CANNEX Term Deposit Conference 2026 Takeaways:
What We Heard About Annuities, GICs, and the Future of Retirement Solutions
The latest CANNEX gathering on April 30th in Toronto brought together leaders across banking, insurance, and wealth to focus on one of the industry’s most important transitions: how retirement income and deposit products are evolving in today’s market.
And if you were there, chances are you saw Portfolio+ logo.
From sponsorship visibility throughout the event (including during the midday sessions) to being directly involved in shaping key conversations, our presence reflected the role we play in supporting financial institutions as the market evolves.
Setting the context: the deposit market
The day opened with a detailed look at Canadian household wealth and the deposit market. That starting point mattered. Before any discussion on technology or distribution, there was a clear effort to anchor the conversation in what’s happening in the market itself.
From there, everything else made more sense—how institutions are positioning products, how they think about growth, and how market conditions influence decisions around deposits like GICs.
Regulation comes first—for a reason
Not long after, the focus shifted to regulation.
Bringing together organizations like CDIC and CIRO early in the agenda set a clear tone. Before talking about opportunities, the conference made space for the rules that shape how those opportunities can be pursued. [cbinsights.com]
It was a reminder that in this space, distribution models and product strategies don’t exist in isolation—they are always connected to oversight and compliance requirements.
Dealers still matter in the distribution conversation
From there, the conversation moved into dealer trends.
This wasn’t presented as a future topic—it was framed as a current one. Institutions are still working within and alongside dealer channels, and the panel reflected that continued relevance.
Placed right after the regulatory discussion, it created a natural link between what’s permitted and how products are brought to market.
Technology enters the conversation
After the morning sessions, the focus shifted.
The “Leveraging Technology” panel—moderated by Portfolio+—sat right at that turning point in the agenda. [cbinsights.com]
The discussion brought together participants from TD, RBC, and KOHO—organizations that approach deposits from different operating models but are all engaging with the same question: how technology fits into the process.
The format itself—a moderated discussion followed by audience questions—created a space for exchanging perspectives rather than presenting a single viewpoint.
What became clear through the panel wasn’t a single conclusion, but the fact that technology is no longer treated as a separate layer. It’s part of how deposit workflows are being discussed, from intake through to processing and beyond.
In parallel to those conversations, there is a growing focus across institutions on how to bring more structure and visibility into those workflows. That’s where solutions like GIC Connect naturally fit into the conversation—supporting how deposits move through systems in a more coordinated way without adding complexity.
The role of interest rates in shaping decisions
Later in the afternoon, the agenda turned toward the interest rate outlook.
After sessions on market structure, regulation, distribution, and technology, this segment added another layer—how the broader economic environment influences all of it.
Rather than leading with rates, the conference positioned this discussion after operational and structural topics, connecting day-to-day decisions with longer-term economic conditions.
Looking beyond traditional channels
Near the end of the day, the focus shifted again—this time to direct-to-consumer distribution.
The panel brought together institutions with different approaches to reaching clients directly, reflecting how distribution is expanding beyond traditional models.
Coming after the earlier discussions on dealers and technology, this session added another dimension: not replacing existing channels, but expanding how institutions think about engagement.
A day built around the ecosystem
Looking back, the structure of the day tells its own story.
The conversation started with what the market looks like, moved through the rules that govern it, then into how products are distributed, followed by how technology supports those processes, before addressing external economic drivers, and finally exploring how distribution continues to evolve.
Each session built on the last.
Where Portfolio+ fits into that conversation
Our role at the conference reflected that same structure.
As sponsors, we were visible throughout the day—including during the lunch session. And as participants, we contributed directly to the agenda, with Brendan Jenkins moderating the “Leveraging Technology” panel alongside institutions like TD, RBC, and KOHO. [cbinsights.com]
That session focused on how institutions are applying technology within the term deposit space—particularly across workflows and distribution.
In parallel, there’s a clear industry focus on improving how GIC processes are structured end-to-end. That’s where capabilities like GIC Connect come into the conversation—supporting more streamlined and coordinated deposit workflows.
At the same time, discussions throughout the day pointed to growing interest in how data, automation, and AI can be applied to improve efficiency and scalability.
And between sessions, one theme kept coming up: how to manage increasing complexity without slowing down the business.
Closing reflection
CANNEX didn’t present a single narrative or position. Instead, it created a framework for understanding how the different parts of the deposit ecosystem connect.
Market dynamics, regulation, distribution, technology, and economic context were not treated as separate tracks—they were discussed as interconnected components of the same system.
That, more than anything, was the takeaway.
Curious about the new innovation Portfolio+ is bringing to GIC operations? Let’s connect. We’d be happy to share our new products and show you how we’re helping financial institutions modernize workflows, improve operational efficiency, and prepare for the next phase of deposit management.
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