Retirement

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 […]

By Staff, with files from The Canadian Press |March 18, 2011

2 min read

Planning and Advice

Segregated funds offer protection

Financial advisors must make investment decisions for their clients based on whatever information is available at that moment, not unlike the physician who must make a diagnosis with limited information about his patient’s condition.

By Rod Tyler |March 11, 2011

5 min read

Economic Indicators

Canadians less optimistic about retirement

The 2011 Canadian Unretirement Index, released by Sun Life Financial today, shows the average Canadian expects to retire at age 68—three years later than respondents reported in the same study a year ago. The economic downturn has had the most significant impact on the retirement expectations among those earning less than $50,000 per year. They’re […]

By Staff |March 8, 2011

2 min read

Economic Indicators

Canadians upbeat on finances, economy

Consumer confidence is higher now than it was in November of last year, according to the latest Harris/Decima-Investor’s Group Measure of Consumer Confidence. The upbeat mood also extended to their personal financial wellbeing and their short- and medium-term outlook—personally and for the Canadian economy. The overall measure of consumer confidence increased from 82.8 last November […]

By Staff |March 8, 2011

2 min read

Colossal RRSP room left untouched

As a potent savings tool, the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) remains woefully underutilized for yet another year. A recent survey by BMO Financial Group revealed only 39% Canadians made an RRSP contribution, well below 50% as had been predicted by an earlier survey by the bank. “We are quite surprised that the number of […]

2 min read

Protecting retiring allowance payments

A report by Generational Insight suggests that roughly 41.5% of the Canadian population consists of 'Matures' (those born between 1909 and 1946) and 'Baby Boomers' (those born between 1947 and 1966).

4 min read

Third pillar must drive retirement savings innovation

The pooled retirement pension plan (PRPP) scheme announced last year represents a positive first step toward ensuring all Canadians have sufficient opportunity to save for retirement, according to Christopher Brown, president of the Association of Canadian Pension Management. But, he says, this has to be just part of the solution. “Governments are clearly engaged in […]

By Neil Faba |February 25, 2011

4 min read

Start sooner to save more

Many Canadians wish they had started saving and investing earlier for retirement. After all, that’s one way to be a millionaire (read: Time is on the side of young investors). Yet again the looming RRSP deadline has triggered a bout of soul-searching as Canadians take stock of their financial footing. Going by the findings of […]

By Vikram Barhat |February 17, 2011

2 min read

Retirement

Quebec rolls out new pension option

Segregated funds offer protection

Canadians less optimistic about retirement

Canadians upbeat on finances, economy

Colossal RRSP room left untouched

Protecting retiring allowance payments

Third pillar must drive retirement savings innovation

Economics, retirement planning go hand in hand

RRSP, TFSA integral to a retirement plan

Start sooner to save more