Cowbell vs HUB International: How Do They Compare for Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Cowbell distributes Zurich-underwritten fiduciary coverage for eligible private companies, only through insurance brokers appointed by Zurich, not directly to businesses; HUB International brokers fiduciary policies for employers with retirement or health-care plans.

Cowbell’s Zurich Select Plus module targets private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets; HUB serves health and retirement plan sponsors and says D&O does not cover fiduciary exposure. ^1,^2,³

What Are the Key Differences Between Cowbell and HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Carrier Versus Broker

Cowbell distributes the Zurich Select Plus module for private companies. HUB arranges fiduciary coverage for employers sponsoring health-care or retirement plans; it says the exposure is separate from D&O. ¹ ² ³

Cowbell’s target is private companies below 250 employees and $50 million in assets. HUB’s product page speaks to employers that offer health-care or retirement plans and that may face claims from participants, the Department of Labor, or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation—without a published headcount or asset cap. ¹ ³

What Each Describes as Covered

Cowbell’s definition is a single sentence: claims from breaches of fiduciary duties on benefit plans such as a 401(k) or health plan. HUB lists a longer set of claim examples, including administrator or mutual-fund mistakes, benefits denials, insufficient funding, poor investment selection, and incorrect plan termination, and states that D&O does not cover this exposure. ¹ ³

Buying Path

Appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers reach Cowbell’s module through an API; businesses do not apply on Cowbell’s site. HUB sends prospects to “Connect With a Broker” rather than an online bind flow. ¹ ³

What Should You Confirm in Cowbell and HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes?

Identify the issuing carrier on both quotes: Cowbell’s reviewed pages say Zurich admitted paper, and HUB’s page leaves the insurer to the placement. ² ³
Ask whether Cowbell’s module is combined with other Select Plus parts, and whether HUB is placing a standalone fiduciary form or a management-liability package. ² ³
Get dollar limits; HUB’s $1 million figure is a claim-cost example, not a published policy limit, and Cowbell does not publish limits. ³ ¹
Ask HUB how its prevention video or broker advice would apply to your plan administration, since the page does not describe a formal plan-review service. ³

Cowbell vs HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs HUB International: Fiduciary Liability Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Fiduciary Liability	HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokerage
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.	HUB targets fiduciary liability brokerage at employers offering health-care or retirement benefit plans who face potential litigation from plan participants, the Department of Labor or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. ³Company-reported. Product-page target-audience description; not a published underwriting appetite.
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?'.	HUB directs fiduciary liability prospects to "Connect With a Broker" or "Contact a HUB broker" rather than an online quote or bind flow. ³Company-reported. Product-page calls to action.
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?'.	HUB lists fiduciary liability claim scenarios it covers as including a plan's insurer, mutual fund or third-party administrator making bad choices, plan administration errors or conflicts of interest, benefits denial, changes or reductions, bad advice or improper counsel, insufficient plan funding, poor investment selection and incorrect plan termination. ³Company-reported. Product-page list of covered claim scenarios; the issued policy's insuring agreement and exclusions control an actual claim. HUB states that fiduciary liability exposure "is not covered by director's and officers' liability policies," positioning fiduciary liability as a separate line from D&O rather than a bundled coverage. ³Company-reported. Product-page statement distinguishing fiduciary liability from D&O.
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.	HUB brokers fiduciary liability insurance for employers that sponsor health-care and retirement benefit plans, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. ³Company-reported. Fiduciary liability product page, read 2026-09-23. The page does not name an issuing insurer.