An article on the FIRE — financial independence and retiring early — concept was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Is the concept of financial independence and early retirement truly feasible? 2. Expert panel: Can pension administrators deny benefits to plan members who don’t […]
Despite concerns about global economic headwinds, the Bank of Canada’s successful efforts to curb inflation is capturing the attention of institutional investors, says Kathrin Forrest, a Toronto-based equity investment specialist at Capital Group Inc. “It’s surprised market participants,” says Forrest, referring to the central bank’s Oct. 26 decision to increase interest rates for the sixth […]
When Saskatchewan’s Public Employees Pension Plan’s board introduced alternatives to its investment lineup in 2020 with an aim to improve the defined contribution plan’s risk-adjusted returns through diversification, it wasn’t its first time at the rodeo. The move came after 15 years of experience and comfort with alternatives through the PEPP’s defined benefit companion plan, […]
Every day, it seems the news includes a story or two about the economy and whether or not a recession is coming. At the same time, with interest rates, inflation and day-to-day costs rising, employees may already be feeling anxious about their ability to meet their financial obligations. Some employees will be feeling concerned about […]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s assets returned 0.2 per cent during the third quarter of 2022, according to its latest quarterly report. By Sept. 30, 2022, the investment organization’s net assets reached $529 billion, up from $523 billion at the end of June. About $5 billion was generated by net transfers, while the remainder […]
Capital accumulation plan member outcomes saw modest increases in the third quarter, due to high annuity rates that shielded members from modest investment market declines, according to a new report by Eckler Ltd. It found a typical male member retiring at the end of September achieved a gross income replacement ratio of 60.3 per cent […]
The funded ratio of the 100 largest U.S. corporate defined benefit pension plans is on the rise, jumping from 108.8 per cent at the end of September to 112.8 per cent at the end of October, according to a new report by consulting firm Milliman Inc. During the month, the funded status surplus increased to […]
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries is supporting several of the Alberta government’s proposed legislative and policy updates for private sector pension laws, including the move towards a going-concern plus regime for defined benefit plans and the introduction of automatic features in defined contribution plans. In its response to the consultation draft, the CIA cited the benefits […]
An article on Telus Communications Inc.’s win in Benefits Canada‘s 2022 Workplace Benefits Awards was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Telus wins award for supporting employees’ holistic well-being 2. Survey finds nearly all young employees globally experiencing burnout 3. Half of employees say employer hasn’t communicated […]
Canadian defined benefit pension plans saw a median return of 0.27 per cent for the third quarter of 2022 amid a challenging economic environment, according to the BNY Mellon Canadian master trust universe. The universe, which is designed to provide peer comparisons by plan type and size, comprises 80 Canadian corporate public and university pension […]