Benefits Alliance Voice

Nine million Canadians have no retirement savings, and many employees overestimate what CPP and OAS will actually cover. This episode breaks down Canada’s three retirement pillars and explains how employers can help close the gap.

What You Will Learn:

• Why CPP and OAS were never designed to replace 60–70% of income.
• The difference between maximum and average CPP benefits.
• Why personal and workplace savings remain essential.
• How employer matching, auto-enrollment, and lower fees can improve retirement readiness.
• How education and multilingual support can help newer Canadians and first-time savers.
• Why high-income employees may need supplemental retirement plan design.

Attachments:   

Canada Pension Plan in MSCA - Canada.ca

Canadian Retirement Income Calculator

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CPP,OAS, retirement planning, retirement savings, group retirement plans, employeebenefits, financial wellness, plan sponsors, employer matching, retirementreadiness

In this episode, Jessica Chalk shares how her own fertility and health journey inspired myStoria, a tool designed to help patients and caregivers take control of their records, reduce the overwhelm of complex care, and show up to appointments with more clarity and confidence.

What You Will Learn:

• Why managing a complex health journey can feel like a second full-time job.
• How fragmented medical records and disconnected providers can create real confusion and delays.
• Why patients need access to their own records, not just a portal summary.
• How to communicate more effectively with doctors when you have a lot of health data.
• Why human support still matters alongside AI in healthcare.
• How caregiving affects work, home life, finances, and emotional well-being.
• What MyStoria does to help patients and caregivers organize, understand, and act on their health information.
• Why advocacy and ownership of your own health story can change outcomes.

Keywords:

patient advocacy, health records, caregiving, fertility journey, chronic illness, healthcare navigation, medical concierge, patient empowerment, AI in healthcare, complex care

Canadian companies hiring in the U.S. quickly discover that benefits are not just different - they require a completely different strategy. Rob and Carolyne interview an expert on the U.S. employee benefit landscape.

What You Will Learn:

• Why U.S. benefits can feel dramatically more expensive than Canadian benefits.
• How employer cost sharing typically works in the U.S.
• Why dependent coverage is often the biggest hidden cost.
• How small-group renewals work when claims data is limited.
• The difference between FSA and HSA accounts.
• How short-term disability and 401(k) planning fit into U.S. compensation.

Canadian employers, U.S. benefits, cross-border hiring, employee benefits, healthcare costs, dependent coverage, HSA, FSA, short-term disability, 401(k), benefits strategy, small business expansion

In this episode, Joan Milway from Common Wealth Retirement joins Carolyne and Rahim and shares insights into digital self-serve retirement planning, the importance of combining technology with human advice, and the principles guiding their innovative approach to financial wellness.

What You Will Learn:

• Self-serve retirement planning.
• Integration of human advice and digital tools.
• Principles of user-centered design.
• Impact of early planning on retirement security.

retirement planning, digital tools, financial advice,self-serve, Common Wealth Retirement, financial wellness, fintech, retirementsecurity

In this episode, Rob and Carolyne host Sophia Colaiacovo and Meghan Vallis from Equitable to discuss the importance of proactive men's health initiatives in the workplace. They delve into the current gaps in men's healthcare engagement,barriers to care, and how employers can foster a supportive environment to improve health outcomes.

What You Will Learn:

1. The shift from reactive to proactive healthcare, especially for men.
2. Key statistics on men's delayed medical care and its consequences.
3. Barriers men face when seeking healthcare, including environment and stigma.
4. Strategies for employers to promote preventative screenings and mental health support.

men’s health, workplace health, preventive care,proactive healthcare, employee wellbeing, men’s mental health, health benefits,employer wellness programs, healthcare engagement, health screenings, healthcommunication, stigma in healthcare, workplace culture, leadership and health,occupational wellbeing, mental health support, benefits strategy, employeebenefits, wellness at work, health prevention

This episode features Sun Life experts Joe De Dominicis and Jackie Patel discussing Canadian workplace retirement plans, the importance of financial wellness, innovative plan design, and the impact of digital engagement on member outcomes. Gain insights into the latest trends, data from the Design for Savings report, and practical advice for employers and advisors.

What You Will Learn:

1. Workplace savings plan design and trends
2. Impact of digital engagement on member balances
3. Success of Target date funds
4. Decumulation strategies and challenges

retirement plans, workplace savings, target date funds, digital engagement, financial wellness, Canadian pension system, plan design, member outcomes

Guest Simon Coulombe joins Carolyne and Rob to explore the emerging issue of eco-anxiety in the workplace, its impact on mental health, especially among younger employees, andstrategies for employers to recognize and address this concern effectively.

What You Will Learn:

• Eco-anxiety definition and dimensions.
• Impact of eco-anxiety on mental health and work performance.
• Strategies for employers to recognize and mitigate eco-anxiety.

eco-anxiety, mentalhealth, workplace wellness, employee engagement, climate change, organizationalculture, proactive strategies

This episode explores the critical role of workplace support during grief, featuring personal stories and expert insights on how employers can better support employees through loss. Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave and Shannon McShane-Reed, SVP-Group Benefits at Penmore join Carolyne and Rob to share practical strategies and emotional insights to fostercompassionate workplace cultures. 

What You Will Learn:

• The impact of grief on employee productivity and retention.
• Practical strategies for supporting grieving employees.

• The importance of organizational culture in handling loss.

grief support, workplace mental health, employee retention, bereavement policies, emotional well-being, HR strategies, corporate culture, loss at work, employee support programs, grief in the workplace 

The 3 E's of Successful Employee Savings Plans:

Ease, Education, Engagement from the top

In this episode, Carolyne and Rahim host 2 GRS consultants, Jackie Nicholls from Acera Insurance and Lisa Robson from Belay Advisory, who share insights on employee savings plans with a focus on the importance of ease, education, and leadership engagement to boost participation and success.

What You Will Learn:

1. Importance of leadership engagement in employee savings and why it matters.
2. Effective communication and education strategies.
3. Use of digital tools and data analytics in plan management.

employeesavings plans, retirement, engagement, education, leadership, financialliteracy, plan implementation, communication, digital tools, best practices

This episode explores the evolving landscape of retirement planning across different generations, emphasizing flexibility, personalized advice, and innovative plan design to meet diverse needs. Tawnya Duxbury from Canada Life joins Carolyne and Rahim and shares insights on how plan sponsors can adapt to these changes.

What You Will Learn:

• Generational differences in retirement planning.
• The shift towards flexible retirement stages.
• The importance of personalized financial advice.
• Plan design strategies for diverse age groups.
• Encouraging long-term savings and smart withdrawals.

• Life in focus benchmark report

retirement planning, generational differences, plan design, financial advice, flexibility, Canada Life