Benefits Alliance Voice
The Benefits Alliance Voice was created for those wanting to keep up with what's happening in the Canadian Group Benefits and Group Retirement industry. As the voice of the industry, we will cover topics ranging from Pharmacare, Financial Literacy, Building a Group Benefits Plan, Virtual Healthcare, Changes to Employment Insurance (EI), Canadian Disability Coverage, and more! Subscribe to hear the latest episodes!
Episodes
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:
- Workplace savings plan design and trends
- Impa...
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. ...
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 grie...
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:
- Importance of leadership engageme...
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...
In this episode, Melissa St-Louis, co-founder of Nüense, joins Rob and Carolyne to discuss the importance of neuro-inclusion in the workplace. She explains the concept of neurodiversity, the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in organizations, and the need for better communication and support systems.
Melissa emphasizes the significance of creating accessible work environments and fostering psychological safety for open...
In this episode, Carolyne and Rahim welcome Jeri Savage and Nick DeLisi from MFS Investment Management Canada to discuss their insights on retirement planning based on results of recent surveys that check in with plan members, plan sponsors and advisors.
The conversation highlights the importance of understanding generational differences in retirement expectations and the impact of competing financial priorities on retirement readi...
In this conversation, Ashton Thornton and Adam Saperia from KixCare join Carolyne and Rob to discuss the unique challenges and solutions in pediatric healthcare, emphasizing the importance of virtual care for children and families.
They highlight the impact of physical health and mentalhealth on children's well-being and the productivity of arents, advocating for a proactive approach to healthcare that empowers families. The discuss...
In this episode of the Benefits Alliance podcast, hostsRob and Carolyne engage with Mylène Desjardins and RosyRosario from Beneva to explore the nuances of specialized risk insurance. They discuss how this type of insurance differs from traditional plans, the importance of understanding high-risk situations, and the critical role of advisors in ensuring comprehensive coverage for employees.
What You Will Learn:
- Special risk...
Rob and Carolyne chat with Sandra Elia from Obesity Matters and Dr. Sandy Van, a Weight Management Physician, aboutsupporting employees who suffer from obesity - an ailment that is responsible for many drug costs. Hear all about how addressing the root cause may lower claims overall and will reduce absenteeism along with short- and long-term disability costs.
What You Will Learn:
- Obesity is a chronic, complex medical condition t...
Carolyne and Rahim are joined by Marc-Antoine Morin from Manulife. Together they review the recommendations of the CAPSA guidelines and the importance of adhering to them. They finish by talking about what's coming in 2026 and the implications of AI in plan governance.
- What You Will Learn:
- How CAPSA guidelines have evolved in 2025
- How employers can best support employees while adhering to the guidelines
- Understanding what needs to ...
In this conversation, Laura Pratt from Canada Life joins Carolyne and Rob. They discuss the importance of workplace mental health, the rising costs associated with mental health issues, and the strategies organizations can implement to create a psychologically safe environment. Laura reviews a case study with measurable results from an effective workplace mental health program.
In this conversation, Tara Liu, Assistant Vice President of Drug Claims Strategy at Canada Life, joins Rob and Carolyne to discuss the importance of integrating Diversity, Equity,and Inclusion (DEI) into employee benefit programs, particularly drug benefits. She emphasizes the distinction between health equity and equality, the impact of Canada's diverse workforce on benefit planning, and the need for tailored support to address in...
Join Rob and Carolyne who speak with Maude Villeneuve,Coordinator of the Relief Research Chair in Mental Health, Self-Management and Work (powered by Beneva), at Laval University. They discuss what is meant by psychosocial risks and how they impact costs in the workplace.
Join Rob and Carolyne with guests, Neda Nasseri and Sandra Elia, as they dispel the long-held myths about obesity and focus on its complexities as a chronic disease. They also offer suggestions to employers to help foster a supportive environment.
Angela Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder of SanoLiving, joins Roband Carolyne to discuss her personal journey and the importance of addressing midlife women's health. She highlights the financial implications of employers neglecting this segment of their workforce in their benefits plan.
Many small and mid-sized businesses are missing out on the benefits of group retirement plans - and advisors have the power to change that. In this episode, Courtney Proudfoot joins Carolyne and Rahim to share insights on the importance of financial education for employees and to discuss strategies for engaging both plan sponsors and members… Unlocking new opportunities in the SMB retirement market.
Rob and Carolyne are joined by Veronika Litinski and Dora Chan from Pillcheck along with Gavin Mosley from Mosley Group Benefits to discuss the positive impact of pharmacogenetic testing on benefit plans, absenteeism and better treatment.
Alex Mazer and Connor Bays from Common WealthRetirement join Carolyne and Rahim to to explore whyCanada's group retirement savings (GRS) market, especially among small to medium sized businesses, remains underpenetrated and how advisors can lead its growth.
In this conversation, Dr. Alan Ulsifer and Susanna Di Cesare highlight the challenges in vision care coverage and the need for better education for patients and plan sponsors about the benefits of comprehensive eye care. The discussion emphasizes the significant impact of eye health on overall well-being and productivity, urging listeners to prioritize eye care in their health plans.
What You Will Learn:
- Regular eye exams can det...
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