Samantha Poulin
Associate Actuary
Milliman
Personal bio
Samantha Poulin grew up just outside Boston, Massachusetts, where she still lives today. She graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts Lowell before joining Milliman as an associate actuary. In her role, she supports captive clients through loss reserving, funding and feasibility analysis, and is also actively involved with industry associations.
In her free time, Samantha enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants and walking her miniature dachshund, Max. Over the past year, she has also discovered a love for reading after joining a book club with friends — a new hobby that has helped her maintain a healthier work–life balance.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into the captive insurance industry? What initially drew you to this field?
My journey into the captive world is somewhat unique in that I have a parent who also works in the industry, so I was introduced to captives at a young age.
I was drawn to the sector because it requires creative and sometimes unconventional approaches to funding risk. While studying for my actuarial exams, I interned at Milliman and had the chance to assist on captive projects, which confirmed my interest. After graduating, I joined Milliman full time and began working on my first captive client almost immediately.
What does your day-to-day role look like, and what has been the most rewarding project or achievement in your career so far?
I lead various actuarial analyses and serve as both project manager and main point of contact for a number of captive clients. Beyond client work, I am active on several industry committees, including with the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) and the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) Amplify Women, and enjoy contributing to broader initiatives within the sector.
My biggest career accomplishment to date has been earning my Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS) designation. After all the hours of studying, it is incredibly rewarding to reach this milestone in my career—not just for the achievement itself, but also because it has helped me provide better insights and service to clients and be a stronger partner in their decision-making process.
Have you faced any significant challenges in your role, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges actuarially is dealing with limited or inconsistent data. While this can certainly be a hurdle, I see it as an opportunity — it forces me to think creatively and find alternative data sources, like industry benchmarks or external references, to support our assumptions.
I have always enjoyed uncovering the analytical road map that best fits each client’s unique needs.
What do you enjoy most about working in the captive insurance sector, and how do you see the industry evolving in the coming years?
What I enjoy most is seeing the direct impact of my work on client decision-making.
Whether it is launching a new captive or refining an existing one, our actuarial work plays a vital role in shaping outcomes.
It is rewarding to know that what we do gives clients the confidence to make informed choices about the future.
Looking ahead, I see the industry continuing to adapt to emerging risks and increasingly complex business environments.
I am particularly interested in how innovations such as artificial intelligence could help streamline processes and improve the ways we analyse, report and collaborate across the industry.
What advice would you give to other young professionals considering a career in captive insurance?
Get involved! The captive industry offers a wide range of opportunities and is growing quickly. One of the best aspects is the supportive community — so take the time to meet people, attend events and make connections. There are so many experienced professionals eager to help you grow.
Are there any mentors or colleagues who have played a significant role in your development?
I have been lucky to work alongside an incredibly talented team at Milliman, and so many colleagues have contributed to my development. I have especially valued the mentorship of Arlene Richardson, who has guided me from the beginning.
She has helped me grow in everything from technical actuarial work to client relationships. One piece of advice from Arlene that I carry with me every day is: advocate for yourself. If there is an opportunity or goal you want to pursue, go after it and prove you’re the right person for it.
How do you continue to grow your knowledge and skills within such a specialised industry?
Attending industry conferences and webinars helps me stay up to date on current trends and hot topics.
I also learn a great deal from working with a diverse client base, which allows me to apply new skills and perspectives in real-time and to collaborate with specialists from across sectors.
Colin Finch, consulting actuary, Milliman, “Using her strong technical abilities and willingness to embrace new challenges, Samantha consistently produces high-quality and innovative solutions for her clients. Her ability to then articulate these results coupled with a client-first mindset will no doubt continue to drive her success.”
