---
title: "Beazley vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance"
description: "Beazley underwrites $20 million fiduciary with BeazleySure; Cowbell distributes a Zurich Select Plus fiduciary module for SMEs through wholesalers only."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/fiduciary"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/fiduciary)

# Beazley vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Beazley underwrites $20 million fiduciary with BeazleySure; Cowbell distributes a Zurich Select Plus fiduciary module for SMEs through wholesalers only.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Beazley and Cowbell for Fiduciary Liability Insurance against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Beazley underwrites standalone fiduciary and ExecuGuard with limits up to $20 million. Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus fiduciary as a module on Zurich admitted paper for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

## What Is Beazley?

Beazley is a specialty insurance group whose MediaTech product combines technology and professional E&O, media and cyber coverage. Separate offerings address executive liability, digital health and other specialty risks. [1](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/small-business-solutions-usa/mediatech-for-small-businesses/ "MediaTech for Small Businesses") [2](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/legal-information-en/ "Legal Information") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") [4](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/healthcare-usa/virtual-care "Virtual Care")

[Beazley profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/beazley)

## What Is Cowbell Insurance?

Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. [6](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [7](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

[Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell)

## What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Fiduciary liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging breaches of duties in managing employee benefit plans. [10](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/employers-and-advisers/guidance/field-assistance-bulletins/erisa-fidelity-bonding-requirements.pdf "Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2008-04: Guidance Regarding ERISA Fidelity Bonding Requirements") [11](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fiduciary-liability "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Fiduciary Liability Insurance

### Direct Beazley Paper Versus Zurich Select Plus

Beazley underwrites fiduciary liability. Cowbell operates the platform for Zurich’s Select Plus product; fiduciary is one of four modules Zurich underwrites. Cowbell and Zurich say the modules are written on Zurich admitted paper; Zurich’s footer names Zurich American Insurance Company without confirming that entity as the module issuer. Beazley’s Fiduciary page does not name a Beazley issuing entity. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

### Appetite and Access

Cowbell targets private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets in Select Plus industries such as manufacturing and technology. Access is only through appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers via Cowbell’s API, not a direct business sale. Beazley sells standalone fiduciary and ExecuGuard and lists an ExecuGuard application; its reviewed claims do not publish those SME size caps. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary")

### What Each Publishes About Cover

Beazley lists statutory sublimits, HIPAA civil fines, omnibus plan language, settlor-capacity protection, BeazleySure and choice of counsel, with limits up to US $20 million. Cowbell describes fiduciary as protecting against claims from breaches of duties related to a 401(k) or health plan; neither Cowbell nor Zurich’s Select Plus page publishes fiduciary limits or a fiduciary-specific service such as plan-compliance consulting. Both mention claims service at a general level: Beazley on counsel flexibility, Cowbell and Zurich on Zurich Claims service for Select Plus overall. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

