pension benefits – Benefits Canada.com

FSRA releases final guidance on impact of marriage breakdown on pension benefits

bwolfe — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 20:00:01 +0000

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is clarifying its guidance on the administration of pension benefits upon marriage breakdown. The final guidance, which came into effect on Nov. 9, 2021, clarifies the FSRA’s position on issues relating to valuation, payment and division and survivor benefits. It stated pension assets are to be valued based on […]

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Scotiabank awarded for making pension statements more accessible

bwolfe — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:00:33 +0000

Scotiabank’s focus on making essential pension information more accessible to plan members was recognized at Benefits Canada’s 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 14. The bank won in the Pension plan communications category for its streamlined approach to pension statements. In 2020, Scotiabank restructured its defined benefit pension plan statement into two versions — a simplified four-page […]

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Italy’s public pension system favours early retirees: report

Gideon Scanlon — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:00:05 +0000

The decision to favour contributors to Italy’s defined benefit pension plan during its transition to a defined contribution model favours early retirees and disadvantages younger people, according to an article in the Journal of Pension Economics and Finance. In 1995, Italy’s public pension plan, which operates in a similar manner to the Canada Pension Plan, […]

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Court of appeal decision highlights importance of clear pension communications

mdunne — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:01:15 +0000

A recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision illustrates the importance of clear communications from pension administrators seeking to avoid liability from lawsuits by claimants alleging they’re entitled to a plan member’s death benefits. “What it comes down to is that employers and pension plans that want to avoid lawsuits from plan members claiming to be […]

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FSRA issuing guidance on pension plan administrator responsibilities

bwolfe — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 13:00:38 +0000

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is releasing final interpretation guidance to support the role and responsibilities of pension plan administrators. The guidance, an updated and consolidated version of four previous documents, said the administrator’s role includes responsibility for implementing processes to ensure pension plan risks — such as investment, funding, operational and legal — […]

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Pride Month: CN Rail dispute ‘catalyst’ for same-sex pension plan policy reviews

bwolfe — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:00:34 +0000

While a recent dispute between the Canadian National Railway Co. and the surviving same-sex partner of a deceased plan member will likely inspire other plan sponsors to ensure pension benefits are correctly distributed, the amount of new claimants coming forward will likely be relatively small, says Jill Wagman, managing principal at Eckler Ltd. “It may […]

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More clarity needed in pension rules following marriage breakdown: ACPM

bwolfe — Wed, 12 May 2021 13:00:46 +0000

The Association of Canadian Pension Management is calling for increased clarity regarding Ontario’s rules for the valuation and division of pension payments following a marriage breakdown. In response to a consultation by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, the ACPM recommended the draft guidance document include an example of an exception to the rule […]

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CN Rail amending pension policy for same-sex couples

bwolfe — Fri, 07 May 2021 13:00:20 +0000

The Canadian National Railway Co. is amending its pension policy after awarding benefits to a widower who was initially denied because of an outdated rule regarding same-sex couples. On Monday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Newfoundland resident Ken Haire was in a years-long battle with CN Rail over access to spouse Gerry Schwarz’s pension benefits. […]

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Editorial: Helping turn retirement dreams into reality pays off

ANNA CAMPION — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 05:00:09 +0000

Remember those Freedom 55 ads that always seemed to be on TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s? I recently went down a YouTube rabbit hole and re-watched some of them and, well, let’s just say they’re as ridiculous as I remember. In one 30-second spot from the early ‘90s, a downcast businesswoman reads the paper […]

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