Title:

Actuarial Consultant

Joined Spring:

February 2021

Hometown:

Burlington Vermont has been my home for the last 10 years, but I grew up in Allentown, PA and Mountainside, NJ before that

At Work Responsibilities:

Prepare and review actuarial reports for reserving, pricing, and Statements of Actuarial Opinion for insurance or captive insurance company clients.  Prepare and present loss estimates and financial forecast for clients’ prospective captive formations. Work with clients to source data inputs as well as present findings and discuss impacts.

Outside of Work Hobbies/Interests:

I like getting active outdoors running or biking on trails nearby or visiting the beaches here in town.

Fun Fact:

I go through phases where I cook a lot. I learned a good pizza dough in Spring 2025 and have made approximately 50 pizzas since.

Describe Spring in 3 Words:

Collaboration, flexibility, and excellence

Do You Have Any Children?

Yes, my son Bruce (13)

Favorite Food:

Coffee, pizza, lo-mein, ribs, wings, donuts, celery, raspberries

Favorite Place Visited:

Montreal during the summer

Every summer, the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) hosts one of the most influential events in the captive industry. This year’s 40th Anniversary Conference in Burlington brought together a record number of captive professionals, regulators, and service providers to reflect on the industry’s evolution — and chart a course for its future. Here are some popular topics discussed this year.

1) Risk Dynamics & Strategic Innovation

Captives must increasingly address risks like social inflation, cyber threats, and volatile economic trends. VCIA delivered cutting-edge insights through sessions that equip professionals to adapt and thrive in uncertain environments.

– Climate Transition, Increasing Volatility, and the Role of Captives – Explored how captives are responding to shifting climate-related exposures and market turbulence.

– Unpacking the Impact of Covid, Inflation, and Social Trends – Examined how macroeconomic and societal shifts are influencing captive performance.

– PFAS: Everyone Has Exposure — Understanding the Complexities – Delved into evolving environmental liabilities and how captives are navigating emerging pollutant risks.

2) Regulation, Taxation & Captive Structure

Keeping abreast of regulatory requirements, tax strategies, and structural changes is foundational for captive resilience. This year’s VCIA sessions offered clarity, tools, and frameworks for crafting compliant and robust captive programs.

– Captive Tax 101 – Introduced key income tax considerations for captives, from capitalization requirements to parental guarantee.

– Surviving a High‑Risk Verdict Venue – the Toolbox You and Your RRG Need (A Case Study) – Offered a real-world look at tactics for managing venue risk and structuring risk retention groups effectively.

– Captive Examination Deep Dive – Presented a detailed, case-based walkthrough of Vermont’s captive examination process, led by DFR leadership.

3) Leadership, Culture & Captive Ecosystem

With 40 years under its belt, VCIA continues to invest in the next generation of industry stewards and deepen community ties—emphasizing inclusion, mentorship, and collaboration as they build toward the future.

– Captive Immersion – A foundational, full-day workshop led by Vermont DFR, designed to onboard newcomers with a comprehensive look at formation, regulation, and operations.

– Risk Manager Round-Robin: Captive Evolution – Offered interactive discussions on how captive programs are evolving in response to changing organizational needs.

– Transforming Your Captive – Mergers, Re‑Domestications and Conversions – Highlighted strategic options for managing captive growth and lifecycle through structural transformation.

VCIA 2025 delivered a meaningful blend of education, strategy, and community. As the largest captive domicile in the world, Vermont continues to set the standard for innovation and oversight, and having a strong platform like the VCIA Conference to showcase that leadership is essential. Whether you’re launching your first captive or optimizing a mature program, VCIA remains one of the most valuable gatherings to learn, connect, and help shape the future of the industry. We’re already looking forward to VCIA 2026!

Spring Consulting Group, An Alera Group Company was listed as a finalist in Business Insurance’s 2025 U.S. Insurance Award Finalists. You can find the full list of finalists here.

Spring Consulting Group, an Alera Group Company, has been shortlisted in Captive Review’s 2025 US Awards in the following categories:

• Actuarial Firm
• Captive Broking Services
• Captive Consultant
• Captive Service Professional
• Emerging Talent
• Employee Benefits Specialist

You can access the full shortlist here.

