Vermont Captive Insurance at 40: A Look Back at the History and the People

Vermont is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a captive domicile this year. The Risk Retention Reporter spoke with captive managers and regulators to trace the history of Vermont as a captive domicile, from the years leading up to the passage of Special Insurer Act of 1981 to the emergence of risk retention groups in 1987 through to the work being …

Spurred by A.M. Best, STICO Successfully Expands Membership

In 2018, Vermont-domiciled STICO Mutual Insurance Company Ins. Co. Risk Retention Group (STICO) saw its outlook from A.M. Best downgraded to negative. STICO’s A.M Best rating is a critical component of the RRG’s operation, as many of its members require A-rated paper. According to STICO President Colin Donovan, A.M. Best had told him that “we want to see our A-rated …

RRG Show Strong 2020 Financials According to Demotech Report

Demotech, Inc. recently published its Analysis of Risk Retention Groups—Year End 2020. The report finds that risk retention groups continue to report strong financials, with strong gains in assets and policyholder’s surplus. According to the report, risk retention groups also reported premium growth of 6.4% that took premium for the risk retention group industry to $3.8 billion. The Risk Retention …

Longtime Vermont Regulator Len Crouse Passes Away

Vermont’s second Director of Captive Insurance Leonard “Len” Crouse passed away on May 6, 2021. Crouse led the Vermont Captive Division from 1990 to 2008. “Timing plays a big part in any successful venture, and Len was the right guy at the right time,” said Deputy Commissioner, Captive Insurance at State of Vermont David Provost. “He had the right combination …