Forget the buzz around new target-benefit legislation. Multi-employer pension plans were here first, starting about 50 years ago. Particularly common in unionized, mobile workforces such…
More than a year after its implementation, Quebec’s shift to going-concern funding obligations for defined benefit pension plans has already led to some positive results…
Pension plans, like many businesses, rely on information. While the retention of certain pension plan records is subject to regulation, decisions with respect to the…
How far are Canadian pension plans along on the path to de-risking? And what does the journey look like? Those were among the questions explored…
Environmental, social and governance are words you might have heard a lot about lately. Ontario legislators now require pension plan administrators to disclose if and…
The November 2008 report from British Columbia and Alberta’s joint expert panel on pension standards encouraged the two provincial governments to take a leadership position…
The situation for the City of Saint John’s pension plan didn’t look very good when it converted to a shared-risk arrangement at the beginning of…
Employers across the country are keeping a close eye on New Brunswick, as the province becomes the legal battleground where decisions on the scope of…
Despite pension administrators’ best efforts, missing members are a significant challenge for many plans. With no standardized method for searching for them, plans tend to…
We may be witnessing the most significant changes to the funding rules of Canadian defined benefit pension plans in more than 25 years. First, since…
With pensions a growing concern for Canadians’ livelihoods, the public has a valid interest in knowing how they’re performing. And when it comes to public…
For such a small number, the discount rate used by a pension plan can have a very significant impact on its funded status. Actuaries use…
In a previous post, I extolled the virtues of a benefits communications policy for those who communicate pensions and benefits to employees. Two recent court…
With escalating drug costs and the strain of retiree benefits dragging down balance sheets, it’s no wonder employers are looking for creative ways to limit…
Which type of pension plan is better: defined benefit or defined contribution? While the answer may seem obvious to some, the question was the subject…
Defined benefit pension risk is as much in the spotlight today as ever and remains a significant issue for plan sponsors, even when the sponsor’s…
Mat Cybula is used to people peppering him with questions when he tells them what he does for a living. “Whenever we go out, I’m…
Much like the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope and his search for an honest man, pension plan stakeholders have been seeking a sustainable plan design…
The pension industry has seen a number of issues disrupt the group retirement market recently. They include low interest rates, financial crashes, the switch to…
Canada’s workplace pension system is going through a recalibration due in part to an aging population and demographic shifts, declining coverage and unpredictable financial markets.…
As the drive towards target-benefit pension plans continues to make headway in Canada, litigation risk for their sponsors is on the rise. The jurisprudence is…
In recent years, Canada’s largest companies have struggled with the inherent ups and downs of managing risk in their defined benefit pension plans. Two employer-sponsored…
For many people, the mere mention of European Union rules conjures up images of red tape and bureaucratic minefields. So it’s hardly surprising that Europe’s…
When it comes to reducing pension risk, there’s an interesting dynamic between desire and ability. During periods when the desire to de-risk is high, the…