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Designing Inclusive Benefit Plans for LGBTQ+ Members

Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part Two

Amplifying Benefit Communications With Data Analytics

January/February Articles Include:

Designing Inclusive Benefit Plans for LGBTQ+ Members

Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part Two

Amplifying Benefit Communications With Data Analytics

Word on Benefits

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Canadian Legal & Legislative Report

Plans & Trusts is a bimonthly Canadian magazine providing an in-depth look at benefits issues and reviewing federal and provincial legal decisions and legislative developments.

Plans & Trusts is free to International Foundation and ISCEBS members. If you’re not already a member, join today!

Past Issues

November/December 2020

Articles include:

Taking the Diversity and Inclusion Journey: A Path Forward for Companies

by Susan Hunter
Improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace takes a sustained, ongoing commitment to learning and long-term transformation. Organizations that develop a listening strategy, a detailed review of workforce data and an assessment of corporate culture can advance their diversity and inclusion objectives and reap the benefits of a diverse workforce.
Strategic Planning and Plan Sustainability: Part One

by Tom Iannucci and Laurie Hutchinson
In today’s challenging, highly volatile environment, pension and benefit boards can help to better position their plans by utilizing the type of strategic planning that is common among private sector organizations and other not-for-profits. This article, the first in a two-part series, examines the first of five phases for strategic planning as well as the benefits of a SWOT analysis and environmental scans.
Decumulation in Retirement: Are Variable Benefits the Right Solution for Your DC Plan?

by Tyler Smith and Susan Watson
Most provinces allow defined contribution pension plans to offer variable benefits, which provide a way for plan members to start drawing a retirement income without having to transfer their assets out of the plan when they retire. Variable benefits add some administrative complexity and cost for plan sponsors, but they also offer potential advantages such as reduced investment fees and enhanced professional oversight for members as well as the ability to help support members through retirement.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

September/October 2020

Articles include:

DC Decisions: What Matters Most for Plan Members?

by Jafer Naqvi and Nicole Lomax
Plan sponsors and trustees face numerous decisions—notably in plan design, investment structure and investment selection—that can help to positively shape the retirement outcomes of plan members. The authors explore many of these key decisions and highlight the most impactful tools, including multiasset default options, automatic enrolment and contribution escalation, and private alternatives.
Crisis Communication: How to Get It Right

by Alyssa Hodder
When a crisis hits, benefit communication takes on even greater importance. Preparing now can help your organization hit the ground running when the next emergency occurs.
Battling Short-Termism in Investing

by Marc Williams
Behavioural biases in human nature can lead to short-termism, when investors focus too much on short-term considerations like quarterly performance. The author discusses techniques to help overcome these biases to find better investment value over the long term.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

July/August 2020

Articles include:

Alternative Investments: An Introduction for Trustees

by Lewis Powell
Over the past decade, pension plans across Canada have been increasing their allocations to alternative investments. The author introduces trustees to this vast opportunity set and provides information on utilization, potential advantages and risks, and expectations moving forward.
The Future of Work Is Upon Us

by Kathryn Kitchen
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated changes in the workplace, with many organizations implementing new policies in weeks instead of years. Current and future areas of focus include workplace flexibility, the need for new skills, longer tenured employees, nontraditional career paths, digital benefit solutions, and possible new models for delivering pensions and benefits.
The What, Why and How of Improving Resilience

by Darren Steeves
Resilience, now more than ever, is an attribute that can serve employee and organizational goals. By helping individuals build greater resilience through the four foundations of purpose, values, vision and acceptance, benefits professionals can help plans and members to better manage stress, reduce health care costs and improve work performance.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

May/June 2020

Articles include:

Artificial Intelligence and Its Promise to Investors: Fad or Reality?

by Estelle Métayer
To start realizing the promises of artificial intelligence (AI), trustees should begin educating and training themselves on its potential applications. The progression of this field will undoubtedly bring new opportunities and risks, including the potential automation of trustee operations. The author covers five reasons AI can be a treasure trove for employee benefit organizations and lists a series of questions trustees should be asking right now.
The Balancing Act of Adding Flexibility Into Benefit Plans

by Colleen Baker
It can be a tall order to balance the cost pressures of the benefits industry with the need to drive value for an organization and its diverse members, which is why most plan sponsors have considered implementing flexibility into their benefit plans. This article introduces flexible options and then delves into important considerations and objectives, challenges, communication needs and a checklist of questions for plans looking to offer the type of flexibility that can meet business and member goals.
Steps for Defined Benefit Plans to Avoid Pension Spiking

by Dominique Roelants
Defined benefit pension plans that use a final average salary formula can face the risk of pension spiking, in which members are able to take steps to significantly increase their salary—and thus their pension— during their final working years. The author provides reasons for plans to consider making all taxable earnings pensionable and using inflation-adjusted career average pension plans. He suggests that this switch could achieve plan savings and member equity while avoiding the problem of pension spiking.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

March/April 2020

Articles include:

The Link Between Governance and Sustainability in Contingent Pension Plans

by Barry Gros and Barbara Sanders
The past decade has seen an increase in contingent pension plans, in which some or all of the pension benefit depends on a plan’s financial position. An in-depth research study offers insights and best practices for the governance and sustainability of these plans, including the importance of organizational coherence, people and process.
Pharmacoeconomics: Evidence, Money and Drug Selection

by Barb Martinez
The number of reimbursed high-cost drugs continues to grow at the same time that plan sponsors face increased pressure over the allocation of health care resources. The author presents key takeaways for plan sponsors while discussing drug plan decisions, equitable choices that benefit plan members, and key metrics for health care outcomes and resources.
The Potential of Telehealth in the Wild West of Digital Health Care

by Chris Gory
Telehealth is touted as a way to create stronger patient engagement, increase efficiency in care and help those who are currently underserved by the health care system. It also faces challenges due to a lack of organizational oversight and uniform rules. With 70% of Canadians saying they would use virtual physician visits, employers and plan sponsors will want to keep a close eye on this developing technology.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

January/February 2020

Articles include:

Combatting the Opioid Crisis: Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway?

by Leila Mandlsohn
Worldwide, Canada is second only to the United States in per capita consumption of prescription opioids. The author—who notes that it will take a comprehensive, holistic approach to address this crisis— discusses national strategies as well as steps plan sponsors and benefit providers can take to be part of the solution.
A Researcher’s Inside Look at the Impact of Employee Assistance Programs

by Marc Milot, Ph.D.
Many employers and plan sponsors utilize external employee assistance programs (EAPs) to help address the growing challenge of mental health concerns among employees. While past research had difficulty assessing the direct value of EAPs, new studies indicate that EAPs can help improve psychological health in the workplace and reduce associated costs. The author also covers what to look for when evaluating EAP providers and measuring program returns.
Strategies to Help Plan Members Prepare for the Power of Inflation

by Marc-André Vinson
Even when the inflation rate is modest, it can greatly reduce the purchasing power of retirement dollars over a 20-, 30- or 40-year period. The author illustrates the ramifications of inflation and provides strategies for helping plan members prepare for the inflation that will inevitably affect their retirement future.
Legal & Legislative Report
Printable Issue [PDF]

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May/June 2020

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