USI in the News

USI Affinity and the American Bar Association (ABA) recently announced a new partnership with Crum & Forster to offer a cyber liability insurance program for law firms nationwide. As the broker for the ABA Insurance Program, which provides insurance and financial solutions for ABA members and their firms, USI Affinity now offers access to this new cyber liability program designed exclusively for the law firm community.

USI Affinity and Crum & Forster have created a premier, market-leading team, with world-class expertise and resources to help protect and insure small and large law firms. USI Affinity will provide cyber liability insurance solutions to law firms in all 50 U.S. states.

“The legal profession continues to be a target for hackers, and we have an obligation to protect client information and secure our systems,” stated ABA Executive Director, Jack Rives. “Providing ABA members and the legal community access to insurance coverage and resources to help mitigate these risks is more important than ever. As the legal profession evolves, the ABA remains committed to provide attorneys the tools they need to thrive. USI Affinity and Crum & Forster are helping bring such tools to our members.”

“Together, USI Affinity and Crum & Forster deliver a proprietary, comprehensive cyber liability offering to attorneys and law firms through USI Affinity nationwide. With industry-leading knowledge, solutions and services, we’re taking a customized approach to maximize bottom-line impact and keep policies current with the changing demands of the cyber insurance marketplace,” said USI Affinity Senior Vice President and Professional Liability Practice Leader, Mike Mooney. “Our new policy enhancements focus on the continual challenges attorneys and law firms face, providing greater peace of mind.”

“We are excited to partner with USI Affinity and the ABA to deliver a market-leading cyber liability product and service,” said Nick Economidis, vice president of eRisk for Crum & Forster. “Cyber liability is evolving, even in the past six months, we have seen changes in the market, and we are actively evolving our products and service capabilities to meet the needs of target segments like the ABA.”

To learn more about the ABA Insurance Program, visit www.abainsurance.com.

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 8,000 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.

About Crum & Forster

Crum & Forster* is a leading national property and casualty insurer, providing specialty insurance products through their admitted and surplus lines insurance companies. Founded in 1822, C&F is one of the oldest U.S. insurance companies, and today has more than 2,300 employees across the country conducting business through a network of independent agents, brokers and wholesalers. C&F had $2.8 billion in gross written premium in 2019 and is rated “A” Excellent by A.M. Best. *The C&F logo, C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. For more information, visit www.cfins.com.

About the American Bar Association

The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, has been named a “Top Insurance Workplace” for the third consecutive year by Insurance Business America (IBA). IBA’s annual Top Insurance Workplaces program ranks leading U.S. insurance organizations based on a series of employee satisfaction metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development and diversity.

“Our third consecutive recognition as one of IBA’s Top Insurance Workplaces is a strong testament to USI’s tremendous 8,000 and growing team members, and their innovation, expertise and connection together as ONE,” stated Michael J. Sicard, USI’s chairman and chief executive officer. “USI’s industry-leading tools and resources, delivered through the USI ONE Advantage®, continue to attract and retain best-in-class industry talent, and we’re continually looking for new and innovative ways to support a diverse and inclusive workplace that is both personally and professionally rewarding for our valued team members.”

IBA’s Top Insurance Workplaces program has a two-phase qualification process, including an employer and an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. Company results are distributed across three separate categories based on employee size and overall employee satisfaction scores. To learn more, view the special report.

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 8,000 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 Executive & Professional Risk Solutions Practice Leader, Andy Doherty, recently caught up with Insurance Business America to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the D&O insurance market. In the article, “COVID-19 'hastens the pace' of hardening market in D&O,” Doherty shares: “There was a firming in the D&O market going back arguably two and a half years that was accelerated pretty dramatically in 2019, particularly the second half of 2019, for publicly traded companies. Heading into 2020, we anticipated a hardening public D&O marketplace, and we were seeing that, and then COVID-19 proved to be an accelerant.” Read the full article.

USI Affinity and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) today announced the addition of medical malpractice insurance to the AAP Insurance Program. The addition of this line of insurance will provide AAP members across the U.S. with a comprehensive medical malpractice offering, including complimentary access to Pediatric Care Online (PCO).

