Category Advocacy
Annuity or Lump-Sum (LIF): Upcoming Nortel pensioners’ decision
In a nutshell In this blog I address the “annuity or lump sum?” and the “if, when and how much to annuitize?” questions with a discussion of the pros, cons and other qualitative considerations that go into this very personal decision. “Annuity or Lump-sum?” One could very simply just take the annuity option (“status quo […]
Took CPP at 65 instead of the previously planned age 70: What changed?
In a nutshell: The combination CPPIB investment strategy changes from passive to active, potentially higher effective future taxes, less transparency in CPP asset valuation due to growing proportion of private (company and real estate) vs. public investments, uncertainty of actuarial forecasts and, should circumstances demand it, government’s ability to change CPP (target) benefits, drove my […]
Nortel bondholders poised to get $1.25/dollar while pensioner might get $0.15/dollar?
In a request for political action “Immediate actions to improve your outcome in the Nortel Insolvency” the NRPC is calling on all retirees and former employees who have Canadian claims to contact Minister of Industry Paradis, their senior regional MP and their own local MP to request immediate legislative changes to “block the vulture bond funds from getting […]
Pure longevity insurance payout option in CPP would reduce retirees’ longevity risk
Adding a pure longevity insurance payout option to the CPP would go a long way to ease the pain of private sector employees with disappearing pensions. This blog adds some meat to the proposal I mentioned in last week’s PRPP or expanded CPP? Consider adding a pure longevity insurance payout option to the CPP. The PRPP doesn’t meet […]
PRPP or expanded CPP? Consider adding a pure longevity insurance payout option to the CPP
The debate whether Canadians would be better of with the PRPP or an expanded CPP was recently reignited with the Ontario government (rightly) re-thinking the wisdom of the PRPP over an expanded CPP. This morning’s news that McKinsey has issued a report (which I have not read and I don’t know who commissioned it) suggests […]
Pension Reform (presented to Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions- Nov 1, 2007)
Problems and solutions for DB pension plans and a proposal for pension system revolution (presented to Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions in Ottawa on November 1, 2007) ‘click’ on Pension Reform
“Research on Annuities” CFA Magazine Letter to the Editor July 2008
“Research on Annuities” Letter to the Editor
Dear Governor Crist, What about the Snowbirds?
Dear Governor Crist, What about the Snowbirds? At the risk of losing your interest in continuing to read this, I am a Canadian, a Snowbird, and not a homesteader. I enjoyed wintering here over the last 5 years, but I no longer feel welcome in Florida. I listened last night to you and Senator Atwater […]
“Snowbirds say they get cold shoulder on taxes” (Interviewed by Geoff Kirbyson in The Bottom Line,September 2007)
“Snowbirds say they get cold shoulder on taxes” (Interviewed by Geoff Kirbyson in The Bottom Line,September 2007) “The voters who could stop the elected officials from having this very large increase in spending, they didn’t care. The snowbirds, who were shouldering the increased load, couldn’t vote. Politicians were pandering to voters, with sentiments along the […]
Pension Roundtable: Pension/Retirement Plan Reform
Pension/Retirement Plan Reform One of the interesting topics at the CFA conference that I recently attended was the topic of required pension changes to be implemented urgently with the accelerated unraveling of the defined benefit (DB) plans, the misapplication of the defined contribution (DC) plans and the often mentioned inadequately funded Social Security liabilities. At […]
RetirementAction.com 