André Baldo
Captive insurance account financial analyst
Arsenal Insurance Management
Personal bio: I am originally from Brazil, but I have been living in the US for the past six years. I am a former student-athlete from Troy University. At Troy, I was part of the tennis team and aided in leading Troy to win the 2015 Sun Belt Conference and earning a national ranking. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and conducting research in the capital market industry. I also enjoy playing tennis and working out.
Professional profile: I earned my bachelor’s in International Business and my MBA in International Finance from Troy University. I received my designation in Associate in General Insurance and Associate Risk Management in 2020, and I am currently finishing my Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. I have over five years of experience in overseeing private investment portfolios. Currently, I am a captive insurance financial analyst at Arsenal Insurance Management where I provide f inancial analysis and guidance to the captive division.
am surrounded by smart, creative, and innovative people, having the opportunity to be guided by Norman Chandler, who has designed and managed countless captive programmes, is priceless. It definitely motivates me to want to learn every in and out of the industry.
How did you end up in the captive industry?
Dr. Edward Pappanastos, my former quantitative methods professor, introduced me to the captive industry. He recommended my name to Arsenal Insurance Management staff, and it is where my journey in the industry began. At that moment, I was running against the time as I had only a couple of weeks left from my OPT, which is the authorisation that international students are given to work in the US after having concluded their studies. In addition to that, COVID-19 was at its highest stages, bringing unemployment rates to levels not seen since the Great Depression. The opportunity that was given to me has definitely changed the path of my professional career, and I cannot be more thankful for it..
What has been your highlight in the captive industry so far?
My highlight from the industry is that it is a very f lexible, innovative and high-growth industry that welcomes and rewards critical thinking and dynamism. In my opinion, the alternative risk market — which is mainly represented by captive insurance companies — is much more likely to outgrow the traditional insurance market for three main reasons. Firstly, captives allow companies to better manage their cash flows, which can potentially lead to higher valuations. Secondly, captives can help companies to have a better understanding of their own risks. Thirdly, captives can provide companies greater financial f lexibility. Financially speaking, it makes a lot of sense to develop a captive programme.
What/who have been your influences in the captive industry?
The industry as a whole is very inspiring. There is not a day that goes by without learning something new. Even though the majority of the time I am surrounded by smart, creative, and innovative people, having the opportunity to be guided by Norman Chandler, who has designed and managed countless captive programmes, is priceless. It definitely motivates me to want to learn every in and out of the industry.
What is your impression of the industry?
I am very excited about the growth potential of the captive industry. It is remarkable to see how rapidly the overall economy has evolved and how the captive industry has closely followed this change. As opportunities are created, new risks also emerge, and I am very conf ident that the captive industry is prepared for the challenge. I am also very impressed with the captive industry in Alabama. The state has become a very well-known domicile for captive insurance companies for its friendly regulations and other initiatives, such as the creation of the Alabama Captive Insurance Association (ACIA). One of the initiatives promoted by the ACIA is to engage college students in the captive industry through the Risky Business Internship programme. I believe this is a great initiative because it gives students the opportunity to have great exposure to the captive insurance I learned a great deal about Andre when he was a student in my graduate statistics course. Andre was a complete pleasure to have in class. His work ethic, motivation, and desire to learn are unmatched. In addition to being an outstanding student, I think Andre’s success in the sports capacity speaks volumes about his competitiveness, perseverance, work ethic, and ability to work with others. These traits will definitely serve him well in the captive insurance space. Andre really is the complete package. He is extremely intelligent, has a great personality, and is incredibly motivated. I am certain he has the skills and motivation to succeed in the captive insurance industry. Dr. Edward Pappanastos, associate chair, department of risk management and data analytics at Troy University world very early in their professional careers. I believe one of the biggest challenges in the captive industry to unlock its growth potential is communication. The industry should grow fairly rapidly, if we, industry participants, can f ind a way to communicate better with our clients, understand their business models and explain to them the full benefits of having a captive programme.
What are your aspirations for your career in the captive industry?
I really want to get more into wealth and portfolio management and help captives to be more active in their investment cycle. One of my goals is to help captives to better utilise their “float”, which is basically the difference between the captive’s premium collected and claims paid out. In terms of education, I am planning to become a chartered financial analyst.
What advice do you have for someone considering a role in the industry?
I have three main advice points for someone considering a role in the industry. The first is to network. The captive insurance world is somewhat complex, and there is not a lot of public information available out there. So, do not be afraid of asking questions and building relationships with people in the industry. The second is to be analytical. The flexibility from the captive industry can be translated into great opportunities if you have critical thinking. You need to have a good understanding of what the numbers are actually telling you.
And the final is work ethic. You get what you give. Be willing to dedicate a few hours of your time to educate yourself. Knowledge is never enough.
Dr. Edward Pappanastos, associate chair, department of risk management and data analytics, Troy University “I learned a great deal about Andre when he was a student in my graduate statistics course. Andre was a complete pleasure to have in class. His work ethic, motivation, and desire to learn are unmatched. In addition to being an outstanding student, I think Andre’s success in the sports capacity speaks volumes about his competitiveness, perseverance, work ethic, and ability to work with others. These traits will definitely serve him well in the captive insurance space. Andre really is the complete package. He is extremely intelligent, has a great personality, and is incredibly motivated. I am certain he has the skills and motivation to succeed in the captive insurance industry.”
