FORTY under 40: Brendan Helt
Brendan Helt, vice president, business development, Artex Risk Solutions.
Brendan Helt has been in the insurance industry for 11 years, beginning as a retail producer then joining Artex Risk Solutions three years ago. He currently serves as vice president, business development for Artex, acting as the key relationship manager for its broker partners and clients on the evaluation and implementation of captive strategies. He seeks to provide a comprehensive and consultative approach to programme design, structure and long-term strategy considerations.
His work focuses on single-parent captives, cell captives, member-owned group captives and captive solutions for employee benefits. He has extensive experience working with clients in industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and human service and he assists clients in navigating the regulatory landscape in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and multiple US jurisdictions.
How did you first become involved in captive insurance?
I started as a retail producer for Research Underwriters, a national leader in risk management solutions for passenger transportation operators. Given the acute challenges in insuring that industry, I was exposed to captives as an alternative early in my career and found them both a fascinating part of the industry and an incredibly strong solution for our clients. My initial involvement in captives was on the casualty group captive side, and over time I became involved in larger, more complex cell and single-parent captive solutions.
I was fortunate to have two fantastic mentors that provided early exposure and education on captives: Steve Friedberg, president of Research Underwriters and Mike Rogers, CEO of Risk Services Group, had a long history working together on captive programmes, and both were hugely instrumental in developing my interest and knowledge of captive solutions.
What are the greatest challenges of working in this industry, and what do you find most rewarding?
One is the constantly evolving landscape. Every day brings exposure to new industries, risk profiles and financial structures, which means you must stay sharp and continuously expand your knowledge. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so you must think critically about how to structure programmes that fit each client’s unique needs. That complexity is part of what makes the work so interesting, but it also requires a deep understanding of insurance, finance and risk management to deliver real value.
At the same time, that challenge is also what makes working in captives so rewarding. The variety keeps things fresh, and I get to interact with incredibly smart and successful people across different industries. Helping brokers and clients navigate complex risk decisions, educating them on captives and seeing these strategies create real financial impact is what makes this work fulfilling. Seeing first hand how captives have helped companies navigate unprecedented challenges, whether it was Covid, natural disasters or economic uncertainty, reinforces their value and impact. Playing a role in helping clients take control of their risk and financial future, especially in times of crisis, is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work.
Seeing strategies you develop create real financial impact is what makes this work fulfilling
Would you recommend the captive insurance industry to young people as a future career path?
Absolutely. Captives are unique in that they interact with so many industries, and so many experts across the finance, tax, legal, audit and regulatory landscape. I don’t believe there are many other industries that provide this broad exposure and enable you to implement strategies that have a such a meaningful and tangible impact for clients/stakeholders.
There is tremendous opportunity as captives continue to adapt/expand, but that will require a constant influx of new talent that bring fresh energy and diverse perspectives.
What developments do you see ahead for captives?
The general structure of captive insurers – whether group, cell, or single-parent – has remained consistent. While I believe there will always be value in the traditional risk financing mechanisms these captives provide, I see the utilisation of captives evolving just as the world around them does.
More companies are using captives as profit centres, writing third-party business such as tenant legal liability, warranty programmes and package protection programmes to retain underwriting profits. There’s also a growing trend of captives insuring more corporate risks, with property coverage being a major focus as businesses face capacity constraints and rising costs in the traditional market. Other areas, such as supply chain disruptions, trade credit and reputational risk, are also being considered for captives as companies look for more control over their risk financing strategies.
Captive growth is also being driven by advancements in technology, data analytics, and regulatory developments. Companies are leveraging better data and predictive modeling to refine their underwriting and loss control strategies, making captives even more effective risk management tools.
Do you think your long-term future remains in the captives market?
Absolutely. One thing I love most about captives is the sheer variety – every day brings new challenges, new industries and new opportunities to think creatively about risk. I get to work with incredibly smart and successful people from so many diverse businesses, from innovative start-ups to established Fortune 500s, and no two clients are the same. That constant variety keeps the work exciting and intellectually engaging.
Beyond that, I enjoy serving as a subject matter expert for our brokers and clients, helping them navigate complex risk financing decisions. Being able to break down captives in a way that makes sense and seeing the impact these solutions have on a company’s long-term strategy is incredibly rewarding. I don’t see myself stepping away from that any time soon.
Click here to read Captive International’s third FORTY Under 40 2025 publication.
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