USI in the News

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, today announced the acquisition of Franklin, Tennessee-based Full Service Insurance Agency, Inc. Founded in 1975, Full Service Insurance is one of middle Tennessee’s leading independent insurance agencies, specializing in commercial insurance, employee benefits and personal risk solutions for businesses and individuals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Commenting on the announcement, Paul Pratt, Jr., president, Full Service Insurance, stated: “Joining forces with USI, one of the world’s leading risk management, insurance brokerage and consulting organizations, marks an exciting milestone for our firm. I am confident this new partnership will further strengthen our long-standing reputation for delivering superior solutions, expertise and service to our valued clients throughout the Middle Tennessee region.”

“For over 40 years, Full Service Insurance has been helping businesses and individuals protect the things most important to them,” stated John Pratt, vice president, Full Service Insurance. “Going forward, our clients will continue to have the opportunity to work with our talented team of local experts, in addition to gaining access to an expanded suite of industry-leading tools, solutions and expertise available through the USI ONE Advantage®, a unique platform that delivers innovative risk management and employee benefit solutions with bottom-line financial impact.”

Tom Longhta, USI regional CEO, added: “This partnership affirms USI’s commitment to delivering an unparalleled level of service and expertise to our clients throughout Tennessee. We look forward to welcoming the clients and experienced professionals from Full Service Insurance to the USI family.”

About USI

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 7,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, today announced the acquisition of Fort Worth, Texas-based Forté Benefits, a full-service employee benefit broker-consulting firm. All of the agency’s employees and four partners, Logan Dickinson, Jeff Farmer, David Farrell and Bill Hester, will be joining USI. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Commenting on the announcement, Logan Dickinson, partner, Forté Benefits, stated: “On behalf of our employees and the Forté Benefits leadership team, we are thrilled to be joining forces with USI, one of the world’s top 10 insurance brokerage and consulting firms. Going forward, our clients will continue to benefit from our coordinated solutions and local team of experts, while gaining access to an expanded suite of industry-leading tools, solutions and expertise available through the USI ONE Advantage®, a proprietary approach that delivers innovative risk management and employee benefit solutions with bottom line financial impact.”

“This new partnership marks an exciting milestone for our firm,” added David Farrell, partner, Forté Benefits. “Together, USI and Forté will offer a comprehensive suite of distinctive employee benefit, property & casualty, personal risk and retirement solutions, delivering a different and better experience for our valued clients in Fort Worth and throughout the state of Texas.”

John Collado, USI regional CEO, stated: “We are pleased to welcome the clients and talented professionals from Forté Benefits to the USI family. Along with expanding USI’s presence in the Fort Worth market, we look forward to further strengthening Forté’s established reputation for delivering superior service and innovative solutions to clients through the USI ONE Advantage®.”

About USI

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 7,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

USI’s National Construction Practice Leader, Danette Beck, will take part in an expert panel discussion titled, “Leaders Today and the Next Generation Tomorrow,” at this year’s upcoming Women in Insurance Conference in Atlanta on April 14, hosted by Insurance Business America. With today’s companies managing four different generations in the workforce, creating leadership pathways for the emerging generation of Millennials and GenZers poses a unique challenge. This dynamic panel will explore how organizations can optimize a multi-generational workplace, by attracting the next generation of female talent, and leading diverse teams with distinct attributes and differing motivations.” Learn more.

USI’s Scott Haas, benefits advisor in Portland, OR, was recently interviewed by Employee Benefit News on the blind spots facing many HR and benefit professionals who are becoming overly dependent on delivering healthcare services through digital means and missing the mark when it comes to achieving cost-effective outcomes. In the article, Haas states, “The only way to do that is with healthcare services that are reasonably priced and transparent and with employers that address the underlying question of why health plan members don’t engage in wellness or make better benefit choices.” Read the full article.

USI Affinity announced today a new partnership with the Delaware State Bar Association to offer an enhanced Lawyers’ Professional Liability (LPL) Insurance solution for Delaware attorneys, endorsed by the Delaware State Bar Association. USI Affinity obtains professional liability insurance for more than 35,000 attorneys, and it is the endorsed insurance administrator and partner for more than 30 state and local bar associations nationwide.

“USI Affinity is one of the most respected specialty brokers and program managers in the Lawyers’ Professional Liability space,” stated William Brady, president, Delaware State Bar Association. “We are excited to bring this industry-leading insurance offering to our valued members. This partnership further demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance our member benefit offerings, providing first-class products and services, endorsed by the Delaware State Bar Association.”

Mike Mooney, professional liability practice leader, USI Affinity, added: “Backed by USI Affinity’s industry-leading knowledge, solutions and service, we look forward to delivering customized insurance solutions to help attorneys keep pace with the changing demands of the LPL marketplace. Our newest policy enhancements focus on the challenges attorneys and law firms face on a continual basis, providing the peace of mind they have not had in recent years.”

USI Affinity has created a premier, market-leading team, with world-class expertise and resources, to help protect and insure both small and large law firms. To learn more about the Attorneys’ Preferred Insurance Program, visit https://www.usiaffinity.com/attorneyspreferred.

