Pensions and Benefits Consulting /

Defined Benefit Pension Consulting

No one understands the defined benefit pension landscape better than we do.

For more than 90 years, we’ve committed to providing our clients with unsurpassed pension-related guidance. Actuaries at our core, we are proactive in our approach and easily able to navigate the complexities of the legislation and regulations, so that you don’t have to.

Supported by consistent delivery on our promises and a collaborative approach that enables creative solutions and more informed decisions, we make the complex understandable – from plan design, to the implementation of best practices, to the nuts and bolts of valuations. Our goal is to maximize your return on investment and minimize your risk while helping you ensure that your plan members understand the value of their plan and remain engaged, no matter how near to (or far from) retirement they might be.

Our actuarial and pension consulting services include:

  • Strategic planning, design and funding
  • Funding valuations and financial reporting
  • Pension and post-employment accounting valuations and reporting
  • Plan risk management
  • Plan governance
  • SERPs/special programs
  • Pension administration services
  • Investment consulting
  • Mergers and acquisition
  • Plan sponsor and member communication and change management

How robust is your pension plan’s risk management framework?

November 7, 2024
Special Notice

In light of emerging and evolving risks within the pension landscape, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) has released Guideline No. 10 – ...

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Much Ado About Voting: Why Canadian Investors Shouldn’t Sweat the US Election

October 15, 2024
Investment Brief

Over 70 countries are going to the polls in 2024, including the United States. Equity markets dislike uncertainty – including in the weeks leading to ...

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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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Eckler’s 2025 Compensation Planning Survey

October 4, 2024
Surveys

We are pleased to share the results of our annual Compensation Planning Survey. The survey was conducted from June to August 2024 and collected responses ...

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New FSRA guidance: Time for a governance check

September 26, 2024
Special Notice

Whether from aging infrastructure, accidentally breaches of security or deliberate cyber breaches, IT risk represents a significant and growing threat to pension plan members. On ...

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Bill 17 – British Columbia amends Family Law Act

August 8, 2024
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

British Columbia is implementing changes to the rules for pension division on relationship breakdown. Some of these changes, made through Bill 17 – 2023: Family ...

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Federal Bill C-59 reforms Retirement Compensation Arrangements

July 30, 2024
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - July 29, 2024 On June 20, 2024, Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, received Royal Assent. This Bill includes ...

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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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Alberta announces overhaul of Provision for Adverse Deviation for target benefit plans

June 27, 2024
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - June 28, 2024 Alberta has announced a major overhaul of the Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD) applicable to target benefit plans. In ...

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2024 pension and benefit statistics

January 24, 2024
Articles, Special Notice

This Special Notice provides a handy reference guide to pension and benefits rates and statistics for 2023.

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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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New Ontario target benefit funding framework a welcomed principles-based approach

September 7, 2023
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - September 7, 2023 After over 20 years of lobbying and getting by with temporary funding rules, on September 1, 2023, the Ontario ...

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Another record-breaking year in the Canadian pension risk transfer market

August 8, 2023
Reports

2022 was another record-breaking year in the Canadian PRT market. Several insurers experienced notable growth in market share and the PRT landscape continued to evolve ...

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Enhanced Protection for Member Annuities

June 1, 2023
PRT Insights

The protection of member pension benefits is vital to both plan sponsors and regulators when exploring risk transfer from a defined benefit pension plan through ...

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Electronic communications for defined benefit pension plans

May 11, 2023
Articles, Insights

Since our last update in April 2021 (Eckler Insights: Electronic communications for defined benefit pension plans), there have been some changes in legislation related to ...

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Pension Protection Act receives royal assent: Time to take a serious look at annuity purchases

May 4, 2023
PRT Insights

It has already been a strong couple of years in the pension risk transfer market. With higher interest rates driving down the costs to annuitize, ...