USI Affinity’s Chief Operating Officer, Jenny Zhang, stated: “We’re excited to provide pediatricians with access to a medical malpractice policy, as an affinity program offering from the American Academy of Pediatrics, underwritten by MedPro Group and administered by USI Affinity. AAP members can trust that they are insured with the most comprehensive and reliable malpractice option available to pediatricians.”

MedPro Group has protected physicians and surgeons since 1899. Both solo practitioners and large healthcare systems can rest easy knowing MedPro Group’s stability and experience is on their side. The combination of AAP, MedPro Group and USI Affinity working together to offer an industry-leading medical malpractice policy exclusively to AAP members provides a level of industry knowledge and market strength that will be unparalleled in the marketplace.

“USI Affinity and the American Academy of Pediatrics work together to better serve the members of the AAP, and we are thrilled to offer this new coverage to our members. The medical malpractice insurance coverage is the perfect addition to the existing AAP Insurance Program, providing pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and surgeons with both business and personal insurance,” said Dr. Martha Middlemist, MD, FAAP, Chair of the AAP Insurance Trust. “This offering will provide AAP members with peace of mind and confidence that they have the best program to fit their needs.”

To learn more about the products and services available through the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit http://www.aapinsurance.com.

About USI Affinity

USI Affinity is the broker and administrator for the AAP Insurance Program. For over 75 years, USI Affinity has developed, marketed and administered programs to deliver unique advantages in insurance coverage, price and service. USI Affinity markets and administers insurance programs for over 440 organizations nationwide, representing more than 22 million association, union and alumni members. USI Affinity is a division of USI Insurance Services.

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 8,000 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.

About MedPro Group

As part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, MedPro Group is the nation’s first provider of healthcare liability insurance and has protected the assets and reputations of the healthcare community since 1899. With over $1 billion in annual premium and more than 300,000 clients, MedPro Group is the national leader in customized insurance, claims and patient safety & risk solutions for physicians, surgeons, dentists and other healthcare professionals, as well as hospitals, senior care and other healthcare facilities. MedPro Group is the marketing name used to refer to the insurance operations of The Medical Protective Company, Princeton Insurance Company, PLICO, Inc. and MedPro RRG Risk Retention Group. All insurance products are administered by MedPro Group and underwritten by these and other Berkshire Hathaway affiliates, including National Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Product availability is based upon business and regulatory approval and may differ among companies. Visit medpro.com/affiliates for more information.

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, today announced the acquisition of Troy, Michigan-based insurance agency, Colburn Group Insurance (“Colburn Group”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1946, Colburn Group is a full-service independent insurance agency specializing in commercial insurance, employee benefits and personal risk solutions for businesses and individuals. All of the agency’s team members, including Harry Colburn, chairman, and Pamela Haron, president, will be joining USI.

Commenting on the announcement, Harry Colburn stated: “This exciting partnership marks an important milestone for our firm. For more than 70 years, the Colburn Group has been delivering creative solutions and expertise to help businesses and individuals protect the things most important to them, and we look forward to continuing that tradition with USI.”

Pamela Haron added: “USI is an established leader in the risk management, insurance brokerage and consulting market, and we are excited to offer our valued clients expanded access to their best-in-class solutions, including proprietary analytics, local and national resources, and team-based planning approach.”

Thomas Cassady, USI regional CEO, stated: "We are thrilled to welcome the clients and experienced professionals from Colburn Group to the USI family. Partnering together, we look forward to serving our current and future clients throughout Michigan and the U.S., 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 8,000 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.

In a recent interview with Risk & Insurance, Douglas O’Brien, national casualty and alternative risk practice leader, discussed the impact of COVID-19 on employment, professional and general liability lines of coverage, and what insurance buyers are experiencing amid a hardening market. In the article, “3 Liability Lines Caught in a Tightening Vise of COVID-19 Accountability,” O’Brien shares: “A year or two ago, most of the pain was focused on habitational risk, trucking and high-hazard industries like manufacturing and construction. Now, it’s kind of spread out amongst all industries. Even companies with great loss history are seeing significant rate increases above 100%.” Read the full article.

