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 […]
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. […]
As all aspects of employee well-being increasingly overlap, it’s never been more critical to look at the intersection between health and wealth, especially for a traditionally underserved part of the population. The inaugural Women’s Health & Wealth Summit, which was hosted in Toronto on March 5, brought together plan sponsors and other industry thought leaders […]
Driving to a client meeting in 2003, Kate Nazar, then age 30, felt shooting pains up her spine and pulled to the side of the road, stepped out of the car and collapsed. Hours later, after emergency surgery, she learned the episode — and the months of missing menstrual cycle before it — were symptoms […]
“Financial autonomy is something a lot of Canadians are striving for every day — alongside that, they can achieve financial empowerment,” said Avnee Patel (pictured right), senior director of business development and group retirement savings at Desjardins, during a fireside chat at Benefits Canada’s inaugural Women’s Health & Wealth Summit. “Growing up, financial empowerment felt […]
Financial stress is an ever-present concern for many employees — among women, it’s even more pronounced. A survey by the Financial Resilience Institute found almost two-thirds (72 per cent) of women said money worries cause them emotional stress, eight percentage points higher than men, while 71 per cent of Canadian women are stressed about not […]
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 […]