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Mitigating risk to pension plan members and sponsors during an annuity purchase

March 15, 2023
PRT Insights

The protection of member pension benefits is vital to both plan sponsors and regulators when exploring risk transfer from a defined benefit pension plan through ...

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GroupNews – January 2023

January 30, 2023
GroupNews

The January issue of GroupNews summarizes the Ontario government expanding the use of biosimilar drugs, releasing a plan to reduce wait times for surgeries and ...

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2023 pension and benefit statistics

January 16, 2023
Articles, Special Notice

This Special Notice provides a handy reference guide to pension and benefits rates and statistics for 2023.

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British Columbia Guidelines on PfADs for Target Benefit Provisions

January 12, 2023
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

British Columbia has announced a major overhaul of the Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD) applicable to target benefit plans (TBPs). This Special Notice reviews the ...

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GroupNews – December 2022

December 21, 2022
GroupNews

The December issue of GroupNews summarizes the new CPP and QPP contribution rates for 2023, the extension of EI Sickness Benefits, a new model of ...

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Growing stronger in Atlantic Canada!

December 14, 2022
Announcements, Appointments

Eckler welcomes senior director in Atlantic Canada Eckler is pleased to welcome Thane MacKay to our growing Atlantic Canada consulting expertise. A native of Prince ...

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Why data work matters

November 29, 2022
PRT Insights

As the old saying goes, the best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. That’s especially true when it comes to annuity purchases. We ...

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British Columbia amends Pension Benefits Standards Act and Regulations

October 14, 2022
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

British Columbia has announced a major overhaul of the Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD) applicable to target benefit plans. In general, the changes will mean ...

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Eckler’s 2023 Compensation Planning Survey

October 5, 2022
Surveys

Eckler is pleased to share the results of our inaugural annual Compensation Planning Survey.  

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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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Manitoba introduces further amendments to thePension Benefits Act related to solvency and funding for pension plans

January 19, 2022
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - January 19, 2022 On December 20, 2021, the Pension Benefits Regulation, amendment (Regulation 142/2021) amending the Manitoba Pension Benefits Act (Act) came ...

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2022 pension and benefit statistics

January 13, 2022
Articles, Special Notice

This Special Notice provides a handy reference guide to pension and benefits rates and statistics for 2022.

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New Brunswick introduces amendments to Pensions Benefits Act

December 15, 2021
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

On November 3, 2021, New Brunswick introduced Bill 71, An Act to Amend the Pension Benefits Act (Bill 71). Bill 71 introduces proposed changes on ...

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Manitoba regulations related to Bill 8 pension amendments

November 1, 2021
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

On August 12, 2021, Manitoba released long-awaited Regulations related to Bill 8, The Pension Benefits Amendment Act (Bill 8). Bill 8 proposes amendments to the Pension ...

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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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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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Construction Trades Mortality Study 2.0

June 29, 2021
Reports

Eckler is pleased to present the findings from the 2021 Construction Trades Mortality Study in partnership with longevity analytics leader, Club Vita Canada Inc.

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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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2021 Federal Budget: Government lays out road to recovery

April 22, 2021
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Special Notice - April 22, 2021 The 2021 Federal Budget, “A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience” (Budget 2021) was tabled by Finance Minister ...

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Electronic communications for defined benefit pension plans

April 8, 2021
Articles, Insights

COVID-19 has brought significant change to all corners of our lives, both personal and professional. It has increased our use of technology and provided opportunities ...

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Is it time to develop your funding policy?

March 10, 2021
Insights

Atypical, unheard of, unprecedented. We heard these words a lot to describe the past year. It certainly was all of those things for many around ...

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2021 pension and benefit statistics

January 18, 2021
Articles, Special Notice

This Special Notice provides a handy reference guide to pension and benefits rates and statistics for 2021.

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New Brunswick amends
Pension Benefits Act to provide more options for solvency funding

December 15, 2020
Legislative Updates, Special Notice

Amendments include new requirements for governance of pension plans Special Notice - December 15, 2020 The government of New Brunswick has filed amendments to the ...

