Theme: "Keep it Simple".
Despite the complexity of designing, communicating and administering a DC plan, employers do their best with member buy-in and participation when they are clear, targeted and straightforward.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 16
5:00 – 6:00 pm Mandatory Speaker Rehearsal
6:00 – 6:30 pm Registration
6:30 – 7:30 pm Opening Cocktail
7:30 – 8:15 pm Welcome Dinner Reception
8:30 – 10:00 pm Special Evening Activity
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17
7:45 – 8:45 am Breakfast
8:45 – 9:15 am Opening Remarks
9:15 – 10:15 am Keynote Session
Social Media: How to Take Advantage of this Exploding Field
Amber Mac is a consultant, host, and journalist who has championed, chronicled and even helped to enable the gargantuan growth of social media as a force for improving business and community. In this keynote session, she will address on how plan sponsors can use social media to educate and interact with plan members.
Speaker:
Amber MacArthur, social media strategist and journalist
10:15 – 10:45 am Session Two
Targeted Communication
The role of gender, age and corporate culture in reaching your members, and how to engage the unengaged.
Speaker:
Anna Pagliuca, associate vice-president, customer experience, group savings and retirement, Standard Life
10:45 – 11:00 am Networking Break (Foyer)
11:00 – 11:30 am Session Three
Action in the Moment
While member education and communication has increased over the past six years, member inertia is greater than ever. All the information in the world isn’t necessarily motivating members to take positive action. We ask a simple question: is there a way to not only inform and educate members, but inspire them to take positive action? Nadia provides a simple answer: “yes” examining several strategies that sponsors and providers can use to make it simple for members to engage in the plan membership process and take action to protect and grow their portfolios.
Speaker:
Nadia Darwish, vice-president, business development & client relationships, group retirement services, Sun Life Financial
11:30 am – Noon Session Four
Aligning DC Plan Design, Communication and Investment Options with Member Knowledge and Engagement
DC plan sponsors continue to face the ongoing struggle of engaging plan members so that they actively make the investment decisions that are right for them. Yet, despite their best efforts, many find that members continue to passively opt for default funds. Is there a middle ground between action and inertia? One approach is to gear investment options and communication/education efforts to match plan member knowledge and engagement level. A better understanding of how informed and involved plan members are/want to be will result in DC plan design, investment line-up and communication that effectively meets the wide-ranging needs of all plan members.
Speaker:
Zaheed Jiwani, Canadian defined contribution team leader and principal, Aon Hewitt
Noon – 1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:30 pm Session Five
Decumulation
Previously facing endless gains, investors readily looked forward to retirement, but the financial crisis left many plan members asking if, not when, they might retire. From communication to investment mix, Pyramis explores this growing area of interest, and the plan sponsors' role in the decumulation phase.
Speaker:
Peter Walsh, institutional portfolio manager, Pyramis Global Advisors
1:30 – 2:00 pm Session Six
Financial Literacy and Saving for Retirement; The Link That Never Was
The Government of Canada established a Task Force on Financial Literacy charged with providing advice and recommendations to the federal Minister of Finance. This session will focus on the results of their report and possible implications for our industry as we strive to help plan member build towards a better retirement.
Speaker:
Brett Marchand, vice-president, sales, group retirement solutions, Manulife Financial
2:00 - 2:15 pm Networking Break (Foyer)
2:15 – 2:45 pm Session Seven
A Fresh Look at Holistic and Integrated Retirement Planning Tools
Retirement Planning Tools have come a long way as the Capital Accumulation Plan market has matured. Tools are more advanced and more sophisticated. This session will review some of the newer approaches to retirement planning tools, and concepts of income replacement and adequacy, as well as provide a look at the next generation tools – ones that are not distinct tools at all, but are in fact fully integrated into every aspect of managing a CAP.
Speaker:
Idan Shlesinger, partner, Morneau Sobeco
2:45 – 3:15 pm Session Eight
Investing Beyond our Own Back Yard
The global recession has created a difficult investment environment for DC members, generating uncertainty about investing beyond borders. As well over the past few years, global equity markets have been underperforming the Canadian equity markets. Despite massive opportunities in the global arena, most DC investing is still domestic. What are some of the macro trends impacting global markets and what are the most attractive opportunities for global market equities for long term investors. Why diversifying into global equities is important and how this can be positioned to DC plan members.
Speaker:
Bruce Winch, senior vice-president, institutional investments, Invesco
3:15 – 3:30 pm Closing Remarks
6:30 - 7:30 pm Cocktail Reception
7:30 - 10:00 pm Formal Dinner and Entertainment with Yvonne Camus
Inside Eco-Challenge: Lessons for Survival in Life and Business
Yvonne Camus will talk messages of success and survival highlighted by her experience at the World Championships of Adventure Racing - Eco-Challenge. Valuable insights about Teamwork, Commitment and Enthusiasm for Life are entwined in this presentation full of spectacular visuals and humourous stories.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18
8:00 – 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 am Opening Remarks
9:15 – 9:45 am Session Nine
The Paradox of Investment Performance – Well Understood, Poorly Understood
Most investors understand the statistical meaning of annualized investment performance. Its impact on their invested wealth is clear. Despite the litany of disclaimers that begin with “Past Performance is no guarantee….”, investors as a group continue to act in a manner suggesting future performance should follow recent trends. In fact some recent research suggests this is not only demonstrated in the retail market, but also well entrenched in the institutional marketplace. What should DC plan sponsors and members be focused on and how do we break the return chasing cycle.
Speaker:
Alan Daxner, executive vice-president, McLean Budden
9:45 – 10:15 am Session Ten
Asset Mix
What is the right fixed income and equity mix to meet plan members’ needs? These strategies will help navigate this tricky area.
Speaker:
TBA, Franklin Templeton Institutional
10:15 – 10:30 am Networking Break (Foyer)
10:30 – 11:00 am Session Eleven
Embracing Advice
No one is really debating whether or not members need it or want it. Providing advice can be intimidating to plan sponsors, however it’s possible to follow some best practices to limit your risks and provide meaningful help to members who are prepared to reach out and engage.
Speaker:
Michael Campbell, vice-president, marketing, Great West Life
11:00 – 11:30 pm Session Twelve
2011, Another Year in Transition
Despite an impressive rebound in equity markets, financial markets remain uncertain in the eyes of many investors. The Eurozone continues to struggle under a mountain of debt, economic data from the world’s major economic powers is mixed at best and corporate earnings guidance remains tenuous. While investor confidence is regaining strength, Investors are still faced with much uncertainty. Fortunately, there are tools and mechanisms to help CAP plan members stay on course and remain confident during volatile times.
Speaker:
Serge Pépin, head of investments, BMO Group Retirement Services Inc.
11:30 am Closing Remarks and Closing Luncheon
***This is a preliminary agenda and is subject to change at any time.***
