Alongside its financial impact, extreme weather takes a toll on absenteeism, mental health and disability claims, according to a new study by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. The research, funded by Manulife Financial Corp. and Intact Financial Corp., looked at homeowners in Burlington, Ont., after a storm in August 2014 left […]
Canadians spend an average of almost 10 hours each day, excluding sleep time, being sedentary. That counts as risky behaviour given studies that have linked sitting more than four hours a day to a number of long-term health risks, such as heart disease, diabetes and back pain. But when that inactivity is largely the result […]
While financial literacy programs have become more prevalent in recent years, what can they do to ensure they have the maximum impact? “Financial literacy, while important, is not the key to unlocking financial well-being,” said Lisa Callaghan, vice-president for strategy, marketing and communications at Manulife Financial Corp., during a panel discussion at the Benefits & Pension […]
From Babylonian traders who redistributed their wares across multiple vessels to limit losses at sea, to blockchain developers who distribute data across multiple servers to mitigate risk, insurance has come a long way. But the journey has been a reluctant one. Industry incumbents traditionally set the rules and controlled the lion’s share of the market. […]
Moderators: Erica Hall, assistant vice-president for client relations, group retirement solutions; and Sharon Seifried, national vice-president for corporate accounts, group retirement solutions, at Manulife Financial Corp. While a significant portion of Canadians are in poor financial health, most don’t like to talk about money, particularly those with challenges in the area. As a result, addressing […]
Ericsson is adding sleep and nutrition features to its online wellness program to educate employees and motivate changes in behaviour. Its E-Health program, which began in April 2016, is rolling out the new options to coincide with its two-year anniversary. Since its introduction, more than 60 per cent of Canadian and American employees have participated, according […]
According to estimates from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, benefits fraud results in the loss of two to 10 per cent of health-care dollars. In terms of preventative measures, Sun Life Financial estimates it saves plan sponsors about $20 million a year, while Great-West Life Assurance Co. suggests its strategies resulted in savings of […]
Read the whitepaper Accessibility and liquidity have been roadblocks for smaller institutions seeking to invest in private alternative assets, limiting alternatives to large players. New strategies are removing those roadblocks, democratizing the diversification and returns benefits of alternatives. Our global head of OCIO and fiduciary solutions shares his insight on how these new strategies may […]
As part of Manulife Financial Corp.’s latest study on health and wealth, researchers talked to professional counsellors to explore the relationship between finances and life’s challenges. Their insights were enlightening and may be valuable for employers wanting to effectively promote financial wellness among employees. Here’s part of what they shared: 92 per cent agreed that financial […]
Plan sponsors looking to integrate pharmacogenetic testing into their benefits plan will soon have lots of information to consider as Canada’s biggest insurance companies roll out pilot projects and research begins to shed light on the return on investment. “The market is expanding. Insurers are piloting projects. You will hear a lot about pharmacogenetics over the next 12 months,” said […]