Feedback
We are always looking for ways to improve your experience. Please tell us about your experience below.
Your responses will be kept confidential. To protect your privacy, please do not enter your account or personal information.
Welcome Laurier members!
Your dedicated hub for transitioning to University Pension Plan (UPP)
“On behalf of University Pension Plan, I'm thrilled to welcome Laurier members. At UPP, we are committed to delivering a secure, stable pension for life, investing with integrity and serving our members with care. Whether you are starting your career, planning for retirement, or enjoying your pension, you can rest assured that UPP’s pension experts will be here to support and guide you along your pension journey.”
Barbara Zvan
President and Chief Executive Officer
On this page
Transition timeline
-
Jan 1, 2026
Laurier’s pension administration and member services officially transition to UPP. -
From Jan 2026 onward
You’ll have access to the myUPP Member Portal.
Phased access to the UPP Pension Estimate Calculator begins.
Resources
Reminder: your new UPP pension service experience is coming soon.
In November 2025, FSRA approved the conversion of the Wilfrid Laurier University Pension Plan to UPP. Effective January 1, 2026, eligible faculty and staff from Laurier and its affiliated organizations will become members of UPP, with UPP assuming responsibility for pension administration and member services previously managed by Laurier.
Transition update
How to prepare for your new UPP service experience
Explore member resources
UPP is here to help make your transition as smooth as possible. To keep you informed throughout the process, we’ve prepared key resources with everything you need to understand your new plan and how it connects to your current one.
Tip: bookmark this page and check back often! We’ll be adding more resources and updates to support your transition journey.
Get to know your dedicated member support team
Starting January 1, 2026, UPP Member Services becomes your main point of contact for all pension-related questions and support. You can reach us in multiple ways:
- Phone: 1-833-627-7877
- Online: via Secure Messages in the myUPP Member Portal
- Mail: University Pension Plan PO Box 45, Toronto, ON, M5J 0E6
- Email: [email protected] (not recommended for sharing personal information)
“Whether you’re exploring your pension options, navigating life events like retirement, or simply need guidance, our in-house Member Services team is committed to getting to know you and your needs, providing the familiar, personalized service you are used to.”
Thomas Stachowicz
Director, Client Experience
Until December 31, 2025, please continue to contact Laurier Human Resources with any pension questions.
Accessing the myUPP Member Portal
The myUPP Member Portal is your secure, one-stop-shop platform featuring accessible information and resources to help you manage all pension-related matters.
- Receive dedicated support from UPP’s Member Services team via secure messages.
- Manage your personal information, including contact details, beneficiaries, and spousal information.
- Access and submit pension-related documents, including annual statements.
- Explore your pension details and available resources, including a video with step-by-step instructions on how to use the Pension Estimate Calculator.
- Manage your pension payment details and update your banking information if you’re already receiving a pension.
You will receive access to the myUPP Member Portal on January 1, 2026.
Once you register for the portal, please take a moment to review and update your personal details, including your spousal and beneficiary information, and your contact information, to ensure your records are up to date and you continue to receive important updates from UPP.
Running a pension estimate
The myUPP Member Portal Pension Estimate Calculator gives you personalized projections of your future pension under various scenarios, including:
- Different retirement ages, starting as early as age 55.
- Customized retirement dates or key milestones.
- Increases in future pensionable earnings (for active members).
- Changes between full-time and part-time status (for active members).
How does it differ from Laurier’s Pension Portal tool?
While both tools help you explore your pension, there are a few key differences to keep in mind.
- Run multiple scenarios: Because UPP’s pension estimates reflect both your former Laurier plan and your UPP pension, the UPP estimator currently presents one scenario at a time for easier viewing. You can run as many scenarios as you’d like and compare the results. Side-by-side comparison functionality will be added in a future update.
- Defined Benefit focus: UPP provides estimates for your monthly lifetime pension, reflecting our defined benefit pension promise. Commuted Value estimates are not provided as they are not always an accurate reflection for financial planning. To learn more, visit myupp.ca/members/commuted-value.
- Supplemental Pension Arrangements (SPA): SPA entitlements will continue to be administered and paid separately by Laurier, as such, they are not included in the UPP pension estimates.
We’ll email you when your Pension Estimate Calculator is ready
Because the Pension Estimate Calculator considers specific details such as salary, retirement age, and service history, our team conducts extensive testing and validation to ensure we have full confidence in the estimated pension amounts. As a result of this increased testing, access to the estimator will be phased in, with rollout beginning in January. You’ll be notified by email once your access is available.
