The combination of several innovations in defined contribution pension plan design can dramatically improve retirement readiness across income levels, according to a new report by Mercer. Its annual retirement readiness barometer analyzed the impact of two key innovations — variable payment life annuities and exposure to alternative investments like private markets — alongside plan flexibility […]
An article on British Columbia’s updated pension standards, including the introduction of auto-escalation for defined contribution pension plans, was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: B.C. amending pension legislation, including auto-escalation for DC plans Ontario pension plan assets […]
The Ontario Pension Board is communicating its long-term strategic plan to members through a new interactive online page. The platform, dubbed ‘On the Horizon’, is designed to engage plan members on the strategic direction of the organization and features three three-year horizons that balance long-term goals with immediate action, including enhancing plan sustainability, efficiency and […]
The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ 2026–2029 strategic plan is focusing on regulatory harmonization, pension supervision and stakeholder engagement. The strategic plan comes as pension plan sponsors and members continue to navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainty, including inflation, higher interest rates and market volatility, alongside ongoing concerns around retirement readiness. Read:2026 DC Plan Summit: […]
In times of increased economic uncertainty, the number of tough financial choices facing the average person seems to rise exponentially. Clashing priorities battle it out: Will the latest paycheque be swallowed by the mortgage, car payments and bills? Can $100 or more be spared each month for an emergency fund? Or to tuck away in […]
PepsiCo Canada may be known for quenching thirst and satisfying snack cravings, but the organization’s leadership recently identified another kind of demand: clearer, more personalized financial guidance for employees. The organization already had a comprehensive suite of financial benefits, including savings programs and educational resources, and employees were using them. “We already had strong engagement […]
In its sophomore year under its new branding, the Employee Savings Survey (previously known as the CAP Member Survey) reflects the changing landscape of workplace savings programs as plan members face competing financial priorities and employers step up to expand their offerings. Going even further, some of this year’s results were broken down into different […]
As millennials become a dominant demographic in Canadian workplaces, employers are rethinking how they communicate their savings plans. Indeed, that shift is reshaping how EllisDon approaches communications and engagement with its savings program, says Marie-Lynn Bromilow, the construction services company’s vice-president of total rewards, noting millennials make up a significant portion of its plan membership. […]
Employers can remove friction from benefits and pension plan design by encouraging ease of use, communications and reducing decision fatigue, according to a panel discussion at Benefits Canada’s inaugural Women’s Health & Wealth Summit. According to the 2025 Employee Savings Survey, women were less likely than men to describe their financial health as excellent or […]
The Ontario Pension Board’s net assets totaled $36.6 billion at the end of 2025, compared to $34.1 billion at the end of 2024. The pension administrator reported a seven per cent net total fund return for the year, compared to 8.1 per cent in 2024. Over a five- and 10-year period, the plan reported a […]