velocity of acquisitions and fundraising, have impacted private…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: Identifying opportunities and risk factors in global credit markets amid economic uncertainty

The move towards a core-plus mindset, first-time major allocations to stand-alone credit strategies and a focus on less liquid assets are the top trends in…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: The risks and rewards of asset-based financing

While the traditional markets of asset-based finance, such as mortgages and automobile loans, are mature, the non-traditional ones, such as point-of-sale transactions and home improvement…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: Panel: Achieving a net-zero economy by 2050 will require more than institutional investment targets

While the British Columbia Investment Management Corp. supports the goal of net zero by 2050, that doesn’t translate to a hard target for its portfolio,…

Conference Coverage

2025 Global Investment Conference: How the OMERS is getting comfortable with leverage

A stigma around the use of leverage by a pension plan is magnified if the organization is facing funding issues, said Brandon Weening, executive vice-president…

2025 Global Investment Conference: How institutional investors can mitigate climate risks, capitalize on trends in Canadian real estate

Through a series of research papers, investment firm Equiton is working with Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business to explore the sustained cashflows available…

2025 Global Investment Conference: Gaining a balanced perspective on AI’s potential while managing inherent risks

While algorithms have historically dictated the actions of data and computers, artificial intelligence has flipped that on its head, according to Gurvir Grewel, U.S. specialist…

2025 Global Investment Conference: Panel: Volatility acceleration pushing need for a long-term investment solutions

Increasing periods of heightened volatility are demanding composure and trust from investment professionals for their long-term roadmap, according to Josée Mondoux (pictured middle), chief investment…

Coverage of the 2024 Defined Benefit Investment Forum

On Dec. 6, 2024, leaders from Canada’s defined benefit pension plan sponsor community, alongside thought leaders and investment experts, came together at the Omni King Edward…

2024 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: Canadian economy on high alert for impact of U.S. policy

The Bank of Canada will require another year of its rate-cutting cycle to absorb the number of resources in the economy that aren’t being used…

2024 DB Investment Forum: Unexplored real estate assets offer foundation for strong risk-adjusted returns

Despite the turbulent environment shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, aggressive interest rate hikes and liquidity issues, institutional investors taking a long-term perspective can uncover strong…

2025 Global Investment Conference: Panel: Private assets expanded asset mix reach of Canadian pension plans

The emergence of private assets in pension funds’ portfolios is opening new investment opportunities, said Duncan Burrill (pictured right), managing director and chief executive officer…

PSP Investments closing 7.51% stake acquisition in 407 toll highway, BCI investing in Asian telecommunications infrastructure

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is closing the purchase of a 7.51 per cent minority stake in the 407 Express Toll Route from the…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2025 June 12, 2025
  • 15:00

Report finds average Canadian DB pension plan returns -1.7% in April

The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan increased slightly both on a solvency and accounting basis in April, according to Telus…

  • By: Staff
  • June 12, 2025 June 10, 2025
  • 11:00

U.K. DC pension providers committing 10% of default funds to private markets by 2030

Seventeen of the largest workplace pension providers in the U.K. have agreed to invest at least 10 per cent of their defined contribution default funds…

  • By: Staff
  • May 15, 2025 May 15, 2025
  • 15:00

Market turmoil has many afraid to check retirement savings

Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question…

Coverage of the 2025 DC Plan Summit

Benefits Canada celebrated the Defined Contribution Plan Summit’s 25th anniversary by looking at how the world has changed over the last quarter century, the subsequent…

PSP Investments returns 12.6% for fiscal 2024, net assets increase to $264.9BN

The Public Sector Pension Investment Board is reporting a 12.6 per cent return for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, up from 7.2 per…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2025 June 13, 2025
  • 11:00

Bank of Canada interest rate hold offers de-risking opportunity for institutional investors: expert

A decision by the Bank of Canada to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75 per cent could magnify the interest of corporate pension…

Medicus Pension Plan reporting 9.1% return, adding new benefit features

The Medicus Pension Plan is reporting a 152 per cent funded status on a going-concern basis and a 120 per cent funded status on a…

  • By: Staff
  • June 5, 2025 June 4, 2025
  • 09:00

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how pension plan sponsors can manage risk amid economic and geopolitical instability was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here…

  • By: Staff
  • June 13, 2025 June 12, 2025
  • 09:00

Ontario legislation accelerating residential real estate projects could entice institutional investors: expert

New legislation in Ontario is signalling that the province is serious about addressing structural inefficiencies in its housing market and institutional investors could play a…

PIAC, ACPM asking federal government to bring back real return bonds

Two organizations representing the interests of Canadian pension funds are asking the federal government to bring back Canada’s real return bond program. In a joint…

  • By: Staff
  • June 11, 2025 June 10, 2025
  • 15:00

Institutional investors reconsidering ESG model: report

Institutional investors are moving away from standard environmental, social and governance factors, according to a new report by Morningstar Inc. The report, which took responses…

  • By: Staff
  • June 9, 2025 June 9, 2025
  • 15:00

Open letter calls on regulators to restart climate disclosure work

The push to make companies detail their exposure to climate change received a boost last week with about 80 women leaders in business and civil…

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on how diversity, equity and inclusion strategies are changing was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five…

  • By: Staff
  • June 6, 2025 June 5, 2025
  • 09:00

Canadian pension plans achieve 1.23% median return in Q1 2025: report

Canadian pension plans saw a median return of 1.23 per cent for the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report from CIBC Mellon.…

  • By: Staff
  • June 4, 2025 June 13, 2025
  • 15:00

Solvency ratio of average pension fund drops 2.3% in Q1 2025: report

The solvency ratio of an average pension fund declined by about 2.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report…

  • By: Staff
  • June 3, 2025 June 3, 2025
  • 11:00

UPP achieves 10.3% net return in 2024, assets increase to $12.8BN

The University Pension Plan recorded a 10.3 per cent annual net return in 2024, increasing its net assets to $12.8 billion. According to its latest…

  • By: Staff
  • June 2, 2025 May 29, 2025
  • 15:00

Financial market regulators establish committee to implement total cost reporting plan

The Joint Forum of Financial Market Regulators is establishing a committee to help implement its total cost reporting plan. The plan aims to increase investor…

  • By: Staff
  • December 15, 2023 December 15, 2023
  • 15:00

Men more likely than women to report reduced stress due to financial wellness programs: survey

More than a quarter (28 per cent) of male employees in the U.S. report a reduction in their stress levels due to their employer’s financial…

  • By: Staff
  • September 25, 2023 September 22, 2023
  • 09:00

Alberta deserves more than half CPP assets if it exits program: report

A report commissioned by the Alberta government estimates the province would be entitled to more than half the assets of the Canada Pension Plan if it…