Need an estimate sooner?
If you require a pension estimate before gaining access to the UPP estimator, please refer to your most recent Annual Statement.
If you’re planning to retire within the next 12 months and need a pension estimate, please contact UPP Member Services after January 1 to receive a personalized estimate.
While waiting for UPP estimator access, you can continue to use Laurier’s Pension Portal to run estimates for service up to December 31, 2025. Once the UPP pension estimator becomes available, you’ll be able to generate online estimates for both your Laurier pension and future UPP service. Please note that the myUPP Member Portal uses different login credentials from the Laurier Pension Portal.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Getting started with UPP
What isn't changing?
For the most part, your pension experience will feel similar. The main shift is that UPP will now administer your pension and provide pension-related guidance, information and resources. Laurier will continue to support you with non-pension benefits. We’ve coordinated closely to ensure the transition is smooth and that everything feels familiar every step of the way.
How you contribute to your pension: You’ll continue to contribute through payroll deductions, just as you do today.
Pension-related events: If you have a change that impacts your pension, such as a leave of absence or the start of your retirement, you will continue to notify Laurier. They will inform UPP, and we’ll provide any pension details or next steps you need.
Non-pension benefits: Your other employee benefits, such as health and dental, will continue to be provided by Laurier and its benefit carriers. These benefits are not impacted by the pension transition. When UPP refers to your “benefits”, we are speaking specifically about your pension benefits.
If you are already receiving a pension: Your transition to UPP’s administration will be seamless. Your pension will continue to be deposited into the same bank account, on the same schedule, with no action required from you.
What is changing?
Starting January 1, 2026, UPP becomes your pension provider. This means UPP Member Services will be your point of contact for any pension-related questions, including retirement planning and any other life events that may affect your pension, such as switching employers. You’ll also begin using the myUPP Member Portal to view and manage your pension information.
Some provisions of the Laurier Plan differ under UPP. To help you understand how the two plans align – including details about retirement planning, eligibility for common-law spouses, support for your loved ones, and more – you can refer to the Laurier Pre-conversion Guide.
For personalized information about the transition and how it applies to you directly, please review the package you received from Laurier as part of the consent process. If you need another copy, Laurier Human Resources can assist at [email protected].
Is there anything I need to do?
On January 1, 2026, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to access the myUPP Member Portal. When you receive it, please:
- Register for the myUPP Member Portal using the link and instructions provided.
- Review and update your contact, spousal, and beneficiary information once you’re logged in.
A note about spouses: Your eligible spouse is automatically entitled to survivor payments over any named beneficiaries unless a legal waiver has been signed. This means you do not need to name your spouse as a beneficiary for them to receive a survivor pension.
I'm a retiree—will my pension be impacted?
If you are already receiving a pension from Laurier, the transition to UPP will be seamless. Your gross pension amount will not change and your payments will continue without interruption. The only change is that your deposit may appear as “University Pension Plan” on your bank statement.
If you also receive a Supplemental Pension Arrangement (SPA) payment from Laurier’s payroll, Laurier will continue to administer and pay this entitlement.
UPP pays pensions on the first day of each month. If the first falls on a weekend or holiday, your financial institution may deposit it on the next business day. For example, your February 2026 payment will be issued on February 1 (a Sunday), and your deposit may appear on February 2, depending on your bank.
Premiums for additional benefits, such as health and dental, if applicable, will continue to be deducted from your UPP pension.
Are you a Laurier plan member currently receiving a UPP pension (or vice versa)?
If you’re a Laurier employee who is already receiving a pension from UPP—or—if you’re a Laurier pensioner who is currently working and contributing to UPP at another participating employer, you may have an important decision to make. Pension rules don’t allow you to contribute to a plan and receive a pension from that same plan at the same time.
If this might apply to you, please contact Laurier Human Resources at [email protected] to discuss what this transition means for you.
Finding the support you need
I need to update my contact information, who should I speak to?
Once you register for the myUPP Member Portal, please take a moment to review and update your personal details, including your spousal and beneficiary information, and your contact information, to ensure your records are up to date and you continue to receive important updates from UPP.
Who should I contact, and when, if I have questions about my pension?
Before January 1, 2026: Please continue to contact Laurier Human Resources with any pension-related questions.
On and after January 1, 2026: UPP will take over pension administration and member services for all members. From that point on, UPP Member Services will be your point of contact for any pension questions.
UPP and Laurier will continue to share updates—including key dates and what to expect—as the transition progresses.
How will I contact UPP Member Services?
