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:

Canadian plan sponsors seeing sharp declines in health, dental claims
Benefits Canada – May 2020

Eckler News and Insights

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) starts rolling out in December 2023

The December issue of GroupNews summarizes the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), a new national program providing dental coverage to Canadian residents who do not ...
Learn More

GroupNews - January 2023

The January issue of GroupNews summarizes the Ontario government expanding the use of biosimilar drugs, releasing a plan to reduce wait times for surgeries and ...
Learn More

GroupNews - December 2022

The December issue of GroupNews summarizes the new CPP and QPP contribution rates for 2023, the extension of EI Sickness Benefits, a new model of ...
Learn More

GroupNews - October 2022

In this issue of GroupNews you’ll find updates on prescription co-pay and premium amendments under the New Brunswick Drug Plan; better access to diagnostic imaging ...
Learn More

GroupNews - September 2022

This issue of GroupNews reports on new measures in Alberta and Manitoba to reduce surgical wait times, proposed federal amendments to medical expense tax credits ...
Learn More

GroupNews - July 2022

This issue of GroupNews provides an update on the new public drug plan rates in Quebec, expanded coverage for cystic fibrosis in Ontario and Alberta, ...
Learn More

GroupNews - October 2021

This month’s GroupNews provides updates on provincial uptake of new cystic fibrosis medication, new medicare coverage for pharmacy costs in New Brunswick, improved access to ...
Learn More

GroupNews - September 2021

In this month’s GroupNews we look at a new study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected ...
Learn More

GroupNews - July 2021

This month’s GroupNews includes various updates from the federal government on drug pricing regulations and Bills C-30 and C-35, along with updates from Quebec and ...
Learn More

GroupNews - June 2021

In the June issue of GroupNews, we look at expanded coverage for treating diabetes in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, an appeal court ruling in Quebec ...
Learn More

GroupNews - February 2021

In this month’s issue of GroupNews, we look at provincial coverage changes in Ontario and Alberta, new pharmacy services introduced in Quebec, potential new limits ...
Learn More

GroupNews - January 2021

This month’s GroupNews examines new regulations for pharmacists in Quebec, a new research report on the drivers of cost growth for private drug plan claims, ...
Learn More

GroupNews - December 2020

The December issue of Group News summarizes the 2021 Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan contribution rates and highlights the Government of Canada’s draft ...
Learn More

GroupNews - November 2020

This month’s GroupNews highlights a recent Conference Board of Canada report that predicts health care costs will increase due to COVID-19, recent developments impacting plans ...
Learn More

Through the looking glass: The rise of virtual healthcare and its impact on benefit plan sponsors in a post-COVID world

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has brought significant disruption to our personal and professional lives. While lockdown restrictions are easing, the impact of the ...
Learn More

GroupNews - October 2020

In our October issue of GroupNews, we look at proposed changes in Quebec to make parental insurance benefits more flexible, changes in Manitoba to expand ...
Learn More

GroupNews -
September 2020

Our September issue of GroupNews provides information on the Employment Insurance premium rate for 2021, new biosimilars approved for launch in Canada and summarizes a ...
Learn More

GroupNews - August 2020

This month’s issue of GroupNews covers new legislation in BC to help employers cope with COVID-19 fallout along with expanded financial support and expanded drug ...
Learn More

GroupNews - July 2020

In this month’s issue of GroupNews, we look at the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law on genetic non-discrimination, the mental health impact of ...
Learn More

GroupNews - June 2020

Our June issue of GroupNews provides important COVID-19 related updates on Health Care Spending Accounts, emergency leave in Ontario, Alberta’s Biosimilar Initiative and Quebec’s Health ...
Learn More

GroupNews - May 2020

Eckler’s GroupNews monthly newsletter provides commentary on the issues affecting Canadian group benefit plans. In this edition: Ontario issues regulations amending Ontario Drug Benefit Act ...
Learn More

GroupNews Extra - May 2020

This GroupNews Extra looks at the impact of COVID-19 has had on the claims experience of extended health and dental plans and what’s coming next.
Learn More

GroupNews - April 2020

In this month’s issue of GroupNews, we provide details on Manitoba’s pharmacare deductible, changes to parental leave in Saskatchewan, and amendments to the Ontario Drug ...
Learn More

GroupNews - March 2020

Eckler’s GroupNews monthly newsletter provides commentary on the issues affecting Canadian group benefit plans. In this edition: Report on 2020 health and dental trend factors ...
Learn More

GroupNews - February 2020

This issue of GroupNews, provides updates on Alberta’s move to partner with private clinics to provide surgeries, a decision from the BC Human Rights Commission ...
Learn More

GroupNews - January 2020

In this edition of GroupNews, we provide updates on changes for pharmacists and massage therapists in Nova Scotia, Alberta’s Bill 21 and its new biosimilar ...
Learn More