Standard Life Canada - Group Savings & Retirement

The Plan for life™ program

The award-winning Plan for life program* is an integrated communications, investments and service program that helps members prepare for the financial realities of life.

It's essential that members understand and appreciate the advantages of their group savings and retirement program and how it can help them prepare for whatever challenges or opportunities the future may bring.

Nowadays, people are constantly bombarded with messages from all directions. Our job is to cut out the complexity and confusion with a clear, consistent message that focuses on the essentials of investing for the future: contributions, time and investment return.

The Plan for life program communication tools show people how easily these factors can be used to enhance life and achieve financial peace of mind.

*Winner of the 2007 Best of Show I.F.C.A. award, written communications category

It's not new colors slapped on the same old jargon. It doesn't skim over the real challenges people face in their everyday lives. It doesn't speak in ideal terms that no one can relate to. It isn't just a 'plan for enrolment' or one-time launch with no follow-up.

It's a Plan for life - information and guidance that begins before enrolment and continues into retirement.

To engage members, we start a dialogue. We use real language, acknowledge the member voice and face their real concerns head-on.

To motivate members to take on better habits and make informed decisions, we connect with their real life needs and desires.

To support members, we show them simple ways to achieve financial confidence and peace of mind for the future no matter what age they are.

Long lives deserve more than short-term solutions.

That's why the Plan for life suite of communications focuses on different life/career stages.

By taking into consideration peoples' mindsets and the events, challenges and opportunities they generally experience for each phase, we provide a selection of the best possible information and guidance.

And because no company is the same, the extensive Plan for life suite of communication materials works like a catalogue with which we can build custom communication strategies for different workforces with specific needs and demographics.

		We get people's attention with: bulletin boards and posters for onsite promotion of the group program. innovative customized flash messages for e-mailing or intranet posting.

		Whether it's their first time saving for the future or they're transitioning from another plan, members will: attend a live enrolment seminar with our dynamic financial consultants (teleconferencing and web-based seminars are also available). receive the Plan for life enrolment package, which includes a basic guide to retirement planning and enrolling in the program, as well as helpful tools like the Retirement Income Calculator CD-ROM. have the option to enrol online with our Enrolment Centre.

		Because this group is far from retirement age and generally harder to motivate, we emphasize the advantage of using time wisely and of building good savings habits. Using the catalogue of flyers and various pieces we offer for this age group, we can work with plan sponsors to build custom packages that address the specific needs of their members.

		With a million things on their "to do" list, this group runs the risk of losing touch with what's happening with their money and their retirement program. We remind them of the importance of periodic review and the ease with which they can do it. Topics for these custom packages also include more advanced financial planning as well as a review of key principles introduced at enrolment.

		We provide members with an Almost there guide to help them plan for a smooth transition into retirement, as well as a selection of other retirement and lifestyle planning information.

		As part of our holistic approach to financial, retirement and lifestyle planning, we offer a large number of information pieces to build custom packages for members.