Our VP, TJ Scherer, was quoted in an article from Captive.com, titled “Property Captives Flourish Despite Softening Market”, he explained how the softening P&C market has allowed for more breathing room for employers; you can find the full article here.

Every year, the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) hosts its annual RISKWORLD conference, bringing together thousands of risk professionals to collaborate, learn, and shape the future of the industry. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Chicago, RISKWORLD 2025 delivered a powerful mix of emerging insights, strategic innovation, and spirited connection.

1) The Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Tech

With the ever-changing landscape of leave and accommodation laws, staying compliant remains a top priority for employers. This year’s conference offered valuable insights into managing the intersection of federal and state regulations. Experts shared practical advice on how to avoid common mistakes and streamline compliance efforts across diverse workforces. Here are some noteworthy sessions:

• In “Artificial Intelligence: What Is It, How Do I Recognize It, and How Do I Manage Its Risk?” speakers broke down AI fundamentals and explored strategies to manage model risk.
• The session “How AI Is Elevating Care Within Claims” highlighted practical use cases in automating claims workflows and improving outcomes.
• In “The New Cyber Battlefield: How AI Is Transforming Digital Attacks and Defenses,” experts demonstrated how AI is changing both the threat landscape and defense strategies.

2) Strategic Risk Management and Resilience Planning

This year reinforced that risk managers are no longer back-office advisors — they’re strategic partners at the leadership table. Many sessions emphasized using ERM and advanced analytics to drive proactive decision-making and build enterprise-wide resilience. Some hot-button presentations included:

• “Earn a Seat at the Table: Making Sure Risk Management Is Included in Strategic Decision-Making” laid out tactics to elevate the risk function’s role in C-suite conversations.
• “Unleashing the Power of Risk Culture: A Catalyst for ERM Success” explored how fostering a strong internal risk culture can fuel more resilient programs.
• “What Next? Leveraging Risk as an Input for Leadership Decisions” encouraged organizations to use risk data as a leadership tool — not just for compliance.

3) Innovations in Leave and Accommodation Management

With regulatory pressure mounting and the climate crisis accelerating, environmental risk and ESG transparency were center stage this year. Organizations are expected not just to comply, but to lead. Some sessions I found notable include:

• “Adapting Organizations to a Changing Climate: How to Achieve Business Resilience and Reporting Compliance” tackled strategies to meet climate goals while maintaining operational strength.
• In “The AI Impact on Climate Strategy and the World,” speakers discussed how data and technology are enabling more responsive environmental risk mitigation.
• “Viewpoints on ESG from the C-Suite to the Supreme Court” provided insights into navigating evolving ESG expectations at every organizational level.

4) Strategic Risk Management and Resilience Planning

Captives continue to stand out as a sophisticated solution for managing volatility, and their presence at RISKWORLD 2025 was stronger than ever — especially considering ongoing market hardening and cost pressure. I wanted to spotlight the following presentations:

• “From Safety Nets to Power Plays: How Captives Leverage Structured Reinsurance” outlined creative ways captives are being used to address volatility.
• “Beyond Traditional Coverage Boundaries: The Hidden Potential for Captives in an Evolving Risk Landscape” looked at how captives are expanding into non-traditional lines.
• “Captive Insurance: Better Solutions for Tomorrow’s Risks” focused on captive structures that support long-term resilience in a hardening market.

As always, RISKWORLD was more than just sessions and seminars, it was about connection, collaboration, and community. From insightful panels to spirited networking, this year’s conference underscored the expanding role of risk professionals in building organizational strength and foresight. The Spring team enjoyed every moment and is excited to see what next year’s conference has in store for us. We’ll see you at RISKWORLD 2026!

We are excited to announce that our Consultant, Aviel Shalev was named in Captive Review’s 2025 Ones to Watch. You can find the full list here.

We would like to congratulate all CICA leaders who were recognized in Captive Review’s Power 50, including our SVP, Prabal Lakhanpal. The list spotlights top figures in the captives space, you can read more here.

Every year, Captive Review releases their Power 50 list, which spotlights top professionals in the world of captive insurance. This year our SVP, Prabal Lakhanpal was featured on the list at #31. Check out the full article here.