Heightened volatility could make defined benefit pension plan sponsors pause before deciding how to approach the use of favourable financial positions resulting in surpluses. While Canadian DB plan sponsors have been in surplus on a going concern basis for a significant amount of time, many are now facing a surplus situation on a solvency basis, […]
A changing world is challenging investment organizations’ established approach to risk management, said Dervish Halil (pictured left), senior managing director and head of credit and capital markets risk at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, during a panel session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2025 Risk Management Conference. “I think one of the challenges is to […]
The implementation of variable payment life annuities in Quebec will support employee financial well-being and retirement readiness, while providing a model for other Canadian jurisdictions, says Louis-Bernard Désilets, an associate at Normandin Beaudry. “Currently, there’s approximately $1.5 trillion in retirement savings accumulated in [registered retirement savings plans] and [defined contribution] plans in Canada, with likely […]
The Ontario Securities Commission’s proposal to provide retail investors access to private assets through a new fund vehicle could have adverse risks for institutional investors’ long-term investment goals, said the Pension Investment Association of Canada. The OSC is mulling introducing a new fund category, the Ontario Long-Term Asset Fund, that would provide a pathway for […]
According to an old adage, the fish rots from the head down. With the chief executive officer being the head of a corporation, are there any red flags to make institutional investors anticipate the rot when considering investee companies? Notable American businessman Charlie Munger was once asked what advice he would give to young investment […]
An academic says environmental, social and governance terminology should evolve alongside understanding of the concept, while a consultant favours a focus on substance over form. Amir Akbari, assistant professor of finance, McMaster University As our understanding of sustainable development evolves, so, too, should our characterization of responsible investment. For instance, consider the United Nation’s Kunming-Montreal Global […]
A growing wave of opposition to environmental, social and governance factors has turned life in the sustainable finance industry into something of a roller coaster over the last couple of years. But a little turbulence is to be expected, says Alyson Slater, managing director of sustainable investment at Manulife Investment Management, encouraging institutional investors to […]
With the arrival of the new year, there are three topics that will be important for pension plan sponsors, members and other industry stakeholders in 2024. The economy and financial markets At the end of 2023, the Canadian economy and the financial markets were still feeling the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Read: Expert panel: […]
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ proposed cybersecurity incident reporting standard could unintentionally lead to duplication and increased risk if it doesn’t reflect differences in technology and risks faced by federally regulated financial institutions and federally regulated pension plans, according to the Association of Canadian Pension Management. While financial institutions’ systems are critical to the functioning of […]
Fidelity Canada is supporting the future financial well-being of young Canadians through a new video series hosted by the organization’s employees. The series, known as Money Gains, consists of 10 videos in both English and French, geared towards students and covering a range of investment and retirement topics, including interest, returns, risks and timelines. It […]