Jonathan Jacob is Senior Vice-President of Investment Strategy Initiatives at Greystone Managed Investments. Jonathan joined Greystone at the beginning of 2012 from Forethought Risk, a consulting firm which he formed in 2008. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a professional trader/portfolio manager, with the final year as a portfolio manager the Ontario Teachers’ […]
Central banks seem to be changing their tunes, with the Federal Reserve expected to cut rates twice before the year is out, according to Manulife Investment Management’s third quarter outlook. The European Central Bank, noted the outlook, is also likely to take a move dovish tone, with additional monetary easing measures, including rate cuts, expected […]
With renewed volatility prompting money managers back on their toes, equity markets have been leading investment industry discussions over the past few quarters. Against this backdrop, how is fixed income, the other fundamental building block of defined benefit pension portfolios, faring? For David Lafferty, senior vice-president and chief market strategist at Natixis Investment Managers, the […]
A thick fog is clouding institutional investors’ efforts to gain clarity on the global market outlook, but certain key themes are peeking through, according to Manulife Investment Management’s mid-year report. Geopolitical unrest continues to be a cause for concern, the report noted. The escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China could point to a […]
Sun Life Financial Inc. is consolidating several elements of its asset management business. The firm’s fixed income institutional asset management businesses — Prime Advisors Inc., Ryan Labs Asset Management Inc. and Sun Life Institutional Investments Inc. — will be combined with its general account to form SLC Management, a new autonomous asset management business. SLC […]
Medavie Blue Cross is appointing Shane Reid as director of product, pharmacy and provider management. In the new role, Reid will be responsible for leading the development of products for the insurer’s group and individual business, as well as strengthening its position in group benefits and drug plan management. He brings extensive experience in group benefits, […]
Given the volume and depth of data available in benefits plans, as well as the complexity of problems to be solved, machine learning and broader artificial intelligence are unquestionably the future of plan and member health management. That said, there are some important challenges for plan sponsors to consider as they look at these new […]
While some say a single-payer system would mean reduced drug prices and expenditures, others argue it could have unintended consequences, particularly for private plan sponsors. Marc-André Gagnon, associate professor at Carleton University’s school of public policy and administration: Canada’s drug coverage is a patchwork without coherence or purpose. Some think more patches can solve the […]
As millennials look to their employers to integrate their career, education and leisure, this creates challenges for the pension industry, said Erica Hall, assistant vice-president of client relations and group retirement solutions at Manulife, speaking at Benefits Canada’s 2019 DC Plan Summit in Banff, Alta. in February. “We are very linear — they enrol, accumulate and […]
Employees have multi-dimensional lives, with responsibilities outside the workplace that affect how they perform within it. This is why companies that are consistently recognized as family-friendly are maximizing their workers’ potential by helping take care of their families through benefits and wellness programs. Samuel, Son & Co., a family owned and operated metal and distribution […]