---
title: "Cowbell vs Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance"
description: "Cowbell’s Select Plus fiduciary module is Zurich paper for SMEs via wholesalers; Gallagher advises corporate ERISA committees and models limits."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/fiduciary"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-24"
---

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# Cowbell vs Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Cowbell’s Select Plus fiduciary module is Zurich paper for SMEs via wholesalers; Gallagher advises corporate ERISA committees and models limits.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Gallagher 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

Cowbell distributes Zurich’s Select Plus fiduciary module for private companies under 250 employees, accessible only through appointed E&S wholesalers. Gallagher’s Executive and Financial Risk practice places fiduciary liability for corporate ERISA fiduciaries and committees and uses proprietary models to help select limits. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")

## 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. [1](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [2](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [3](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 Gallagher?

Gallagher is a business-insurance broker and risk-management consultancy. Its technology practice serves startups through global enterprises, alongside a separate small-business offering for IT professionals and an executive-risk practice covering D&O and transaction-related coverages. Woodruff Sawyer is now part of Gallagher. [5](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/ "Technology Insurance") [6](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/ "Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [8](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/ "Legal Information") [9](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/ "Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher")

[Gallagher profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/gallagher)

## 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

### Platform Module Versus Advisory Placement

Fiduciary liability is one module in Cowbell’s distribution of Zurich Select Plus; Cowbell operates the platform and Zurich underwrites. Gallagher’s Executive and Financial Risk practice places fiduciary coverage with outside carriers and advises on limits; it does not underwrite. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")

### SME Caps Versus Corporate Plan Sponsors

Cowbell targets private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets in industries such as manufacturing and technology. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes

- Confirm wholesaler access for Cowbell versus Gallagher’s practice placement. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")
- Check Cowbell’s 250-employee and $50 million asset caps; Gallagher’s page does not publish those caps. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")
- Ask Gallagher what limit its models would recommend and which carrier would write it. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance")
- Ask whether Gallagher’s placement covers plan-design personnel; Cowbell’s public description is benefit-plan duty breaches. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Fiduciary Liability | Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](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..) | Gallagher's Executive and Financial Risk practice places fiduciary liability coverage with outside carriers and advises on limits; it does not underwrite the policy. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) |
| 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](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..) | The executive-and-financial-risk page does not name the insurer that would issue a given client's fiduciary liability policy. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) |
| 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. [4](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..) | Gallagher targets this coverage at corporations sponsoring retirement or welfare benefit plans, since the described exposure is tied specifically to ERISA fiduciary duties. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) |
| 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. [4](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?'..) | Gallagher describes fiduciary liability as protecting a corporation's Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) fiduciaries, fiduciary committees and personnel who design or implement 401(k) or pension plans for employees and retirees. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page; a service description, not a specific policy's insuring agreement or exclusions..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes fiduciary-liability limit or retention amounts. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](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..) | The page does not publish specific fiduciary liability limits or premium ranges beyond describing its proprietary limit-selection models. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice page..) |
| Risk Services | 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](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..) | Gallagher says it has proprietary models to measure fiduciary risk and assist clients in selecting coverage limits. [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level executive-and-financial-risk practice 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. [4](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?'..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Gallagher](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher): 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.
- [Cowbell vs Gallagher Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/crime)
- [Cowbell vs Gallagher Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Gallagher D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/directors-officers)
- [Cowbell vs Gallagher Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/employment-practices)
- [Cowbell vs Gallagher Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-gallagher/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/fiduciary)
- [Alliance Risk vs Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-gallagher/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-gallagher/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Cowbell Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cowbell/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Gallagher Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-gallagher/fiduciary)

## Sources

### Cowbell

1. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [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.
3. [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.
4. [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.

### Gallagher

5. [Technology Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/). Gallagher; Introduction; Solutions and coverages for the technology industry: Technology errors and omissions including cyber, Intellectual property insurance, Product liability, Employee benefits; Data-driven insights; global network. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/). Gallagher Small Business; Protection for IT Professionals & Their Technology-Based Businesses; recommended coverage menu, including Surety Bond Programs; Connect With An Advisor. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Executive and Financial Risk Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/). Gallagher; Fiduciary Liability (Pension and Welfare Liability) insurance section. Accessed 2026-09-23.
8. [Legal Information](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/). Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/). Gallagher; Opening; Executive and Financial Risk consulting; Continued access to client portals; contact form. Accessed 2026-09-16.

### 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 2026-09-24. 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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