Group Retirement News

Manulife Retirement Survey: stress, finances, and well-being

Our third annual survey of Canadian workers reveals that 72% are under financial stress, which follows them to work and affects absenteeism and productivity. This can be a real cost to employers’ bottom line. The good news is that employers are uniquely positioned to provide support that drives positive saving and investing behaviors, which can help to reduce stress and increase productivity.

Federal Budget 2023: Highlights and Insights

A summary of the issues and proposed changes most important to plan sponsors.

Website launched for your members

The new public site features more personalized content and helpful tools and resources to help your members manage their financial well-being.

New dashboard gives you insights into program participation

The newest dashboard, available now on your sponsor secure site, tells you the story of your members’ participation from the time they join a plan to the time they leave it.

Manulife Mobile App New Features

Starting this spring, members can put money in their plans, and find tools, guidance, and more—all on Manulife Mobile.

Say Goodbye to Paper Contest

For some people, it’s hard to say goodbye to paper. Luckily for Canada Retirement plan members, a new contest makes the switch to online learning more enticing by giving them the chance to win $5,000.

Changes to the BlackRock Canada LifePath® Index Funds

In light of growing research and increasing investor interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds, BlackRock has announced changes coming to their Canada LifePath Index Funds.

Get insights into your members’ digital engagement

This dashboard on the sponsor secure site helps you quickly see how your members engage with their plan online.

Ukraine crisis: We’re here to support you and your members

We’re deeply saddened by the violent conflict in Ukraine which has displaced so many. The ripple effects of this crisis are being felt around the world.

Discover how our updated version of the Financial Wellness Assessment tool helps your employees improve their finances

Financial well-being is an important part of life. The Financial Wellness Assessment is a key tool to help you gain insight into financial health.

2021 was a great start for the future of i-Watch®

The i-Watch® platform evolved a lot in 2021 and is heading in a very exciting direction. Check out our Year in Review.

The Contact Centre Insights dashboard

Get a look at how your members engage with their program through our Contact Centre.

Manulife ID is coming soon to the Manulife Mobile App

Modernizing the i-Watch® platform

The new funds provide modern solutions for group retirement plans.

New: Shariah-aligned funds!

These additions help provide new options for plan members looking to build a diversified Shariah aligned portfolio.

Retirement Redefined: We’re putting all our financial wellness resources at your employees’ fingertips

Redefining retirement means looking past just dollars and cents and seeing a complete picture of life after work. Now, our Retirement Redefined resources are easier than ever to access. Employees will have access to a library of material to improve their financial wellness and get ready for retirement.

Manulife ID for members is coming — what you need to know

On July 19, we launched Manulife ID for advisors and sponsors. As part of the next phase of the Manulife ID launch for Group Retirement, we’re introducing Manulife ID for members soon.

December 2021 fund changes

See what’s happening and when.

Explore your Asset Dashboard

See how this dynamic, interactive tool can help you quickly get the insights you need to make decisions about your plan.

We’ve expanded our member education resource centre!

As part of our commitment to providing you and your employees with educational retirement content, we’ve expanded the topics available in the Member Education Resource Centre.

Giving members more ways to save with the Manulife Personal Plan^TM

Complementary access to additional savings and retirement income plans!

We’re expanding our i-Watch® fund offering

We’re adding Canadian, Global and International Equity funds, and more.

Designate and Update a Beneficiary Online with Ease

Plan members will be able to submit beneficiary information through the member site.

Your charge invoices are online!

Find your last 12 months of charge invoices all in one place.

Helping your members plan for retirement with confidence

We’ve been busy updating the My Retirement Tools page and calculators to better help your members plan for retirement.

Think big, alternative assets are for smaller investors too

Our global head of OCIO and fiduciary solutions shares his insight on how these new strategies may be a boon for smaller pension plans and institutional asset owners.

2020 – a year we’ll never forget!

Manulife’s Year in Review re-visits the significant moments that shaped your members’ experiences in 2020.

Canadians Are Stressed About Their Finances. Here’s How We Can Help.

Canadian’s are feeling unprecedented amounts of financial stress, caused by the pandemic. What are ways that we can help make your lives easier?

Fraud Prevention Month – Protect your employees and their money

March is Fraud Prevention Month, and we’ll be hosting a new ‘Internet scams – Protect yourself and your money’ webinar to help members get a better understanding of how to identify scams and protect themselves online.

Manulife’s webinar series - what’s coming in 2021

Our Group Retirement webinars were a great success in 2020 and we plan on continuing that success into 2021. Learn more about what we’re planning and how your employees can participate.

Promote RRSP season to your members

Putting money in an RRSP is a good way to save for retirement and reduce taxes heading into the new year. And with the events of this year having put a spotlight on finances and the importance of preparing for tomorrow, now is a good time to remind your members to contribute to their RRSP.

