Pensions and Benefits Consulting /

Defined Contribution and Capital Accumulation Plans Consulting

Research tells us that most employees don’t know how much they should be saving – but that they’d likely save more if they knew. And, the stress of not knowing is beginning to add up.

Can you be confident that your plan members are saving enough for retirement? We think so and can show you how.

We believe a progressive approach to DC plan management – pension plans, deferred profit sharing plans, group registered retirement savings plans and tax-free savings accountsis needed to give members a realistic chance of achieving an appropriate level of income at retirement, and designed to help you ensure that the significant investment you make in your people remains valued and meaningful – both now, and in the future.

Let us help you manage and eliminate challenges like employees being unable to retire on time, which can lead to serious workforce planning issues and additional benefit and productivity costs.

Our DC consulting services include:

  • Plan design
  • Investment structures, funds, implementation and ongoing monitoring
  • Record-keeper selection and monitoring of products, services and fees
  • Member education and tools
  • Decumulation product and tool evaluation
  • Retirement planning and counselling
  • Annuity evaluation and purchase support
  • Governance

Plan growth and improved member outcomes: The updated Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans

October 9, 2024
Special Notice

After more than two years of input from industry stakeholders on September 9, 2024, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) released the much-anticipated ...

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Impact of rate cuts on retirees and near retirees

July 24, 2024
CAPit

Despite negative market returns, driven by a jump in annuity rates, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes surged upward in the third quarter of 2023 ...

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New research says Canadians are expected to live longer. What does that mean for your defined benefit pension plan?

July 22, 2024
Insights

A quintessential element of the work of actuaries is the analysis of mortality rates. Mortality rates can be bucketed into categories:  baseline mortality rates (i.e., ...

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Rising cost of living and financial vulnerability of Canadians aged 50+

May 6, 2024
CAPit

Despite negative market returns, driven by a jump in annuity rates, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes surged upward in the third quarter of 2023 ...

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An exciting addition to the Canadian decumulation landscape

February 21, 2024
CAPit

Despite negative market returns, driven by a jump in annuity rates, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes surged upward in the third quarter of 2023 ...

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Eye on the prize: Outcome-focused decision-making critical to achieving lifetime retirement income

November 27, 2023
Insights

By Dianne Tamburro, Principal, CFA, Practice Leader, Defined Contribution Insights - November 2023 All views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the ...

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Bill 33 – British Columbia amends Pension Benefits Standards Act

November 23, 2023
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Bill 33, Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2023, received royal assent on November 8, 2023. Bill 33 makes several amendments to the British Columbia Pension ...

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How much is enough?

October 31, 2023
CAPit

Despite negative market returns, driven by a jump in annuity rates, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes surged upward in the third quarter of 2023 ...

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Worry-free retirement

August 1, 2023
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes continued their march upward in the second quarter of 2023, driven by increasing annuity rates and positive equity market ...

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Retirement concerns weigh heavy in current economic environment

May 11, 2023
CAPit

In the first quarter of 2023, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes remained relatively unchanged as positive market returns were offset by declining annuity rates. ...

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Annuities: The explanation between market declines and improving member outcomes

February 8, 2023
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - February 2023 Driven by market increases coupled with the continued rise in annuity rates, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) ...

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CAP member protection in an inflationary environment

November 10, 2022
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - November 2022 Soaring annuity rates, at levels not seen in decades, shielded members from the modest investment market ...

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Protected: Enhancing Capital Accumulation Plan outcomes in Canada

October 9, 2022
CAPit

Despite declining annuity rates, members retiring at the end of September will have experienced some of the best outcomes in more than 13 years from ...

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The positive impact of rising interest rates for CAP Members

August 23, 2022
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - August 2022 Rising interest rates and the corresponding rise in annuity rates helped to offset the falling investment ...

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The Difficulty in Predicting Outcomes

May 10, 2022
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - May 2022 Given the negative events of late – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, surging inflation and renewed COVID-19 ...

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2022 Federal Budget Highlights

April 14, 2022
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

The 2022 Federal Budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable” (Budget 2022) was tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on April 7, ...

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Increased focus on member outcomes

February 24, 2022
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - February 2022 Despite uncertainties brought on by the Omicron coronavirus variant, markets held up in the last three ...

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Expansion of opportunities brings additional considerations

December 1, 2021
CAPit

Despite muted investment returns in the third quarter, Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) member outcomes improved as annuity rates continue to rise. A typical male CAP ...

