Workplace financial advice has evolved significantly over the past 15 years, moving from in-plan investment advice to more broad financial planning, said Marc-Antoine Morin, assistant vice-president of group retirement at Manulife, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2026 Defined Contribution Plan Summit. He traced the evolution to the rise of three factors: target-date funds, which […]
As generation Z’s behaviours, motivators and stressors evolve in real time, a joint research project from Canada Life and Deloitte Canada is aiming to help bridge the gap between prudent financial planning and the generation’s legitimate concerns around long-term systemic risks. Speaking during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2026 Defined Contribution Plan Summit, Kate Nazar […]
While more than half (52 per cent) of workplace savings plan members count on the plan as their main source of retirement income, both men (16 per cent) and women (12 per cent) overstated their account balances, according to Sun Life’s latest survey of 1,900 plan members. Sharing the survey results at Benefits Canada’s 2026 […]
On balance, Canadians believe they’re meeting their ambitions, including investment- and financial-related goals, said Michael Keaveney, client portfolio manager in total investment solutions at CIBC Asset Management, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2026 Defined Contribution Plan Summit. Sharing the results of CIBC’s recent ambitions index, he noted two-thirds said they believe they’ve been meeting their […]
A workforce that’s sprawled across the country is pushing Simon Cabral (pictured centre), former director of global defined contribution plans at Scotiabank, to employ a fully digital approach when communicating with employees. “We have to, we have no choice really to reach our cohorts across the country,” he said during a panel session at Benefits Canada’s […]
For defined contribution plan members, the ultimate positive DC experience is understanding the plan provisions, knowing what decisions to make, feeling confident about making well-informed choices and arriving at a prosperous retirement, said Barbara Sanders, associate professor of statistics and actuarial science at Simon Fraser University, during a keynote session at Benefits Canada‘s 2026 DC […]
More than half (56 per cent) of plan members say email is the most effective way to communicate with them about their savings plans, according to Benefits Canada’s 2026 Employee Savings Survey. The survey, which polled 500 Canadian plan members, found traditional mail (18 per cent) was a distant second preferred communications tool, followed by […]
In its sophomore year under the Employee Savings Survey banner, Benefits Canada’s annual check in with plan members about their financial priorities and the condition of their workplace savings journeys dove deeper into the demographic data. In a virtual panel discussion on March 30, industry experts shared their views on the 2026 results by exploring the […]
In its pre-budget submission to the federal government, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association highlighted variable payment life annuities, automatic features in pension plans, pharmacare and virtual health care as areas that require attention. While the CLHIA said it supports the concept of VPLAs as a decumulation solution for defined contribution plan members, it […]
It’s OK to ask for help is a lesson I’m learning very gradually. While I do lean heavily on my immediate family, particularly my parents, who have both been crucial in helping me survive — and thrive, I hope — as a solo parent to two young kids, I’m not usually a person who regularly […]