Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs 
Marsh Builders Risk Insurance
Heffernan places builders risk through construction brokers and wrap-ups; MMA places it inside a middle-market property practice.
What Is Heffernan Insurance Brokers?
Heffernan Insurance Brokers is an independent, Walnut Creek–headquartered retail brokerage that arranges business insurance, employee benefits, and related services. Its technology practice markets to mid- and late-stage companies, including venture-funded and pre-IPO firms. 1,2,3
What Is Marsh?
Marsh is a global insurance broker and risk advisor. In the United States it places coverage through core Marsh teams and through Marsh McLennan Agency for many middle-market buyers, including technology, cyber, property, casualty and benefits programs. 5,6,7,8
What Is Builders Risk Insurance?
Builders risk insurance addresses physical property losses during building construction. 10
Key Differences in Builders Risk Insurance
Construction Practice Versus Property Practice
Heffernan and Marsh McLennan Agency both place builders risk rather than underwrite it. Heffernan’s construction brokers gather quotes from various carriers for contractors, developers and design/build firms. MMA places the line as part of its property insurance practice, not as a separately branded product, through a property specialist. 4 9
What Each Description Includes
Heffernan describes builders risk as protection against physical damage during the build, such as fire, theft and weather, customized to the project. MMA describes a building under construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, materials the insured owns, and on a limited basis materials belonging to others. Heffernan’s page does not list foundations or others’ materials; MMA’s page does not list fire, theft and weather as named perils. 4 9
Wrap-Up Contacts
Heffernan lists a Wrap Up Solutions team with its construction practice leader for builders risk and related project-specific programs. MMA’s property page does not describe a wrap-up team. If the project needs a controlled insurance program, that contact is on Heffernan’s construction page, not on MMA’s reviewed builders’ risk subsection. 4 9
What to Confirm in Builders Risk Insurance Quotes
- Get the issuing insurer from both; neither reviewed page names one. 4 9
- Ask MMA how foundations, temporary structures and others’ materials are treated, and whether Heffernan’s markets would match that. 9 4
- Confirm whether wrap-up is in Heffernan’s proposal, and which MMA modeling or claims-advocacy services attach. 4 9
- Treat Heffernan’s 1%–4% educational cost range as not a quote; compare actual premiums and limits. 4 9
Offering Details
Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Marsh Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Heffernan Builders Risk Insurance | Marsh McLennan Agency Builders' Risk Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Heffernan's construction insurance brokers arrange builders risk insurance for contractors, developers and other construction-industry clients. As a broker, Heffernan places the coverage with insurance carriers rather than underwriting it itself. 4Company-reported. Construction page description of the builders risk offering. Does not establish a specific carrier relationship. | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, places builders' risk insurance as part of its broader property insurance practice, not as a separately branded product. 9Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Builders' Risk subsection. |
| Issuing Insurer | The construction page does not name the insurer that would issue a builders risk policy arranged through Heffernan; the FAQ refers only to gathering quotes from 'various carriers.' 4Not publicly disclosed. Checked the construction page on 2026-09-23. The issuing insurer would appear on the quote and declarations. | The reviewed page does not name a specific builders' risk insurer. 9Not publicly disclosed. MMA property insurance page as read on 2026-09-23. |
| Who It’s For | Heffernan says its construction insurance brokers serve general contractors, subcontractors, specialty and trade contractors, developers and design/build firms across sectors including alternative energy, concrete construction management and engineering, and lists a network of more than 1,000 contractor and developer clients nationwide. 4Company-reported. Construction page sector list and client-count claim; client count is company-reported and not independently verified. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Coverage Features | Heffernan describes builders risk insurance as coverage that protects a construction project against physical damage during the build, such as fire, theft and weather-related events, and says it customizes the coverage to the specific project. 4Company-reported. Construction page product description; specific insuring agreements, exclusions and endorsements are not detailed on the page. | MMA says builders' risk coverage addresses risks unique to a building under construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, and materials and supplies owned by the insured, and on a limited basis, materials and supplies belonging to others. 9Company-reported. MMA property insurance page; illustrative description, not a specific policy form. |
| Limits and Retentions | The construction page's builders risk FAQ gives only a generic industry cost range, roughly 1% to 4% of the construction budget, as educational content. It does not publish a Heffernan-specific limit, retention or premium for a builders risk policy. 4Not publicly disclosed. Checked the construction page's Builders Risk FAQ section on 2026-09-23. This is general market information, not a Heffernan-issued quote. | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Risk Services | Heffernan lists a dedicated Wrap Up Solutions team alongside its construction practice leader as contacts for builders risk and related project-specific insurance programs. 4Company-reported. Construction page practice-leader contact block. | MMA says its property practice offers hazard assessment and valuation services, loss and catastrophe modeling, claims advocacy, pre- and post-loss risk control, and program design expertise drawn from its global market experience. 9Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Benefits of Property Insurance and Builders' Risk sections; these services are described for the property practice generally, not exclusively for builders' risk. |
| How to Apply | Heffernan's construction page directs buyers to contact its construction insurance specialists directly, and its builders risk FAQ describes providing project details such as budget, timeline and construction type so Heffernan can gather quotes from multiple carriers. 4Company-reported. Construction page contact route and FAQ process description. | You work with an MMA property specialist directly; the page names a National Accounts Property Practice Leader and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online quote. 9Company-reported. MMA property insurance page. |
Full Comparison
More Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Marsh Comparisons
Other Builders Risk Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Heffernan Insurance Brokers
- Our Story. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology Company Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Pre-IPO and venture-funded heading; mid to late stage specialization; global expansion copy; self-insurance strategies; Key Markets list; Why Heffernan broker history; Joseph Talmadge practice leader; FAQ. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Forward-Thinking Business Insurance: basic coverages (general liability, commercial property and auto, workers’ compensation); corporate and executive protection (EPL, D&O, fiduciary responsibility, cyber, kidnap and ransom); alternative risk capabilities; claims, loss control and risk-management services; industry practice links including Technology and Claims Advocacy. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Construction & Contractor Liability Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Protect Your Construction Projects with Builders Risk Insurance; contractor sectors served; Builders Risk FAQ; network of over 1,000 contractor and developer clients nationwide; Construction Practice Leader and Wrap Up Solutions contacts. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Marsh
- Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Property Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Builders' Risk subsection under Property Insurance: risks unique to a building during construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, materials and supplies; Program design expertise; Benefits of Property Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Builders Risk Insurance Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