The challenging economy created by COVID-19 is having a significant impact on the trade credit insurance market. Recently, USI’s Trade Credit & Political Risk Insurance Leader, James Quirk, was interviewed by Business Insurance on the tighter underwriting restrictions being implemented as a result of the current COVID-19 environment. In the article, Quirk shared: “There is a broad restriction or outright cancellation of limits,” and continued by stating that underwriters are becoming much more stringent with applications, “It has to be 100% all questions answered, 100% buttoned up.” Read more.

USI is proud to be honored at the 2020 Insurance Marketing & Communication Association’s (IMCA) Showcase Awards, winning two Awards of Excellence for outstanding corporate communications and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The winning campaigns include USI’s International Women’s Day Video, spotlighting the incredible role women play at USI and throughout the industry, and the USI Gives Back program, highlighting the amazing community service and volunteer work of our 200 local offices. This is the second year in a row USI has received an IMCA Award of Excellence. Currently, in its 62nd year, the IMCA Conference and Showcase Awards recognizes leading work in the insurance marketing and communications field, promoting a higher standard of excellence. Read more.

VALHALLA, N.Y., Jun. 30, 2020 – USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement plan consulting, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Associated Benefits & Risk Consulting (ABRC) from Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB). ABRC is a multi-line insurance agency and Midwest-based consulting firm with 400 employees, providing employee benefits, retirement plans, compliance, business insurance, risk management and individual insurance solutions.

Commenting on the announcement, William Bohn, ABRC’s chief executive officer, shared: “We are truly excited about this new partnership with USI. 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.”

Michael J. Sicard, USI’s chairman and chief executive officer, added: “We are thrilled to welcome the clients and talented professionals from ABRC to the USI family. Working together as ONE, I am confident our teams will bring tremendous experience and insights, with a shared commitment to delivering a different and better experience for our valued clients across the country.”

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 8,000 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 Christine Chipurnoi was recently recognized as one of Insurance Business America’s Elite Women for 2020. The list, which recognizes the insurance industry’s foremost female leaders in the U.S., spotlights the significant contributions women are making that are transforming the industry. Chipurnoi, whose career spans more than 30 years, is a member of several industry associations and serves as a global board member of CREW Network, one of the largest professional organizations for women in commercial real estate. She was also named the first female president of the Insurance Brokers Association of New York in more than 115 years. Read more.

Construction contractors adjust to new challenges in a post-COVID-19 work environment USI’s National Construction Practice Leader, Danette Beck, recently caught up with Insurance Journal for a discussion on the current construction insurance market and post-pandemic implications for contractors. While many experts anticipate the construction industry is one segment of the economy that could emerge from the pandemic stronger, contractors will undoubtedly face challenges as they adjust to job sites in a post-COVID-19 environment. In the article, Beck explains, “… construction clients are tackling these adjustments head on, but the new safety protocols add cost and new exposures.” She continued, “Contractors are resilient and always have been. They staggered workforces. They took temperatures on sites. They shut down projects and created plans to get back up and running when possible.” Read the full article.

New mid-year report reveals key market insights from USI experts and COVID-19-related challenges While the full impact of COVID-19 on the property and casualty insurance industry remains uncertain, insurance markets are facing unique and interrelated challenges that will likely continue through 2020 and well into 2021. As outlined in USI’s newly-released Q2-2020 Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance Market Outlook Report, rate increases, capacity reductions, and other negative trends continue to harden the market. At the same time, the industry faces a number of challenges and uncertainties resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Download the full report to learn  more. You can also review Business Insurance's recent coverage of the report online.

Aviation industry sees unprecedented reductions in passenger revenues as global pandemic brings unique risks In a recently-published Insurance Business America article, USI’s National Aviation Practice Leader, James Van Meter, shared his perspective on the impact COVID-19 is having on aviation clients and insurance carriers. In the article, Van Meter shares, “When massive fleets of aircraft are grounded, the insureds typically request one of two things. They either request ground breaks, which typically means paying lower insurance premiums, or they ask for some sort of lay-up credit. That will impact the aviation insurance marketplace by lowering the amount of available premium. And it goes much further than just the fleets. There are downstream effects on thousands of other aviation businesses, including those who manufacture parts for aircraft, manufacture components, repair components, repair engines, and so on. Much lower revenues across the board provide a lower rating basis for the insurers.” Read the full article.