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Investment Policy Review for Pension Plans Conference 2021 – hosted by Eckler Barbados

October 12, 2021
Events

If you are managing a pension plan, that is registered in Barbados, as a trustee, sponsor, or administrator, we have designed this series of virtual ...

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Financial planning for elder care
and aging

September 14, 2021
Financial Wellness

The average age of a caregiver in Canada is 45 – an age normally associated with prime income-earning years. Most of these individuals work. Many ...

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Rosy expectations may fuel retirements

August 12, 2021
CAPit

After riding the equity rollercoaster over these past 17 months, investors' expectations have changed and this could have significant implications for your workforce. Read CAPit ...

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Newfoundland and Labrador Introduces Amendments to funding for Multi-Employer Pension Plans

August 9, 2021
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - August 5, 2021 Changes eliminate onerous solvency funding requirement and set an appropriate level of minimum funding requirements, providing boards of trustees ...

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Time to start thinking about annuities

May 19, 2021
CAPit

Against the backdrop of above-trend economic growth and accommodative monetary policy, equity markets around the world finished strong in the first quarter ending March 2021. ...

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Managing pension plans during uncertain times – Virtual training sessions hosted by Eckler Barbados

May 18, 2021
Events

If you are managing a pension plan, that is registered in Barbados, as a trustee, sponsor, or administrator, we have designed this series of virtual ...

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Reflecting on 2020 and looking forward to 2021

January 31, 2021
CAPit

Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - January 2021 During the last quarter of 2020, Canadians continued to experience the disruption brought on by the ...

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Rebounding CAP replacement rates not enough to provide most with comfortable retirement

October 29, 2020
CAPit

With three quarters of 2020 behind us, given the resurgence of COVID-19 cases and new lockdown measures that will continue to weigh on economies, uncertainty ...

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Quebec introduces Bill 68 allowing for the establishment of target benefit plans

October 26, 2020
Special Notice

Special Notice - October 26, 2020 On October 7, 2020, the government of Quebec introduced Bill 68, An Act mainly to allow the establishment of target ...

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Managing pension plans during uncertain times – Virtual training sessions hosted by Eckler Barbados

September 16, 2020
Events

If you are managing a pension plan, that is registered in Barbados, as a trustee, sponsor, or administrator, we have designed this series of virtual ...

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Keep an eye on target date investors

July 29, 2020
CAPit

Equity markets have bounced back significantly over the past three months, helping to offset the dramatic drop in interest rates and prop retirement incomes back ...

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Retirement dreams fade – what can you do to help your members?

April 8, 2020
CAPit

As equity markets and interest rates have continued to fall over the past few weeks, so too have the near-term retirement plans of many Canadians. ...

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Actuarial Standards Board publishes revised final standards for the determination of pension plan commuted values

February 20, 2020
Special Notice

On January 24, 2020, the Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) released final amendments to section 3500 of the practice-specific standards for pension plans – pension commuted ...

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After 11 years of bull markets…

February 20, 2020
CAPit

Eckler’s latest Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker, shows that strong (bull) market returns have helped to improve the gross replacement rate of a typical male ...

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Another step to improving Ontarians’ financial security in retirement

January 27, 2020
Special Notice

In releasing multiple regulations detailing rules regarding variable benefit accounts for pension plans, Ontario finally joins the majority of provinces allowing members to decumulate directly ...

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The “new norm” and what to do about it

August 16, 2019
CAPit

Eckler’s latest Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker, shows gross replacement income fell back to 55% for females and 57% for males. Is this the “new ...

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Increasing role of CPP – but not for all

May 19, 2019
CAPit

Increasing role of CPP – but not for all Capital Accumulation Plan Income Tracker (CAPit) - May 2019 Over time, investment markets and interest rates ...

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Replacement income for CAPs hits lowest levels

April 22, 2019
CAPit

Replacement Income for CAPs Hits Lowest Levels. According to Eckler’s Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) Income Tracker, in the fourth quarter 2018, equity markets experienced one ...

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Updated CAPSA Guideline No. 8

February 20, 2019
Special Notice

The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) has released an updated version of Guideline No. 8: Defined Contribution Pension Plans Guideline (Guideline). This Special ...

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The changing landscape of privacy legislation and how it impacts your plan

November 22, 2018
Insights

In this issue of Insights, the authors explore the impact that the legalization of cannabis will have on the workplace in general, and on benefits ...

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How Can We Help?

Let's Start a Conversation

How Can We Help?