HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

Women tend to earn less money than men and are more likely to work part-time or take time off to care for their families, impacting their ability to save for retirement. #HOOPPresearch shows that nearly half of Canadian women have less than $5,000 in savings, compared to a third of men. This disparity contributes to a gender pension gap, which means women receive 17% less retirement income. The stress of financial insecurity isn’t just about money – this gap can increase the risk of stress-related health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. “These challenges hurt more than just women’s wallets and retirements: they can also come at a cost to their health.” HOOPP’s Ivana Zanardo, Head of Plan Services and Jennifer R., VP, Strategy, Global Intelligence & Advocacy, explore how improving access to good workplace pensions and advocating for gender equity in the workforce and pay, can help close this gap and promote healthier retirements for women in Canada. Read the report:?https://lnkd.in/gXpeq5Zq

In an interview with the?Globe and Mail, President & CEO Jeff Wendling and CIO Michael Wissell comment on HOOPP’s investment strategy and success in 2024, including an 9.7% return. ? With half of HOOPP's assets in Canada, Michael shared “We remain committed to Canada. There's a hometown advantage because we don't have any currency hedging or other exogenous risks." ? Read the full article:?https://lnkd.in/gWwBD-sm (subscription required)

HOOPP is committed to providing members with a secure lifetime pension in retirement. Read our 2024 results to see how the Plan remains strong and fully funded. We’re proud to be able to continue delivering on our pension promise to our members. Learn more about our 2024 Highlights: https://bit.ly/41KqBHD #HOOPPresults #2024Highlights

This week Lori Hall-Kimm, Senior Managing Director and Head of Global Private Equity at HOOPP, is speaking at the Private Equity International NEXUS 2025 conference in Orlando. ? Lori and fellow panelists Peter Keehn, Ya Tung and Steve Poliner participated in The negotiation table – playing by LP rules?panel on Day 1 of the conference. It was an insightful discussion on the sector and managing negotiations with fund managers as long-term partners. Learn more about Lori and HOOPP’s private equity strategy: https://bit.ly/3FgUExC Check out PEI NEXUS 2025: https://lnkd.in/gvxqa5u9

In recognition of #InternationalWomensDay, HOOPP was pleased to host ??????’?? ???????????????????? ????????????, a virtual learning session led by Esther Li, CultureAlly Senior DEI facilitator. This interactive session explored the history of women’s rights and why International Women’s Day remains so important today. ? Esther guided employees through the barriers women face globally, sharing ways to address discrimination, support women in leadership, and create more inclusive workplaces. The session also covered practical steps that allies, including men, can take to drive meaningful change. Thank you to Esther for leading this important discussion and to our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion team and Learning & Development team for organizing the event.

For individuals with a defined benefit pension, just being reminded of their pension is enough to improve their sense of financial well-being. New research suggests having a pension promotes several positive mental health outcomes for individuals, such as: ?? Improved self-reported happiness ?? Reduced stress ?? Improved well-being Read more about the research in ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ?????????????? . https://bit.ly/4aOyH4H

Congratulations to HOOPP’s Ivana Zanardo, Head of Plan Services, on being named one of Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s Elite Women of 2025!?? ? This award recognizes women leaders who are at the forefront of the Canadian benefits, pensions, and institutional investments, and helping to reshape industry standards for the next generation of women.?? ? With over 25 years of expertise in client services and pension administration, Ivana has played a vital role in helping HOOPP members understand the value of their plan. She is a strong advocate for improved retirement security for all Canadians, speaking publicly about HOOPP’s retirement research while sharing her expertise as a leader in the pension industry.? ? Join us in congratulating Ivana on this well-deserved recognition!? ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/epxSUQyV

It’s time to talk about Canada’s gender pension gap this #InternationalWomensDay. ? In a new Benefits and Pensions Monitor op-ed, HOOPP’s Ivana Zanardo, Head of Plan Services, highlights the significant disadvantages women face when saving for retirement, the connection between the gender pension gap and the wage gap and how its impacts go beyond finances.? ? Ivana Zanardo and Jennifer R., VP, Strategy, Global Intelligence & Advocacy, further explore these challenges in their new discussion paper, providing insights on potential solutions that not only help close the gap and support women’s financial futures but their health too.? ? Read the op-ed: https://lnkd.in/eknckzWw Read the discussion paper: https://lnkd.in/geewe3E8

In recognition of #InternationalWomensDay, we’re shining a light on an often-overlooked issue: the gender pension gap. Factors like the wage gap and societal gender norms make it more likely for women to take time off work to look after their families. This means women in Canada receive an average of 17% less retirement income than men. This gap can also affect their health by?increasing the risk of stress-related illnesses like heart disease, anxiety and high blood pressure. In a new discussion paper by HOOPP’s Ivana Zanardo, Head of Plan Services and Jennifer R., VP, Strategy, Global Intelligence & Advocacy, they explore how advocating for pay equity, improving access to good workplace pensions and implementing policies that support women, are key to closing the gender pension gap. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXpeq5Zq #HOOPPresearch #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

Ramadan Mubarak! ?? Wishing everyone celebrating a blessed and generous month as Ramadan begins.