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Nearly 8,000 captives were licensed worldwide in 2024. Businesses are choosing captives to address rising insurance costs and to gain enhanced flexibility in managing risks. In order to give property owners and operators better options for how to manage risk from tenant-caused property damage, Foxen introduced WaiverCell our, program that empowers operators to form their own protected cell facility within Foxen’s captive insurance company. To kick start the program, Foxen hired Michelle Finn who has 7 years’ experience in captive insurance company management. As Captive Manager, Michelle is dedicated to helping our WaiverCell customers benefit from reduced administrative burden, better premium control, and potential long-term financial upside by forming their own cell facility. We sat down with Michelle to talk about her career, her vision for WaiverCell, and what’s next for Foxen and captive solutions.
Austin: Can you tell us about your career journey?
Michelle: I started in tax accounting and ended up in captive insurance by accident. After earning my accounting degree from Middle Tennessee State University, I worked in tax for the Tennessee Department of Revenue before pivoting to the private sector, where I worked in Tax and Financial Analysis.
In 2018, I joined the Tennessee Department of Insurance as an auditor. While in that role, I was offered a position as a Captive Insurance Specialist. Although I didn’t have direct experience with captive insurance at that time, they were looking for someone with an accounting background who could learn and grow with the department. That role gave me valuable exposure to the regulatory side of the industry, where I helped license new captive insurance companies coming into Tennessee.
Before joining Foxen, I worked at Aon and WTW, managing operations, reporting, and compliance for various captives. I was the go-to person for anything the captives needed.
Austin: Why pursue a career in captive insurance?
Michelle: I like the fact that it's so unique and there are always opportunities to learn. There's a saying in captives: “If you've seen one captive, you've seen one captive,” because they're all so different. It allows businesses to take control of their own risk and build long-term financial strength.
I’ve dealt with terrorism, cyber, environmental coverage—you name it. There’s so much to learn about insurance itself, but that’s what made it so cool when I first started with the Tenneessee DOI; they wanted people who didn’t come from an insurance background, so that they could explain it clearly to clients. There’s always a challenge in captives, and that keeps it exciting.
Austin: Why did you choose to join Foxen?
Michelle: I was really intrigued by the opportunity to help build WaiverCell from the ground up. Everyone I met during the interview process was genuinely welcoming, and I could tell right away that it was a place where I’d be supported—I knew I would love working with them. It’s exciting to be part of an innovative company like Foxen, especially one investing in solutions as impactful as WaiverCell.
Austin: From your perspective, why is WaiverCell such a game-changer for property owners?
Michelle: WaiverCell gives property owners and owner-operators the ability to form their own protected cell within Foxen’s captive insurance company—providing greater insight into their risk, the ability to manage premiums, and the potential for long-term financial returns. It’s a hands-on process that allows operators to take full control of their insurance strategy.
I also love Rentistry, our rent reporting product. Having moved around a lot—Nashville, Las Vegas, Orlando—I rented, and none of my on-time rent payments were ever reported to credit bureaus. Rentistry gives residents the opportunity to build credit while also helping property managers.
Austin: What are you most excited about tackling in your Captive Manager role?
Michelle: I’m excited to build strong operational processes that make WaiverCell the gold standard in captive management. This includes guiding new clients through setup, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering white-glove service year after year. WaiverCell isn’t an off-the-shelf product—it requires understanding the property owner’s loss history, capital requirements, and long-term strategy, but that’s what makes it such a powerful tool for our clients and we help guide them every step of the way. We make the process simpler by streamlining the complexities behind the scenes, so clients can focus on results rather than red tape.
Austin: What excites you most about Foxen?
Michelle: This is a great company to work for. I loved everyone I met when I visited Columbus my first week. Being part of building something innovative at Foxen—especially WaiverCell—with such an amazing team is what excites me the most.
Learn More About WaiverCell
Ready to see how WaiverCell can transform your insurance strategy? Learn more about WaiverCell here or request a demo with our team.
