Karen Liberman of the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario speaks frankly on the prevalence of mental illness, why we need to talk about it and what employers can do to help. How common are mood disorders? They affect one in five [people] around the world. The irony is that by and large, these illnesses—depression, anxiety, […]
Keeping costs at a minimum in this turbulent economy is top of mind for employers. At the recent Managing the Workplace During an Economic Downturn seminar in Toronto, lawyers from Heenan Blaikie’s Labour, Employment and Pensions Practice Group provided some options to help set employers’ minds at ease. While laying off employees might be an […]
Plan administrators attending the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ session on Retirement Arrangements on June 17 in Toronto learned that while Canadian and American employers are not required to establish pension plans for their employees, for those that do, there are significant differences. Janet Downing, a lawyer and senior consultant with Watson Wyatt Worldwide, […]
In evaluating which funds to choose, plan sponsors and investment managers usually consider the three Ps: performance, process and people. These aspects are of the utmost importance when it comes to target date funds (TDFs). Unfortunately, the first of the three Ps—performance—presents some challenges. One such challenge is conducting an apples-to-apples comparison of TDFs. “Comparing […]
For many plan sponsors, getting capital accumulation plan members to save for retirement is a challenge. There are risks to consider: undersavings, market, mortality, longevity and inflation, says Rod Bare, director, asset allocation strategies, Morningstar Indexes, with Morningstar, Inc. “It’s within that context that target date funds have been forged, and they’ve had various degrees […]
With Influenza A H1N1 making headlines and fears of a pandemic lurking in the background, it’s paramount that companies have a business continuity plan in place. This was the focus of McCarthy Tétrault’s Web presentation “Is your workplace ready for a pandemic?” Companies need to anticipate and plan for a pandemic, said Robb Macpherson, a […]
With long wait times and an aging population, could medical tourism ever become a voluntary benefit in Canada? Travelling abroad can be a life-changing experience: new customs, new foods…new hip? If you can’t get the healthcare you need for the price, timeline or quality you want in Canada, you can head to India, Singapore or […]
New chair of the CPPIB Robert M. Astley discusses the CPP’s long-term horizon, the board’s governance and investment policies, and the future retirement income security of Canadians. What do you see as the future strategic direction of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)?I don’t see the direction of the board as being a departure […]
While securities lending has been vilified in the media, experts say it’s not the devil everyone thinks it is—it’s just misunderstood. “Securities lending is almost a religious issue,” said Mark Fieldhouse, head of technical sales with RBC Dexia Investor Services, speaking at the Second Annual Securities Lending Summit hosted by Canadian Investment Review in Toronto. […]
Are target date funds a healthy choice for plan sponsors concerned about member engagement? Many plan members remain in a state of investment and retirement planning inertia when it comes to their capital accumulation plans (CAPs). For some plan sponsors, the target date fund (TDF) may seem like a quick and easy solution to satisfy […]