Navigating This Year’s RRSP Season During a Pandemic

But what does that mean for this year’s RRSP season?

Changes to target date funds

2021 brings changes to target date funds.

Updates to the Steps Retirement Program®

We’re updating the income levels associated with the five lifestyle scenarios to be in line with the current cost of living.

Guidance when you need it

Learn how we are working to make the sponsor secure site experience the best for group retirement plan administrators.

Financial Stress Survey: How the Pandemic Has Affected Financial Stress Levels

To better understand the effects of financial stress on people, Manulife conducted its annual Financial Stress survey.

Manulife’s webinar series – Special webinars in November

Check out Manulife’s webinars for plan members for Financial Literacy Month.

New on your sponsor site

For Group retirement plan sponsors, the secure site now includes a new look, help with contribution submissions, and online payroll inquiry functionality.

Helping Canadians through COVID and beyond

Money problems have been a key factor in causing stress for many years. Now, COVID-19 is compounding that stress and more and more Canadians are seeking financial support.

Our Guide for Getting You Back to Business

Now, as we look forward to returning to work, we must face new questions about how we can do so safely and smartly.

We’ve enhanced the app again so plan members can see more, do more

We’re always looking for ways to make things easier and secure for plan members. Here are the new features available on Manulife Mobile.

Manulife’s webinar series – RRSPs and TFSAs

We surveyed our members about which topics they’d like to hear about next. The number 1 response was to learn more about RRSPs and TFSAs. Which one is a better option for them?

Helping members sign up for their online accounts with ease and confidence

We want to make the lives of our plan members easier, and that includes giving them easy and secure access to manage their group plans.

Investment platform updates

We’ve added three BlackRock funds to the i-Watch platform, and two NEI funds are changing names and objectives.

Sending documents just got easier

Coming soon, plan members will have a new way to send documents.

Connect Securely & Conveniently

A safe, secure and convenient digital experience is more important now than ever.

Considering an OCIO partner?

The right choice can help you improve pension outcomes and save time and money.

Retirement Date 2020 Funds

Find out what happens to these funds and when.

A fresh new look

Your sponsor secure site gets a new look, and that’s just a start to your new digital experience.

Investing made easy, a new webinar

With market volatility in the news, it’s a good time for members to learn more about investing. Our new webinar helps employees understand the basics – time, knowledge and risk.

We want members to weigh in

By answering one question, plan members can let us know what matters to them most.

Novel Coronavirus precautions

In late December, several cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Chinese authorities confirmed that they had identified a new coronavirus (a family of viruses that range from the common cold to more severe viruses).

New year, new webinars

Many people vow to save in the new year but they may not understand their options. Promote our new webinar that helps employees learn about their retirement plans.

Digital Upgrade

New features and extra security

A new look for online accounts

Learn how Manulife's new look for online accounts is improving plan members' online experience.

Member site updates

Get a sneak peak at Manulife's soon-to-be-launched homepage for the plan member site.

Can getting online, help you save more?

Find out from Manulife how going digital prompts plan members to save an average of 2.7 times more in assets.

Digital Upgrade for Manulife Mobile

Manulife Mobile is getting new features.

Updated Support Page

Learn how new navigation makes it easier for plan members to find the information they need on Manulife's Support page.

Manulife’s webinar series

Helping your employees make healthy money decisions

Putting the “fun” in investment funds

Learn about an engaging new video series from Manulife that teaches plan members about investments in easy-to-understand terms.

The Wellness Report

Read about Manulife's Wellness Report (for business owners) to understand how employee health risks may impact your organization's bottom line.

A little help goes a long way

Offering financial guidance can make all the difference for both employees and organizations.

Supporting members through critical life moments

Learn the 18 moments in life plan members say cause them the most financial and emotional stress, and what Manulife is doing about it.

We’re updating some of our funds

On November 21, 2018, due to organizational changes at the fund manager level, Manulife Asset Management will close their International Equity strategy.

As of December 31, 2018, we’re updating some of our fund names

Invesco, NEI, MAM and Meritas have recently notified us of changes they’ve made to their fund names.

i-Watch® – Closing the Manulife CI Harbour Growth & Income Fund

We’re removing the Manulife CI Harbour Growth & Income Fund from our investment platforms.

MAM to MIM, and new fund names

In May, we told you that Manulife Asset Management (MAM) is now Manulife Investment Management (MIM).

i-Watch – NEI International Equity change

Plan administrators with plan members invested in the NEI International Equity Fund (AllianceBernstein) will see a name change for this fund on their statement.

Innovation recap

For business owners, the Manulife NEI International Equity RS Fund replaces a previous fund and now qualifies for the Responsible investing program.

Sleepless Babies

Sleepless babies often mean sleepless nights for news parents. Here are a few tips and tricks which might help you rest a bit easier.

Three ways Manulife's digital tools are helping our members reduce financial stress

Digital tools play a key role in how plan members can manage their financial health.