Marion Fernandes

Marion Fernandes graduated with B.A. Honours in Actuarial Science from York University in 2018. He is now a full-time Actuarial Analyst at Aviva Canada, the world’s fifth-largest insurance company.

Marion’s first bachelor’s degree was in Physics, from the University of New Brunswick in 2010. However, he was looking for a more multifaceted career that would appeal to both the quantitative and qualitative traits of his personality. In 2013, while working as an insurance broker, Marion discovered the actuarial career path. He did extensive research into the employment prospects, saw that actuaries enjoy a lucrative and rewarding career, and weighed carefully the existing ways to become one of them: "My decision to go back to school was a major one. Given that I had already obtained a Physics degree, I could have just opted to pass actuarial exams and attempted to compete in the job market. However, I knew that it was in my best interest to build a solid foundation through the Actuarial Program at York.”

While at York, Marion was able to acquire solid professional foundation, build a network and gain access to internship opportunities. Namely, Marion secured his first actuarial internship in the Fall 2016 with Sun Life Financial, his 2nd internship with Travelers Canada in 2017, and then his 3rd internship with Aviva Canada in 2018. He concludes: “These opportunities would not have been possible had I not been a student at York." Marion is now full-time Actuarial Analyst, personal lines, with Aviva Canada.