Canadians looking to replace their working income with benefits from capital accumulations plans and the government are facing a grim reality. Indeed, pre-retirement income replacement from those two sources sits at 55 per cent for Canadian women and 57 per cent for men, according to Eckler Ltd. income tracker. Worsening the situation, returns from equity and […]
A new report looking at four U.S. states that moved new employees from defined benefit to defined contribution or cash balance pension plans found the changes resulted in higher taxpayer costs and no meaningful improvements to the plans’ funding and liabilities. The report, by the National Institute on Retirement Security, looked at Alaska, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia — […]
Compared to the preceding years, 2019 appears to be the year of steady when it comes to progress on hot topics that resonated in the industry in 2017 and 2018. While no single topic has disappeared from the slate, neither have any new ones risen to become topics of urgency among consultants. “Last year, we […]
On the same day Keith Dixon began working at the University of Victoria, the campus gained another new addition: its combination pension plan. Introduced in July 1968, the plan is fairly unique in the world of Canadian pensions. It operates on a defined contribution basis, with the university and plan members each contributing. But when […]
Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s benefits program manager discusses engaging young employees with retirement savings, yoga benefits and riding his motorcycle to Whistler. Q. What top challenges do you face in your role? A. I look after our retirement savings program, so the challenge we have is based on our demographics. All of our retail employees are fairly […]
The president and chief executive officer of the C.D. Howe Institute is once again urging the federal government to raise the contribution limits for savers in defined contribution pension plans and registered retirement savings plans. In a letter to Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, Bill Robson referred to a paper he wrote last year in […]
Globally, the majority (85 per cent) of employees want help with their pension and retirement planning, according to a new survey by Accenture. The report, which surveyed workers in 10 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe and South America, also found 82 per cent of respondents said they’d like retirement coaching. Millennial workers expressed the most interest […]
A disconnect exists between defined contribution plan sponsors’ intentions and actions when it comes to helping employees with financial wellness, according to a new survey by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Among more than 800 U.S. DC plan sponsors, 74 per cent said they have a very or somewhat high commitment to employees’ fiscal health, although […]
Mercer and Wealthsimple Inc. are teaming up to create a digital saving and investing platform for Canadian employees. Mercer Invest Wise, which is a voluntary savings tool, is intended to be included in a total rewards package. Accessible online and as a mobile app, it allows employees to manage various savings and investment accounts, such as their […]
The majority of Canadian capital accumulation plan members said they’re confident in their understanding of how to optimize their income in retirement, according to Benefits Canada‘s 2019 CAP Member Survey. Across all survey respondents, 63 per cent said they’re confident on this topic. When the answers were broken down by generations, the survey found baby boomers (69 per cent) […]