The median solvency ratio of Ontario defined benefit pension plans rose during the first quarter of 2023, from 112 per cent at the beginning of the year to 115 per cent at the end of March, according to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario’s latest pension solvency report. During the quarter, pension fund investment returns averaged […]
There’s never a drought of challenges for employers and 2023 is proving no different. Today, they’re facing inflation, labour shortages, competition for hiring, high turnover and employee burnout, to name just a few. That’s why it’s no surprise the ball is firmly in employees’ courts. Alongside the interminable rise in the cost of living and […]
As Canadians deal with an uncertain labour market, a public relations professional, who sought out a new job, and a marketing professional, who stayed with her employer, reflect on whether it’s better to stick it out at your current job or find a new one. Aaliyah Corbin, account coordinator at Media Profile A lot of […]
Large and small, pension plan sponsors are adopting in-house tools, partnering with technology research institutes or relying on investment managers for technological support with asset allocation, risk management and other aspects of investment management. The growing interest coincides with an increasingly complex investment, demographic and regulatory landscape. A 2020 Deloitte report on the importance of […]
With group retirement plans aimed at helping members avoid risks and achieve their savings goals, defined contribution plan sponsors are uniquely positioned to step up and take a more active role in managing risk, said Christine van Staden, regional vice-president of group customer and national accounts business development at Canada Life, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 […]
Factors such as population demographics, productivity and geopolitics impact economic growth and, by extension, the retirement outcomes of defined contribution pension plan members over longer-term time horizons, said Jon Knowles, senior investment analyst at Fidelity Canada Institutional, during a session at Benefits Canada‘s 2023 DC Plan Summit. Ageing populations have traditionally been viewed as a dis-inflationary force due […]
Even though it sounds obvious, maximizing retirement income and making it last for life isn’t what drives most retirees when it comes to making decisions — which is contributing to the challenges around decumulation, said Fred Vettese, an author and pension expert, during Benefits Canada‘s 2023 Defined Contribution Plan Summit. “The hurdles we have to […]
Vestcor Investment Management Corp., an organization that manages the investment and administration of 11 public sector pension plans in New Brunswick, saw its investment decline 3.63 per cent in 2022. During the year, Vestcor’s assets declined from about $21 billion to $20 billion, according to a press release, which credited the losses to the unusually […]
The vast majority (92 per cent) of white-collar workers say they’re stressed about their finances, according to a new survey by BrightPlan. The survey, which polled more than 1,400 employees, found workers who are financially stressed reported impacts on their mental (72 per cent) and physical health (60 per cent). Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) […]
The median Canadian defined benefit pension plan’s investments returned 4.2 per cent during the first quarter of 2022, according to a new report by Northern Trust Canada. The report draws from the Northern Trust Canada universe, which tracks the performance of Canadian DB plans. It credited the improved position of these plans to the strong performance […]