Insurance, Investments and Group Benefits

2025 was a year of transition characterized by both global uncertainty and resilience. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and trade tensions drove market volatility throughout the year, and we expect these uncertainties to carry over into the new year. However, there are a number of emerging themes that leave us feeling encouraged.

As we turn the page to 2026, our focus remains on navigating challenges and uncovering opportunities that drive long-term growth.

Here are some of the global themes we believe will impact markets in the new year.

Join Paul Holba, President and CIO, Empire Life Investments Inc., as he navigates the 2026 market outlook where geopolitical volatility and persistent inflation persist, while AI drives growth, and key themes emerge across fixed Income, equities, and the rise of "Global Champions".

Paul Holba, President and CIO of Empire Life Investments Inc. discusses some of the key themes the investment team will monitor as we head into the second half of 2025.

Investing in Canadian dividend equities has proven to be a successful strategy over the long run for our segregated fund portfolio managers. In addition to demonstrating favourable downside protection¹ and diversification benefits, Canadian dividend equities have outperformed the broader Canadian equity market over the long term.

Inflation, geopolitical instability, and energy transitions require a proactive approach to protect wealth.

Join Paul Holba, SVP and CIO, Empire Life Investments Inc., as he provides expert insights into the key trends that will shape the markets in 2025, including inflation trends, central bank policies, geopolitical risks, and the resurgence of nuclear energy.

This past week has been marked by significant developments in the United States, highlighted by President Donald Trump's conclusive electoral triumph, along with a policy adjustment from the Federal Reserve, which elected to reduce the overnight interest rates by 25 basis points. In response to these pivotal events, the Empire Life Investments Inc. team provides some explanation of the prospective implications on financial markets, with a particular focus on the U.S. market. The informed perspectives of Ashley Misquitta, Investment Strategist and Senior Portfolio Manager and Ian Fung, Senior Portfolio Manager have been collated and are presented here for a fuller understanding of the anticipated market dynamics.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution may be a watershed moment in human history, eclipsing the transformative power of its predecessors through the fusion of physical, digital, and biological spheres. As we witness the integration of groundbreaking technologies like AI, robotics, IoT, blockchain, and biotechnology, the investment landscape presents a wealth of opportunities that mirror the massive economic shifts of past revolutions.

The “Magnificent 7” refers to a group of leading tech companies — including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Tesla, and Nvidia — that have shown exceptional growth and market performance. While there may have been doubts that the run would continue after the massive returns over the last decade, here are several reasons why we believe these companies will continue to perform strongly into the next decade.

Dean is a single Canadian in his twenties looking forward to buying his first home. He’s planning to increase his home savings as his income grows over time. Dean’s advisor recommends a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) because it will give Dean up to 15 years to save, which suits his budget and time frame. 

Paul Holba, Senior Vice-President and CIO of Empire Life Investments Inc. discusses some of the key themes the investment team will monitor as we head into the second half of 2024.