After being off of Canadians’ radar screens for years, the re-emergence of inflation in recent months is receiving significant attention for many, including pension plan professionals. Some believe the inflationary increases will be transitory because recent price increases are primarily due to short-term disruptions in the Canadian economy caused by the emergence from restrictions due […]
If there was a Hall of Fame for catastrophic years, 2020 would be a certainty for admission, with Canada among many nations around the globe struggling through a sickening cycle of coronavirus pandemic waves, interrupted only by economic and societal lockdowns. But take a look at the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan’s […]
The average defined benefit pension plan saw its funded position continue to improve in April on a solvency and accounting basis, according to a new report by Morneau Shepell Ltd. During the month, bond yields and credit spreads stabilized, although long-term bond yields increased slightly, negatively affecting long-term fixed income returns. Global equities performed well, […]
Much has been written about how 2020 was unprecedented, challenging and exhausting — take your pick of adjectives. It was also a white-knuckle ride for many Canadian defined benefit plan sponsors as they watched the funded status of their pension plans plummet sharply and then rebound. Most plans’ funded statuses are now at, or even […]
Central banks slowing their quantitative easing policies and economic improvements off the back of wide-scale vaccination efforts should both provide bond yields with a modest boost in 2021. But that won’t give defined benefit pension plan sponsors much relief. “You hear the phrase ‘low for long’ and I would agree we’re in an extended period […]
Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. and Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. are de-risking with a $176-million group annuity buy-in amidst volatile markets caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The deal covers 750 retirees and beneficiaries and there will be no change for plan members, who will continue to be paid from the plan as before the […]
Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. and Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. are de-risking with a $176-million group annuity buy-in amidst volatile markets caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The deal covers 750 retirees and beneficiaries and there will be no change for plan members, who will continue to be paid from the plan as before the […]
The Canadian Investment Review’s Risk Management Award will go to a pension plan that has successfully implemented a robust approach to its risk management function. This can include implementing de-risking or re-risking or it can showcase day-to-day processes in place for risk management in pension plan investments. Highlights about the three finalists are available below: […]
Despite the low interest rate environment, it still makes sense for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to adopt a liability-driven investment strategy, said Serge Lapierre, global head of LDI at Manulife Investment Management, during a webinar it sponsored on Monday. LDI investing is a risk management framework, he noted. “It’s not an asset class or a […]
Despite the low interest rate environment, it still makes sense for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to adopt a liability-driven investment strategy, said Serge Lapierre, global head of LDI at Manulife Investment Management, during a webinar sponsored by the firm on Monday. LDI investing is a risk management framework, he noted. “It’s not an asset […]