Five of Canada’s largest pension funds earned high marks for their public reporting efforts, according to a new report from Top1000funds.com and CEM Benchmarking Inc. It ranked pension funds on their costs, governance, performance and responsible investment efforts. Canada’s pension system received an average overall score of 92 out of 100, a one-point increase from […]
When Bell Canada was communicating defined contribution plan changes to members in 2024, it turned to artificial intelligence to help personalize its message to all of its 25,000 plan members. The redesign, which aimed to respond to members’ different financial priorities, enhanced the company’s savings options with a first home savings account, a tax-free savings […]
As society’s view on gender identity continues to evolve, so too does the role of gender in shaping the world. A 2023 report by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries examined the impact of gender on actuarial considerations, including longevity risk in pension plans. The CIA’s report followed a 2021 decision by the Superior Court of […]
As institutional investors navigate complex markets and demanding governance requirements, Grace Uniacke, director of alternatives solutions at Russell Investments, suggests they move their portfolios from disconnected compartments towards integrated, connected systems. “This can be done in incremental tweaks, but more so as a structural upgrade to how we design, construct and manage institutional portfolios,” she said during […]
The Alberta Pensions Services Corp. has taken on the administration of the National Public Service Pension Transfer Agreement, a multilateral arrangement that enables the transfer of pensionable service and funds between participating public defined benefit pension plans across Canada. This agreement plays a vital role in supporting mobility within the public sector, allowing employees who […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is inviting stakeholders to provide their input on the proposed guidance in support of permanent target-benefit framework for multi-employer pension plan sponsors. The guidance explains how the FSRA will oversee and apply Ontario’s framework, which came into effect on Jan. 1. Read: FSRA monitoring target-benefit framework, pension risks in […]
An article on how plan sponsors can handle lost pension claims was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Expert panel: How plan sponsors can handle lost pension claims 2. Feds increasing pay, retention bonuses for CAF […]
What’s a plan administrator to do when an individual makes a claim to a pension entitlement that goes back many years after their employment — or in some cases, the employment of a spouse, partner, parent or even grandparent — has ended and available pension records are inconclusive? In a perfect world, when pension inquiries […]
Amid economic volatility, Canadian target-benefit plan sponsors can ensure strong outcomes for members by balancing pension benefit stability and intergenerational equity, says George Ma, a retired actuary and author of a new report on target-benefit outcomes for the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He notes three fundamental elements underpin a well-structured target-benefit plan: sound design, clearly […]
Manitoba’s Pension Benefits Act could be improved by allowing for more flexibility in transfers of locked-in funds, said the Association of Canadian Pension Management. In its response to the province’s request for feedback on proposed changes to the PBA, the ACPM said the current legislation — which allows for a one-time transfer of up to […]