Experience
A consulting actuary and Principal in Eckler’s Group Benefits practice, Nick is based in the Vancouver office. He joined the firm in 2015 after 12 years with a large consulting firm, where he was a Partner and Chief Actuary of its health and benefits business in Canada. Before that, he worked for 13 years in the benefits consulting field and life insurance industries in South Africa.
Nick has led consulting and actuarial relationships for numerous large public- and private-sector plan sponsors across Western Canada, including trusteed, multi-employer benefit plans. His experience in consulting to benefit plan sponsors is varied and includes: benchmarking studies; plan design and pricing; support for vendor searches and implementation; renewal negotiations; valuation of liabilities associated with non-pension post-employment and post-retirement benefits; financial modelling; and broader strategic and governance advice.
A Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Nick is also an Instructor for the Advanced Trust Management Standards (ATMS) program offered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP).
Areas of Expertise
- Employee life and health trusts (ELHTs)
- Financial reporting
- Governance
- Group benefits consulting
- Group benefits modelling
- Group benefits plan design
- Group benefits renewals
- Health & welfare trusts
- Post-employment benefits valuations
- Post-retirement benefits valuations
- Risk management
- Trustee education
Professional Qualifications
Professional Qualifications
- University of Cape Town – Bachelor of Business Science (Hons)
- Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA)
- Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FFA)
Professional Activities
- Instructor for the Advanced Trust Management Standards (ATMS) program offered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP)
- Served as a member of the designated group responsible for re-writing the CIA Standard of Practice for Post-Employment Benefit Valuations
Thought Leadership
As a member of the Editorial Board, Nick helps provide direction for Eckler’s monthly GroupNews publication that provides commentary on the issues affecting Canadian group benefit plans. The most recent issues can be accessed below.
Nick also shares his insights on group benefits plans with the media. Here’s a sampling:
Some insurers are reducing premiums after COVID-19 shut down physiotheraphy, dental offices
The Globe and Mail – June 2020
Canadian plan sponsors seeing sharp declines in health, dental claims
Benefits Canada – May 2020