Tennessee Captive Conference Marks 15 Years of Growth and Innovation

Editor's Note: Captive.com recently connected with organizers of the 15th Annual Tennessee Captive Insurance Association (TCIA) Conference, taking place October 13–15, 2025, in Nashville. Now in its 15th year, the conference has become a cornerstone event for the captive insurance community, blending foundational training, thought-leading sessions, and networking opportunities. From Captives 101 to Songwriter's Night, this year's program builds on a strong tradition while addressing timely challenges and opportunities facing captives today.

Over the past 15 years, how has the conference evolved, and how do you see it continuing to serve the needs of captive owners and service providers in Tennessee and beyond?

The annual conference has had continued growth year over year, not only from a numbers standpoint, but also the breadth of knowledge and skill sets of our attendees, coupled with the range of industries the Tennessee domicile attracts each year. We are proud to host our conference in one of the fastest growing metro cities in the nation, allowing participants to experience the music scene and the rich history our city has to offer.

The schedule includes a Captives 101 training, a behavioral economics keynote, and practical breakout sessions—what's the vision behind this mix of foundational education, strategic insight, and hands-on content?

Whether you're new to captives or have years of experience, TCIA's conference has something for you. The program is designed to build knowledge, spark creativity, and deliver practical takeaways. Captives 101 lays the groundwork, the keynote sparks fresh thinking, and breakout sessions give you tools you can use right away. Our vision is that attendees gain fresh insights, real-world strategies, stronger connections, and leave better equipped to lead.

The conference will feature a keynote—"From Bias to Better Decisions: Behavioral Economics for Captive Decision-Makers" by Seth Buks. What is the strategic importance of spotlighting behavioral economics at a captive insurance forum?

Captives give stakeholders a great deal of control—but with that comes complex decisions and uncertainty. That's why this year's keynote, "From Bias to Better Decisions" by Seth Buks, is so timely. He'll share practical tools to spot common decision-making traps. By learning to blend behavioral insights with business strategy, you'll make smarter, data-informed choices that reflect both human behavior and real-world risk—ultimately leading to stronger governance and more resilient outcomes.

How do you envision attendees applying insights from Seth Buks's keynote to improve governance, reduce bias, and enhance decision-making within captive structures?

Seth Buks will share a fresh perspective on how to strengthen decision-making and how common biases quietly influence captive governance and strategy. By applying Seth's insights, captive leaders will learn to make clearer, more informed decisions that reflect both human behavior and business realities. The result? Stronger oversight, smoother collaboration, and more resilient captive performance.

Several sessions will dig into timely issues ranging from 831(b) captives and capital management to parametric insurance and investment strategies. How did you curate these themes, and what do they say about the priorities facing today's captive owners?

Annually, the TCIA connects with our members and the industry at large requesting input for session topics that ultimately create an engaging and enriching learning environment. Our ability to offer continuing education credits for various credentialed professionals allows us to prioritize case studies within the sessions, which has been valuable to our attendees. The TCIA's Conference Committee, made up of owners and service provider volunteers, spend countless hours narrowing the selections that result in topics that are top-of-mind for owners, highlighting the various stages of a captive's life cycle, including the need to address the ever changing economic and regulatory landscape.

The conference features unique networking events—from a welcome reception to Songwriter's Night and an exclusive Captive Insurance Owners breakfast. How do elements like these foster connection and learning in ways that standard receptions don't?

Tennessee's deep-rooted tradition of Southern hospitality is reflected in our conference program. From our relaxed welcome reception that pairs first-time attendees with seasoned pros, to our Owners Only Breakfast designed for candid, peer-to-peer conversations, every moment is built to spark connection. Songwriter's Night brings people together through music and storytelling—a Tennessee tradition you won't find anywhere else. It's all part of our commitment to creating a warm, welcoming experience where ideas flow and relationships grow.

Who stands to gain the most from attending? Are you targeting captive owners, service providers, consultants, regulators—or a mix of all?

Ultimately, everyone involved in the captive ecosystem stands to gain, and the conference especially empowers those looking to lead change, explore new models, and collaborate across disciplines. TCIA is a volunteer-led organization. There are countless opportunities to help shape the direction of our programs, events, and initiatives. Those who engage with us gain the most—through deeper connections, greater influence, and a chance to help shape the future of captive insurance.

What are your success metrics for this year's TCIA conference? Attendee satisfaction, knowledge retention, post-conference engagement?

All of the above! Earlier in the year, we hosted webinars that were provided as a result of attendee feedback post-conference, allowing for deeper discussions of certain session topics from the 2024 conference.

Looking beyond this year's milestone, how do you envision the TCIA conference continuing to evolve to reflect emerging trends like technology-driven captives, climate risk, or global risk pooling?

TCIA's annual conference will continue to serve as a space for fresh ideas, smarter solutions, and broader perspectives. Emerging technologies continue to transform the way captives are structured, managed, and optimized. From artificial intelligence-driven analytics to blockchain-enabled transparency, innovation is opening new doors in how we approach risk management. At the same time, global challenges will push us to think bigger and act smarter. Curious what fresh ideas or connections you'll walk away with next year? Join us at the 2026 TCIA Annual Conference to connect with forward-thinkers, explore groundbreaking ideas, and discover what's possible. Visit TNCaptives.org to learn more, get involved, and shape the conversation.