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 […]
According to MFS Investment Management’s Sean Kenney, his three sisters would all fall within the same target-date age cohort, but their lifestyles and retirement goals are completely different. His oldest sister, married with three kids, makes a middle-class income, doesn’t have a lavish lifestyle and loves being at home. Kenney’s twin sister, single with no […]
With target-date funds now a dominant investment vehicle in Canada’s defined contribution pension landscape, the glide path is the primary determinant of plan members’ outcomes in retirement, according to Farzan Qureshi (pictured left), director of institutional business development, client relationships for Sun Life Global Investments Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Defined Contribution Investment Forum. Glide […]
While integrating private assets into target-date funds can give plan members income-generating and diversification benefits at an attractive risk profile relative to traditional asset classes, these assets aren’t without complications, said Brett Goldstein, senior vice-president and head of asset allocation portfolio management at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. Speaking during Benefits Canada’s 2025 Defined Contribution Investment […]
The last 10 to 15 working years before retirement is a powerful and precarious time for defined contribution plan members, with roughly half of the retirement savings they’ll accumulate in their lifetime built up in that window of time as they reach their peak earning years, according to Glenn Dial, vice-president of retirement thought leadership […]
After a “Goldlilocks period” of low inflation and economic stability in the 2010s, the coming decades are expected to be marked by a higher cost of living and broader economic turbulence. Defined contribution plan members’ portfolios need to be “structured for this new reality,” said Nicole Lomax, vice-president, director and lead of institutional asset allocation […]