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
“We don’t just do spreadsheets and decks, we take the lead on execution and communication, and really take care of our clients in ways others don’t in the industry”
Joseph Chan,
Looniewell
THE BENEFITS TRUST
Robert J. Crowder, CLU, GBA
President
Francis Ignatz, CMA, CPA
Vice President, Finance and Administration
Clare Winstanley, BA, CEBS
Underwriter/Special Authorization Coordinator
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 continues to give back to the benefits industry, regularly sharing his expertise as a speaker and educator for aspiring, ambitious, and experienced benefit 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.
Underwriter/Special Authorization Coordinator
Clare Winstanley, BA, CEBS
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Brittany Sheppard
Manager, Group Benefits Administration
With over 10 years of experience at The Benefits Trust, Brittany 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. She strives to maintain a positive work atmosphere where she and other employees can continue not only to expand their knowledge but enjoy doing it.
Manager, Group Benefits Administration
Brittany Sheppard
Andrew Tambone
Vice President, Investments and Funding
Andrew Tambone is responsible for leading the investment strategy and coordinated management of the plan’s assets and liabilities. This includes oversight and monitoring of the implementation of the ATRF Investment Policy to ensure appropriate investment performance, alignment, and effectiveness.
Tambone is a seasoned investment professional with over 30 years of experience. Prior to ATRF, he was most recently the chief investment officer with the Special Forces Pension Plan, chief risk officer at AIMCo, and chief investment officer at WCB Alberta.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Vice President, Investments and Funding
Andrew Tambone
We help successful business owners build better benefit plans than they can get anywhere else. At The Benefits Trust, we understand that every business is unique.
Unlike those who offer traditional “one size fits all” employee benefit plans, we take the time to learn about the specific needs and goals of your employees and business. We ensure that your benefits align with your compensation philosophy.
As a full-service third-party administrator, we offer a comprehensive range of benefit options that can be customized to meet your coverage and budget needs. Our solutions are delivered through our trusted network of professional benefit advisors, ensuring you receive expert advice and support.
What sets us apart is our commitment to exceptional service. Our dedicated representatives know your business and answer your calls personally — no automated attendants. Our team excels at delivering that critical 5 percent of service where other providers fall short, ensuring you and your staff are well taken care of.
Our mission is clear: to help successful business owners build better benefit plans than they can find anywhere else.
Choose The Benefits Trust for a partner who prioritizes your success and is dedicated to creating the best possible benefit plans for your company.
“Our philosophy is to be honest, ethical, and transparent with our clients; focus on what’s in their best interest; and help their business thrive”
Joseph Chan,
Looniewell
Adam Little
Partner
Karen Vigmond
Partner
Lara Fitzgerald-Husek
Partner
Liane Brown
Partner
Adam Little believes that achieving exceptional results in personal injury claims requires creativity, dedication, perseverance, and hard work. He strives to apply those qualities on behalf of all his clients.
Partner
Adam Little
Karen Vigmond is committed to assisting personal injury victims and their loved ones achieve the best possible outcomes. Her practice focuses solely on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and occupiers’ liability cases.
Partner
Karen Vigmond
Lara Fitzgerald-Husek joined Oatley Vigmond after practicing insurance defence at a leading national firm. The experience of representing many of Canada’s largest insurers has provided Lara with valuable insight into personal injury claims, allowing her to better serve her clients.
Partner
Lara Fitzgerald-Husek
Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.
Partner
Liane Brown
Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.
Partner
Liane Brown
Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.
Partner
Ben Irantalab
This modern mindset extends to how Looniewell manages client interactions.
“We don’t hide our commission, our clients know exactly how we’re compensated,” explains Chan. “We strive for same-day response and acknowledgement. Oftentimes we respond and at least acknowledge within an hour.”
As a result, the firm’s client retention is “very high” and a by-product of the trust built upon Looniewell’s methods of operation.
Eager to keep evolving and offering more to the market, Chan is considering expanding beyond consulting services to provide Software as a Service (SaaS) for Total Rewards through platform and analytics.
Chan comments, “Our philosophy is to be honest, ethical, and transparent with our clients; focus on what’s in their best interest; and help their business thrive.”
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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories,” says McLean. “Our im is to continue to grow our market relevance and strengthen our partnerships with our strategic brokers as we expand our leadership position in key sectors.
“We will also continue to invest in talent. We are committed to drawing from the broadest pools of talent, and to creating an environment that attracts and retains stellar employees. We recognise the importance of building teams that are diverse, collaborative, and innovative and are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in which all our employees can thrive.”
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There is also an absence of ‘consulting speak’ and corporate red tape as Looniewell provides clients with the top-quality fundamentals of measurable results and a highly responsive team.
An example of how focused the team is on delivering the best work possible, Chan prohibited the acceptance of gifts/meals from vendors/partners to ensure there is never any potential conflict of interest.
He says, “We put our clients first and advocate for them.”
Looniewell’s rapid rise has been driven solely by organic growth, and its customer base is the result of referrals, which include organizations with over 10,000 employees to start-up operations seeking to scale.
The firm’s team of consultants have been attracted by the progressive and innovative work environment that features:
· Global Office – work up to two weeks from anywhere in the world
· Work from anywhere – not hybrid, no office, 100 percent remote
· Proprietary tools and best technology to support digital-first work
· Immediate benefits coverage from day one
· Unlimited vacation
· No corporate red tape, no hierarchy, no nonsense – staff are empowered to focus on meaningful client work and professional development
· Day-to-day Shout-outs – to award outstanding work, employees can exchange earned points for gift vouchers of up to $150
· Quarterly Stars Award – employees demonstrating core values have the chance to win $500
· Annual Hero’s Celebration – manager-nominated and peer-voted awards where outstanding employees earn a $5,000 bonus
Ben Irantalab
Partner
Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.
Partner
Ben Irantalab
Ben Irantalab
Partner
Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.
Partner
Ben Irantalab
Ben Irantalab
Partner
Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.
Partner
Liane Brown
THE BENEFITS TRUST