Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan

What Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan does

The Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP) is a Toronto-based not-for-profit group retirement savings plan founded in 2004, serving approximately 35,064 members primarily drawn from entertainment-industry union and guild organizations, with IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) locals forming the core constituency. The plan was established to address the retirement savings gap created by the episodic, project-based employment patterns typical of film, television, live performance, and behind-the-scenes entertainment work, where traditional single-employer pensions are uncommon.

CEIRP operates as a multi-employer defined-contribution savings vehicle, aggregating member contributions across multiple participating union locals to achieve institutional scale. As of the most recent disclosure, the plan administers $1.66 billion in assets. Plan administration, recordkeeping, and member servicing are outsourced to Canada Life. CEIRP charges members a combined investment management and administrative fee of 0.489% on AUM. Beyond the core retirement product, CEIRP has built a supplementary member-services ecosystem including estate planning support through Clear Estate, credit counselling resources, and a member experience program branded as Freedom Experience.

The organization's revenue mechanics are tied directly to AUM rather than to discrete transactions or sales cycles. CEIRP operates with a small internal team of 1-10 employees, reflecting the outsourced administration model. The plan has signaled a structural expansion via a defined-benefit pension product targeted for launch in 2027, marking a shift beyond defined-contribution savings. Recent strategic activity has also included sequential reductions in investment management fees and the introduction of a dedicated member phone service in June 2025.

Name

Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan

Legal name

Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan

Website

https://ceirp.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP) is a Toronto-based not-for-profit group retirement savings plan serving approximately 35,064 entertainment industry union and guild members, administering $1.66 billion in assets outsourced to Canada Life at a 0.489% combined fee rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Group Retirement Savings Plan Administration

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Pension Funds (525110)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retirement & Pension Planning (401(k)/IRA) (FSAEAAAD), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF), Digital Retirement Platforms (IRA/401(k), Pension & Decumulation) (FSAGAEAF), Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory (FSAEABAD)

Keywords

• Group retirement savings
• Registered savings plans
• Target-date funds
• Pension plan administration
• Investment management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Asset Management Fees: CEIRP earns investment management fees (0.45% plus operating expenses and taxes = 0.489%) on total assets under management across all member accounts including RRSP, NRSP, TFSA, RESP, and RRIF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan (CEIRP) administers a pooled group retirement savings plan for entertainment industry workers who are members of participating Canadian unions and guilds. The plan offers multiple registered account types (Group RRSP, NRSP, TFSA, RESP, RRIF) with professionally managed investment options including target-date Cadence funds and is administered through Canada Life. A defined benefit pension plan is launching in 2027 to provide predictable lifetime retirement income.

Product overview

CEIRP offers a comprehensive suite of retirement savings and income products for the Canadian entertainment industry. The core offering includes registered savings plans (Group RRSP, NRSP, TFSA, RESP) and a pending defined benefit pension launching in 2027. Investment options feature professionally managed target-date funds (Cadence), asset allocation portfolio funds, and guaranteed accounts. Members receive free access to Health & Wealth Consultants for financial planning, dedicated Investment and Retirement Managers, and digital tools including a mobile app and online portal through Canada Life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,064 members with $1.66 billion in assets managed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canada LifecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2004Canada Life serves as the plan administrator and service provider for CEIRP, managing member accounts, investment platforms, and customer support through their group retirement services division. They provide the My Canada Life At Work online portal, dedicated phone support line (1-833-531-6418), investment management, and access to investment and retirement managers for member consultations.
• IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIATSE and its local unions are the primary channel through which entertainment industry workers join CEIRP. Locals 212, 58, 891, 856, and others participate in the plan through collective bargaining agreements that establish employer contribution rates and member enrollment.
• Credit Counselling SocietyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free debt management support services to CEIRP members, accessible through My Canada Life At Work portal.
• Clear EstateminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides low-cost will and estate planning services to CEIRP members, accessible through My Canada Life At Work portal.
• Freedom Experience (Health & Wealth Consultants)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCanada Life financial advisors offering free financial planning consultations to CEIRP members, including personalized financial plans and retirement strategy advice.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SAG-AFTRA Retirement Plan: Defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plan for performers represented by SAG-AFTRA in the US entertainment industry. Directly comparable to CEIRP as an industry-specific union-sponsored retirement plan serving entertainment workers with variable income.
• Writers Guild of America Industry Pension Fund: Defined benefit pension fund for WGA-covered writers in US film/TV. Mirrors CEIRP's model of providing retirement security to a specific entertainment-industry creative profession.
• Directors Guild of America Pension and Health Plans: Pension and health benefits plans for DGA members in the US entertainment industry. Directly comparable as a guild-sponsored retirement vehicle tailored to a specific entertainment profession.
• American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund: Multi-employer pension plan for US musicians covered by AFM collective bargaining. Comparable to CEIRP as an industry-union pension serving freelance/gig workers with variable income.
• IATSE National Pension Fund: US-based multi-employer pension plan for IATSE members and stage employees — the closest cross-border analogue to CEIRP given IATSE is also CEIRP's core channel partner in Canada.

Emerging players

• Wealthsimple: Canadian digital wealth platform offering RRSP, TFSA, and managed investing to retail consumers. Comparable as a low-fee Canadian retirement/investment platform, though it serves retail rather than union-sponsored groups.

Broad incumbents

• CAAT Pension Plan: Canadian multi-employer DB pension plan serving college and applied arts/technology sector employers. Closely analogous pooled multi-employer retirement structure to CEIRP, though in a different vertical.
• Canada Life Group Retirement Services: CEIRP's plan administrator and one of Canada's largest group retirement providers. Comparable as a broad-incumbent provider of RRSP/group retirement plans that competes for the same kind of plan sponsor business.
• Sun Life Financial Group Retirement: Major Canadian group retirement and benefits provider offering pooled RRSP, DC, and DB solutions to multi-employer and corporate plans. Comparable broad incumbent in the same product category.
• HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan): One of Canada's largest multi-employer defined benefit pension plans, serving Ontario healthcare workers. Comparable as a Canadian multi-employer pooled pension at much greater scale than CEIRP's plan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceirp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Entertainment Industry Retirement Plan