Gavin Benjamin – Benefits Canada.com

Expert panel: What does 2024 hold in store for the pension industry?

bwolfe — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 14:00:20 +0000

With the arrival of the new year, there are three topics that will be important for pension plan sponsors, members and other industry stakeholders in 2024. The economy and financial markets At the end of 2023, the Canadian economy and the financial markets were still feeling the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Read: Expert panel: […]

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Expert panel: How interest rates impact DB pension plans

bwolfe — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:00:47 +0000

Interest rate levels are critically important to the financial health of defined benefit pension plans. Many DB plans are in their best financial positions in decades, largely due to the dramatic rise in interest rates over the past few years, but decreases in interest rates could pose a major risk for many plans. Changes in […]

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Expert panel: How DB pension plan sponsors can use surplus

bwolfe — Tue, 16 May 2023 13:00:02 +0000

In 2022, the typical defined benefit pension plan achieved an investment return of roughly negative 12 per cent. However, due to dramatic increases in bond yields and a subsequent decrease in pension liabilities, many pension plans ended 2022 with the same — or better — solvency funded level that they had at the beginning of […]

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Expert panel: DB pension plan sponsors facing challenges, opportunities in 2023

bwolfe — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:00:02 +0000

Similar to 2022, the coming year will present both challenges and opportunities for defined benefit pension plan sponsors, with the rewards going to plan sponsors that are resilient, embrace change and are willing and able to act when opportunities arise. Several trends that will be top of mind in the year ahead are: Inflation The […]

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Expert panel: Does Canada need a pension champion?

bwolfe — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:00:42 +0000

In the Expert Commission on Pensions’ 2008 review of Ontario’s pension system, it recommended an agency or unit of the provincial government serve as a pension champion. According to the commission, the pension champion’s responsibilities would include working closely with stakeholders, promoting and facilitating innovation in the pension system and leading policy development efforts in […]

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Expert panel: Are private sector employers heading toward a pension renaissance?

bwolfe — Tue, 10 May 2022 13:05:23 +0000

Pension coverage in the public sector is high, with the vast majority of public sector employees covered by a defined benefit pension plan. However, the story is very different in the private sector as pension coverage is much lower and is trending downwards. Only 22 per cent of private sector employees participated in a registered […]

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Expert panel: DB, DC pension predictions for 2022

mdunne — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 14:00:14 +0000

As a new year dawns, our attention turns to what’s ahead, the following are a few of my predictions for trends in the world of pensions in 2022. Volatility We’re entering the year in an environment of considerable economic and financial market uncertainty. Supply chain problems, elevated price inflation and labour shortages in certain industries […]

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Expert panel: How could inflation impact DB pension plans?

mdunne — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 13:00:17 +0000

After being off of Canadians’ radar screens for years, the re-emergence of inflation in recent months is receiving significant attention for many, including pension plan professionals. Some believe the inflationary increases will be transitory because recent price increases are primarily due to short-term disruptions in the Canadian economy caused by the emergence from restrictions due […]

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Could pandemic-related mortality rates impact DB pension plans?

mdunne — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 13:00:48 +0000

Over the past several months, much attention has been paid to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on financial markets and, subsequently, defined benefit pension plans’ financial conditions — but what about the potential financial implications arising from the virus’ effect on mortality rates? The mortality assumption When performing a pension plan’s actuarial valuation, the actuary uses a […]

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What do pension benefits guarantee fund changes mean for plan sponsors?

mschmit — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:30:34 +0000

Alongside recent reforms to funding rules for Ontario-registered defined benefit pension plans, the Ontario government also made changes to the pension benefits guarantee fund, including improvements to benefits payable by the PBGF and changes to its annual assessment paid by employers. Employers should budget for the change in their assessments, effectively beginning with assessments due in 2019. […]

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