About Tom Cifelli

About Thomas "Tom" Cifelli
Captive Experts, LLC’s Managing Director

Mr. Cifelli is a cross trained professional with extensive strategic business development expertise. Prior to offering turnkey captive formation and management services directly through Captive Experts, LLC, Mr. Cifelli worked as a consultant to the executive teams of some of the largest and oldest captive management firms (including 4 of the top 10 captive managers in the world). In this capacity, Mr. Cifelli helped improve practice standards while helping design, form and manage hundreds of closely held captive insurance companies (pure, series and cell captives). Tom also served as CFO/controller for several of the largest group captives in the USA.

Captive Industry Conference Speaking Experience:

Tom is considered a domicile expert, and spoke on the "New Wave Domicile" panel at the first Captive Live USA international captive conference in Chicago. He was awarded one of the industry's first two individual achievement service awards in 2012.

Captive Books Mr. Cifelli Authored:

• "Navigating Captive Insurance Companies - Storm Proof Your Risk Vessel," one of the most comprehensive books ever written on captives for closely held businesses;
• “831(b) Captives – Design & Tax Planning Guidance,” a leading seller on Amazon.

Customer Reviews:

1. Lucky Lippa - “Having worked in the insurance industry since 1972 with some 15+ years of captive experience, I consider this to be a "textbook" of how alternative risk financing works. It brings all the pieces together in an easy to digest format for novices and those providers serving captive clientele. The companion book to "Navigating Captive Insurance Companies" discussing 831(b) captives really lays it out in an intelligent manner. Mandatory reference tools.”
2. Colin Teraoka – “My tabletop reference. Clean, concise, easy understand, this book is my go to reference for 831(b) tax structures.”
3. Brad Henderson – “Great read. Short, to the point, very insightful read about 831(b) eligible captives. Seems this is the future of where the insurance industry is headed, this gives a great overview of where captives have been and where they're going in the future.”
4. Angela P Smucker – “Captive Insurance Made Easy. Good book explains all the things one needs to know.”

Here is a small sample of the articles Mr. Cifelli has published on captive insurance topics, many in internationally distributed industry magazines:

"Best Practice Captive Innovations," Captive Review, Anguilla Report, April 2014

"Self-Procurement Captive Premium Taxes – NRRA Impact and Navigating this Confusing Area of Captive Taxation Compliance," May 2013

“Multiple Captive Insurance Company Planning - Risk Management, Wealth Creation, Asset Protection and Wealth Succession Planning Objectives,” October 2012

"Newly Codified US Economic Substance Test Application to 831(b) Captive Insurance Companies," August 2012

"831(b) Captive Insurance Company Tax, Legal and Financial Issues, Controversies and Solutions," August 2012.

"831 B Captive Insurance Company Tax and Financial Planning Primer," March 2012

"The FIO's Future Impact," Captive Review, August 2011

"Investment Strategy for Today's Volatile Markets," Captive Review, September 2011

"Why All the Excitement About Series LLCs for Captives?," November 2011

“Dodd-Frank Act’s Non-admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act Impact on Captive Domicile Decisions,” October 2011

Sample Captive Insurance Client Testimonials:

“Tom has been consistently communicative, creative and resourceful in handling the captive project. In addition, he was insightful, responsive and focused. He referred knowledgeable and capable vendors and managed the interaction process very professionally.” Sarosh K., CEO

“We hired Tom to assist CropUSA's executive and legal team with designing a complex private offering structure and innovative crop reinsurance captive venture. Tom’s expertise in both captives and investment banking transactions helped us complete this project quickly at far less expense than anticipated.” Thomas S., COO

More Professional Background Detail on Mr. Cifelli:

Prior to working with leading captive managers, Mr. Cifelli started his career as a CPA performing financial audits with a Chicago based regional firm (now part of a global CPA firm), then as a tax accountant with Arthur Andersen in Los Angeles. He has since practiced law for over 25 years. During his career he also held investment securities representative, real estate brokerage and insurance brokerage licenses.