11 years of placement experience with the Berkshire Hathaway specialty insurer. Very niche, very deep. If your need falls in their lane — nonprofits, standalone umbrella, professional liability — there's often no better option.
USLI — United States Liability Insurance — was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies — Warren Buffett's conglomerate — which makes USLI's A++ AM Best rating not only the highest possible grade but also one of the most durably backed financial strength ratings in the industry. Berkshire Hathaway's investment discipline and capital strength mean USLI can pay any claim, at any time, without question.
USLI's positioning is deliberate and unusual: they specialize in low-premium, low-hazard specialty insurance for small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Their product catalog spans commercial, professional, nonprofit, individuals, hospitality and liquor, and special events — but they are very niche within each category. When a risk fits their appetite, they are often the best option in the market. When it doesn't, they simply won't write it. That narrowness is a feature, not a limitation — it means their underwriters are genuine experts in the classes they cover.
Options Insurance accesses USLI through a broker relationship rather than a direct carrier appointment. That means the quoting and placement process is more manual and takes more time than a direct-appointment carrier. It's a trade-off worth making for the right client — USLI's nonprofit package, standalone umbrella, and professional liability products are genuinely differentiated. Carolyn has placed clients with USLI since 2014 and her nonprofit clients consistently find that USLI's package fits their needs better than any other option in our portfolio.
USLI is very niche — but within their niches, they are often the best option in the market. Here's what consistently sets them apart after 11 years of broker-channel placement.
USLI's nonprofit insurance package is Carolyn's first call for nonprofit clients. The package is specifically designed for nonprofit organizations — covering the general liability, directors and officers, employment practices, volunteer liability, and professional liability exposures that nonprofits face. Most standard market carriers write nonprofits as an afterthought on a generic GL form. USLI built a dedicated product for them. Nonprofits of all types — social service, arts, education, community organizations — typically find USLI's package fits their needs better and more completely than any other option in our portfolio.
USLI offers both personal and commercial umbrella coverage without requiring the underlying home, auto, or commercial lines to be placed with them. This is a genuine market differentiator. Most umbrella carriers require the underlying policies to be with them or a specific approved carrier. USLI's standalone umbrella fills a real gap — clients who have their underlying lines placed with carriers USLI doesn't write, or clients in specialty situations where a standard umbrella isn't available, can access meaningful liability protection through USLI without having to restructure their entire coverage program.
USLI's professional liability appetite covers specialty classes that many standard market carriers approach cautiously or decline. Their focus on low-hazard, small-business professional liability means they understand the specific exposures of the classes they cover and write competitive coverage for them. For clients in specialty professional classes where standard market E&O products are unavailable or poorly designed, USLI's professional liability is a meaningful option.
USLI offers a standalone personal liability product for clients who need personal liability coverage without a homeowners or renters policy behind it. This fills a specific gap — clients between residences, clients in unusual living arrangements, or clients who need personal liability for a specific exposure that their existing coverage doesn't address. Most carriers don't write standalone personal liability; USLI does it deliberately and well.
USLI writes special event liability — weddings, corporate events, golf tournaments, fundraisers, and other one-time events with general liability or liquor liability exposure. For nonprofits hosting annual galas or fundraising events, this product pairs naturally with their nonprofit package. For individuals planning weddings or other significant events, standalone special event coverage provides peace of mind that a homeowners policy typically doesn't extend to off-premises events.
USLI's A++ AM Best rating is the highest possible — and it's backed by Berkshire Hathaway, one of the most financially durable entities in the world. For clients who care about their insurer's ability to pay claims without question in any market environment, USLI's financial backing is unmatched in our portfolio. The Berkshire Hathaway connection also speaks to USLI's underwriting discipline — Berkshire companies don't write business they don't understand or can't price properly.
No carrier is perfect. These are the honest trade-offs to know before placing with USLI.
