The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ new plan sponsor guidelines surrounding investment fee transparency are a good first step, but require further development to make them more effective, says one expert. “[CAP sponsors are] still trying to understand what this [guidance] means,” says Joseph Bevilacqua, associate partner in Aon’s wealth solutions practice. “Fees can be […]
Young Canadian employees are facing a series of headwinds stemming from rising housing costs and decades of inaction by the federal government to support retirement savings, said Paul Kershaw, founder of not-for-profit organization Generation Squeeze and a policy professor at the University of British Columbia, during the keynote session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Defined Contribution […]
The rising cost of living in the post-pandemic era has impacted all aspects of employees’ financial wellness, including retirement savings. In 2023, Hofmann-La Roche Ltd. examined the savings needs of its multigenerational workforce and determined more flexibility was required to encourage employees to set aside retirement savings, said Rana Kassab (pictured right), the company’s director […]
Despite declining annuity rates, Canadian capital accumulation plan members retiring at the end of September experienced some of the best outcomes in more than 13 years, according to a new report by Eckler Ltd. The consultancy’s latest CAP income tracker found a typical male member retiring at the end of September 2024 achieved a gross […]
In its fall economic statement on Wednesday, the Ontario government said it plans to consult with pension industry stakeholders on the possibility of offering variable life benefits to employees in the province. In 2021, the federal government made amendments to the federal Income Tax Act to permit Canadian jurisdictions to regulate this new pension option, […]
CAA Club Group’s holistic and data-driven approach to employee well-being led to a win in the Health/Wellness Program category for employers with more than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 18. This is the second year in a row that CAA has won the award. “We know that we do […]
The union representing more than 5,200 Air Canada pilots has ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes multiple benefits gains, avoiding a possible strike. The agreement includes physiotherapy coverage of up to $5,000 a year per plan member and lifetime coverage for fertility drugs up to $10,000. Employees will also have a choice between $500 […]
A new retirement savings vehicle could benefit members of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s pension plan by streamlining investment choice and maximizing their personal retirement savings, says Jason Vary, president of Actuarial Solutions Inc. This month, the CAAT pension plan launched an optional savings account that allows plan members to transfer in their […]
Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) Canadian small- and medium-sized employers say they’re experiencing challenges finding skilled talent, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada. The survey, which polled more than 400 Canadian SMEs, found their top concerns were retaining top talent (82 per cent), finding talent quickly (77 per cent), finding […]
Canada’s retirement system ranks No. 17 out of 48 countries, down from No. 12 in 2023, according to a new report by Mercer and the CFA Institute. The report analyzed retirement systems based on adequacy, sustainability and integrity. The top three systems remain unchanged from last year, with the Netherlands receiving the highest overall score (84.8 […]