CFC vs
USI Insurance Services: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?
CPA firms, from sole practitioners to regional practices, can join the AICPA program USI Insurance Services administers, underwritten by CNA. CFC favors other consultant types and publishes E&O limits up to $10 million.
CPA firms reach USI’s AICPA program by dedicated email; CFC accepts Connect, API-partner and broker submissions for its E&O policy. 4,1,2
What Are the Key Differences Between CFC and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?
Risk-Management Resources and Claims
USI says AICPA program members receive claims support and risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates. 4 CFC routes claims to a named Claims Manager on a dedicated professions unit. 3 If you value prevention tools, ask USI what is included; if you prioritize a named claims contact, ask CFC how that manager works with the insurer.
Published Limits and Client Fit
CFC publishes a $10 million maximum E&O limit, no revenue threshold and a list of favored and declined professions. 2 USI's AICPA program serves sole practitioners and regional CPA firms but does not publish limits or pricing. 4 Choose USI if you qualify for the CPA program; choose CFC if its appetite fits and you need to evaluate a published limit ceiling.
What Should You Confirm in CFC and USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes?
- Ask USI whether your CPA firm qualifies for the CNA-underwritten AICPA program or would be placed through another USI practice. 4 6
- Check CFC's declined list and confirm the issuing insurer. 2 1
- Request USI's actual limits and compare against CFC's published maximum E&O limit of $10 million. 4 2
- Ask what engagement-letter and risk-management resources include. 4
CFC vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Compared
CFC vs USI Insurance Services: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | CFC Professional Services | AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity) |
|---|---|---|
| Who It’s For | CFC says it favors business, educational, environmental, food, HR, market-research, quality-assurance, security and traffic consultants, event organisers, freight brokers, loss adjusters, private investigators and trade associations, and ordinarily declines debt collectors, financial advisors, health and safety consultants, insurance agents, lawyers, mortgage brokers, pre-purchase home inspectors, stockbrokers, tour operators and valuers. 2Company-reported. Brochure's "What we love" and "What we ordinarily decline" lists; actual acceptance depends on individual underwriting. | USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. 4Company-reported. Program page description. |
| How to Apply | CFC publishes a dedicated application form for this policy and also says its professional liability class can be traded directly through its Connect platform or through named API partners, in addition to the standard broker-submitted application. 1Company-reported. Professional liability product page's downloads and "Digitally traded" sections; not confirmed specifically for the professions/miscellaneous professional liability product versus the class as a whole. | USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. 4Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page. |
| Coverage Features | CFC says the E&O cover includes breach of contract, bodily injury, property damage, vicarious liability of subcontractors, IP infringement, pollution liability, libel, slander, defamation, document loss and withheld fees, with worldwide legal cover. 2Company-reported. Brochure's "Comprehensive errors & omissions cover" and "Comprehensive legal cover" sections; exact wording and exclusions are set by the policy as issued. Businesses can add a separate commercial general liability limit, property, and cyber and privacy liability to the E&O policy, plus optional umbrella liability that sits over the E&O and CGL layers. 2Company-reported. Brochure's "Modular package policy" and "Umbrella liability" sections; availability depends on underwriting. | USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. 4Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form. |
| Role in This Line | CFC sells professional errors & omissions as a modular package policy it calls "Professional services" (branded on the brochure as "Miscellaneous professional liability"), which pairs E&O with optional general liability, property and cyber add-ons rather than selling E&O alone. 1,2Company-reported. Professional liability product page's "Professional services" tile and the miscellaneous professional liability brochure. | For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. 4,6Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page. |



