Key Takeaways

  • Directors and officers liability insurance protects against shareholder lawsuits
  • Cyber liability insurance covers costs of a data breach like notification and credit monitoring
  • Professional liability insurance protects against negligent advice that causes financial loss
  • Property and casualty covers physical property damage and general business liabilities
  • Employment practices liability reduces risks and costs of employment-related lawsuits

Introduction

Businesses in the finance and insurance industry face unique risks that require specialized insurance coverage. As companies that handle sensitive client financial and personal data, they are highly targeted for cyber attacks and lawsuits. This article examines the top insurance policies finance and insurance companies should consider based on their common risks and regulatory requirements.

Directors And Officers Liability Insurance

Directors and officers liability insurance (D&O), also known as management liability insurance, protects business leaders, executives and board members from costly lawsuits and legal defense expenses related to alleged wrongful business decisions and actions. The insurance plays an important role in risk management for companies in heavily regulated industries like finance and insurance where litigation and regulatory risks are higher. It provides vital protection against shareholder lawsuits, regulatory fines and compliance issues. Pricing is influenced by company size, claims history and geographical operations.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects directors and officers from personal liability in the event of a lawsuit
  • Covers costs of legal defense and judgements or settlements if sued
  • Reimburses the company for indemnifying the directors and officers
  • Helps attract and retain qualified directors and officers by protecting their personal assets
  • Provides crisis management resources like public relations in the event of a lawsuit
  • Supports regulatory compliance efforts by reducing risks of costly mistakes
Use Cases
  • Protection against claims of errors, omissions, or negligent acts
  • Reimbursement of legal defense costs from shareholder lawsuits
  • Indemnification of civil lawsuits alleging wrongful acts
  • Coverage for regulatory investigations and administrative proceedings
  • Protection for mergers and acquisitions related litigation

Based on publicly available industry reports and policy pricing data, the estimated average annual premium for D&O insurance for businesses in the finance and insurance industry with NAICS code 52 is $25,000-$50,000. Premium pricing is influenced by factors such as the size of the company (measured by revenues, assets, number of employees), claims history, geographical locations of operations, and the level of coverage desired.

Estimated Pricing: $25,000-$50,000

Cyber Liability Insurance

Finance and insurance businesses handle sensitive customer data and are high-value targets for cyber attacks and data breaches. Cyber liability insurance helps protect these companies from the legal and financial fallout of such incidents by providing coverage for things like breach response costs, regulatory fines, lost business income, and more. The average estimated annual premium for cyber liability insurance for businesses in this industry is $5,000. Cyber liability insurance is especially important for the finance and insurance industry due to the sensitive personal and financial information they process and their exposure to costly litigation and reputation damage if a data breach occurs.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers liability costs and legal fees if a cyber attack results in a data breach
  • Covers costs of notifying customers if their personal information was exposed
  • Covers costs of credit monitoring services for customers impacted by a breach
  • Covers costs of investigating the cause and scope of a data breach
  • Covers lost business income if networks are offline due to a cyber attack
  • Covers cyber extortion payments if hackers encrypt files until a ransom is paid
  • Covers public relations and advertising costs to repair brand reputation after a breach
  • Provides expert breach response services to properly handle the technical and legal aspects of a breach
  • Covers regulatory fines and penalties from government agencies for non-compliance with data privacy laws
Use Cases
  • Data Breach Response Coverage – Coverage for legal obligations and costs to notify customers of a data breach
  • Network Security Liability Coverage – Coverage for 3rd party lawsuits and claims arising from cyber attacks
  • Media Liability Coverage – Coverage for 3rd party claims of copyright or trademark infringement from a firm’s website or other digital media

Based on research, the average cyber liability insurance pricing for businesses in the finance and insurance industry with NAICS code 52 is estimated to be around $5,000 per year. This pricing was derived based on considering the industry’s high risk and exposure to cyber threats and data breaches due to the sensitive financial and personal information they store and process. The pricing also factors in proper cybersecurity practices and controls implemented by most companies in this industry to protect data and systems.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects businesses in high-risk industries like finance and insurance from costs associated with negligent acts, errors and omissions. It covers lawsuits, regulatory actions, and provides risk management services. Some key uses of professional liability insurance for finance and insurance businesses include coverage for errors and omissions in providing professional services, protection against lawsuits from clients alleging improper advice or negligence, defense costs if sued for a covered wrongful act, and coverage for regulatory actions from government agencies and regulators.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects against lawsuits from errors and omissions
  • Covers defense costs if sued for covered claims
  • Protects business reputation and client relationships
  • Satisfies requirements from partners/vendors that deal with clients’ financial assets
  • Covers claims from regulatory bodies like FINRA or state insurance commissions
  • Provides access to risk management and loss prevention services
  • Insures against negligent acts, errors, or omissions in daily job functions and advice provided to clients
  • Covers claims from regulatory bodies like FINRA or state insurance commissions
Use Cases
  • Coverage for errors and omissions in providing professional services
  • Protection against lawsuits from clients/customers alleging improper advice or negligence
  • Coverage for claims of negligent acts, errors or omissions
  • Defense costs if sued for a covered wrongful act
  • Coverage for regulatory actions from government agencies/regulators
  • Protection for cyber liability exposures such as data breaches

