E526 – Brian McClennon, The Future of Employee Savings in Canada
“The most important stakeholders are the employees, the team. Without having a fantastic team, which we absolutely do at Link, you’re not going to accomplish very much.”
At the core of Brian McLennon’s mission is a simple, radical belief: access to dignified retirement shouldn't depend on who you work for. As co-founder and CEO of Link, Brian has built a quietly powerful platform that enables financial institutions and employers to offer workplace savings solutions that are seamless, smart, and inclusive. Rather than sell directly to end users, Link works behind the scenes, empowering others to deliver group RRSPs, TFSAs, pensions, and more. The company’s infrastructure supports both large enterprises and tiny startups, levelling the playing field in an industry where access has long been unequal.
In this thoughtful conversation with Tyler, Brian shares hard-won lessons from nearly 10 years of building: when to pivot, how to partner, and why patience matters. He speaks candidly about the Alberta resource cycle, market education hurdles, and the slow-but-sure rise of digital-first retirement models. What emerges is a portrait of a founder who isn’t just building tech, he’s building trust.