The Quebec government has adopted regulations allowing defined contribution pension plans and voluntary retirement savings plans to offer variable payment life annuities. The regulatory changes establish the framework under which DC plans and voluntary retirement savings plans may offer the lifetime income option, including conditions related to plan design, valuation and administration. The move follows […]
When the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities updated its capital accumulation plan guideline in September 2025, the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan conducted an audit to gauge its alignment with the document’s current form. “We found, for the most part, the CSS was already meeting a lot of the standards, as far as I […]
With inflation still squeezing household budgets, interest rates elevated compared to pre-pandemic norms and an ageing workforce heading towards retirement, employees are under more pressure than ever to make the right financial decisions. For many, their workplace savings plan is the cornerstone of their retirement, but without proper guidance they risk costly mistakes during this […]
It’s difficult to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the hype around artificial intelligence and its many applications in our day-to-day lives. I was a kid during the early days of the internet, so I wasn’t in the middle of that buzz. But I gradually started using it — in high school, university and beyond — and […]
Improving participation and engagement in pension savings is a constant challenge for the retirement industry, but experts point to more insistent and consistent tactics around member behaviour. Derek Messacar, associate professor of applied economics, Memorial University Programs that offer tax deductions on savings in designated accounts have, for a long time now, been contested as […]
While emerging forms of artificial intelligence such as agentic AI may hold promises and challenges for pension plan sponsors, the human touch remains important when advising plan members on financial decisions, said Francis Boulianne, principal in Normandin Beaudry’s group benefits practice, during a recent webinar hosted by the consultancy. “[Chatbots] were never intended to replace […]
In its fall economic statement, the Ontario government said it plans to introduce legislation that would effectively end preferred pharmacy networks in the province. The legislation, based on the province’s findings from two consultations, would enable an ‘any willing provider’ framework — in which any pharmacy willing to match a PPN’s financial terms could join […]
A continued rally in equity markets in the third quarter of 2025 strengthened retirement income outcomes for capital accumulation plan members, according to a new report by Eckler Ltd. Optimism around trade negotiations, a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut and steady enthusiasm for artificial intelligence supported markets through the period. As a result, the consultancy’s […]
On Sept. 30, more than 80 defined contribution pension plan sponsors, consultants, asset managers and other industry stakeholders met at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto for the 2025 DC Investment Forum to glean insights into the tools and strategies that plan sponsors can use to guide members into the future and support their […]
While Canadians have a better sense of the savings they’ll need to retire comfortably, they may still be underestimating the true cost, according to research presented by Jon Knowles, institutional portfolio manager for global asset allocation at Fidelity Investments, during Benefits Canada‘s 2025 DC Investment Forum. Canadians over age 45 estimated they’d need an average […]