Did you know that Vermont is home to a healthy financial services community? For over 25 years, Vermont has kept pace with the changing needs of the financial services industry. You may not realize that Vermont is the nation’s largest captive insurance domicile with more than 800 captive insurance companies licensed in Vermont and over $11 billion in premiums flowing through the state in 2006.

Our Vermont-based companies include Dwight Asset Management with more than $69 billion in assets under management, and Sentinel Funds with $18 billion under management. One of the leading independent organizations analyzing the high yield bond market, KDP Investment Advisors, calls Vermont home. In addition to these well known businesses, Vermont has over 1,000 small businesses in the financial sector.

Why? Because Vermont is among the nation's leaders in the percentage of college degree holders and our telecommunications infrastructure is flexible and available. Currently 9 out of 10 Vermonters have access to broadband -- and Governor Douglas has set a goal of 100% by 2010. And that's not all. Finding and keeping talented individuals is a cornerstone to the success of financial services firms. Many of the firms that are now based in Vermont are here for that very reason.