More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of North American employees and retirees with pension plans said the availability of those benefits was a major factor in deciding whether to accept a job, according to a new survey by Accenture. Its survey, which polled nearly 3,000 Canadian and U.S. workers, also found that pensions remained a loyalty factor after […]
A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. That’s the point Bonnie-Jean MacDonald, senior research fellow at National Institute of Ageing at Ryerson University and resident scholar at Eckler Ltd., drove home in a session at Benefits Canada‘s Benefits & Pensions Summit in Toronto on Tuesday. She took the example of one of her […]
Despite several twists and turns, Australian superannuation fund QSuper isn’t shying away from implementing new technology. Speaking at Benefits Canada‘s Benefits & Pension Summit in Toronto on Tuesday, Kim Hughes, head of product and services at QSuper, told attendees about the new tools and products her fund has provided for members and how they’ve taught the organization a great deal […]
While financial literacy programs have become more prevalent in recent years, what can they do to ensure they have the maximum impact? “Financial literacy, while important, is not the key to unlocking financial well-being,” said Lisa Callaghan, vice-president for strategy, marketing and communications at Manulife Financial Corp., during a panel discussion at the Benefits & Pension […]
The KFC Foundation is introducing a personal finance program for employees at the restaurant chain’s participating franchises in the United States. The non-profit organization funded by KFC franchisees is rolling out the financial wellness app to empower employees to take charge of their money. “The KFC Foundation programs provide resources to KFC’s frontline workers, based […]
From governance to engagement, plan sponsors are looking for solutions to improve their defined contribution pension plans. What tools are available to plan sponsors to boost their plan outcomes and how can they put them into action With case studies from plan sponsors that have already found some of the answers and presentations by experts […]
With emotions often preventing people from acting in their own interest, nudges that lever behavioural finance theory to account for them can generate better retirement outcomes. Those were among the key messages delivered by Punam Keller, an associate dean at the Tuck School of Business in Hanover, N.H., to participants at Benefits Canada’s Defined Contribution […]
With defined contribution pension plans at various stages of evolution around the world, how are plan members faring in different countries? At Benefits Canada’s Defined Contribution Plan Summit in February, Shawn Cohen, director of relationship management at MFS Investment Management Canada Ltd., and Peter Delaney, director of investment solutions at MFS Investment Management, shared the […]
When Searles Valley Minerals Inc. upgraded its pension plan offerings, the situation appeared complicated. The average age of the 761 plan participants at the Kansas-based mining company was 47, and turnover was low. With many employees anchored in their careers, lifestyles and habits, change wasn’t necessarily a priority. “Inertia can be a powerful force,” said […]
Participants at Benefits Canada’s Defined Contribution Plan Summit spent two days listening to a large roster of speakers offer up solutions on everything from communication tips about plan changes to strategies for allocating members’ assets. So what were some of the key learnings? Janice Holman, defined contribution practice leader at Eckler Ltd., helped sum up some […]