Cowbell vs Founder Shield: How Do They Compare for Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Cowbell distributes Zurich-underwritten coverage for eligible small private companies only through insurance brokers appointed by Zurich; Founder Shield brokers fiduciary liability for 401(k) sponsors and other employee-plan fiduciaries.

Cowbell’s Select Plus fiduciary module targets private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets; Founder Shield places policies with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best. ^1,^2,^4,⁵

What Are the Key Differences Between Cowbell and Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Named Admitted Module Versus A-Rated Market Search

Cowbell and Zurich say Select Plus fiduciary is written on Zurich admitted paper, with Zurich American Insurance Company named in Zurich’s site copyright though neither page states that entity is the specific issuer. Founder Shield places policies only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, matched by industry, and does not name the fiduciary issuer. ¹ ² ⁵

Who Can Access the Product

Cowbell limits its module to private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets; Founder Shield instead targets 401(k) sponsors and individual fiduciaries without publishing those company-size caps. ¹ ³

Eligibility Framing

Cowbell targets private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets. Founder Shield markets to plan sponsors offering a 401(k) or similar plan and to individual fiduciaries who handle plan funds or property, without those headcount or asset caps. ¹ ³

Coverage Descriptions

Cowbell describes protecting against claims from breaches of fiduciary duties related to 401(k) or health plans. Founder Shield lists risky investments, poor investment advice, benefits-processing errors, and improper denial or change of benefits, and distinguishes the line from D&O and general liability. ¹ ³

What Should You Confirm in Cowbell and Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes?

Confirm wholesaler access for Cowbell; confirm which A-rated market Founder Shield would use. ¹ ⁵
Check Cowbell’s under-250 and under-$50 million rules against your census and balance sheet. ¹
Get limits from both quotes; neither public page states fiduciary figures. ¹ ³
Ask Founder Shield whether the placed form is distinct from D&O as its page describes. ³

Cowbell vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs Founder Shield: Fiduciary Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Fiduciary Liability	Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Who It’s For	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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.	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. ³Company-reported. Fiduciary Liability product page.
How to Apply	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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'.	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. ^4,⁵Company-reported. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form.
Coverage Features	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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'.	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. ³Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage. 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. ³Company-reported. Fiduciary Liability product page.
Role in This Line	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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.	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. ⁴Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.
Issuing 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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer.	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. ⁵Company-reported. General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements.