With no signs yet of the markets returning to health and retention issues still a concern, employers can find themselves between a rock and a hard place, according to an expert. Speaking at a succession planning seminar on March 11 in Toronto, Marina Scassa, communications practice leader with Buck Consultants, explained that older workers are […]
Sometimes we all just need a little advice—especially when it comes to our investments. On the topic of investment advice for capital accumulation plan (CAP) members, there are as many meanings of advice as there are fluctuations in the markets. The problem stems from the word itself. I don’t think there’s a crystal-clear definition of […]
Investment advice isn’t the only option—some plan sponsors opt for broader retirement planning education instead. Cadillac Fairview doesn’t do investment advice. “We did not want anyone giving our employees investment advice because we believe it’s a personal rather than a company responsibility,” says Debbie Coughlin, director, HR, with Cadillac Fairview. And, with company responsibility comes […]
In Safe Hands February 28, 2009 | Brooke Smith In the current economic climate, custodians are concerned with increasing communication and protecting client assets. In Marathon Man, as Dustin Hoffman squirms and sweats while strapped to a chair in an interrogation room, Laurence Olivier, dental instruments in hand, asks repeatedly, “Is it safe?” That’s the […]
With bonds exposed to market volatility, how can investors seize emerging opportunities in fixed income? The current liquidation in the market is the result of the de-leveraging process, risk models that limit managers’ scope, tightening of bank lending, and rebalancing of balanced portfolios, said Marc-André Lewis, senior-vice-president, fixed income, with Natcan Investment Management, speaking in […]
When it comes to chasing alpha in today’s market, the new mantra should be “less is more,” according to an expert. Speaking at the Stock Market Crash and the Return of Alpha event in Toronto on Tuesday, Saker Nusseibeh, global head of equities with Fortis Investments, explained that fund managers should focus on simplicity for […]
A psychologically safe workplace is one that does not allow significant harm to employees’ mental health, said Dr. Martin Shain, director and founder of the Neighbour@Work Centre, speaking at an Employee Assistance Program Association of Toronto seminar yesterday. With increasing legally enforceable standards for the protection of employees’ mental health at work, employers need to […]
While most of your employees will have come through adolescence quite painlessly, some of them may be suffering through “middlescence.” “Middlescents,” a term coined by American researchers, are mid-career employees between the ages of 35 and 55 who have been with an employer for at least five years, work 50-plus hours per week and are […]
Executive vice-president Bob Bertram talks about his years at Teachers’ and his advisory role with the pension fund after retirement. During your time at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, what was your greatest achievement? Probably developing an overall investment program where we integrated risk management compensation systems and portfolio management into a single set of […]
Thomas Hockin, chair of the Expert Panel on Securities Regulation, addressed the Economic Club of Canada today in Toronto about the panel’s report, which was released earlier this week. Securities regulation helps to ensure that the markets work efficiently, said Hockin. “And that’s important to Canadians: young people, entrepreneurs and international investors.” A national securities […]