## What to Confirm in Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes

- Confirm Cowbell access is through an appointed Zurich E&S wholesaler. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Ask which Zurich entity issues Select Plus fiduciary. [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")
- Ask Beazley which entity issues and whether ExecuGuard limits are shared. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)")
- Check Select Plus employee and asset caps against Beazley’s $20 million capacity. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Beazley Fiduciary Liability | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Fiduciary Liability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Beazley underwrites fiduciary liability coverage for the individuals who administer employer benefit plans, sold standalone on its dedicated Fiduciary page and as one of three coverages bundled in its ExecuGuard package policy alongside D&O and employment practices liability. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") [3](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary "Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: US fiduciary liability as described on the two reviewed product pages; does not establish which entity issues a particular policy..) | Fiduciary liability is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page lists 'Fiduciary Liability' as one of the four modules a buyer can combine. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section..) |
| Issuing Insurer | The Fiduciary product page does not name the specific Beazley insurance entity that issues the policy. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Fiduciary page as read on 2026-09-23; the issued policy's declarations control the actual insurer..) | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including fiduciary liability, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this module. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer..) |
| Who It’s For | Not described in the reviewed sources. | Cowbell targets this fiduciary module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across the same target industries listed for the broader Select Plus product, such as manufacturing and technology. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list..) |
| Coverage Features | Beazley explains that fiduciary liability protects the individuals responsible for running employee benefit plans, such as health plans, pension plans and 401(k) accounts, from personal liability if a claim is made against the plan, a personal exposure the page says many plan sponsors don't realize they have. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page description; exclusions and conditions are set by the issued policy..)<br><br>The policy includes statutory-claim sublimits of US $250,000 for claims under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, ERISA Section 502(c), Internal Revenue Code Section 4975 and the PPACA, plus a separate US $1,000,000 sublimit for HIPAA claims and up to US $1,000,000 in coverage for HIPAA civil fines. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page sublimit list; these sublimits sit inside, and are lower than, the overall policy limit..)<br><br>Beazley includes "omnibus" pension and welfare plan language (intended to automatically cover newly created or acquired benefit plans), a US $25,000 sublimit for IRS and DOL voluntary compliance programs other than HIPAA, and settlor-capacity protection now written into the fiduciary insuring clauses. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page feature list; actual plan-coverage scope depends on the issued policy wording..) | Cowbell describes fiduciary liability as protecting against claims arising from breaches of fiduciary duties related to employee benefit plans, such as a company's 401(k) or health plan. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Beazley advertises fiduciary limits up to US $20 million, with an optional additional defense limit available; the statutory sublimits described above apply within that overall limit. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Advertised maximum capacity, not a guaranteed quote amount..) | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes fiduciary-liability limit or retention amounts. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) |
| Risk Services | Fiduciary policyholders get free access to BeazleySure, Beazley's online risk-management platform, which the Fiduciary page describes as providing loss-prevention content on employee-benefits topics. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page service description; actual entitlements depend on the policy purchased..) | Both Cowbell and Zurich describe the Select Plus product generally as backed by 'the reputable Zurich Claims service'; neither reviewed page describes a fiduciary-specific service such as plan-compliance consulting. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro, both read on 2026-09-23..) |
| How to Apply | The Fiduciary page lists a downloadable ExecuGuard application as its Tools & Resources item, rather than a fiduciary-only application, indicating fiduciary coverage is typically quoted together with the combined ExecuGuard package. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page Tools & Resources section as read on 2026-09-23..) | This fiduciary module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. [9](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'..) |
| Claims Support | Beazley says fiduciary policyholders get pre-approved choice-of-counsel flexibility, but the reviewed page does not otherwise describe fiduciary-specific claims handling beyond that; general policy notice and claims-contact guidance is provided on Beazley's separate claims-notification page. [5](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/ "Fiduciary") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary product page as read on 2026-09-23; claims-handling quality is not independently assessed..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |

## Full Comparison

- [Beazley vs Cowbell](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/fiduciary): Fiduciary liability insurance can help with covered claims alleging that your business or its people breached duties in managing an employee benefit plan.
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/cyber)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/management-liability)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Beazley Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-beazley/fiduciary)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Chubb Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-chubb/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Coalition Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-coalition/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Corgi Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-corgi/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Coverdash Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-coverdash/fiduciary)

## Sources

### Beazley

1. [MediaTech for Small Businesses](https://www.beazley.com/en-US/products/small-business-solutions-usa/mediatech-for-small-businesses/). Beazley; Opening product description; What we offer: E&O (Tech and Professional), Media, Cyber coverage includes; How can we help; SME placement paragraph; Tools & Resources. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Legal Information](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/legal-information-en/). Beazley; Website conditions: US jurisdiction availability, surplus lines and policy wording disclaimers; Beazley plc identity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary)](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/execuguard-combined-epl-do-and-fiduciary). Beazley; What we offer: separate or shared limits among EPL, D&O and fiduciary; Limits up to US $20,000,000, both admitted and non-admitted available. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Virtual Care](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/healthcare-usa/virtual-care). Beazley; Available Coverages; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
5. [Fiduciary](https://www.beazley.com/en-us/products/executive-risk-usa/fiduciary/). Beazley; What we offer: personal liability for individuals running benefit plans; Up to US $20,000,000; How can we help: PPA/ERISA/IRC/PPACA and HIPAA sublimits, omnibus plan language, voluntary-compliance sublimit, settlor-capacity protection, BeazleySure; Tools & Resources: Execuguard application. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Cowbell

6. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
7. [Prime Tech Product Overview](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf). Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Fiduciary Liability'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
9. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (Fiduciary Liability definition); Target industries list; FAQ on access and account size. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Fiduciary Liability Insurance Guide

10. [Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2008-04: Guidance Regarding ERISA Fidelity Bonding Requirements](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/employers-and-advisers/guidance/field-assistance-bulletins/erisa-fidelity-bonding-requirements.pdf). U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Q2 pp.2–3. Accessed 2026-09-16.
11. [Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fiduciary-liability). Travelers; What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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