USI Affinity, CNA and the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) today announced the availability of a “New Graduate Attorney Lawyers’ Professional Liability Program,” which offers up to two years of complimentary Lawyers’ Professional Liability (LPL) Insurance coverage to attorneys admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar within the past three years. This program is the first of its kind to be offered to Pennsylvania attorneys.

USI Affinity’s Vice President of Bar Association Programs, Shelly Lawson, stated: “With new attorneys facing many challenges opening new firms, we wanted to develop a solution to help them lessen the financial burden without sacrificing the important coverage and risk management protection that a Lawyers’ Professional Liability policy affords.”

The “New Graduate Attorney Lawyers’ Professional Liability Program” will reduce costs for existing CNA insured firms by discounting the rate for adding a new attorney to the policy as long as the individual is a PBA member, and they were admitted to the Bar within the past three years. The program also alleviates the LPL expenditure for new attorneys and ensures the completion of proper risk management courses.

“USI Affinity and the Pennsylvania Bar Association continually work together to better serve Pennsylvania attorneys, and we are thrilled to pioneer this new offering to our members,” stated Barry Simpson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Pennsylvania Bar Association President, Dave Schwager, added: “I am excited to launch this first of its kind program, available exclusively to PBA members, to help young lawyers secure the insurance they need to establish their practice at no cost. Programs like these that help further the success of new lawyers in our community are an essential part of the value the association brings to attorneys across the state.”

To learn more about the products and services available through the Pennsylvania Bar Association Insurance Program, visit https://www.mybarinsurance.com/pba/.

About USI Affinity

USI Affinity is the broker and administrator for the PBA Insurance Program. For over 75 years, USI Affinity has developed, marketed and administered programs to deliver unique advantages in insurance coverage, price and service. USI Affinity markets and administers insurance programs for over 440 organizations nationwide, representing more than 22 million association, union and alumni members. USI Affinity is a division of USI Insurance Services.

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 7,500 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.

Congratulations to USI’s Francisco Saldana, Miami property & casualty leader, for being named as one of Business Insurance’s 2020 Break Out Award winners! Designed to recognize the next generation of rising insurance industry professionals, the Break Out Awards program recognizes the top 40 professionals in the U.S. who are on track to become the next leaders in the risk management and property/casualty insurance field. Read More.

For the second year in a row, USI has been named as a ‘Best of the Best’ employer for multicultural women in the insurance industry by Professional WOMAN’s Magazine (PWM). PWM’s annual ‘Best of the Best’ program is designed to recognize leading U.S. organizations actively engaged in the advancement of multicultural women in all aspects of business and employment to ensure equal opportunity. Commenting on the recognition, USI’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Kim Van Orman, shared, “We are thrilled to see USI represented as one of 44 insurance industry organizations, and the only insurance brokerage and consulting firm, on PWM’s ‘Best of the Best’ list for 2020. Women comprise over 65 percent of USI’s more than 7,500 employees, representing diverse backgrounds, career paths, and unique life experiences. It’s their collective knowledge, leadership, passion, and determination that bring out the best in USI every day.” Read more in the Spring Issue of Professional Woman’s Magazine or by visiting https://bit.ly/2VpX6HB.

USI Insurance Services (“USI”), a world leader in risk management, employee benefit and retirement consulting, today announced the acquisition of Cleveland, Ohio-based Chapman & Chapman. Founded in 1886, Chapman & Chapman is a regional employee benefit and retirement consulting firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Commenting on the announcement, Walter Chapman, CEO, Chapman & Chapman, stated: “From Chapman & Chapman’s founding, our firm has earned an exceptional reputation for delivering innovative solutions and service to businesses and individuals. Throughout our more than 130-year history, twelve members of our family have joined the firm, spanning the past five generations. This partnership with USI marks an exciting milestone for our firm and one that will advance our longstanding legacy for delivering client-centric solutions built on a shared sense of commitment, innovation and integrity.”

“USI is an established leader in the risk management, employee benefit and retirement consulting market, known for their best-in-class solutions,” added Kristin Chapman, partner, Chapman & Chapman. “The cultural fit for our internal teams and the aligned approach to exceptional client service is our priority. We are excited about the depth of resources USI provides to enable us to deliver the most innovative and customized solutions to our clients.”

