We are learning about our Advisor Member Jenny Arias, Employee Benefits Advisor at Mountain View Benefits.
1. Where in Canada are you based?
Calgary, Alberta
2. Please introduce yourself in a few sentences.
Hello and thank you! My name is Jenny. I am a seasoned Employee Benefits Advisor and equity partner at Mountain View Benefits, and I bring both strategic firepower and genuine heart to the table. With more than fifteen years in the industry, I am known for helping growing businesses think bigger about their benefits plans while making the experience personal, empowering, and even joyful.
I believe benefits should never feel transactional. They should feel human. I blend deep technical expertise with warmth, clarity, and contagious energy, turning complex conversations into confident decisions for employers and meaningful support for plan members. My clients know I am not just their advisor. I am fully invested in their success.
3. What is your favourite part of your role?
Watching the lightbulb moment happen. When an employer realizes their benefits plan can be a true growth strategy, not just an expense line, that is magic. I love helping leadership teams feel confident and proactive instead of reactive. And I love knowing that behind every plan decision is a family who feels supported. That ripple effect never gets old.
4. What motivated you to join the Smart Health Benefits Association?
Alignment. I believe our industry needs strong, thoughtful voices who are willing to advocate for both plan sponsors and plan members. Smart Health is focused on sustainability, transparency, and collaboration. That matters deeply to me. I wanted to be part of a community that is not just reacting to change but shaping it.
5. What advocacy or policy issue impacting plan sponsors or plan members matters most to you right now?
Long term sustainability and responsible cost management without compromising access to care. Plan sponsors are under enormous pressure from rising drug costs and evolving mental health needs. We need smart policy solutions that balance innovation, affordability, and fairness so plans remain viable for the long haul.
6. From your perspective, why is it important that plan sponsors and plan members have a direct voice in policy and industry discussions?
Because they are the ones living it. Advisors, carriers, and policymakers all have a role, but employers and members feel the real world impact. When their voices are included, solutions are more practical, more balanced, and more sustainable. Policy should not be built in a boardroom vacuum. It should reflect real workplaces and real families.
7. How do you define success?
Success is alignment. Doing meaningful work with people you respect, building something sustainable, and knowing your effort makes life better for others. Professionally, it is when clients trust you fully. Personally, it is coming home proud of how you showed up that day.
8. Tell us how you manage work/life balance.
I believe in seasons, not perfection. There are times when business needs more of me and times when family does. I stay grounded by being intentional with my calendar and fiercely protective of my energy. Ski days, dinners with friends, and time outside are non negotiable. When I am present, I am fully present. That is the goal.
9. What books/resources do you recommend that every industry advisor should check out?
Start with books that strengthen your thinking, not just your technical skills. Essentialism by Greg McKeown is a must for focus and clarity. The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek is powerful for long term strategy. And anything that deepens financial literacy and healthcare policy understanding is invaluable. Advisors who think broadly serve better.
10. If your friends/family/colleagues were to give you an award… What would it be for?
Relentless Champion of Others. I am wired to advocate, to lift, and to help people see what is possible. Whether it is a client, a colleague, or a friend, I am all in.
11. If someone were to make a documentary about you… What would be the title?
“Playing the Long Game: Heart Led. Results Driven.”
I believe in playing the long game. In business, in relationships, in leadership. I am not here for quick wins or transactional decisions. I am here to build strategies that last, partnerships that deepen over time, and benefit plans that truly support people through every season of life.
I lead with heart. That means I care deeply about the employers I serve and the families behind every plan. I listen first. I show up fully. I bring energy, empathy, and clarity to conversations that can often feel overwhelming.
And I am results driven. I expect impact. I hold a high standard for performance, sustainability, and accountability. Strategy matters. Outcomes matter. Doing what we say we will do matters.
For me, success is not about short term gains. It is about building something meaningful, resilient, and human. That is what playing the long game looks like.
SHBA Member Spotlights are a Get-to-Know Profile that features the passionate industry advisors that are contributing their expertise, shaping priorities, and playing a direct role in advancing meaningful change.