Headquarters:
1453 Pelham St, Fonthill, ON, L0S 1E0
Year founded:
1994
Number of employees:
30+
Phone:
1 800 487 2993
Email:
info@thebenefitstrust.com
Website:
thebenefitstrust.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/the-benefits-trust
Robert J. Crowder, CLU, GBA
President
Francis Ignatz, CMA, CPA
Vice President, Finance and Administration
Claire Winstanley, BA, CEBS
Director of Underwriting
Leadership
Robert Crowder, founder and president of The Benefits Trust, has over 30 years of experience building pension and employee benefits solutions for clients. In 1994, he founded The Benefits Trust, a leading Canadian third-party administrator, serving small- and mid-sized businesses across the country.
Thriving under Crowder’s dedication and leadership, The Benefits Trust continues to grow as a reputable benefits provider. He gives back to the benefits industry by regularly sharing his expertise as a speaker and educator for aspiring, ambitious, and experienced benefits advisors across Canada.
President
Robert J. Crowder, CLU, GBA
Boasting over two decades of experience in employee benefits underwriting and analysis, Francis Ignatz infuses The Benefits Trust with valuable financial leadership and acumen. Before joining The Benefits Trust, he served as vice president at AFM Hospitality Corporation and took on the role of regional management at The Brick Warehouse, overseeing finance and administration.
A proud graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ignatz has earned both the Certified Management Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant designations. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he offers insightful consultancy to budding businesses.
Vice President, Finance and Administration
Francis Ignatz, CMA, CPA
Following five years of collaborating with paramedical professionals and earning a bachelor’s degree in medical sociology from the University of Toronto, Clare Winstanley became a valued member of The Benefits Trust in 2001.
Over the years, she has honed her skills in group underwriting and plan evaluations while establishing robust connections with brokers and insurance providers. Working closely with Francis Ignatz, Winstanley plays a pivotal role in new business underwriting, determining plan costs, and managing group renewals.
Director of Underwriting
Claire Winstanley, BA, CEBS
Brittany Sheppard
Director of Client Administration
With over 10 years of working at The Benefits Trust, Brittany Sheppard has achieved a leadership role in administration. From claim adjudication to finance to group implementation, she has managed to gain experience in most aspects of the company.
Sheppard strives to maintain a positive work atmosphere where her and other employees can continue not only to expand their knowledge but enjoy doing it.
Director of Client Administration
Brittany Sheppard
Gabbie Luongo
Director of Information Systems
Gabbie Luongo joined The Benefits Trust in 2018 after earning a degree in Computer Systems Technology. While effectively utilizing software and tools securely for business enhancements, she enjoys working with individuals and clients to troubleshoot and solve technical problems related to hardware, software, and networking. Her willingness to learn, experiment, and adapt to the latest trends in tech is crucial in working with The Benefits Trust’s partners to build and execute new developments.
Director of Information Systems
Gabbie Luongo
Robert W. Crowder
Business Development Executive
Kerri Layne
Group Benefits Coordinator
Lindsay Gibson
Director, Sales and Business Development, Ontario
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Robert W. Crowder joined The Benefits Trust in 2017. After working in multiple roles spanning claims adjudication, account management, and underwriting, he joined the sales team in 2021. Since then, Crowder has been helping advisors and their clients design and implement creative and sustainable employee benefit plans.
He collaborates with professional insurance advisors to develop creative solutions for their clients, staying at the forefront of industry trends and regulations. His dedication to excellence and client satisfaction make him a valuable asset in the insurance industry.
Business Development Executive
Robert W. Crowder
With over 20 years of experience in group benefits, third-party administration, and the intricate processes of researching, designing, and developing both standard and non-standard benefits, Kerri Layne is a cornerstone of expertise at The Benefits Trust.
Joining the team in 2016, she has been instrumental in elevating The Benefits Trust’s offerings through her extensive technical knowledge in group life, health, and disability benefits. Her dedication and understanding continue to be invaluable assets to The Benefits Trust team.
Group Benefits Coordinator
Kerri Layne
Lindsay Gibson has over 17 years of experience in group benefits and third-party administration and is a valued member of The Benefits Trust. Extremely passionate and driven, she is always eager to help and develop group benefit plans that provide creativity, flexibility, and sustainability. She loves to build long-lasting relationships as they are the true foundation for any successful partnership.
Gibson is a co-founder of the NGBM (National Group Benefits Meeting), one of the hosts/chairs of the monthly Advisor Breakfast Club virtual meetings (for Group Benefits Advisors) and is a proud member of the CGIB (Canadian Group Insurance Brokers).
Director, Sales and Business Development, Ontario
Lindsay Gibson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
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Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager.
As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.
Commercial Manager
Stephen McMillan
“Our goal is to make the benefits process as straightforward and stress-free as possible”
Robert Crowder,
The Benefits Trust
“We distinguish ourselves through our creative solutions, which are tailored to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized employers”
Robert Crowder,
The Benefits Trust
Since 1994, The Benefits Trust has built its business on a service-first philosophy that treats a benefits plan as a commitment between an employer and its people.
President Robert Crowder describes the company’s role as the obligation to communicate and uphold that promise, a standard that shapes how the organization operates.
“We distinguish ourselves through our creative solutions, which are tailored to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized employers,” he explains. “Unlike one-size-fits-all approaches, our solutions are designed to address the specific challenges and opportunities these businesses face.”
Performance matters, but leadership is deliberate about building a workplace people can sustain, and it recognizes a direct link between employee experience and the service clients ultimately receive.
Leadership continuity has helped anchor that approach. Crowder brings more than three decades of experience in pensions and employee benefits, grounding decisions in long-standing industry knowledge. Francis Ignatz complements that foundation with financial discipline and a consultative mindset.
As a third-party administrator not tied to a single insurer, The Benefits Trust empowers clients to have control over plan design and provider choice. That structure also supports long-term cost oversight. Pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees, allowing employers to plan with confidence.
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Overall
The company focuses on building group benefits plans for small and mid-sized Canadian employers, with no reliance on prepackaged solutions. Each plan is developed in response to how a business actually operates, taking into account its workforce makeup, its direction, and what it can realistically afford.
That flexibility allows employers to maintain control as their organizations evolve, while receiving hands-on support that reduces complexity and preserves long-term cost discipline.
Much of that refinement in recent years has focused on how clients interact with their benefits plans. Communication has been simplified across digital and personal channels. Employers and plan members can engage online or by mobile, while still having access to dedicated account support.
“We prioritize clear and transparent communication, consciously avoiding complex insurance jargon to ensure that our clients fully understand their benefits,” Crowder says. “Our goal is to make the benefits process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.”
That approach extends to technology, which is strategic and client-led. Tools are adopted when they reduce administrative workload, support flexible plan management, and improve usability. The company avoids building systems for their own sake, keeping attention on what clients actually need.
The Benefits Trust has been recognized for this approach, earning a place on BPM's 2025 5-Star Technology Providers list, alongside Top Benefits Provider and Top Service Provider honours in 2024.
The 5-Star Technology award reflects the company’s virtual benefits wallet, which provides employees and their dependents a single, practical interface to submit claims, access digital drug and dental cards, track benefit usage, and view coverage documents and health care spending account balances.
Value is reflected in tangible business outcomes, from long-standing client relationships and plan growth to consistent renewals that signal ongoing relevance. Employers point to stronger employee engagement and retention, while internal teams experience reduced administrative demands and more predictable costs.
The Benefits Trust continues to focus on process improvement and service discipline, grounded in the belief that how people are treated inside the organization directly affects how clients are served.