WISE Trust Pension Plan Hits Record 107% Funding in Volatile Year

TORONTO, ON – April 16, 2026 – The WISE Trust Pension Plan, which provides retirement security for over 10,000 workplace safety and insurance workers across Ontario, has announced its strongest financial position since its inception, achieving a 107% funded status at the close of 2025. This milestone indicates the plan holds $1.07 in assets for every dollar of promised benefits, providing a significant security buffer for its members.

In a year marked by persistent global economic uncertainty, the plan delivered a net annual return of 8.1%, growing its total assets to $4.8 billion. The results offer a message of stability and reassurance to the thousands of current and former employees of organizations like the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) who rely on the plan.

"In another year marked by geopolitical tensions and economic volatility, we are proud to deliver robust returns and give members peace of mind with the continued upward trajectory of our funded status," said Chris Brown, CEO of WISE Trust, in a statement. "WISE Trust exists to provide long-term retirement security for our members. Our strong investment returns in 2025 stand as a testament to our dedication to delivering on our pension promise."

Navigating a Complex Market

WISE Trust's 8.1% return notably outpaced the 7.4% weighted average return reported by its exclusive asset manager, the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), for its broader client base in 2025. This suggests that the specific strategic asset mix designed for WISE Trust was particularly effective in capitalizing on last year's market conditions.

The plan’s success was largely fueled by impressive performance in Public Equities and Global Credit. This aligns with IMCO's broader results, where Public Equities were the top-performing asset class, generating a powerful 19.1% return for the year. The strong gains in equity markets helped offset more subdued performance in other areas, such as real estate, where IMCO reported a slight loss of 0.5% amid valuation pressures affecting the sector.

This performance highlights the importance of a diversified portfolio. By strategically allocating assets, WISE Trust was able to harness the significant uplift from public markets while weathering the headwinds that impacted private assets. The plan's ability to outperform its manager's average underscores the value of a tailored investment strategy built to meet specific long-term objectives.

A Benchmark of Pension Health

The 107% funded status places WISE Trust in a strong position within Canada's robust pension landscape. While the figure represents a record for the plan, which transitioned to a jointly sponsored pension plan (JSPP) model in 2020, it also aligns with a broader trend of healthy funding levels across the country. Recent industry reports from 2025 indicated that the aggregate funded ratio for Canadian pension plans in the S&P/TSX Composite Index stood at a healthy 112.5%.

WISE Trust's position is comparable to some of the country's largest public sector plans. For instance, the Ontario Municipal Employees' Retirement System (OMERS) reported a 99% funded status on a smoothed basis for the same period. While WISE Trust's funding is robust, it still trails industry leaders like the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Pension Plan, which reported funded statuses of 109% and 124%, respectively.

These high funding levels across the sector provide a crucial buffer against market downturns and ensure the long-term sustainability of defined benefit pension promises for millions of Canadians. For WISE Trust, achieving a surplus just five years after its establishment as a JSPP is a significant accomplishment.

The JSPP Advantage and Member Security

The strong financial results have tangible implications for WISE Trust's 10,000 members. A funded status well above 100% directly translates to enhanced benefit security, providing strong assurance that pension promises will be met for decades to come.

This success also showcases the strengths of the jointly sponsored pension plan model. In a JSPP, governance is shared equally between employer and member sponsors, a structure designed to foster collaboration, long-term thinking, and prudent risk management. This contrasts with single-employer plans, where decision-making can be more susceptible to short-term corporate pressures.

Other highly-funded JSPPs have leveraged their financial strength to provide direct benefits to members. CAAT, for example, used its surplus to implement contribution rate decreases for members and employers, while HOOPP has a long history of providing full inflation protection on pensions. While WISE Trust has not announced any immediate changes, its substantial surplus provides the financial flexibility to consider such enhancements in the future, subject to its funding policy and joint governance decisions.

A Disciplined Strategy for the Long Term

Plan executives attribute the strong performance to a disciplined, long-term approach and a close working relationship with IMCO. The investment strategy is guided by the plan's Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures (SIP&P) and a carefully constructed Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA).

"Our strong investment performance is a result of management's close collaboration with IMCO and disciplined investment policies," stated Theodor Heldman, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Risk, at WISE Trust. "Our diverse portfolio and evolving asset allocation, informed by rigorous long-term modeling, continues to strengthen our long-term position while delivering a strong annual result."

This framework, which emphasizes diversification, risk management, and avoiding concentrated bets, is designed to build resilience and deliver stable returns over the long run. By focusing on this strategic partnership and adhering to a clear policy, WISE Trust aims to continue navigating market cycles effectively, ensuring the retirement security of its members remains on solid ground for years to come.