Pensions

Volatility and the individual investor

What does the “new world order” mean for individual investors? Colin Ripsman, vice-president with Phillips, Hager & North, delved into that question at the firm’s pension trustee education seminar last week in Toronto.

By Brooke Smith |March 8, 2012

3 min read

Market Insights

Pensions post lacklustre gains: RBC Dexia

Canadian pension plans ended the year barely in positive territory, thanks to an impromptu October market rally that helped lift retirement assets by 4.2% in the fourth quarter, according to a survey by RBC Dexia Investor Services.

By Staff |January 24, 2012

1 min read

Industry

Pension plans shaking Canadians’ confidence

Canadians have doubts about their private and government-funded pension plans, according to a survey carried out as part of the National Bank of Canada’s Retirement Index.

By Tammy Burns |January 12, 2012

2 min read

Economic Indicators

A new wrinkle for Europe

A radical overhaul may be in order for the state pensions of the world’s most developed countries. There is already talk of scaling back benefits, but to do this across the board would be tragic. A better approach would be to make all state-backed pensions means-tested, rather than universal.

By Staff |January 11, 2012

1 min read

Pension investing with ETFs

DC and RSP benefits are completely a function of contributions and the actual investment result for each employee. Employees are responsible for the outcome, not employers, and the pension amount is unknown until retirement. High costs, poor investment decision-making and lack of scale are documented problems with DC plans, which have generally experienced returns 1% lower than DB plans over time, according to a recent Towers Watson study.

December 1, 2011

10 min read

The IPP conundrum

Savvy advisors have taken the time to understand Individual Pension Plans, seeing them as a value-added service for existing and prospective clients recognizing they may be the new frontier in the asset accumulation cycle.

4 min read

An advisor’s guide to Individual Pension Plans

Business owners face some tough choices. They could sell their business outright to fund retirement, but if they want to keep it in the family, that could prove problematic. Enter the advisor who understands the Individual Pension Plan (IPP).

By Staff |November 16, 2011

2 min read

Canadians saving too much? Pardon?

Canadians are saving too much for retirement, according to the report issued by C.D. Howe. You read that right. Not all Canadians, of course—just those who have access to defined benefit pension plans.

By Staff |October 27, 2011