Rob Austin
About Rob Austin
Title: Head Of Research at Alight Solutions
Rob Austin currently serves as the Head Of Research at Alight Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this role, he leads a team responsible for conducting research that is frequently cited by top media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and ABC News. His research interests include financial wellbeing and behavioral finance, with a focus on integrating healthcare, retirement, and financial education to improve the financial wellbeing of American workers.
Previous Roles: Director of Retirement Research at Aon Hewitt
Prior to his current role, Rob Austin worked at Aon Hewitt as the Director of Retirement Research from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure, he focused on improving retirement outcomes for employees by working with employers on their benefits strategies. His contributions in this role helped shape a thoughtful benefits strategy that supported a diverse workforce.
Previous Roles: Partner and Consulting Actuary at Aon Hewitt
Rob Austin was a Partner and Consulting Actuary at Aon Hewitt from 2005 to 2013. In this capacity, he leveraged his actuarial expertise to provide consulting services in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. His analytical skills and dedication to the retirement industry contributed to the firm's success in offering tailored retirement solutions.
Education and Expertise in Mathematics and Mathematics Education
Rob Austin holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Mathematics Education from the University of Virginia, completed between 2005 and 2008. He also earned a Bachelor's degree (BS) in Mathematics from American University, completed between 1990 and 1994. Additionally, he studied Mathematics at Louisiana State University from 1994 to 1995. These academic credentials provide him with a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and data interpretation, essential for his career in actuarial science and research.
Career as an Educator and Early Professional Roles
Before entering the corporate world, Rob Austin worked as a Mathematics Teacher at Charlottesville High School from 1996 to 1998. He then transitioned to Mercer as a Retirement Actuary and Consultant, where he worked from 1998 to 2005. These early roles provided him with a diverse skill set and experience in both education and retirement consulting, setting the stage for his future career growth.
Contributions to Thought Leadership
Throughout his career, Rob Austin has been actively involved in thought leadership. He has written about the importance of flexibility and personalization in meeting the needs of a diverse workforce. Moreover, he has addressed the significance of a thoughtful benefits strategy in supporting diverse employee needs and the commitment of organizations to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). His contributions also include involvement in Alight’s executive leadership publication, E-Suite.