Ian Edelist

An Eckler Principal, Ian leads the firm’s largest Pension and Benefits practice. A consulting actuary with over 25 years of experience, Ian has a wide range of expertise that includes pension plan design, funding, administration and managing risks for both registered and supplemental pension plans. Ian specializes in providing strategic advice to large organizations in the public, broader public and corporate sectors on the redesign of their pension and retirement savings programs.

Between 2014 and 2021, Ian established and was seconded to Club Vita Canada as its Chief Executive Officer, driving the longevity analytics company to be the leader in its field.

With Eckler since 1994, Ian joined us immediately after graduating from the University of Western Ontario. He is a Fellow of both the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries. Shortly after becoming a qualified actuary, Ian spent a year at Eckler’s Abelica Global affiliate Hymans Robertson in the UK.

• Governance
• Longevity analytics
• Pension plan design
• Pension plan funding
• Predictive analytics
• Registered, supplemental and public sector pension plans
• Risk management
• Strategic advice

Professional Qualifications  

• B.Sc. (Honours) Actuarial Science, University of Western Ontario
• Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA)
• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA)
• Affiliate of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)
• Member of the Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM)

Professional Activities

• Served on the Canadian Institute of Actuaries Pension Practice Committee
• Served on the ACPM National Policy Committee
• Served on the Canadian Institute of Actuaries Government Relations Task Force
• Served on the ACPM National Conference Planning Committee
• Served on the Canadian Institute of Actuaries Communications Committee

Ian contributes his insights to a variety of publications and conferences. He is also quoted in the media. Here’s just a sampling:

Finance and Stress: Can Plan Sponsors and Administrators ease the pain?
Moderator: Special ACPM National Session – November 2019

Understanding and Pricing Longevity Risk
Presenter: Session #24 – 2019 Life & Annuity Symposium – October 2019

Canadian Workplace Pensions Forum
The Canadian Institute – October 2017

Longevity de-risking, A global opportunity with local challenges
Speaker: CRC Insurance Conference – March 2017

Overestimating Canadian DB Plans’ Liabilities?
Pension Pulse – February 2017

Increasing lifespans: A Pension Plan’s True Longevity Risk 
The Observer – Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM) – Spring 2017

Live to 100? More Canadians better plan for it
The Globe and Mail – November 2014

In his spare time, Ian shares his knowledge and expertise to help his community. He’s currently the Chair of the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism (CCRJ) Pension Plan Governance Committee.

A sports enthusiast, Ian is an avid ice-hockey and baseball player, and fits in road cycling when weather permits. He has also recently turned his passion for rock music into on-again/off-again guitar playing.

In 2001/02, Ian enjoyed a year-long secondment in the United Kingdom, where he worked for Hymans Robertson to gain UK pension knowledge to complement his Canadian & US pension experience.