CAO Associates


CAO’s employee benefits expertise comes into focus at the critical juncture of carrier and insured. Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, we work with you to Customize Affordable Options. We specialize in solutions for customers that balance employee satisfaction with reasonable employer cost.

Health Plan Solutions

Technology

Supplemental Indemnity Plans

Specialty Coverage

About CAO Associates

Meet Founder Sean Rafferty


Sean Rafferty is the founder and President of CAO Associates.

A long-time Louisville resident, Sean has over 30 years of combined experience working for leading Fortune 500 companies in both the pharmaceutical and employee benefits sectors. 

Promoted into management roles at both Novartis and Pfizer, he is accomplished in the physician office, hospital, and teaching hospital environments. He has won multiple sales awards, including at the national level, and held division-level management responsibility.

Sean parlayed his pharmaceutical expertise to the insurance marketplace, gaining substantial experience in the employee benefits sector. He was approached by Humana, where he created and implemented a national-level sales strategy focusing on Managing General Agents (MGA’s), General Agents (GA’s), and Third-Party Administrators (TPA’s). He personally managed Humana’s top two accounts and increased Humana’s brand visibility and sales over multiple years. 

Following his time at Humana, Sean was recruited by National Benefit Partners. He further broadened his industry knowledge by creating innovative employee benefit solutions for a wide variety of clients, including unions, associations, and large employers. 

Bridging the carrier-client relationship, Sean has brokered approaches such as an exclusive solution between a national carrier and a large client that resulted in 200% growth over multiple years for the carrier coupled with significant client satisfaction.

The natural outcome of Sean’s experience is founding CAO Associates. CAO is designed to leverage both his expertise and, importantly, substantial industry contacts to devise creative and affordable employee benefits solutions for all levels and types of clients. CAO concentrates on five product lines and has the expertise and bandwidth to tackle the most difficult employee benefits situations.

Sean is an honors graduate of the University of St Thomas. He has been active in numerous community organizations including his church where he has held several board positions. He also enjoys coaching his three sons’ multiple sports teams. He is actively involved with the Franciscan Shelter.