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Berkley Underwriting Partners, LLC

Strong client relationships are paramount at Berkley Underwriting Partners

Not long ago, a very successful program administrator (PA) began looking for a new carrier that would work closely with him to solve and avoid common problems that challenge program administrators. His search led him to Berkley Underwriting Partners—which strongly impressed him—and he soon realized he had found what he wanted.

Recently, Berkley Underwriting Partners’ Vice President of Business Development, Steve Strauss, wanted to know what program administrators thought made the relationship work so well for them. The new PA had a great deal to say about that, but in particular he emphasized that Berkley Underwriting Partners treated him with respect and let him run his own business.

Due diligence without delay

High-quality program business is Berkley Underwriting Partners’ sole focus—requiring a due-diligence process that is defined, thorough, and quick. As the departments work through their respective steps in the process, the company keeps communication alive with the prospective program administrator. Well before due diligence concludes, there’s clear, honest discussion about where the process is headed.

Because Berkley Underwriting Partners handles its due-diligence process so efficiently, the company can usually complete its work within about 30 days—and sometimes in as little as two week’s time.

Trust as reward

Berkley Underwriting Partners fully understands and respects the program administrator’s entrepreneurial spirit. That’s one of the reasons the company goes to such great effort during due diligence to become familiar with each program—to understand as much about it as possible.

Berkley Underwriting Partners places particular value on the expertise of program administrators who are true specialists in their own industry niche. When their experience, history, and success show that their program is a good fit, the company rewards them by trusting their judgment. “We rely on their expertise,” says Steve Strauss, “to get us results.”

Access without barriers

Berkley Underwriting Partners stands out from the crowd because of its outstanding client service. “One of the greatest things about us is that we’re a very flat organization,” says Steve Strauss, so program administrators don’t have to struggle through hierarchical layers to reach a decision-maker. Instead, they just go to their program manager. (In fact, everyone whom a PA might need to contact is located in one place—company headquarters in Naperville, Illinois.)

Program administrators have full authority to quote, bind, and issue policies. When opportunities that fall outside their authority arise, PAs have direct access to additional underwriting support through program management.

Quality at all levels

Excellent, reliable back-room support services are critical for program administrators. From program management and actuarial to accounting, IT, filing, regulatory compliance, and claims oversight, Berkley Underwriting Partners’ back room—Steve Strauss believes—is second to none. All filings, referrals, and coverage requests are handled properly and promptly.

Berkley Underwriting Partners—which is a member company of W.R. Berkley Corporation, a premier commercial lines property and casualty insurance provider—underwrites on behalf of Gemini Insurance Company for nonadmitted purposes and StarNet Insurance Company for admitted markets. Gemini and StarNet—also W.R. Berkley member companies—are both rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best with a Financial Size Category (FSC) of XV.

Together, Berkley Underwriting Partners’ focus on quality program business, thorough yet fast due-diligence process, access to financially stable carriers, and excellent back room set the stage for long-term client relationships—and there’s no more powerful proof than happy clients. The new program administrator mentioned at the beginning of this article says he receives frequent calls from industry acquaintances wanting to know about his experience with Berkley Underwriting Partners. He gladly tells them just how satisfied he is.

Berkley Underwriting Partners is an active carrier member of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) and participates regularly in the TMPAA’s mid-year meetings and annual summits. For more information about Berkley Underwriting Partners, contact Steve Strauss, VP business development, by phone at (630) 210-0363 or by email at sstrauss@bupllc.com.