FORTY Under 40: Andrew Kulig

Andrew Kulig, tax principal, Johnson Lambert LLP.

Kulig leads Johnson Lambert’s captive insurance tax practice. His career in the insurance tax and compliance space began in 2015 since when he has focused on navigating the unique, often complex, tax challenges captive insurance companies face.

He works with a broad array of captives across every major US onshore domicile as well as several international jurisdictions. Additionally, he leads Johnson Lambert’s premium tax service offerings. His role encompasses a wide range of services, including consulting, compliance from a state, federal and international levels. 

Looking back at your journey over the past year, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has becoming a FORTY Under 40 finalist influenced your perspective on that achievement?

Looking back at the past year, I am most proud of how our team navigated the significant shifts in tax legislation. In 2025, new tax laws significantly changed the game. I am incredibly proud of the competence and confidence our team displayed while dissecting these changes and translating them into clear, actionable strategies for our clients. Being named a FORTY Under 40 finalist provides fresh perspective on this achievement, as I could not have earned this honour without our team’s help.

What key challenge did you face in your work this year? How did you overcome it and what did it teach you about leadership at this stage of your career?

To me, leadership is more than doing the work; it’s about teaching and empowering those around you. This was put to the test in 2025 when my wife and I welcomed our first child. While taking time away to be with family could have been a challenge, it was incredibly rewarding to see the team I helped build continue to run things smoothly. True leadership is having total confidence in your team’s ability to excel, and I feel lucky to watch them grow in their careers every day.

Rather than follow the traditional “compliance-only” model, I have pushed our team to adopt a holistic advisory approach.

In what ways have you tried to push innovation or rethink traditional approaches within your sector, and what impact has that had on your team or organisation?

The accounting and captive sectors are currently undergoing a period of rapid transformation. Rather than follow the traditional “compliance-only” model, I have pushed our team to adopt a holistic advisory approach. By staying at the forefront of federal and state legislative changes we have shifted to become proactive strategists for our clients.

How do you see your role evolving over the next three to five years, and what initiatives are you most excited to pursue as you continue to grow professionally?

The captive insurance industry is constantly evolving, which is part of what makes the industry such a rewarding place to be. Over the next three to five years, I am most excited to pursue initiatives that empower and grow the next generation leaders within the captive industry.

Many of the FORTY Under 40 winners are recognised for both business success and broader impact – how do you balance professional excellence with contributions to your community or industry landscape?

I participate in various industry associations and conferences as I am deeply committed to the captive industry and its overall growth and excellence. I am currently a member of the VCIA conference task force. Additionally, outside of the captive world I volunteer for a local senior centre as well as for the Alzheimer’s Association on a national level, a cause that I am passionate about.

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.