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A Boutique Actuarial Consultancy - is it for you?

  • Writer: Logenthiran Kanisan
    Logenthiran Kanisan
  • Jul 4
  • 3 min read

My personal career pathway has been somewhat strange. I started off in large MNC Insurance and Reinsurance organisations, moved to a small sized local insurer for almost 8 years, then I did a stint with a global insurtech firm before starting up my own boutique consultancy.


It’s more common to see an actuary working in a larger/big-4+ consultancy before starting up on their own after gathering years of experience and clientele. Anyhow, somehow by the grace of the Infinite, the path is appearing as I walk.


I have been writing my experience as an entrepreneur separately as another series. This piece is to help actuaries/actuarial aspirants who are considering working at a boutique actuarial consultancy as opposed to other types of companies.


Now, what is a boutique consultancy? The term seems to be used for firms at very different stages of maturity - but the way I understand it, it refers to firms formed locally with as few as 3 to 5 and up to 50 team members (after many years in business). There are unique aspects to working in a boutique consultancy, providing opportunities, rewards and experiences vastly different from large established corporations and consultants. And of course as with anything in life, there are some unique risks arising from them too.


The Founder & Senior Team members

The founder and senior team members have an oversized impact on the work culture, growth potential, aspirations and exposure you will get in a boutique consultancy. No two boutique consultancies are alike, as the firm reflects its founder’s and senior team members’ personalities. Some may be family businesses, as there are personal reasons & aspirations for founders to start off on their own.


Get to know the founder and senior team members, and ask yourself - will I enjoy working with this team and can I trust them with my future?


This is the most important aspect to consider, and the answer will be unique to you based on your own perspectives, aspirations and values.


The Nature of Work

Consultants typically work on a wide variety of domains and focus areas, but with boutique consultants, this can be significantly wider or more specialised, depending on the business approach of the founder.


Personally my business services nearly all major actuarial domains, utilising a collaborative approach to tap into various expertise areas.


In this environment, you must enjoy this variety and intensity of work without getting overwhelmed. Guidance is (or rather should) be provided by the founder and senior team members, but we do need to move quickly to deliver work to clients, source new business, and adapt to different domains and regions.


Benefits, Remuneration and Rewards

Again, no two boutique consultancies will be alike on this matter as well. For one, layers of hierarchy and bureaucracy doesn’t (shouldn’t) exist in a boutique consultancy, allowing for transparency and clarity in these crucial matters.


Depending on the revenue streams and growth, philosophy and maturity of the firm, boutique consultancies typically aspire to pay and reward well. Early joiners and senior team members typically reward greater rewards over the long term.


There are various non-monetary benefits like working from anywhere, high flexibility & trust, and other unique aspects that can be provided in boutique consultancies.


Entrepreneurial spirit

To truly thrive in a boutique consultancies over the long term, and reap the greatest rewards this structure can bring, you must be comfortable being a “rain-maker”, that is, bringing in revenues.


It’s a learned art, but you need to enjoy it to thrive. Developing and nurturing your network, striking up conversations with new acquaintances, gently moving out of comfort zones, daring to look silly now and then, these all come with this territory.





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