Retirement income remains a blind spot for DC plans
Defined contribution pension plans face a growing challenge as more Canadians retire without a clear strategy for converting savings into income.
Sebastien Betermier, executive director of the International Centre for Pension Management, says many plan sponsors stepped away from retirement-income responsibility when shifting from defined benefit plans.
Rwanda expands retirement savings for informal workers
Rwanda’s Ejo Heza savings program is expanding retirement coverage among informal workers, who represent more than 80 per cent of the country’s workforce.
Sebastien Betermier, associate professor of finance at McGill Desautels, says the program’s flexible contributions address the income volatility and employment uncertainty these workers face.
McGill strengthens finance education in Luxembourg
McGill University has launched its Master of Management in Finance in Luxembourg, strengthening connections between academic research and one of Europe’s leading financial centres.
La Caisse stays diversified amid AI-fuelled market gains
Despite strong stock market gains driven by artificial intelligence, La Caisse is maintaining a diversified investment strategy to protect the long-term retirement savings of millions of Quebecers.
Sebastien Betermier, associate professor of finance at McGill Desautels, explains that its portfolio combines public equities with infrastructure, real estate and private assets to withstand changing market cycles.
What sets Canada’s workplace pension plans apart
Canada’s two main workplace pension plans differ primarily in who bears investment and longevity risks. Sebastien Betermier, associate professor of finance at McGill Desautels, explains that defined benefit plans guarantee employees a predetermined income throughout retirement, while employers assume the associated risks.
Rethinking pension design for Canada’s changing workforce
More than nine million Canadians lack access to a workplace retirement plan, underscoring the need for pension design that better reflects how people work and live today.
Attractive assets key to bringing pension capital home
Governments across several countries are urging pension funds to increase domestic investments, but success hinges on offering sufficiently attractive, well-governed opportunities.
Patrick Augustin on European finance, talent and the case for financial literacy
Patrick Augustin, Associate Professor of Finance at Desautels and Director of the McGill Luxembourg Centre for Finance (MLCF), recently joined Serge Weyland, CEO of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI), on the RTL Luxembourg podcast The Lisa Burke Show to discuss the future of European finance, talent and financial literacy. 
Canada’s sovereign fund hinges on returns and costs
Canada’s proposed sovereign fund is drawing scrutiny over its cost and potential returns, but Sebastien Betermier, Associate Professor of Finance at McGill Desautels, sees conditional upside. He argues the roughly $750 million annual interest burden is manageable if the fund is well structured and generates returns above borrowing costs.
Canada seeks investment edge in shifting global economy
Canada is positioning itself as a more compelling destination for global capital, and Sebastien Betermier, Associate Professor of Finance at McGill Desautels, says the shift reflects both necessity and opportunity. As geopolitical tensions and U.S. trade pressures mount, Betermier argues Canada must attract more private investment, particularly in infrastructure and energy transition assets.
McGill establishes Luxembourg as a new hub for Finance education
McGill University is bringing its globally ranked Master of Management in Finance to Luxembourg, offering working professionals the opportunity to earn a top North American finance degree in the heart of Europe.
Pension funds stick with private credit as banks pull back
Pension funds are sticking with private credit even as scrutiny intensifies around valuations, transparency and sector risk. Sebastien Betermier, Associate Professor of Finance at the at McGill Desautels, points to structural advantages that allow large institutions to withstand those pressures.
AI is changing how investment firms allocate work
As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in investment management, Russ Goyenko, an associate professor of finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, says the technology is likely to reshape how firms allocate work.
Canada Strong Fund departs from traditional sovereign wealth models
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposed Canada Strong Fund is not easily comparable to sovereign wealth models in Norway or Singapore, says Sebastien Betermier, an Associate Professor of Finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management.
Canada Strong Fund plan raises governance and investor alignment questions
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to launch a $25‑billion Canada Strong Fund raises key governance and design questions, according to Sebastien Betermier, an associate professor of finance at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management.
