Allowing increased retirement savings pooling and portability can help improve efficiency, as well as pension plan member retention and continuity, according to a policy recommendation letter from the Association of Canadian Pension Management. In a letter to the federal government, the ACPM suggested a model that enables and supports retirement arrangements organized around industry sectors, […]
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 […]
Retirement income outcomes for capital accumulation plan members dipped in the first quarter of 2026, amid market volatility and ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to a new report by Eckler Ltd. The consultancy’s latest CAP income tracker found a typical male CAP member retiring at the end of March 2026 achieved a gross income replacement ratio […]
Pension plan membership in Ontario increased year-over-year to 4.8 million in 2025 and David Bartucci, head of pension plan operations and regulatory effectiveness at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, says it’s a welcome surprise. “We’ve invested energy in the Pension Awareness Day [campaign and] to see an increase in the number of people […]
British Columbia’s provincial government is updating its pension standards to support retirement income security and flexibility, including the introduction of automatic escalation for defined contribution pension plan members. Effective Oct. 30, 2026, auto-escalation will be introduced to B.C.-based DC plans and members will have the option to opt out of the feature. Auto-escalation helps address […]
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday calling for a new government website where people in the U.S. can find and compare private-sector retirement savings accounts. The order is intended to help more people gain access to retirement plans before next year, when the federal government will start matching retirement contributions made by lower-income workers. That new matching contribution comes […]
The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ 2026–2029 strategic plan is focusing on regulatory harmonization, pension supervision and stakeholder engagement. The strategic plan comes as pension plan sponsors and members continue to navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainty, including inflation, higher interest rates and market volatility, alongside ongoing concerns around retirement readiness. Read:2026 DC Plan Summit: […]
In times of increased economic uncertainty, the number of tough financial choices facing the average person seems to rise exponentially. Clashing priorities battle it out: Will the latest paycheque be swallowed by the mortgage, car payments and bills? Can $100 or more be spared each month for an emergency fund? Or to tuck away in […]
One employee touts the benefits of an ESOP, while an academic notes it depends on individual financial circumstances and plan design. Morgan Zirul, store manager, Starbucks Corp. When I joined Starbucks in 2017, I was 18 and not really thinking about retirement or long-term financial planning. During onboarding, I learned about the company’s benefits, including […]
PepsiCo Canada may be known for quenching thirst and satisfying snack cravings, but the organization’s leadership recently identified another kind of demand: clearer, more personalized financial guidance for employees. The organization already had a comprehensive suite of financial benefits, including savings programs and educational resources, and employees were using them. “We already had strong engagement […]