HOME

SCHEDULE

PRICING

KEYNOTES

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

ENTERTAINMENT

HOTEL

Session 1
(Benefits)

Mental Health and Psychological Safety

Dr. Robert Tanguay, University of Calgary, Canadian Addictions Council
Alex Boucher, Mercer                

The data is clear! People are struggling with mental health conditions, like never before and the related costs are skyrocketing.

• 2-in-5 Canadians live with a mental health disorder, and 1-in-2 will have had or are currently living with a mental health disorder.
• 500,000 Canadians miss work every week due to mental health concerns.
• Approximately 8 million Canadians suffer from addiction and 10 Canadians die in hospital every day from substance use, where 75% of that is related to alcohol use.
• Significant wait lists for many specialists, which delays treatment, recovery, and returning to the workplace.

This session will delve into strategies for achieving mental wellness for individuals facing mood disorders, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and addiction. We will discuss the use of evidence-based assessments, medications, and therapeutic approaches that promote healthy work environments and facilitate recovery. Furthermore, we will examine the critical role of the workplace in preventing and minimizing psychological harm, highlighting the unique opportunity employers must foster healthy work practices, support healthy lifestyles, and enhance both recovery and productivity.

Session 2
(Pension/Investments)

The Decumulation Dilemma

Michael Carter, Sun Life 

The rise of capital accumulation plans in Canada, along with an aging population, has increased plan sponsor focus on retirement spending. Helping plan members manage through their decumulation years is arguably a more challenging problem than plan design in the accumulation years. This dilemma is rooted in the inherent trade-offs with decumulation goals, as well as in the sequence of return risk and limited alternative investment options for CAP members. However, there are ways that plan sponsors can better deal with this decumulation conundrum.

How can data analytics and insights elevate the value of your employee benefit plans?

Kelly Drummond, UPEI
Liana O’Brien, HUB International

• A framework to analyze and apply insights for benefit strategies.
• Practical examples of segmentation and targeted communication.
• Actionable steps to optimize benefits plans for recruitment and retention success.
  
  

The WOW Factor: Creating Wealthier Outcomes for Women

Janice Holman, Eckler

Gender neutral financial wellness supports assume that everyone has the same career span and contributes equally to retirement savings. Gender wage disparity, career interruptions for caregiving, and longer life spans make the reality far different for many women. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, in Canada, women save 30 and 40 per cent less than men and are significantly more likely to live in poverty in their senior years. In this session, we will dispel some common myths about women and money and share strategies for overcoming the specific financial challenges faced by women.

Topics will include:

• Setting a path for financial independence
• Investing
• Leaves and impact on company and government benefits
• How to enhance financial security later in life
  
  

Menopause in the Workplace: The Business Imperative for Expanding Access to Care

• Understanding menopause, including the physical and mental health changes
• Menopause and its link to chronic diseases
• The impact on the workplace, including productivity, job performance, attendance, and overall well-being
• The critical role that employers can play in supporting employees experiencing menopause
• Practical applications for adapting your benefits programs to support menopausal employees
• Opportunities to expand access to care and measuring outcomes
  
  

Navigating Complex Markets: The Rising Political Influence on Pension Funds

Grant Johnsey, Northern Trust

This session will examine the impact of geopolitics on financial markets and global institutional investors, including pension funds. Macro trends are changing world structure at a breakneck pace, leading to tremendous uncertainty and confusion, as well as creating challenges for investors to navigate. Pension funds face additional challenges, as the political environment and visibility from stakeholders has unique impacts that private investors do not face.

This session attempts to make sense of geopolitical change, especially that which is coming out of the United States. Grant will approach global macro trends from a top down lens, looking at the big picture shifts and drivers that are influencing politics. He will provide historical context to illuminate the drivers behind much of the political policy shifts taking shape today, highlighting the impact on markets along the way. And he will also zoom into some key insights in global financial markets at the micro level to illuminate how governments and investors are reacting.

As part of the session, Grant will explain some of the ramifications from these changes, secular shifts likely to result, and what it means for the future of institutional investing. The session will be updated to reflect current events as they unfold up to the conference.