DC Investment Forum
Preliminary Agenda
Theme: DC Investing in a Post-Recession World
Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Toronto
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21
Welcome reception and dinner at Toulà Restaurant.
6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:30 p.m. Opening Dinner Reception
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 22
8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Registration and Breakfast (Regatta Room)
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks (Regatta Room)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. KEYNOTE ADDRESS (Regatta Room)
Economic Update—Trends to Watch For
In this session, our Keynote speaker will highlight major market trends institutional investors should be on the look-out for, and what effects they could have on the pension landscape.
Keynote Presenter:
Aron Gampel, chief economist, Scotiabank
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. SESSION TWO (Regatta Room)
Investment Governance for DC Plans
After the stock market debacle that ended in 2009, most major indices have experienced considerable gains and recovered some of their losses. Unfortunately, though, they are still no-where near the highs that they attained prior to the credit crisis. What has also become more evident is that we may be entering a prolonged economic period of anaemic growth resulting from de-leveraging, re-regulation and de-globalization. This could potentially translate into lower overall single digit portfolio returns for the average DC plan member. In an environment where both DC plan sponsors and DC plan members are re-aligning their respective balance sheets in order to reduce debt, there seems to be pressure to reduce contribution levels as well. The result is a potential recipe for disaster in terms of plan members meeting their retirement needs. How can DC pension record keepers use effective investment governance to ensure that their multi-manager investment platforms make significant contributions towards mitigating this major challenge faced by both DC plan sponsors and DC plan members? What are the governance tools and best practices available to DC pension record keepers that will allow them to fully leverage their multi-manager investment offering and maximize returns for members at the fund level, portfolio level and platform level?
Presenter:
Nick Iarocci, vice-president, investment program, Standard Life
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10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Networking Break (Regatta Room)
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. SESSION THREE (Regatta Room)
Lessons In Lifecycle Investing: Target Date Funds
Lifecycle, or target-date funds continue to re-shape the defined contribution pension landscape. This informative session will include a review of the target date fund industry, discuss factors that should be considered in evaluating target date funds, and explore the benefits of active vs. passive investing in lifecycle funds.
Presenter:
Peter Walsh, institutional portfolio manager, Pyramis Global Advisors
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11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Networking Lunch (The Mizzen)
12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. SESSION FOUR (Regatta Room)
DC Member Journey Planning - Managing the Journey to Retirement for a More Successful Outcome
DC pension provision appears to be emerging around the world as the future dominant form of retirement savings. The recent financial crisis has been a wake-up call for employer sponsored DC plans with employees feeling the full force of investment risks and returns. The crisis has placed DC under the spotlight and exposed it to a degree of stress testing never before endured. This exposure has highlighted the issues, dangers and opportunities with DC for employers, fiduciaries and employees alike, putting increased focus on design, governance, investment structures and communications of DC pensions.
Being a member of a fiduciary of a DC plan is challenging. DC members need to better address investment risk, while plan fiduciaries need to rethink their investment strategy and have a higher regard to the balance of risk and return.We begin with the need for a better understanding of the membership: objectives, likely behaviour patterns and its characteristics, particularly with respect to members' attitude towards and ability to take investment risk and from there we will consider the member journey to retirement and how plan sponsors who understand the needs and objectives of their membership can construct a better offering.
Presenter:
Michelle Lodder, canadian defined contribution business leader, Towers Watson Canada
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1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Networking Break (Regatta Room)
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. SESSION FIVE (Regatta Room)
Investing and the Individual: A Balancing Act
Shifting the responsibility of retirement investing to individuals has its benefits and its challenges. There are several steps plan sponsors can take to minimize investment risk through plan design, investment menu construction and communications. Though deeper understanding of individual behavior, literacy challenges and choice design, plan sponsors can learn how to help their members minimize risk and improve outcomes.
Presenter:
Chip Castille, managing director, Blackrock
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2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. SESSION SIX (Regatta Room)
Expert Panel
How did Target Date Funds fare during the recession and what new considerations/issues are present as a result of their performance?
Panelists:
Chip Castille, managing director, Blackrock
Nick Iarocci, vice-president, investment program, Standard Life
Michelle Loder, canadian defined contribution business leader, Towers Watson Canada Inc.
Peter Walsh, institutional portfolio manager, Pyramis Global Advisors
Moderator:
Kerry Maddocks, General Manager, Conferences and Events, Financial Services Group, Rogers Publishing
3:30 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS (Regatta Room)
3:35 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CLOSING COCKTAIL RECEPTION (Pier 9)
***This is a preliminary agenda and is subject to change at any time.***
For more information, contact Laurie Asuncion Editor, Conferences and Online Events
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