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Benefits and Pensions MonitorEducation Makes Information Meaningful One of the key aspects of the Joint Forum’s proposed guidelines for the administration of Capital Accumulation Plans (CAPs) pertains to the sponsor’s responsibilities with respect to providing members with informational resources. However, while the Joint Forum should be applauded for the guidelines and, particularly, for recognizing the difference between information and advice, it did not go far enough in emphasizing the importance of education, which is a process that goes well beyond merely the provision of information. In an August 2001 Benefits and Pensions Monitor article, Jury Kopach hit the mark when he said, “Education is taking information and teaching an employee how to use it for his or her own benefit.” Kopach goes on to say “if information is improperly used, the results could be disastrous for both the employer and the employee.” With this in mind, the challenge for the plan sponsor is to bridge the gap between providing information and then presenting it in a way that will be understood and acted upon by Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) members. It is possible to think of this gap as a thorn-filled ravine. Little Background Typically, most Canadians have little background or experience in the areas of major financial choices. So, on one side of the ravine are the individuals who have little or no retirement plan but lots of information. On the other side are CAP members who know how to use the plan for their own benefit. The sponsor’s job is to build a bridge over the thorns of acronyms, taxation implications, financial risk, and complex math to help people move to the other, more educated side. How can this be accomplished? Think about the process of buying a house and obtaining a mortgage. The end goal is to secure a mortgage but getting there can be a complicated and stressful process. To reduce the adverse effects, individuals may call on various sources including family, friends, published resources, and experts and then go through the f o l l o w i n g information gathering steps required to make a knowledgeable decision:
Together, all of these steps – context, information, guidance, and practice – represent education. Now, the buyer is in a position to make key decisions such as which mortgage provider to choose and the appropriate mortgage size, rate structure (fixed versus floating), and amortization period. Relative to deciding on a mortgage, decisions pertaining to CAPs can be quite complex. Furthermore, the buyer may not have access to good information or sources of guidance. Immediate Need The other key difference is that home buyers have an immediate need in purchasing a house which means that they need a mortgage. Employees may not value a retirement plan because the need is not immediate and, therefore, often not understood. So how can we teach them about CAPs and how do we motivate them to learn? The following guidelines, as proposed by the Joint Forum on CAPs, aim to provide the timbers to build the bridge across the thorny ravine.
What is still missing from the learning environment is the context for learning – why do I need to learn about CAPs? The immediate need is the primary difference between learning about mortgages and learning about retirement planning. In the August 2003 issue of Benefits and Pensions Monitor, Annick Douville reports “a recent survey shows [that] many Canadians have failed to realize the importance of making enlightened retirement planning decisions.” Stated another way, they simply don’t see the need. This makes it challenging for a CAP sponsor to educate its members. A lending institution that provides basic information about mortgages and an amortization calculator may find that people will learn because they have an immediate need to learn. A CAP sponsor that does the same may discover that its members do not have the information and assistance they need to make informed investment decisions as stated in the guidelines. As such, more formal and structured investment education is required. Plan members need information, tools, and places to seek guidance – all structured and packaged in such a way that communicates the importance, value, and immediate need for them to explore, practice, and, ultimately, make an informed decision about their future. Thorny Ravine Your first step is to provide educational materials that bridge that thorny ravine. The world is changing, markets go up and down and, each year, CAP members and their families have to face some of those ‘big’ financial decisions. As a result, retirement planning is something that should be (some say must be) revisited annually or whenever a major life change occurs. The implication for a CAPsponsor in relation to the educational offering is four-fold:
When searching for, or designing, any learning materials, it is important to look beyond content and tools – and provide a rich environment that meets the individual needs and objectives of the learner. A high quality educational program will take information, tools, and guidance and then wrap them in a context similar to the learner’s own experiences. It will also be kept up-to-date and encourage, by its features, design, and utility, multiple visits from plan members and their families. The proposed CAP guidelines are a good start in helping you build a bridge over the thorny ravine. Ultimately, well-designed education will result in increased employee participation and plan satisfaction. But, more importantly, it will directly impact the future quality of life of plan members and their families.
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