---
title: "Coalition vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance"
description: "Coalition distributes Executive Risks fiduciary on Zurich or surplus paper; Founder Shield brokers A- or better carriers for plan sponsors."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/fiduciary"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Coalition vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Coalition distributes Executive Risks fiduciary on Zurich or surplus paper; Founder Shield brokers A- or better carriers for plan sponsors.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Coalition and Founder Shield 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

Coalition designs fiduciary liability in Executive Risks, sold through appointed brokers, with Zurich admitted or unaffiliated non-admitted paper. Founder Shield places fiduciary liability as a retail brokerage with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best and does not underwrite the policy. [5](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer "U.S. Disclaimers") [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") [12](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

## What Is Coalition Insurance?

Coalition offers cyber insurance and technology E&O alongside cyber risk-management services. Its U.S. products are distributed through insurance producers, with separate admitted and surplus-lines routes and an executive-risk product suite. [1](https://www.coalitioninc.com/technology-errors-and-omissions-insurance "Tech E&O Insurance Coverage") [2](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/producer-compensation "U.S. Producer Compensation") [3](https://help.coalitioninc.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665550624283-Are-there-any-differences-between-Coalition-s-admitted-and-surplus-lines-products "Are there any differences between Coalition’s admitted and surplus lines products?") [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks")

[Coalition profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/coalition)

## What Is Founder Shield Insurance?

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker for venture-backed and growing businesses. Buyers can request coverage through its online portal and work with advisors on insurer selection, policy changes and claims reporting. [6](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [7](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [9](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/ "What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?") [10](https://foundershield.com/claims/ "Claims")

[Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)

## What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Fiduciary liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging breaches of duties in managing employee benefit plans. [13](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") [14](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fiduciary-liability "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Fiduciary Liability Insurance

### Program Design Versus Retail Placement

Coalition designs and distributes fiduciary as one of four Executive Risks coverages. Founder Shield, described as the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group, is a retail brokerage that places Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting it. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") [12](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

### How Carriers Are Chosen

Coalition names Zurich American Insurance Company as the admitted Executive Risks carrier and says Coalition Insurance Solutions also places the suite with unaffiliated insurers on a non-admitted basis. Founder Shield says it places policies only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client’s industry, without naming the fiduciary issuer. [5](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer "U.S. Disclaimers") [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

### Size Caps Versus Plan-Sponsor Marketing

Coalition’s eligibility is private and not-for-profit U.S. organizations up to 1,000 employees and $500 million in assets and plan assets. Founder Shield markets the line to plan sponsors offering a 401(k) or similar plan and to individual fiduciaries who handle plan funds or property. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

### Claim Framing and Intake

Coalition describes coverage for mismanagement of employee benefits and pension plans, with limits up to $10 million per line, sold only through appointed brokers. Founder Shield lists risky plan investments, poor investment advice, administrative errors and improper denial or change of benefits, and distinguishes fiduciary from D&O and general liability; you request coverage through its website or an advisor. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance") [12](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us")

## What to Confirm in Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes

- Ask Founder Shield whether Coalition Executive Risks is among its A- or better markets. [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks")
- Confirm you fit Coalition’s employee and asset caps if that program is quoted. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks")
- Compare Coalition’s $10 million per-line figure with Founder Shield’s quoted limit. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")
- Get admitted versus surplus paper on a Coalition placement. [5](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer "U.S. Disclaimers")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Coalition Executive Risks — Fiduciary Liability | Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Coalition designs and distributes fiduciary liability as one of four coverages in its Executive Risks product suite, sold through appointed brokers. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23..) | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [12](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Coalition's disclaimer names Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC 16535) as the admitted carrier for Executive Risks, and says Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. also places Executive Risks with unaffiliated insurers on a non-admitted basis, so the carrier for a specific fiduciary policy depends on the placement route. [5](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer "U.S. Disclaimers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: U.S. Disclaimers page as read on 2026-09-23..) | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements..) |
| Who It’s For | Coalition says Executive Risks products, including fiduciary liability, are available to private and not-for-profit U.S. organizations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with up to $500 million in assets, up to 1,000 employees, and up to $500 million in plan assets. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Executive Risks FAQ as read on 2026-09-23; the plan-assets cap is directly relevant to fiduciary eligibility..) | Founder Shield markets fiduciary liability to plan sponsors offering a 401(k) or similar plan and to the individual fiduciaries who handle plan funds or property. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary Liability product page..) |
| Coverage Features | Coalition says fiduciary liability provides coverage for claims of mismanagement of employee benefits and pension plans. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23; exclusions and limitations apply per the page footer, and the issued policy controls actual terms..) | Founder Shield lists claims of risky plan investments, poor investment advice, administrative errors in benefits processing, and improper denial or change of benefits as scenarios fiduciary liability responds to. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage..)<br><br>Founder Shield distinguishes fiduciary liability from D&O and general liability: it responds to breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims tied to ERISA plan administration, not general management or bodily-injury claims. [11](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary Liability product page..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Coalition says limits up to $10 million per coverage line may be available for Executive Risks products, including fiduciary liability, subject to exclusions and limitations. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Executive Risks FAQ as read on 2026-09-23; not a quoted or bindable limit for any specific applicant..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | Coalition distributes Executive Risks, including fiduciary liability, only through appointed insurance brokers rather than direct to buyers. [4](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance "Executive Risks") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Executive Risks product page as read on 2026-09-23..) | You request Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [12](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Coalition vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield): 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.
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/crime)
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/cyber)
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/directors-officers)
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/employment-practices)
- [Coalition vs Founder Shield Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Coalition Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-coalition/fiduciary)
- [Alliance Risk vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-foundershield/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Coalition Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-coalition/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-foundershield/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Coalition Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-coalition/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-foundershield/fiduciary)

## Sources

### Coalition

1. [Tech E&O Insurance Coverage](https://www.coalitioninc.com/technology-errors-and-omissions-insurance). Coalition; Who needs Technology Errors & Omissions coverage? (organizations that provide a technology product or service for a fee); Combine Technology Errors & Omissions coverage with Active Cyber Insurance; Coalition Advantage. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [U.S. Producer Compensation](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/producer-compensation). Coalition; Insurance Producers; Base Commission; Contingent Commission; Business Production Incentive Programs; Non-Insurance Products. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Are there any differences between Coalition’s admitted and surplus lines products?](https://help.coalitioninc.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665550624283-Are-there-any-differences-between-Coalition-s-admitted-and-surplus-lines-products). Coalition; Cyber insurance coverage offered by Coalition: Coverage availability; Coverage offering. Accessed 2026-09-16.
4. [Executive Risks](https://www.coalitioninc.com/executive-risks-insurance). Coalition; Product Offering: Fiduciary Liability — provides coverage for claims of mismanagement of employee benefits and pension plans; FAQ: What type of businesses do you protect?, What limits do you offer?, What resources do you have for policyholders?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
5. [U.S. Disclaimers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/disclaimer). Coalition; Admitted Executive Risk: insurance products offered by Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. acting on behalf of unaffiliated insurance companies and, on an admitted basis, on behalf of Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535). Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Founder Shield

6. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
7. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
8. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.
9. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/). Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
10. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
11. [Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://foundershield.com/coverage/fiduciary-liability-insurance/). Founder Shield; What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?; Who Needs Fiduciary Liability Insurance Coverage?; What Does Fiduciary Liability Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
12. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Fiduciary Liability Insurance Guide

13. [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.
14. [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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- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/coalition-vs-foundershield/fiduciary.md)
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