Canadians’ total pension wealth increased by 7.9 per cent in 2021 to reach nearly $4.9 trillion by the end of year, according to a new report by Statistics Canada. It found revaluations of pension asset prices — largely due to equity market gains — increased pension wealth by $259.4 billion in 2021. On average, pension […]
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 uniting theme at the 2022 Defined Contribution Plan Summit was financial wellness, a chief concern for any employer that offers a pension plan to its workforce. In particular, with inflation reaching its highest level in four decades and people facing several competing financial priorities, including simple day-to-day expenses, plan sponsors are bringing flexibility to […]
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of employees are willing to take a job with a lower salary and a pension plan than one with a higher salary and no pension, according to a new survey by the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. The survey, which polled 1,700 Canadian adults, found while employees close to retirement age […]
Pension and retirement plan members in Newfoundland and Labrador can now designate beneficiaries through electronic means. The amendment allows individuals to name beneficiaries electronically for certain types of plans, including a workplace pension, retirement, welfare or profit-sharing fund or plan, a registered retirement income fund, a registered retirement savings plan or a tax-free savings account. […]
Dillon Consulting Ltd. is supporting employees’ financial well-being through a student debt repayment program. The program allows employees to repay student debt by using employer contributions to the company’s deferred profit-sharing plan that match employee contributions to the group registered retirement savings plan, says Tanya Cross, a partner at Dillon Consulting. Read: Indigo to pilot Great-West […]
Contract food services and custodial workers at Canada’s colleges and universities have less access to pensions and paid leave than their in-house colleagues, according to a new report by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The report, which analyzed employment data from publicly funded post-secondary institutions, found only 23 per cent of contract food services employers […]
While Canadians nearing retirement age have seen a doubling in the median value of both their assets and net worth since 1999, the prospect of a comfortable retirement remains out of reach for many employees, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute. It found a quarter of Canadians aged 45 to 64 […]
A third (33 per cent) of recently retired Canadians said they retired sooner than they planned and 30 per cent of pre-retirees intend to change their retirement date because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. It found Canadians are still largely relying on traditional retirement savings tools, such as […]
In 2020, more than 6.2 million Canadians put aside a total of $50.1 billion for their retirement by making contributions to their registered retirement savings plan, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Compared with a year earlier, contributions increased 13 per cent in 2020, while the number of contributors increased 4.9 per cent. In current dollars, the median RRSP contribution […]