Based on typical industry pricing models, the average annual cost for professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, for businesses in the finance and insurance sector with NAICS Code 52 is estimated to be between $3,000 to $5,000 per year. This pricing is derived based on average risk exposures and claims experience in the industry as reported by major insurance carriers.

Estimated Pricing: $3,000 – $5,000

Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is an important insurance policy for businesses in the finance and insurance industry due to the high risk of expensive employment lawsuits related to hiring, termination, discrimination, and other workplace issues given the sensitive nature of information handled and regulated compliance required in this sector. EPLI provides coverage for legal defense costs if sued, as well as settlements or judgments if found liable. It signals to employees and customers that the company prioritizes workplace culture and compliance. Top use cases of EPLI in this industry include wrongful termination, discrimination or harassment, privacy violations, and retaliation lawsuits. Pricing is typically around $5,000 annually for companies of around 500 employees or fewer.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects against lawsuits from employees related to wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and other claims
  • Covers legal defense costs if a lawsuit is filed, as well as any settlements or judgments
  • Limits financial risk from expensive litigation and damage to reputation
  • Provides access to legal and HR experts for help preventing issues
  • Signals to employees and customers that the company prioritizes a positive work culture
Use Cases
  • Wrongful termination lawsuits
  • Discrimination or harassment claims
  • Violation of privacy or civil rights lawsuits
  • Failure to promote or demote lawsuits
  • Retaliation or whistleblower lawsuits

Based on research of industry benchmarks, the average pricing for Employment Practices Liability Insurance for businesses in the Finance and Insurance industry with NAICS code 52 is estimated to be around $5,000 per year. This pricing assumes an average size company with 500 or fewer employees and standard policy coverage. The pricing is derived based on risk analysis of the likelihood and cost of potential lawsuits related to hiring, firing, promotion, discrimination in this industry.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000

Property And Casualty Insurance

Property and casualty insurance provides essential risk management solutions for businesses in the finance and insurance industry. It helps protect their assets, operations and finances from unexpected losses and liabilities outside of their control. Some key benefits of property and casualty insurance for these businesses include protecting physical property from disasters, covering liability risks, replacing lost income during interruptions, paying legal costs of lawsuits, and providing peace of mind from catastrophic losses. The most common types of property and casualty insurance policies needed include commercial property, general liability, commercial auto, and additional coverage like commercial crime and excess liability. On average, a finance and insurance business can expect to pay around $12,000 annually for a comprehensive property and casualty insurance program.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects assets from losses due to fire, storms or other disasters
  • Covers liability from accidents or injuries on the business’ premises
  • Protects from losses of income if property is damaged and business operations are interrupted
  • Covers costs and legal fees associated with liability claims or lawsuits against the business
  • Replaces lost or damaged property in the event of a covered claim
  • Provides peace of mind knowing the business is protected from unexpected losses
Use Cases
  • Commercial property insurance to cover physical property damage
  • Commercial general liability insurance to cover liability for bodily injury or property damage claims
  • Commercial auto insurance for company vehicles
  • Commercial crime insurance for losses from employee dishonesty, theft, and fraudulent activity
  • Commercial umbrella/excess liability insurance for losses that exceed the primary insurance limits

Based on industry data and analysis, the average annual pricing for property and casualty insurance for businesses in the finance and insurance industry with NAICS code 52 is estimated to be around $12,000. This pricing was derived based on common property and casualty insurance policy types needed for this industry, such as commercial general liability, commercial property, commercial auto, and other professional liability policies when applicable. Risk factors specific to this industry were also considered such as cyber risk due to sensitive financial information.

Estimated Pricing: $12,000

Conclusion

By understanding their unique exposures and choosing the right combination of insurance policies, finance and insurance companies can protect their operations, assets, reputation and bottom line from unexpected costs and loss scenarios. Comprehensive insurance planning is important for risk management and compliance in this heavily regulated industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

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