---
title: "CFC vs Cowbell Management Liability Insurance"
description: "CFC underwrites its own US package and declines some risks; Cowbell only opens Zurich Select Plus to appointed E&S wholesalers."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/management-liability"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/management-liability)

# CFC vs Cowbell Management Liability Insurance

CFC underwrites its own US package and declines some risks; Cowbell only opens Zurich Select Plus to appointed E&S wholesalers.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CFC and Cowbell for Management 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

CFC sells a US Management Liability package that includes executive cyber, K&R and reputation cover and lists California domicile and US public companies among declines. Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus four-module SME coverage solely through Zurich E&S-appointed wholesalers. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## What Is CFC Insurance?

CFC provides specialty insurance through an MGA model, with technology products for startups through multinational businesses. Its U.S. technology materials describe combined liability and cyber protection, while California eligibility requires product-specific confirmation. [1](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/company/ "About CFC") [2](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/industry/technology/ "Technology") [3](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/ywdbvkpy/technology_product-brochure_us_0525_v2.pdf "Technology — United States product brochure") [4](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/ "Regulatory information")

[CFC profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cfc)

## 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. [8](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [9](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [10](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 Management Liability Insurance?

Management liability brings together coverage options for risks associated with running an organization, such as directors and officers liability and employment practices liability. [12](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms") [13](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance "Management Liability Insurance") [14](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront.html "The ForeFront Portfolio")

## Key Differences in Management Liability Insurance

### Direct Product Team Versus Wholesaler API

CFC’s US team is the contact for its own package. Cowbell is not a retail insurer: appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers access Select Plus through Cowbell’s API, and businesses cannot buy it direct. Select Plus is described as Zurich admitted paper; CFC’s US issuer is unnamed beyond group regulatory disclosures. [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") [4](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/ "Regulatory information") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [10](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

### Package Contents

CFC includes D&O, EPL, fiduciary, crime, executive cyber, K&R, reputation protection and court attendance, plus a separate Side A DIC product. Select Plus modules are private management/company liability, EPL with third-party discrimination, fiduciary and crime—without executive cyber or K&R on Zurich’s named module list. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [10](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

### Screens

CFC declines California-domiciled and US publicly traded risks on the brochure. Cowbell targets private SMEs under 250 employees and $50 million in assets in named industries. A large private manufacturer could match CFC’s favored industries while missing Cowbell’s size cap; a California SME could match Cowbell’s size screen while hitting CFC’s domicile decline. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

### Claims Notes

CFC describes US notice channels, a dedicated adjuster and industry-organized claims staff. Cowbell says EPL is the most common claim type and that Zurich claims service backs the product. Neither publishes limits. [7](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/claims/ "Claims") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure")

## What to Confirm in Management Liability Insurance Quotes

- Confirm distribution: CFC product team versus a Zurich E&S wholesaler for Cowbell. [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Check California domicile, public listing, employee count and assets against both screens. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Ask whether you need executive cyber and K&R (CFC) or only the four Select Plus modules. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [10](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")
- Get the issuing Zurich company and CFC’s issuing carrier or syndicate. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [4](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/ "Regulatory information")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CFC Management Liability | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Management Liability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | CFC sells directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary and crime coverage together in one US Management Liability package rather than as separate standalone products. CFC separately sells Side A DIC, an excess product for directors and officers only. [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: CFC's US management-liability product page and January 2026 brochure; package composition as CFC describes it, not an issued policy..) | Cowbell is the distribution platform, not the insurer: it gives Zurich-appointed E&S wholesalers API access to Zurich's Select Plus management liability product, a modular suite Zurich already sells to larger companies, sized down for small and midsize private businesses. Zurich's own page confirms Select Plus is 'Zurich Insurance, in collaboration with Cowbell,' offered as a 'proprietary form,' with identical FAQ wording to Cowbell's page. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [10](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: Cowbell intro paragraph and FAQ; Zurich intro and 'Delivering speed from quoting to policy issuance' section..) |
| Issuing Insurer | CFC's regulatory page discloses that CFC Underwriting Limited is FCA-authorized and that CFC's Lloyd's Syndicate 1988 is managed by Asta Managing Agency Ltd, but the reviewed management-liability pages do not name the specific carrier or syndicate that would issue a given US package. [4](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/ "Regulatory information") [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Regulatory information page and management-liability brochure as read on 2026-09-23; the insurer identified on an actual quote or declarations page controls..) | Both Cowbell and Zurich say the product is offered on Zurich admitted paper and backed by 'the reputable Zurich Claims service.' Neither page names the specific underwriting Zurich subsidiary or policy-issuing entity; Zurich's site footer copyright reads 'Zurich American Insurance Company,' but that is a general site-wide notice, not a stated policy-issuer confirmation for Select Plus specifically. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [10](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 | CFC's brochure lists California-domiciled business and US publicly traded companies among the risks it declines for this package, and lists industries it favors, including manufacturing and distribution, technology, professional services, architects and engineers, and non-profits. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's 'What we like' and 'What we decline' lists; underwriting still applies to any individual business, and the list is not exhaustive..) | Cowbell says the product targets SME private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, and lists target industries including specialty chemicals, technology, energy/utilities, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and integrated freight & logistics. [11](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 | CFC describes the package as covering directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, crime, executive cyber, kidnap and ransom, and executive reputation protection, plus court attendance costs. [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure's opening description and 'What else is in the policy?' list; the actual policy wording and any endorsements control what a given buyer receives..) | Zurich's own page names the four Select Plus modules as 'Private Management and Company Liability,' 'Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability,' 'Fiduciary Liability,' and 'Crime Insurance' -- broader labels than the plain 'D&O' and 'EPL' shorthand Cowbell's FAQ uses -- and says a buyer can combine up to four of these modules into one policy. [10](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: Zurich page 'Protect your small to midsize business with Zurich's Select Plus Management Liability solutions' section..)<br><br>Cowbell describes management liability as a modular umbrella covering four lines within the Select Plus product: private company D&O, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, and crime, each addressing a different category of management or employee risk. [11](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 | The reviewed product page and brochure do not publish per-occurrence or aggregate limits, retentions or premium ranges for the package. The reviewed pages checked did not disclose these figures. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Product page and brochure as read on 2026-09-23; limits and deductibles appear on the quote and declarations..) | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page publishes limit or retention amounts for the modules; both were read in full and neither discloses a figure. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [10](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 | CFC's brochure says the executive reputation protection component includes access to its reputation-management specialists, and its claims page describes a claims team organized by industry and specialization rather than by insurance line. [6](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf "Management liability — United States product brochure") [7](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/claims/ "Claims") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Brochure and claims page descriptions of CFC's own services; not an independent measure of service quality..) | Cowbell says the product is backed by Zurich's claims service, and frames the offering's advantage as faster quoting and issuance through Cowbell's technology platform compared with Zurich's standard process, rather than describing separate risk-control services. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Page intro and FAQ 'What makes the Zurich Select Plus offering through Cowbell unique?'..) |
| How to Apply | The reviewed management-liability page and brochure do not describe an online quote or self-service application; they point prospective buyers to CFC's named US Management Liability Team. [5](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/ "Management liability") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Product page and brochure as read on 2026-09-23; a broker may have access to a separate application form not reviewed here..) | Access is limited to appointed wholesalers of Zurich Excess & Surplus (E&S): a wholesaler already appointed by Zurich E&S can reach the product through the Cowbell platform via API, and is directed to contact a Cowbell or Zurich representative to set that up. The product is not sold directly to businesses. [11](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 | CFC provides a US claim-notification route by phone, email and online form, and says a dedicated claims adjuster manages a claim from notification through resolution. Margaret Murphy is named as Global Head of Claims. [7](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/claims/ "Claims") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Claims page as read on 2026-09-23; notification channels and role descriptions, not claims-payment outcomes or timing..) | Cowbell says the most common management liability claims fall under employment practices liability, citing discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, and retaliation as the most frequent claim types. [11](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the most common management liability claim?'; describes claim frequency, not Cowbell's own claims-handling process..) |

