The U.K.’s Pensions Regulator is reaching out to trustees and employers in an effort to enable informed member choices at retirement and improve the quality…
That 8% return on your RRSP that you complained about a few years ago is probably looking pretty good right about now. Eighty-cents a litre?…
The past year has seen many new ideas foster around how to improve defined contribution (DC)-type retirement savings arrangements, many involving governments playing a much…
The past few years have seen considerable product development initiatives aimed at helping capital accumulation plan (CAP) sponsors choose appropriate investment vehicles to offer their…
Two colleagues have recently asked for my input on two CAP investment questions that I believe to be related. The first question involved an “investment…
Tough economic conditions tend to boost investor conservatism and capital accumulation plan (CAP) members are no different, assuming they bother to revisit their investment mix.…
DC plan members aren’t the savvy investors they think they are—and plan sponsors may suffer the consequences. Three myths continue to lurk in the defined…
These unprecedented times have many organizations looking at various ways to reduce their operating costs. Are there any potential savings related to DC (defined contribution)…
Further data on the growing incidence of 401(k) and defined contribution (DC) plan contribution reduction in the U.S. reveals that employers who choose this path…
An increasing number of companies are saving millions of dollars by suspending their employer 401(k) match in response to cost pressures, according to Hewitt Associates.…
A resurgence of demand for investment options featuring guarantees is arising from the recent wreckage of the retirement portfolios of members of capital accumulation plans.…
Asset bubbles: how do they form and what happens when they burst? Asset bubbles have been a part of the investment landscape for centuries. A…
Heralded by the federal government as “the most important tax innovation in a generation,” the tax-free savings account (TFSA) will quickly become established as a…
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…