About USI

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 7,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, today announced the acquisition of Las Vegas-based insurance agency Orgill Singer & Associates, Inc. (“Orgill Singer Insurance”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1986, Orgill Singer Insurance has grown to become one of Nevada’s leading full-service independent insurance agencies, specializing in commercial insurance, employee benefits and personal risk solutions for local businesses and individuals. All of the agency’s team members in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, including David Dahan, chief executive officer, Eric Springall, president, and Eamon Springall, chief operating officer, will be joining USI.

David Dahan stated: “USI is an established leader in the risk management, insurance brokerage and consulting market, known for its best-in-class solutions, including proprietary analytics, local and national resources, and team-based planning approach. I am confident this new partnership will further strengthen our longstanding reputation for delivering superior solutions, expertise and service to our valued clients throughout Nevada.”

“We look forward to joining forces with USI,” shared Eric Springall. “Our clients will continue to benefit from our coordinated solutions and support on a local level, and as part of USI, will also have access to USI’s proprietary resources, solutions and expertise on a national level.”

Eamon Springall commented: “For more than 30 years, our focus at Orgill Singer Insurance has been devoted to caring for the interests of businesses and families across Nevada, and we look forward to continuing that tradition with USI.”

Michael Sicard, USI chairman and chief executive officer, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome the experienced professionals from Orgill Singer Insurance to the USI family. By partnering as one, we look forward to serving our current and future clients throughout Nevada, the U.S. and internationally, by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, a unique platform that delivers innovative risk management and employee benefit solutions with bottom-line financial impact.”

About USI

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 7,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

Joni Mason, national advisor and claims advocate for USI’s Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Practice, will participate in an expert panel discussion titled, “The Continuing Effects of #MeToo on Litigation and Legislation,” at this year’s Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance Conference in Dallas, March 18-20. Mason’s session will cover the ways in which legislation has changed since the #MeToo movement with a focus on how this has evolved the practice of employment practices liability and its impact on insurance policies. Learn more.

USI’s National Analytics Practice Leader, Marcia Linton, recently authored an in-depth byline article for the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) titled, “Understanding the Impact of Medical Bill Review Pricing on Loss Projection and Collateral Requirements for Workers’ Compensation Programs.” In the article, Linton discusses the importance of the medical bill review process when it comes to managing total workers’ compensation costs, in addition to providing a breakdown of charges and pricing scenarios. Read the full article.

USI’s National Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Practice Advisor, Nadia Hoyte, will lead a panel of industry experts in a discussion titled, “Is Cyber Warfare Insurable?” at this year’s Advisen Cyber Risk Insights Conference in San Francisco, February 11-12, at The Julia Morgan Ballroom. With nearly 300 cyber insurance professionals expected to attend, USI is a proud sponsor of this year’s conference. The conference will cover many issues facing the cyber risk insurance industry, including technology, innovation, the regulatory environment, coverage issues, and client expectations and demands. Learn more.

USI’s National D&O Practice Leader, Andrew Doherty, was recently interviewed by PropertyCasualty360 on the current D&O landscape and related coverage insights for corporate executives and their organizations in 2020. In the interview, Doherty explains, “The overall D&O landscape is, and will likely remain, as close to a hard market as we have seen in a very long time. For many public companies, it is undoubtedly already a hard market that will continue in 2020. For privately held and not-for-profit organizations, the outlook shows a firming marketplace, just not to the degree that public companies are facing.” Read the full article. (Free subscription required)

Kate Anawaty, national communications team leader for USI, was recently interviewed by Employee Benefit Adviser on the value effective communication strategies can have on employee engagement and the open enrollment process. Anawaty shares: “If the goal of the communications strategy is to drive employees to a certain plan or behavior, then looking at the enrollment numbers and seeing a migration or a shift is an indication of a successful communications campaign. We can see from the numbers that what we wanted to encourage is reflected in the outcome.” Read the full article.

USI’s National Real Estate Practice Leader, Brian Dove, was recently interviewed by Business Insurance on the current challenges associated with the hardening property insurance market. In the article, Dove shares: “It’s definitely a challenging marketplace for property. Every account is really, and in some cases fortunately, judged on their own merit. I have seen renewals as low as 5% rate increase, but I’ve also seen renewals with 400% to 500% rate increases. The level of increase is driven by where the insured property is located, what kind of losses they’ve had and what kind of catastrophe losses they’ve had, in addition to attritional losses.” Read the full article.

Andrew Doherty, USI’s national D&O practice leader, recently caught up with Business Insurance to discuss the latest trends surrounding D&O insurance program renewals as many risk managers at publicly held companies face double-digit rate hikes. In the article, “D&O rates surge; IPO market hit hardest,” Doherty shares that while rates for companies with IPOs have been higher than many other accounts, now their D&O insurance costs have “gone to extreme levels, to where you’re seeing rates sometimes three times or more above the rates of similarly-sized public companies” that have been public for a number of years. Read the full article.

Karen McDonough, chief legal officer for USI Consulting Group, was recently profiled in Vanguard Law Magazine. The featured article highlights McDonough’s career in the retirement and benefits industry, from working in an administrative position in benefits and retirement for Connecticut’s Office of the State Comptroller out of college, attending law school, to joining USI Consulting Group, where today, she is proud to lead a legal team of five other female professionals. Read the full article.