Despite a volatile year in the markets, Canadian plans improved funding levels, but appear to be more focused on managing risk going forward. Managers are focusing more on outcome oriented strategies to address the shifting needs of institutional...

Canadian equity allocations continue their decline in portfolio allocations in favor of non-domestic equities and alternatives, particularly among larger investors.

Fees remained largely stable in 2016 for Active Canadian Equity Managers, Active U.S. Equity Managers, Active Int'l/EAFE Equity Managers, Active Canadian Fixed Income Managers.

Overall usage of consultants for traditional advice and manager selection services declined again in 2016 as smaller funds continue to outsource.

Overall expected hiring increased again with almost a third of Canadian institutional investors expecting to hire in 2017 driven primarily by new mandates rather than replacement searches.

Managers are starting to utilize next generation segmentation approaches which move beyond demographic characteristics, focusing instead on client needs and behaviors.

Allocations to alternatives and real assets will continue to rise over the next 3 years at the expense of Canadian equities, with large plans leading the charge.

2016 will go down as the Year of the Unexpected, as Brexit, Trump and the Chicago Cubs upended “likely outcomes.”

For the second year, an unusually large amount of corporate banking business and relationships is up for grabs.

Although the flow of European fixed-income market share to U.S. competitors slowed considerably last year, the market’s post-crisis evolution is far from complete.