About
In a competitive job market a group benefits plan is a great way to separate yourself from the competition. Our customized solutions will help retain staff, improve morale and productivity, and keep your employees healthy and at work.
What does Aria mean?
An ARIA, in its native Italian, comes from the word AIR, indicating the heights that a soloist would reach during their song. In business, our clients are the soloists of the organizations they lead & inspire, who look to invest in a talented ensemble of employees to help achieve long-term success.
Think of the Aria Benefits team as part of your ensemble. We’re there to ensure your employees are healthy, productive and engaged. We act behind the scenes in order to take your business to new heights.
Together, we’ll hit the high notes and make your business soar!
Meet the Team
Al McDonald
CFP | CLU | EPC
CEO
With over 25 years of experience as a Certified Financial Planner, Al looks at a client's overall financial picture and creates a customized growth plan that addresses their situation in fulfilling their goals. Al's areas of expertise include structuring life insurance contracts to help build and protect a client's assets from unnecessary tax.
Debbie Robertson
Sr. Employee Benefits Specialist
Debbie has worked in customer service and administration for over 15 years. She is responsible for quarterbacking our entire employee benefit service platform from an administrative standpoint. Her versatility in working with complex figures and facts and dealing with clients in a conscientious and helpful manner make her invaluable to our success.
Robin Bailey
CEBS | CFP | CHS | FMA
Founder and Managing Partner
Robin is a modern, second generation advisor with over 20 years of experience in the industry, and has been a partner at Life & Legacy Advisory Group for over 12 years. Robin is recognized by his clients for his personal attention and care. He embraces technology but never sacrifices the personal, human connection.
Chris Desmond
Account Executive
Chris is a dynamic focused
account executive who is responsible for managing and growing our existing business. He specializes in the delivery of renewals, experience reports, business development and program administration.
Joe Ferreira
EPC | RHU
VP Living Benefits
A financial advisor since 1992, Joe works closely with his clients building both healthy financial plans and solid relationships. With his Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) and Elder Planning Counsellor (EPC) designations, Joe is an expert in the area of living benefits planning such as disability, critical illness and long-term care.
Shivani Kukreja
Group Service Coordinator
Before jointing Aria, Shivani worked as lead analyst at a leading-edge group benefits company and has gained excellent client relationship management skills earned throughout progressive roles. Her expert communication skills will ensure the completeness and accuracy of information while working collaboratively at all levels of our organization.
Karin McDonald
Digital Marketing Specialist
Karin has worked as a visual communications specialist & creative director for the past 30+ years, producing effective promotional and branding strategies for a variety of companies. She is an Adobe expert with masterly artistic skills and creates impeccable designs catering to the various changing needs of our business.
Our Guiding Principles
Improving the Lives of our Clients
We work to improve the lives of our clients by providing sound financial advice and putting
our client's interests ahead of our own at all times.
Trust & Mutual Respect
Our relationships with our clients, our suppliers, and our team are built on the principle of trust and mutual respect. We treat others with the same trust, dignity and respect that we would want for ourselves.
Learning & Change
The world is ever-changing. We embrace change and the learning that is necessary to
respond and thrive in an evolving world.
Accountability
We work to honour our commitments and exceed expectations, both to our clients and within our team.
We care and we show it – just ask our clients!
Empowerment & Self Reliance
Our team is entrusted to embrace our guiding principles in concert with their ingenuity to “figure things out”so that they may enhance the lives of those with whom they work.
WOW! Experience
We passionately strive to provide a WOW experience to everyone who deals with us so that they become our biggest fans and supporters. We work to build long-term relationships that reach beyond the lives of our clients to, in turn, touch the lives of their families and the next generation.
With Aria Benefits, I don’t have to worry about feeling like I’m going to get lost in a giant corporation. I get the personal touch I need – I don’t feel like I’m just another customer number and this is what I value.
Lorie Mason-Pitcher
President at HCR Personnel Solutions Inc.