Articles and documents addressing pension plans in Canada (both DB and DC pensions). The most popular Canadian DB (defined benefits) pensions papers are those which focus on pensions funding, pensions risk management, valuation methods and assumptions used by Canadian DB pension schemes. White papers on Canadian DC pensions issues covers a variety of topics, with opinion divided of whether the level of Canadian pensions saving is adequate or sustainable. Reports which examine the costs of Canada's mutual fund-based retirement system have been well-liked. Globally, Canadian pension funds have been ahead of the game (comparatively) in view of their investment in infrastructure, and a case study examining the lessons learned for other pension funds investing in infrastructure has been one of our best papers. More recently, a survey of salaries for Canadian investment professionals (CFA Charterholders) has proved very popular.
The 2017 Global Pensions Asset Study covers 22 major pension markets, which total USD 36,435 billion in pension assets and account for 62.0% of the GDP of these economies. China, Finland and Italy were added to this year’s study. A deeper analysis was performed for seven of these markets (Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK and US), which comprise 91.7% of ...
This comprehensive 47-page paper by Willis Towers Watson provides invaluable insights into the financial state of the largest 300 pension funds in the world. The U.S. continues to hold its position as the country with the largest share of pension assets across the top 300 funds, representing 38.6% spread across 134 funds. Meanwhile, Canada has overtaken the U.K. as the fifth ...
This paper by PwC examines investment process best practices by global pension funds. It looks at growing asset allocation trends, regulations, governance models, and other drivers of change.
An excellent and comprehensive study of compensation amongst Canadian CFA Charterholders. Showing salary, bonus and benefit levels for portfolio managers, multi-asset PMs, portfolio analysts, risk analysts, compliance/regulatory professionals, investment marketers, product development professionals, investment advisers and private client execs. Compensation levels are cut and ...
This paper examines how asset owners have invested their knowledge capital and the implications that flow through the whole industry supply chain. Key areas considered include the institutional investment ecosystem, the new investment landscape, the consequences of asset owner innovation, etc.
Since the early 1990s, the pioneers in infrastructure investing have been Canadian and Australian pension funds. Globally, these funds currently have the highest allocation of assets to infrastructure. In this article, the authors compare and contrast institutional investors' experiences in Australia and Canada, examining the pension systems, infrastructure policies, the ...
In this edition of our quarterly letter Ian Lance looks at one of today's largest and yet least discussed issues: the extent to which different types of pensions across the globe are underfunded. After identifying the factors that led to this situation, he examines the potential implications of trying to deal with the shortfall and concludes they could have a very deflationary ...
Hear leading asset owners from around the world discuss their views on ESG investing and where the industry is headed. FTSE Russell’s forum on the past-present-future of sustainable investment examines the evolution of investor ESG approaches, and provides fresh insights about investment opportunities and risks from executives across the pension funds industry, including HSBC ...
This 135-page document brings together the thoughts of a selection of eminent names from within the investment industry on the topic of long-term investing.
Based on our experience, there is growing evidence that many employees are not financially ready for retirement, and plan sponsors are increasingly concerned about the gravity of this lack of preparedness. There are a number of reasons why employees may not be very advanced in their plans to secure a solid retirement with a dependable income stream: Multiple financial obligations ...
The UK has led the way in pensions risk transfer, and the trend is now going global. By transferring longevity risk to insurers, pension plan sponsors can both strengthen their own financial stability and also improve the financial security of retirees. This 16-page report from Prudential discusses the global marketplace for longevity risk transfer, examining individual ...
This report addresses some key questions: How does a company's pension plan affect the stock price? How does the pension plan impact the company's credit rating / credit spread? How does a US company manage its pension liabilities in the light of pension insurance ( i.e. the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)?
Canadians manage their savings primarily through mutual funds and pension plans, each of which hold over $1 trillion in assets (2014 figure). Policymakers have promoted RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) for the last 20 years as the best option, with much of those personal savings being invested in mutual funds. In this paper, the high fees paid by mutual fund based ...
This 48 page document, from Canadian Financial Executives Research Foundation (CFERF) in partnership with Mercer, reveals that 60% of Canadian financial executives feel that their pension plan poses either moderate or substantial risk to their organization. The paper examines a variety of different ways that Canadian plan sponsors may de-risk their pension plans.
This 16-page report provides the findings from a recent survey into Canada's retirement income system. The survey indicates that Canadians place a high value on tangible retirement outcomes and they are willing to pay more to achieve those specific outcomes. The authors discuss this, and other observations.
The capital accumulation plan (“CAP”) sector is maturing in Canada and large numbers of Canadians will ultimately be entering retirement without the security of a defined benefit pension. There is a concern that the decumulation products and services currently available to individuals may not produce optimal outcomes, while group decumulation options are not broadly available. ...
Measurement and management of pension plan risks requires a thorough understanding of the relationship between actuarial liabilities and the discount rate used to measure liabilities. The authors of this paper find that the sensitivity of liabilities for pensions in pay does not vary significantly from one pension plan to another. Differences are mostly explained by the discount ...
Average life expectancy is set to increase in many countries by 2030 – and will exceed 90 years in South Korea, according to new research. The study, led by scientists from Imperial College London in collaboration with the World Health Organization, analysed long-term data on mortality and longevity trends to predict how life expectancy will change in 35 industrialised countries ...
OPTrust released Climate Change: Delivering on Disclosure, a position paper that details the fund’s approach to navigating the complexities of climate change with respect to institutional investing and includes a call for collaboration in the development of standardized measures for carbon disclosure. The position paper is accompanied by a report by Mercer titled ...
This 37-page document provides important insights into the pension fund industry. 400 senior executives representing private and public pensions systems across 20 different countries were interviewed for the survey. Key themes covered include: investment strategy; managing risks; effiencies; talent; accountability.
