CPP Investments’ chief executive officer has described the organization as a supertanker, referring to scale — a portfolio approaching $800 billion — and the inability to pivot quickly due to its investments across illiquid assets. “We need to be cognizant of that,” said Derek Walker, the organization’s managing director and head of applied research and […]
Alongside deglobalization and changing global supply chains, technology is now permeating strategy at a global level, with artificial intelligence moving from a topic of innovation to an instrument of power, according to Mai Mavinkurve, founding partner at Prosperity Global Services and a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance and Innovation. Speaking during a […]
Danish pension fund AkademikerPension is divesting nearly US$100 million in U.S. treasuries, citing weak U.S. government finances. In a press release, Anders Schelde, the organization’s investment director, clarified the decision wasn’t made in response to recent U.S. threats to annex Greenland, a Danish territory. “It is not directly related to the ongoing division between the […]
Alberta’s Local Authorities Pension Plan and Public Service Pension Plan have launched a new board education program aimed at strengthening governance by equipping trustees with practical, decision-ready knowledge for an increasingly complex pension environment. Developed over two years in collaboration with stakeholders, the program responds to a comprehensive review of board learning needs and reflects […]
After an eventful 2025, there are several developments and trends affecting Canadian defined benefit pension plan sponsors in 2026. Focus on investment strategy Major equity markets performed well in 2025, which was a key driver for another year of improved funded positions for many DB pension plans. Although most pension plans are well funded today, […]
In 2026, the Canadian Institute of Actuaries will continue to focus on the impact of climate risk on several areas, including pension investments, says Angelita Graham, a partner at Mercer Canada and president of the CIA. Last year, the organization began working with Université du Québec à Montréal for its research chair in actuarial and […]
One academic argues in favour of public equity’s transparency in a volatile economy, while another looks to private equity’s future gains. Yuanshun Li, associate professor, interim chair, finance, Toronto Metropolitan University In today’s climate of persistent inflation, uneven global growth and a recent pivot towards monetary easing, investors are rightly re-evaluating risk. While private equity […]
Size matters when it comes to Canada’s much-vaunted model of pension investment. Sebastien Betermier, an associate professor of finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says the in-house capabilities and direct, private-asset investment that characterize the approach pioneered by the Maple 8 aren’t replicable by just any pension fund. “You need to be really […]
The funded status of a typical defined benefit pension plan in Canada increased on both a solvency basis and on an accounting basis in September, according to a new report by Telus Health. The solvency index for plans grew to 107.4 per cent, compared to 105.8 per cent at the end of August, while the […]
An article on how Canadian institutional investors are approaching risk management amid increasing political tension with the U.S. 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 asks whether institutional investors are prepared for risks in evolving […]