Ebnc-Stayingcurrent-Investment

Rating the credit-rating agencies

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:54:00 GMT

Investors have long relied on credit ratings to guide their investment decisions and to control the risk profile of their investments. However, following the collapse of the AAA-rated asset-backed commercial paper market, investors are now questioning whether credit ratings have outlived their purpose.

Investment Insider - Product allocation trumps asset allocation near retirement

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:46:00 GMT

For members of a defined contribution plan in the "retirement risk zone" five or 10 years before or after retirement, product allocation will have a more significant impact on retirement income than asset allocation, says York University Professor Moshe Milevsky in his latest book, "Are You A Stock Or A Bond?"

LDI helps pension funds weather the storm

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:19:00 GMT

Pension funds that are currently underfunded on either a going-concern or a solvency basis due to the unravelling of global capital markets since August 2007 should seriously consider liability-driven investing to immunize them from market volatility.

Promoting adequate retirement savings for all: A plea for a national DC plan

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:11:00 GMT

Every time over the past few years that a Canadian jurisdiction has grafted yet another set of amendments onto their pension standards legislation, it has occurred to me that we might be better off if we could junk the current system and start again with a single pension statute instead of many.

Great-West Life purchases Fidelity's DC recordkeeping business

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:17:00 GMT

The big news in the Canadian DC arena this fall was the purchase of Fidelity's recordkeeping business by Great-West Life. The transition is expected to be complete by June 2009.

Included is the Employee Benefit News Canada DC Providers Directory

Solid stock rally unlikely until mid 2009, says Patty Croft

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:03:00 GMT

The worst of the credit crisis is behind us, but the economic crisis is now unfolding with the world economy in recession, said Patricia Croft, chief economist and vice-president with Phillips, Hager & North at the opening session of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plan's Canadian Investment Conference in Maui this week.

Plan sponsors dealing proactively with market turmoil

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:15:00 GMT

Plan sponsors are taking their fiduciary responsibilities seriously and dealing proactively with the financial crisis, suggests a new survey from Aon Consulting.

Accounting for Employee Future Benefits: The transition from current Canadian GAAP to IFRS

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:07:00 GMT

On February 13, 2008, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board confirmed that the International Financial Reporting Standards will have to be used by all publicly ccountable profit-oriented enterprises beginning in 2011. Some of the important dates and implications or targeted entities currently reporting employee future benefits, such as pension pans and post-retirement benefits, under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles are summarized in this Aon Special Forum.

CRA says executive SERP designs may be offside

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:49:00 GMT

In spite of recent information provided by the Canada Revenue Agency regarding its administrative position on supplementary executive retirement plans at the recent 2008 Tax Roundtable hosted by the Conference on Advanced Life Underwriting, at least one industry expert says plan sponsors are taking a "wait and see" approach.

Releases under the ABCP Plan

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:24:00 GMT

If pension plans holding asset-backed commercial paper suffer losses, how will plan administrators be affected by the releases in the ABCP Plan, as confirmed by an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling?