ALLAN AUTRY

Since completing his Master of Accounting at North Carolina State University, Allan Autry has spent his entire career working in Johnson Lambert’s tax practice. The firm provides audit, tax, and advisory services for insurance companies, in the captive and commercial insurance spaces, and Autry describes its employee culture as “second to none”. Autry became a partner and the firm’s tax captives lead in 2019.

Autry says he loves working with the captive insurance industry because of the connections and insights into so many other industries around the world. Captives provide a risk mitigation tool to numerous industries, companies, and sectors. Through his work with captives, he has met people from many backgrounds and with many kinds of expertise.

Autry was described as having a proven commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and the ever-evolving tax code, making him an invaluable resource to his clients and peers in the captives industry, as the tax focus on captives does not seem to be slowing down. As a result, the role of a trusted tax advisor is increasingly important.

According to one comment in Autry’s nomination, he is one of the first people that captive managers from across the globe reach out to when they are in the initial conversations of forming a captive. He is committed to working with companies to find the right solution within the current tax guidance but looks outside the box to consider how the captive will operate and the underlying business purpose.

Here he describes why the industry is so rewarding to work in and where it might evolve, in terms of new areas of coverage.

Do you feel that the captive insurance industry is a rewarding sector to work in?

It provides many outlets and insights into other industries throughout the world. Captives provide a risk mitigation tool to numerous different industries, companies and sectors alike. Being a part of the industry allows you to meet many different people, with different backgrounds, ideas and expertise.

Would you recommend the captive insurance industry to young people as a future career path?

When discussing why the industry is rewarding, the industry provides so many opportunities for growth due to the flexibility captives have. Almost all companies have risk mitigation strategies and captives can play a huge role in accomplishing those. For those starting their career, getting into the captives industry, learning it, can provide a lifelong career of opportunities. One could be a service provider to the industry, own a captive, manage a captive or advise those that are using captives.

How do you feel that the captive insurance industry will evolve?

As insurance products evolve, the captives industry will evolve. Captives are very nimble and can provide coverages for unique products. I see the industry embracing AI, robots, and autonomous vehicles, and it can play a huge role in allowing those companies on the front edge of the innovation to have appropriate and relevant risk mitigation tools.

Do you think that your long-term future remains in the captive insurance industry?

I see the rest of my career having some interest or role in the captives space.