Beginning January 1, 2026, you can connect with UPP Member Services through several channels:
- Phone: 1-833-627-7877
- Secure Email Message: through the myUPP Member Portal
- Mail: University Pension Plan, PO Box 45, Toronto, ON, M5J 0E6
- Email: [email protected] (email is not recommended for sharing personal information)
You’ll be notified as soon as you have access to the myUPP Member Portal, where you’ll find tools, information, and additional ways to get support from UPP’s Member Services team.
I’m planning to retire, who do I contact?
Your first step—whether you plan to retire before or after the transition to UPP—is to notify Laurier Human Resources of your decision to retire. Notice periods and documentation requirements vary by employee group, so Laurier HR can confirm what applies to you.
Who prepares your retirement options depends on your pension start date:
- Pension start date on or before March 1, 2026: Laurier will provide your retirement options.
- Pension start date on or after April 1, 2026: UPP will provide your retirement options.
If you submit your notice before January 1, 2026, Laurier will coordinate your retirement process and prepare your options, working with UPP as needed for pension start dates after the transition.
What if my pension-related event isn't complete before the transition?
If you start a pension-related process (such as a retirement or transfer) before the transition and it isn’t finished by January 1, 2026, Laurier Human Resources and UPP Member Services will work together to ensure no disruption to your event.
For example, if you request retirement options before the transition but haven’t submitted your forms by January 1, you will submit the remaining information directly to UPP Member Services, and we’ll guide you through the rest of the process.
How your plan works
What contributions are required under UPP?
The annual contributions are based on your pensionable earnings, the average YAMPE (an annual threshold set by the federal government) and UPP’s contribution rate. Your employer contributes an equal amount.
All contributions to UPP are invested by investment professionals who are bound by a fiduciary duty to act in your best financial interests.
Learn more about how contributions work and explore the formula.
Can I make additional voluntary contributions to UPP?
No. UPP does not allow additional voluntary contributions.
If you have prior additional voluntary contributions and/or special lump-sum voluntary contributions under the Laurier Plan, they will be transferred to UPP. After Laurier joins UPP, these amounts will be credited with interest based on UPP’s fund earnings.
When you end your UPP membership, the balance of any accounts will be available as a one-time lump sum, or—if you are eligible for retirement—can be used to provide additional pension.
How is my UPP pension calculated?
Your UPP pension is a lifetime pension, calculated using a formula that considers:
- your best average earnings,
- limits established by the federal government (YMPE and YAMPE), and
- your years of Pensionable Service (the amount of continuous service during which you’ve contributed to UPP) including any service you’ve transferred into UPP.
Your pre-conversion pension (the amount you earned under the Laurier Plan) is calculated under Laurier’s terms and then added to the pension you earn under UPP.
Learn more about how contributions work and explore the formula.
I work part-time. Is my UPP pension calculated differently?
No. Your pension is calculated using the same formula as for full-time members.
For part-time members, UPP uses:
- your annualized pensionable earnings (what you would earn if working full-time), and
- your actual pensionable service.
Does UPP offer inflation protection?
Inflation protection is a valuable benefit designed to increase the amount of your monthly pension through a cost-of-living adjustment based on the increase in the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Laurier Plan benefits
Benefits earned under the Laurier pension plan continue to follow Laurier’s indexation rules. Please contact Laurier Human Resources for details.
UPP benefits
The portion of your pension earned under UPP is eligible for funded conditional indexation once you retire. Indexation is based on increases to the Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is approved annually by UPP’s Joint Sponsors.
- UPP’s target for conditional indexation is 75% of CPI.
- The actual adjustment may be less depending on the Plan’s financial health and Funding Policy.
- Indexation is not guaranteed—an adjustment in one year does not mean there will be an adjustment in future years.
Will I receive an annual pension statement?
Yes. Each year by June 30th, we will send you an annual statement that provides a snapshot of your benefits as of December 31 of the previous year. Your statement will include:
- the benefits you earned under the Laurier Plan and/or UPP,
- your earliest and normal retirement dates, and
- other key pension details.
If you are a retired member, you will continue to receive required UPP communications by postal mail unless you choose to receive them digitally. You can opt in to digital communications through the myUPP Member Portal under the Profile tab by selecting “Electronic” under Paperless Delivery Status.
Your UPP benefits
Your plan is custom-built for the university sector, including special features to support you along your pension journey.
Get to know UPP
Thousands of members at universities across the province are working towards a common goal: lifelong, dependable retirement income with UPP.
Watch this short video to learn how the Plan works and what it offers you as a member.