Dr. Sherry Cooper

Dr. Sherry Cooper is in constant demand as a speaker and writer because of her ability to simplify and de-mystify the complex subjects of economics and finance.  Canada’s national newspaper calls Sherry “the megawatt celebrity economist”.  She leads a highly respected economics team and has been repeatedly cited as one of the most influential women in Canada. Dr, Cooper is regularly quoted in the financial press and you have heard her often on radio and TV.  Sherry published her third book, The New Retirement: How It Will Change Our Future, in January 2008 and it was a blockbuster bestseller. 

Dr. Cooper has an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and began her career at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. Following five years at the Fed, she joined the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) as director of financial economics and moved to Canada in 1983 to become Chief Economist at Burns Fry.

1. Global Financial Crisis

    The global economy is in the midst of the most pervasive financial crisis in a generation, which has destroyed untold sums of wealth in housing and financial assets. This is truly a synchonized global contraction, with deleveraging now underway. Canada started off in better shape but the economy is taking a beating of its own. On the policy front, unprecedented easing efforts by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada are working, and quantitative easing is the next step. Indeed, there are signs that a bottom is forming in the U.S. economy, but this will take time. Stimulative measures in place around the world, and aggressive stimulus packages, will help ease the credit crunch.

    Dr. Sherry Cooper will discuss the economic and financial outlook for Canada and the U.S. against this backdrop of important cross-currents.

1. The New Retirement

    Global economic strategist Sherry Cooper explains that the boomer generation will be reaching traditional retirement age very soon and that an enormous wave of boomer retirees will crest in 2025. This phenomenon will profoundly affect the labour markets, the economy, and financial markets for decades. But will boomers retire the way their parents did? Will they work longer and transition gradually into semi-retirement?

    Cooper tells us that boomers will redefine retirement with great energy and creativity, working well beyond age 65 and mostly by choice. With the dramatic rise in their longevity, healthy goal-driven boomers will seek purposeful leisure—focusing on regeneration, rejuvenation, and low-stress contributions to society and their own personal wealth.

    Follow Cooper through her own journey to discover the route to financial security. Learn how the new retirement is about living well while achieving both monetary security and your personal goals.

1. Battered, but Resilient

    Signs of improvement in the economy are appearing in the U.S. and Canada, and around the world, suggesting that the economies are bottoming and the worst of the financial crisis is behind us. Headwinds such as higher long-term interest rates and inflation expectations remain but capacity utilization rates are still very low, which will mitigate any sustained excess demand pressures that might push prices upward, triggering an inflation spiral. Unemployment will remain high for some time, likely peaking in mid-2010. A sustained period of jobless recovery cannot be ruled out.

Bottom Line: We expect to see growth in the U.S. and Canada by year-end.