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AcSB finalizes changes to CPA Section 3462 regarding use of funding valuation for employee future benefits

December 1, 2020
Articles, Special Notice

On November 2, 2020, the Canadian Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) announced final amendments to Section 3462, Employee Future Benefits (Section 3462) of Part II of ...

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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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CAPSA 2020 Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans Adopted

August 13, 2020
Special Notice

New CAPSA Agreement on Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans: The newly adopted Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) agreement expands the number of participating jurisdictions and ...

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Accounting for municipal sector pension plans: Tax relief measure to limit the effects of COVID-19

August 12, 2020
Special Notice

In response to the potential impact of COVID-19 on the financial health of defined benefit pension plans and consequently on the tax burden related to ...

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Quebec government announces measures to assist supplemental pension plans due to COVID-19 crisis

April 20, 2020
Special Notice

On April 16, 2020, Retraite Quebec published information in response to the COVID-19 crisis introducing temporary easing measures to assist supplemental pension plan administrators dealing ...

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Nova Scotia introduces regulations amending funding under
Pension Benefits Act

March 26, 2020
Special Notice

The government of Nova Scotia has introduced regulations amending the funding framework for defined benefit (DB) pension plans to improve the flexibility and stability of ...

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2019 Novel Coronavirus update: A review of the current need-to-know issues

March 17, 2020
Special Notice

In response to the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), on March 13, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic. Federal ...

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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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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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2020 pension and benefit statistics

January 22, 2020
Special Notice

This Special Notice provides a handy reference guide to pension and benefits rates and statistics for 2020.

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British Columbia’s pension funding reform

January 14, 2020
Special Notice

Effective December 31, 2019, British Columbia has made major changes to the funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans to help plan sponsors better address ...

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British Columbia announces pension funding reform

December 18, 2019
Articles, Special Notice

British Columbia has announced major changes to the funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans. This Special Notice Preview provides an overview of the changes.

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Changes to pension plan funding rules: Quebec releases its final regulation

December 17, 2019
Special Notice

On November 20, 2019, the government of Quebec published the final regulation (Regulation) amending the Regulation respecting supplemental pension plans. The Regulation is almost identical ...

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Bill 8, The Pension Benefits
Amendment Act

December 5, 2019
Special Notice

On November 27, 2019, the government of Manitoba released Bill 8, The Pension Benefits Amendment Act (Bill 8). This Special Notice highlights the amendments and ...

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Lower rewards for managing interest rate risk

July 16, 2019
Special Notice

On July 3, 2019, the government of Quebec published draft regulation (Regulation) amending the Regulation respecting supplemental pension plans in the Gazette officielle du Quebec. ...

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Draft legislative proposals support conversion of Health and Welfare Trusts

June 21, 2019
Special Notice

This Special Notice analyzes the Department of Finance's draft legislative proposals to support the conversion of Health and Welfare Trusts (HWTs) into Employee Life and ...

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Nova Scotia proposes regulatory changes to improve pension plan funding

May 24, 2019
Special Notice

On May 10, 2019, the Nova Scotia government released a paper titled “Improved Funding Framework for Nova Scotia Pension Plans – The Road Forward”. This ...

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Targeting modest reforms

April 12, 2019
Special Notice

The Ontario government released its 2019 Budget, “Protecting What Matters Most” (Budget) on April 11, 2019. This Special Notice provides a summary of the key ...

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Investments across generations

March 20, 2019
Special Notice

Moving further towards a National Pharmacare strategy, protecting Canadian pensions and investing in the middle class are the themes in the 2019 Federal Budget. This ...

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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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Selected Pension and Benefit Statistics

January 11, 2019
Special Notice

Looking for a quick reference for 2019 pension and benefits statistics? Our latest Special Notice provides an overview of the frequently requested Canadian pension rates.

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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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