Options Insurance accesses USLI through a wholesale broker rather than a direct carrier appointment. That means the quoting and placement process involves an additional step — we submit through a broker rather than directly into USLI's system. This makes the process more manual and adds time compared to our direct-appointment carriers. For clients whose situation clearly fits USLI's appetite, the trade-off is worth it. For time-sensitive placements, we'll flag the timeline upfront.
USLI's focus is deliberate and narrow. If your coverage need falls outside their specialty categories — nonprofits, umbrella, professional liability, personal liability, special events — USLI won't write it. They are not a general market carrier. For standard home, auto, or commercial package needs, we have other carriers. USLI is a precision tool, not a Swiss Army knife — its value is entirely dependent on the client being the right fit.
Because USLI operates through the wholesale broker channel, their pricing and underwriting appetite are less transparent upfront than our direct-appointment carriers. We can't log in for an instant quote the way we can with most carriers. Appetites and pricing can vary by submission, requiring more back-and-forth. For standard USLI classes like nonprofits and standalone umbrella, this is manageable. For more unusual submissions, it adds uncertainty.
USLI does not write homeowners, standard auto, commercial package, workers comp, or most general commercial lines. They are a specialty surplus lines carrier accessed through wholesale brokers. For clients who need a full-service coverage program, USLI is one specialty piece of a larger puzzle — not the anchor carrier. We place all other lines with direct-appointment carriers and reach for USLI specifically where they excel.
After 11 years of broker-channel placement with USLI, here's an honest picture of who belongs with them — and who doesn't.
"My non-profits love the USLI package for their needs. We place clients with USLI when they need specialized coverage in one of their niches — a nonprofit, a standalone umbrella, professional liability in a specialty class, or standalone personal liability. USLI is very specialized and experts at their specialties. When the fit is right, there's often no better option in the market — backed by Berkshire Hathaway with A++ financial strength and claims quality that matches."
— Carolyn Todd, Commercial Lines Agent, Options Insurance
Already a USLI client through Options Insurance? Here are the resources you need.
USLI's main line for claims reporting. You can also file online at myaccount.usli.com/claims — available 24/7. Claims can also be reported through your Options Insurance agent, who can help coordinate the process through the broker channel.
Policy questions, billing, and general service. For most policy changes, your Options Insurance agent is the fastest route — we manage the USLI relationship through our broker and handle communications on your behalf.
Pay your bill, manage your policy, view policy documents, and report claims online. USLI's policyholder portal is clean and accessible. For questions about your policy, your Options Insurance agent is often faster than calling USLI directly.
USLI's free resource center for policyholders — risk management tools, compliance guides, and business resources tailored to the small business and nonprofit clients they serve. A genuine added-value resource included with your policy.
Carolyn is Options Insurance's lead agent for USLI placements across nonprofit packages, umbrella, and specialty professional liability. She specializes in finding coverage for clients whose needs fall outside what standard market carriers offer well. "My non-profits love the USLI package for their needs!"
Tell us a little about what you need. One of our agents will follow up — usually same business day.
No obligation. We'll assess whether USLI is the right fit for your specialty coverage need.
We'll assess your coverage need and determine if USLI is the right fit — for nonprofits, standalone umbrella, and specialty professional liability, they often are.
Start Your Free Quote →The opinions expressed on this page reflect the experience of Options Insurance agents based on policies placed and client feedback received over 15 years. Individual results may vary. Options Insurance accesses USLI through a wholesale broker relationship, not a direct carrier appointment. This review is not sponsored, approved, or endorsed by USLI. USLI is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. AM Best, J.D. Power, and NAIC data are sourced from publicly available reports and are cited for informational purposes. Ratings are subject to change. USLI products are accessed through a wholesale broker channel. Placement timelines may be longer than direct-appointment carriers. Coverage availability varies by state and risk class. Comparison data is based on publicly available third-party research. Coverage availability and terms vary by state, risk profile, and underwriting criteria. This page does not constitute a coverage guarantee or binding commitment.