When CSA Group rolled out its global wellness incentive program in April, it was aiming to see whether cash rewards could kick start healthier habits and keep employees motivated. “We noticed a significant uptick in participation whenever we ran global step challenges with prizes,” says Aaron Snaith, director of total rewards at CSA Group. “That […]
Three in five (60 per cent) plan members would choose an extra $10,000 in cash per year over their benefits plan, according to the 2025 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. The survey asked half of 1,000 plan member respondents whether they’d rather receive their benefits plan or an extra $5,000 in cash per year, while the […]
Defined benefit pension plans sponsored by Fortune 1000 companies entered 2023 with an aggregate funded position of 100.1 per cent, remaining almost unchanged at a level of 99.1 per cent by year-end, according to a report by WTW. The report, which analyzed the funded status and asset allocations of more than 400 plan sponsors, found […]
Despite several bumps in the decade since the 2008/09 financial crisis, the swift and brutal crash in global equity prices when the coronavirus was declared a pandemic sent pension investors reaching for their playbooks to implement defensive strategies to mitigate the damage. “People have worked very hard at just acting on the set strategies that […]
U.S. public pension funds can expect to see hurdles from the coronavirus crisis similar to those experienced in past recessions, according to a new report by Cerulli Associates. In the past two recessions, public plans saw a decrease in their funded statuses. “According to survey data gathered form the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, […]
In the current market environment, there may be good reasons for investors to consider increasing their portfolio’s allocations to cash, according to a new report by Mercer. At the end of August 2019, cash yielded more than long bonds, says Dave Makarchuk, partner and Western Canada wealth business leader at Mercer, noting Canadian 91-day treasury […]
Well-governed boards have greater international diversification and lower cash holdings, according to a working paper by Carolina Salva and Nadège Bregnard from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. “Why would pension fund board governance shape asset allocations?” the paper asked. “In our view, asset allocations are potentially associated to board inefficiencies that can arise when […]
Via Rail’s defined benefit plan is maturing, with about 70 per cent of liabilities tied to retirees or deferred members. To adapt to this changing demographic trend in the current interest rate environment, the plan has changed its investment approach and doubled its allocations to cash, says François Quinty, director of investment management at Via […]
Plan posts an increase of nearly two percentage points compared to last year’s return.
BlackRock survey shows big decrease in cash, equity holdings.