---
title: "Cowbell vs HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance"
description: "Cowbell’s fiduciary module is Zurich paper for smaller private firms; HUB brokers the line for employers with health and retirement plans."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-hub-international/fiduciary"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-hub-international/fiduciary)

# Cowbell vs HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Cowbell’s fiduciary module is Zurich paper for smaller private firms; HUB brokers the line for employers with health and retirement plans.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and HUB International 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 Select Plus fiduciary liability as one management-liability module for private companies under 250 employees. HUB International brokers fiduciary coverage for employers that sponsor health-care or retirement plans and treats the line as separate from D&O. [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") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

## 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 HUB International?

HUB International is a North American insurance brokerage that arranges business insurance, employee benefits and related risk services through local offices and specialist practices. Smaller commercial accounts may be sent to Insureon for an online quote; other programs are handled by HUB advisors, with policy terms set by the insurers they use. [5](https://www.hubinternational.com/about-us/ "About Us") [6](https://www.hubinternational.com/contact-us/ "Contact Us") [7](https://www.hubinternational.com/industries/technology-company-insurance/ "Insurance for Technology Companies")

[HUB International profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/hub-international)

## What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Fiduciary liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging breaches of duties in managing employee benefit plans. [9](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") [10](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fiduciary-liability "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Fiduciary Liability Insurance

### Carrier Versus Broker

Cowbell’s fiduciary offering is a named module inside Zurich’s Select Plus package, with Cowbell operating the platform and Zurich writing the risk. HUB International brokers fiduciary liability for plan-sponsoring employers and does not underwrite it; its reviewed product page does not name an issuing insurer. [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") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

### Size and Plan-Sponsor Focus

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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

### 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

### 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

## What to Confirm in 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. [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")
- 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. [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")
- Get dollar limits; HUB’s $1 million figure is a claim-cost example, not a published policy limit, and Cowbell does not publish limits. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- 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. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Fiduciary Liability | HUB International Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokerage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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..) | HUB brokers fiduciary liability insurance for employers that sponsor health-care and retirement benefit plans, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Fiduciary liability product page, read 2026-09-23. The page does not name an issuing insurer..) |
| 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..) | No insurer is named for fiduciary liability on the product page; the carrier depends on the placement. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Checked the fiduciary liability product page on 2026-09-23..) |
| 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..) | 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. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page target-audience description; not a published underwriting appetite..) |
| 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?'..) | 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. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page list of covered claim scenarios; the issued policy's insuring agreement and exclusions control an actual claim..)<br><br>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. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page statement distinguishing fiduciary liability from D&O..) |
| 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 product page does not publish specific policy limits or retentions; it references that combined defense and settlement costs on fiduciary claims can exceed $1 million as a risk statistic, not a policy limit. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the fiduciary liability product page on 2026-09-23; the $1 million figure describes potential exposure, not an offered limit..) |
| 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..) | HUB publishes a video on preventing fiduciary liability claims and administrative-error best practices on the product page, but the page does not describe a formal fiduciary risk-management or plan-review service. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page educational video reference..) |
| 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?'..) | HUB directs fiduciary liability prospects to "Connect With a Broker" or "Contact a HUB broker" rather than an online quote or bind flow. [8](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/ "Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page calls to action..) |

## Full Comparison

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

### HUB International

5. [About Us](https://www.hubinternational.com/about-us/). HUB International; Opening description; 1998 formation of HUB International Limited; 2022 Insureon acquisition; headquarters and employee/office counts. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Contact Us](https://www.hubinternational.com/contact-us/). HUB International; Business Solutions paths for Commercial Insurance Solutions versus Small Commercial Insurance Solutions via Insureon; office search. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Insurance for Technology Companies](https://www.hubinternational.com/industries/technology-company-insurance/). HUB International; Technology Company Insurance & Risk Management: startup, software, hardware and digital-media introduction; Business Coverage and People Protection lists; technology-client count. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Fiduciary Liability Insurance Brokers](https://www.hubinternational.com/products/business-insurance/fiduciary-liability-insurance/). HUB International; Target audience: employers offering health-care and retirement benefit plans; list of covered claim scenarios; statement distinguishing fiduciary liability from D&O; $1 million defense-and-settlement-cost reference; "Prevent Fiduciary Liability Claims" video; Connect With a Broker / Contact a HUB broker calls to action. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Fiduciary Liability Insurance Guide

9. [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.
10. [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.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-hub-international/fiduciary.md)
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