Run a retirement plan that works for your people
Practical, plain-language guidance on Group RRSP and pension plan administration in Canada (fees, matching, and plan design), written for the HR teams and plan sponsors who run these plans, not the salespeople who sell them.
Guides for plan sponsors and HR teams
A Guide to Group RRSPs for Canadian Employers
Everything HR administrators need to know about setting up, running, and optimizing an employer-match Group RRSP, from plan design to matching formulas to CRA compliance.
How Employer Matching Works: Formulas, Rules, and Best Practices
A practical guide to employer matching contribution formulas, from 1% match to stretch match structures, and how to administer them compliantly under CRA rules.
Fee Transparency: What Your Group RRSP Really Costs
Group retirement plan fees are presented in ways that obscure the true all-in cost. Here's how to read a fee disclosure, what to compare, and what drives each part of the fee, and why a 50-basis-point gap is worth tens of thousands of dollars to each member.
Moved Again? How Provider Churn Quietly Costs Your Plan
Some group plans are moved to a new provider every few years, not because members will be better off, but because a move resets advisor compensation. Here's how to spot it, what it costs, and how to keep your plan where it serves your people best.
Why Insurance-Company Group Plans Cost More, and How to Move to LINK
Most Canadian group retirement assets sit with a handful of insurance carriers, and their plans tend to carry some of the highest all-in fees in the market. Here's where those costs come from, and how switching to LINK puts more of every contribution back to work for your employees.
DCPP Administration: What Plan Sponsors Are Actually Responsible For
Running a defined contribution pension plan comes with legal duties that a Group RRSP doesn't. Here's what sponsors and administrators are responsible for under CAPSA guidelines and Canadian pension law, from governance and investment oversight to annual filings with your regulator.
The LINK MEPP Explained: A DC Pension Without Running One
A defined contribution pension is one of the strongest retirement benefits an employer can offer, but the governance and filing obligations put it out of reach for most smaller companies. A multi-employer plan changes that. Here's how the LINK MEPP works and who it's for.
Group RRSP vs. DC Pension Plan: Which Should You Offer?
It's the first decision every employer makes when setting up a retirement plan. Both are tax-efficient ways to help employees save, but they differ on payroll costs, locking-in, governance, and how much work they create for your team. Here's a side-by-side comparison.
Pension Adjustments (PA) and How They Affect RRSP Room
If your employees belong to a pension plan or DPSP, their RRSP room is reduced by a pension adjustment. Here's how PAs are calculated for DC plans, where they show up, and worked examples employers can share with their teams.
Locking-In Rules, Decumulation, and What Happens at Retirement
Building savings is only half of a retirement plan. Here's how locked-in pension money works, how RRSPs and pensions convert to retirement income, and the choices employees face when it's time to start drawing on their savings.
Frequently asked questions
What does a group retirement plan recordkeeper do, and is LINK one?
A recordkeeper maintains each member's account records, processes contributions from payroll, tracks investments and balances, and produces member statements and tax slips. Yes. LINK is the recordkeeper and administrator for the plans on its platform, covering Group RRSP, TFSA, DPSP, DC pension and multi-employer pension plans, alongside the member and sponsor dashboards. Assets are held by independent qualified custodians.
Are there setup fees?
No. LINK charges no onboarding or implementation fees. Your dedicated implementation manager is included in the plan fee.
Are there transfer fees when moving from another provider?
No. LINK covers transfer fees when migrating from an existing group retirement plan. We handle the paperwork.
What happens when an employee leaves?
Depending on the plan type, internal options exist for an employee's accounts to remain at LINK without a transfer fee. Members are also able to transfer out to another financial institution; in this situation any fees are typically covered by the receiving institution.
Does the fee change depending on whether we use an advisor?
Yes. If your plan is set up through an advisor or broker, their compensation is part of the all-in cost. Your plan specialist will walk through what applies to your situation.
How do the costs of ETF plans compare to plans built on mutual funds?
Traditional group RRSP plans hold actively managed mutual funds with significantly higher management expense ratios. ETF-based plans hold passive index funds at a fraction of the cost. The difference in investment costs alone, before any platform fee, adds up to a meaningful amount of extra savings for members over a career.
Ready to modernize your workplace savings?
Connect with a LINK plan specialist to find the right solution for your organization.