## Full Comparison

- [CFC vs Cowbell](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Management Liability Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/management-liability): Management liability packages can combine D&O, employment practices and other protection for the risks of running your business.
- [CFC vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [CFC vs Cowbell Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/cyber)
- [CFC vs Cowbell D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/directors-officers)
- [CFC vs Cowbell Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/employment-practices)
- [CFC vs Cowbell Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs CFC Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cfc/management-liability)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/management-liability)
- [Beazley vs CFC Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cfc/management-liability)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/management-liability)
- [CFC vs Chubb Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-chubb/management-liability)
- [CFC vs Coverdash Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-coverdash/management-liability)

## Sources

### CFC

1. [About CFC](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/company/). CFC; Matt Taylor biography: independent MGA and Syndicate 1988. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Technology](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/industry/technology/). CFC; Introduction; Technology key features; Digitally traded. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Technology — United States product brochure](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/ywdbvkpy/technology_product-brochure_us_0525_v2.pdf). CFC; Page 1: coverage sections, including Products and services liability; Response app highlights; Limits and deductibles. Accessed 2026-09-16.
4. [Regulatory information](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/support/regulatory-information/). CFC; CFC Underwriting Limited; CFC Lloyd's Syndicate 1988; CFC USA Inc.. Accessed 2026-09-23.
5. [Management liability](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/products/class/management-liability/). CFC; Our management liability products: Management liability, Side A DIC; Meet the team. Accessed 2026-09-23.
6. [Management liability — United States product brochure](https://webcdn.cfc.com/media/0ttjwk3e/management-liablity_product-brochure_us_0126.pdf). CFC; Directors and officers cover; Employment practices liability; Executive reputation protection; Executive cyber; Crime cover; At a glance: What we like; What we decline; What else is in the policy?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
7. [Claims](https://www.cfc.com/en-us/claims/). CFC; Notify a claim or cyber incident; We're in it with you; Our claims team. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Cowbell

8. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
9. [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.
10. [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: 'Zurich Insurance, in collaboration with Cowbell, offers the "Zurich Select Plus" proprietary form'; 'Delivering speed from quoting to policy issuance' section; module names (Private Management and Company Liability, Employment Practices and Third-Party Discrimination Liability, Fiduciary Liability, Crime Insurance); Targeted industries list; FAQ (identical to the Cowbell page's FAQ); footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
11. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; Intro paragraph on the Zurich collaboration; FAQ: access, account size, what makes the offering unique, difference between management liability and D&O, why a company needs it, most common claim type; Target industries list. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Management Liability Insurance Guide

12. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Directors & Officers Liability; Employment Practices Liability Coverage; introductory scope note. Accessed 2026-09-16.
13. [Management Liability Insurance](https://www.thehartford.com/management-liability-insurance). The Hartford; What Is Management Liability Insurance?; Who Does Management Liability Insurance Protect. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14. [The ForeFront Portfolio](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/forefront.html). Chubb; Introduction; optional coverage parts; private, not-for-profit and healthcare portfolios. 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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