The combination of several innovations in defined contribution pension plan design can dramatically improve retirement readiness across income levels, according to a new report by Mercer. Its annual retirement readiness barometer analyzed the impact of two key innovations — variable payment life annuities and exposure to alternative investments like private markets — alongside plan flexibility […]
Oxford Properties, the real estate arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System, is appointing Sara Queen as executive vice-president and head of the U.S., effective July 20, 2026. Based in New York, she’ll oversee the strategic leadership, performance and growth of Oxford’s U.S. business, which manages approximately US$19 billion in assets and accounts for […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is purchasing France-based blood analysis firm Stago alongside partner Archimed Diagnostics. The deal will see Stago’s leadership team take a minority stake in the company. The purchase was completed through an unspecified mix of equity and unitranche debt, according to a press release. Read: Caisse investing in […]
An article on the federal government’s spring economic update, including the creation of Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund, was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Canada launching first sovereign wealth fund for large infrastructure projects, making […]
The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario recently joined the Global Real Estate Engagement Network, an industry coalition of institutional investors focused on addressing financially material climate risks and opportunities in the real estate sector. Established in 2021, GREEN has grown to represent investors with over €4 trillion in assets under management. Through dedicated workstreams, the […]
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is reporting a 7.4 per cent weighted average net return for its clients’ portfolios in 2025. As at Dec. 31, 2025, the IMCO’s total client assets under management increased to $90.7 billion, compared to in $86 billion in 2024. In 2025, roughly a third of its AUM were invested […]
A third of U.S. plan sponsors say they’re very or extremely confident in their participants’ ability to retire at their target age, up from just 18 per cent one year ago, according to a new survey by MFS Investment Management. The survey, which polled more than 150 U.S. defined contribution pension plan sponsors, found their […]
An article on an Ontario judges’ association’s lawsuit against their pension plan sponsor was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Ontario judges’ group sues pension plan sponsor to prevent investments in derivatives 2. Survey finds Canadians […]
Ontario’s provincially appointed judges are taking their own pension plan to court to prevent the fund from investing in derivatives. In a notice of application filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, the Association of Ontario Judges, which represents current and former judges of the Ontario Court of Justice, said the latest […]
The Alberta Investment Management Corp. is reporting a total fund net investment return of 7.5 per cent for 2025, underperforming its benchmark return by 2.7 per cent. As at Dec. 31, 2025, its total client assets under management were $194.7 billion, compared to $179.6 billion at year-end 2024. The investment organization’s balanced fund posted a […]