Pensions

Global economy drives Canadian pension losses

Amid concerns of a global economic slowdown, Canadian pension plans experienced significant losses on both sides of the balance sheet in the third quarter of 2011, according to the Mercer Pension Health Index.

By Staff |October 6, 2011

2 min read

Industry

IPPs still viable

The 2011 Federal Budget included changes to the age 72 distribution requirements of Individual Pension Plans (IPPs). More importantly, it also affected past service contributions, which now must be made by first transferring unused RRSP room or actual RRSP assets to the IPP.

By Pierre Ghorbanian |August 1, 2011

3 min read

Industry

Pensions post meagre Q2 gains: survey

Faltering global equity markets largely erased fixed income advances within pension funds during the June quarter, according to a survey just released by RBC Dexia Investor Services. Within the $340 billion RBC Dexia universe, Canadian pension assets rose 0.2% in the three months ending June 2011, nudging year-to-date performance to 2.2%. “Concerns over the resilience […]

By Staff |July 21, 2011

2 min read

Industry

Pensions see moderate losses in Q2

After three consecutive quarters of gains, Mercer’s pension index shows that many Canadian plans suffered moderate losses in the second quarter of 2011 as a result of negative Canadian equity returns and a decline in federal bond yields. The index stood at 71% as of June 30, down 4% over the quarter. “Long-term federal bond […]

By Staff |July 8, 2011

1 min read

Good news for your clients’ pension health

Stronger stock market returns helped shore up the solvency positions of most Canadian pension plans, but the improvement has been only slight, according to the Mercer Pension Health Index. The index reading improved 2 points to 75 at the end of March, but the story could be much better, as the index does not take […]

By Staff |April 6, 2011

2 min read

Promises, promises: NDP borrows Liberal policy

Another day on the election trail and the pickings are slim on the financial planning front. The Conservatives appear to have switched to the social agenda, promising once again to scrap the long gun registry. The Liberals took Sunday to recap their agenda on education, family care, and strengthening pensions. Speaking of pensions, the NDP […]

By Staff |April 4, 2011

2 min read

Sun Life’s Hudon praises Quebec’s VRSP

In a speech to the Canadian Club of Montreal, the president of Sun Life Financial in Québec, Isabelle Hudon, said she is highly optimistic about the financial future of Québeckers following recent decisions by the Government of Québec to establish new voluntary retirement savings plans. In particular, she welcomed the addition of an automatic enrollment […]

2 min read

Quebec rolls out new pension option

The Quebec government is getting kudos from the industry for being the first province to introduce a new pension program for workers that lack private plans. The provincial budget, tabled on Thursday, proposes a voluntary retirement savings plan (VRSP), which according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) is based on the pooled […]

2 min read

Pension reforms must do better: OECD

Recent reforms will be inadequate to cover higher pension costs in the future, despite increases in retirement ages in half of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD countries, says the OECD report Pensions at Glance 2011. The organization that works for the improvement of the economic and social well-being of people around the world […]

By Staff |March 17, 2011

2 min read