Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

USI names CNA as the underwriter behind its AICPA program for CPAs; Gallagher's page names no insurer for the E&O it arranges.

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. ^1,^2,^3,^4,⁵

Read the Gallagher profile

What Is USI Insurance Services?

USI Insurance Services is a U.S. insurance brokerage and consulting firm that arranges property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, and retirement programs. Its Technology practice says it works with software, hardware, and related companies from early seed stage through IPO, using a consultative process rather than a published self-serve quote. ^7,^8,⁹

Read the USI Insurance Services profile

What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?

Professional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, also called professional liability insurance, addresses claims that professional services or advice caused a client financial loss. What's covered depends on the services actually scheduled in the policy, not the product label alone. ^13,^14,^15,¹⁶

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

A Named Insurer for a Named Program

USI's AICPA program page discloses which carrier stands behind the policy, unlike most of the pages reviewed for this collection:

USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. ¹⁰Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.

Gallagher's page does not name an insurer for its E&O line; it describes arranging coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ⁶

A CPA-Specific Program Versus a Broader Profession List

USI markets its named program specifically to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms, and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. ¹⁰ Gallagher instead names a wider set of professions for its single E&O line: technology, insurance, accounting, tax, wealth management and legal services, plus doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, caregivers, counselors, social workers and engineers. ⁶

Services Bundled With Coverage

USI says CPA firms enrolled in its program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates. ¹⁰ Gallagher's page does not describe a comparable risk-management service; it lists covered scenarios such as negligence, personal injury and copyright infringement instead. ⁶

What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

Confirm whether the AICPA program or USI's general Business Services practice applies to you, since only the named program comes with a stated insurer. ¹⁰
Ask Gallagher to name the carrier it would actually place for your E&O policy. ⁶
USI's AICPA page says coverage plans can be adjusted to a firm's risk profile but gives no limit or premium figures; request both directly. ¹⁰
Gallagher's reviewed page publishes no limit or premium figures for E&O either; request them directly. ⁶

Offering Details

Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Gallagher Small Business Errors and Omissions Insurance	AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity)
Role in This Line	Gallagher Small Business arranges errors and omissions (E&O) coverage with partner carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ⁶Company-reported. Gallagher Small Business's direct-to-small-business E&O product page.	For CPA firms, USI runs the AICPA Professional Liability Program through its USI Affinity division as the endorsed producer, rather than underwriting the policy itself. USI's general Business Services practice separately brokers errors and omissions/professional liability coverage for other business types. ^10,¹²Company-reported. AICPA program page and Business Services practice page.
Issuing Insurer	The E&O product page does not name the insurer that would issue a given business's policy. ⁶Not publicly disclosed. Checked the E&O product page on 2026-09-23.	USI's own page states that the AICPA Professional Liability Program is "underwritten by CNA," naming the carrier for that specific program. USI's general Business Services E&O placements do not name an insurer. ¹⁰Company-reported. Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements.
Who It’s For	Gallagher recommends E&O for small businesses that provide a specific professional service, naming technology, insurance, accounting, tax, wealth management and legal services, and lists doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, caregivers, counselors, social workers and engineers as example professionals; it also notes that many client contracts require carrying E&O. ⁶Company-reported. Product page eligibility and recommended-professions lists; actual acceptance depends on underwriting.	USI markets the AICPA program to sole practitioners and regional CPA firms. It has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and has been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994. ¹⁰Company-reported. Program page description.
Coverage Features	Gallagher describes E&O as protecting against client charges of negligence or injury tied to professional services, covering losses, attorney fees and court costs regardless of fault, and specifically responding to alleged or actual negligence, personal injury, copyright infringement, punitive damages, and claims against past work, temporary staff or independent contractors. ⁶Company-reported. Product page coverage description; the issued policy and its exclusions control. Note this record excludes medical malpractice, which the page treats as a separate specialized coverage covered under its own line. Gallagher's small-business team says the E&O market has seen consistent rate increases that have started to moderate, driven by higher claim frequency, litigation costs and a more litigious environment, and that insurers are more selective and require more detailed underwriting information. ⁶Company-reported. Product page market-commentary section; a general market view, not a quote for any specific business.	USI describes the policy as insuring a CPA and their practice against third-party claims that professional services caused financial harm, providing a defense and paying damages for covered claims arising from high-risk situations tied to new clients, changing business plans, or new laws and regulations. ¹⁰Company-reported. Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form.
Limits and Retentions	The E&O product page does not publish limits, deductibles or premiums; it directs prospective buyers to request a quote instead. ⁶Not publicly disclosed. Checked the E&O product page on 2026-09-23.	The AICPA program page does not publish limit, retention or premium figures; it says coverage plans allow a firm to tailor coverage to its risk profile. ¹⁰Not publicly disclosed. Page as read on 2026-09-23.
Risk Services	Not described in the reviewed sources.	USI says firms enrolled in the program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates, in addition to the coverage itself. ¹⁰Company-reported. Program page description.
How to Apply	Gallagher offers an online quote form, a small business advisor phone line (1-833-292-9441, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., continental U.S.), and a scheduled callback request to start an E&O quote. ⁶Company-reported. Product page "Get Covered Now" section.	USI directs CPA firms seeking a quote or renewal to contact USI Affinity, with a dedicated Affinity_APL@usi.com address for the AICPA program specifically. ¹⁰Company-reported. Contact instructions on the AICPA program page.

Full Comparison

More Gallagher vs USI Insurance Services Comparisons

Other Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Gallagher

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.
Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses. 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.
Executive and Financial Risk Insurance. Gallagher; Opening (insurance broking and placement); three key services; Directors and Officers; IPO and direct listings; Employment Practices; Fiduciary; Employee Dishonesty (Crime) and Fidelity Bond; Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion; M&A Transactional Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher. Gallagher; Opening; Executive and Financial Risk consulting; Continued access to client portals; contact form. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Errors and Omissions Insurance. Gallagher Small Business; What is Errors and Omissions Insurance?; Do you need Errors and Omissions insurance?; Recommended for professionals including; E&O trends; An E&O policy protects you from; Consider this claim scenario; Get Covered Now. Accessed 2026-09-23.

USI Insurance Services

The Power of ONE. USI Insurance Services; History, client-count, nationwide office, and P&C / benefits / personal risk / retirement description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Technology Insurance. USI Insurance Services; Technology practice client types, seed-to-IPO range, and listed insurance placement lines including PrivaSafe. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Commissions and Fees. USI Insurance Services; Licensed-producer authority, insurer-paid commission default, contingent compensation, and client request right. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity. USI Insurance Services; Quality Professional Liability Insurance Exclusively for CPA Firms; "The AICPA Professional Liability Program, underwritten by CNA, has been offering coverage to CPAs since 1967 and has been the endorsed provider of the AICPA Program since 1994."; supportive claims handling and exclusive access to extensive risk management resources, including engagement letter templates; Email Affinity_APL@usi.com. Accessed 2026-09-23.
USI Specialty Program Solutions. USI Insurance Services; USI Affinity delivers high-quality insurance and financial solutions to members of affinity organizations and targeted industry segments...for professional associations, law firms, alumni and collegiate organizations, travel groups, and insurance administrators. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Business Services. USI Insurance Services; USI advises clients...and provides solutions for...Errors & Omissions/Professional Liability... Accessed 2026-09-23.

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

FAQ: Professional liability insurance. Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Professional liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance. Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. Accessed 2026-09-16.