Richard J. Burness

Richard J. Burness

Strategic Consulting Advisor

Background

Rich Burness draws on over 40 years of experience navigating U.S. and global taxation of insurance companies to advise clients on their corporate tax strategies. His skills and understanding of the insurance space result from business acumen honed over decades of immersion in trans- and multinational deal-making. In addition to managing the tax portfolios of multiple companies over his career, Rich participated firsthand in many of the nation’s largest insurance acquisitions. He leverages his in-house experience to guide clients through complex mergers, acquisitions and rehabilitation transactions.

Most recently, Rich served as senior vice president and global head of tax at Athene Holding, a leading retirement services company. Prior, Rich spent nearly two decades at Deloitte, serving nearly all the firm’s major domestic and global insurance clients and leading the insurance tax practice for ten years. Before joining Deloitte, Rich held senior tax positions at Aetna (formerly Aetna Life & Casualty) and The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company. Rich spent the first decade of his career at a Big Six accounting firm. He is a certified public accountant (CPA), licensed in Connecticut, and a frequent speaker at the Insurance Tax Conference and Federal Bar Association’s Insurance Tax Seminar. 

PRACTICES:

      Insights & Publications

      Credentials

      Education

      • B.S., 1977, Boston College

      Memberships

      Board Member and Former President, Insurance Tax Conference

      Member, Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants

      Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

      Community Involvement

      COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

      Board Member and Former Chair, YMCA of Greater Hartford