Thomas Cassady, USI regional CEO, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Walter, Kristin and the talented professionals from Chapman & Chapman to the USI family. Partnering as one, we look forward to strengthening USI’s employee benefit and retirement consulting expertise in service to our current and future clients throughout northern Ohio and beyond.”

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 7,500 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.

In a recent Business Insurance article titled, “Shifts in manufacturing create new exposures,” Renee Dube, vice president, national property & casualty practice for USI, shared her perspective on COVID-19 related shifts in manufacturing, and associated risk exposures for organizations. In the article, Dube states: “There is a concern and there should absolutely be a review of exposure base and coverage if a manufacturer is repurposing or focusing on a new product. Based on the type of work being performed by an employer, insurers assign a class code that generates the appropriate rate and coverages for that risk. That class code is critical to the underwriting of a particular manufacturer.” Read the full article.

USI’s National Executive & Professional Risk Solutions Practice Advisor, Nadia Hoyte, recently joined a panel of cyber risk experts for an Insurance Journal webcast, “What Agents Should Know About Cyber Insurance,” to discuss the importance of cyber insurance and how to get more businesses to buy it, as well as key considerations for agents who are looking to begin selling cyber insurance. During the webcast, Hoyte shared: “Sometimes, there is the desire just to go out and just get an insurance policy, but I do think it’s always prudent to take that step back to really understand what are [the clients] asking for, and making sure that is aligning with the product that we’re putting in front of them.” Listen to a replay of the webcast.

USI Employee Benefit Producers, Gregg Mellinger and Sam Odishoo, recently co-authored a new byline article, “Taking Control of Employee Benefit Costs,” for American Machinist. In the article, Mellinger and Odishoo emphasize the importance of “The 4 Ps” – product, people, premiums and profit – when it comes to providing a framework for manufacturing and industrial organizations to promote engagement and increase profitability. Read the full article.

In a recent Business Insurance article, “Brokers, buyers, insurers renew policies while sheltering in place,” USI’s National Property & Casualty Practice Leader, Robert Meyers, discusses how USI is helping clients deal with potentially massive changes in business levels and exposures in their insurance policies as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. In the article, Meyers shares a few examples of how USI is working to support clients: “We are working with our carrier partners to give them 30 days’ extension on payments before (notices of cancellation) are issued. Is there a need to make a mid-term cancellation and rewrite because the exposure has changed so dramatically? All of these conversations are going on right now.” Read the full article.

As traditional insurance prices increase, retentions rise and catastrophic losses raise concerns, commercial insurance buyers are showing a growing interest in parametric insurance coverage. In a recent interview with Business Insurance, USI’s National Casualty and Alternative Risk Division Manager, Douglas O’Brien, shared: “Policyholders with traditional coverage are seeing renewals which are quite expensive, and they are asking, ‘Is there a better way to purchase risk transfer?’” Renee Dube, vice president of USI’s national P&C practice, added: “Parametric insurance, however, can be expensive, with rates on line ranging between 5% and 8%, meaning $1 million of coverage will cost between $50,000 and $80,000.” Read the full article.

USI’s National Property & Casualty Practice Leader, Robert Meyers, was recently quoted in a new PropertyCasualty360 article highlighting how insurance agents and brokers are helping clients manage through the COVID-19 pandemic. In the article, Meyers shares: “We [USI] are working with our carrier partners to help clients obtain relief through various measures, such as revisiting minimum premiums and securing return premiums now rather than waiting for audits, among others. Additionally, we are supporting any and all efforts to obtain state and federal relief to pay for the business interruption losses being incurred.” Read the full article.

Nadia Hoyte, national advisor for USI’s Executive and Professional Risk Solutions Practice, sat down with Risk & Insurance Magazine for the publication’s March cover story to discuss the latest developments and opportunities in the cyber insurance market. From a growing demand for expanded coverage offerings for a wide-array of cyber risk exposures, to expanded carrier capacity, to the need for greater industry standardization for common policy terms – the cyber insurance market continues to expand to meet the needs of organizations. In the interview, Hoyte shares: “As the potential for cyber warfare grows, companies that accept this exclusion in cyber policies — without appropriate modification — may be hung out to dry if they become a victim of such an attack. I think carriers need to work on common forms and terms.” Read the latest article.

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 7,500 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 7,500 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 7,500 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 7,500 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.