---
title: "Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance"
description: "Heffernan brokers fiduciary for family offices and businesses; Relm sells the coverage through brokers to startups adding benefit plans."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/fiduciary"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance

Heffernan brokers fiduciary for family offices and businesses; Relm sells the coverage through brokers to startups adding benefit plans.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Relm Insurance 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

Heffernan places fiduciary liability for general business clients and for family offices, trusts and other financial firms, with a Risk Management Assessment. Relm markets the same line for other brokers to place, aiming at startups and growth-stage companies that add pensions or health insurance early. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## 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](https://www.heffins.com/about-us/our-story/ "Our Story") [2](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/technology/ "Technology Company Insurance") [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage")

[Heffernan Insurance Brokers profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/heffernan)

## What Is Relm Insurance?

Relm is a specialty insurance business serving emerging industries. Its AI range distinguishes developer liability, gaps in existing liability insurance and losses from third-party AI failures. [5](https://relminsurance.com/relm-launches-us-mga/ "Relm Launches US MGA") [6](https://relminsurance.com/relm-insurance-launches-ai-suite/ "Relm Launches AI Liability Solutions")

[Relm Insurance profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/relm)

## What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?

Fiduciary liability insurance addresses covered claims alleging breaches of duties in managing employee benefit plans. [8](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") [9](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fiduciary-liability "Fiduciary Liability Insurance")

## Key Differences in Fiduciary Liability Insurance

### Direct Broker Versus Wholesale-Style Distribution

Heffernan shops and places fiduciary liability for its own clients. Relm markets fiduciary liability as coverage brokers can place for companies that manage employee benefit plans, and its reviewed pages do not describe a direct online quote. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

If you already work with Heffernan, you are talking to the placing broker. If you are looking at Relm, you still need a broker relationship, which could be Heffernan or another firm. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

### Family Offices Versus Early-Benefit Startups

Heffernan names family offices, trust companies, trustees, advisors, private equity, foundations and financial institutions, plus general business clients. Relm targets companies that manage pensions or health insurance and specifically calls out startups and growth-stage companies that introduce benefits early to attract talent. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

Relm says the cover protects plan sponsors, trustees, administrators, investment committees, and directors and officers with discretionary authority under ERISA, including legal fees, settlements and judgments. Heffernan’s family-office page lists the line without that insured roster. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

### Assessment Service Versus Coverage Description Only

Heffernan’s family-office practice describes a Risk Management Assessment and claims navigation, reached through a Private Client Group contact. Relm’s reviewed fiduciary page does not describe dedicated plan-administration review or risk-control services beyond the general coverage description. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Fiduciary Liability Insurance Quotes

- Clarify whether Relm would be a market Heffernan can access or a separate path through another broker. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")
- Ask Relm’s placing broker whether investment committees and directors with discretionary authority are insureds. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")
- Ask Heffernan whether a family-office assessment is in scope if you are a startup rather than a trust or family office. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office")
- Ask Heffernan which market it would use and ask Relm’s placing broker which company would issue the form. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Heffernan Fiduciary Liability Insurance | Relm Fiduciary Liability Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Heffernan places fiduciary liability coverage within its general corporate/executive-protection lineup and again within a dedicated family-office and financial-institution practice. It shops and places the coverage with insurers rather than underwriting it. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Business Insurance and Family Office page listings; no dedicated fiduciary-liability product page was found..) | Relm markets fiduciary liability as a coverage brokers can place for clients that manage employee benefit plans. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Relm line-of-business page (Relm sells through brokers); not a statement identifying the issuing insurer for a given placement..) |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that issue fiduciary liability policies Heffernan places for either business clients or family offices. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Business Insurance and Family Office pages as read on 2026-09-23..) | The reviewed page does not name a specific issuing insurer for fiduciary liability placements. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Line-of-business page as read on 2026-09-23; a specific placement's insurer is product- and jurisdiction-specific..) |
| Who It’s For | Heffernan offers fiduciary liability to two named segments: general business clients through its business-insurance brokerage, and family offices, trust companies, trustees, financial advisors, private equity firms, foundations, and other financial institutions through its family-office practice. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Direct practice-page listings; no minimum size or asset-under-management threshold was published for the coverage specifically..) | Relm targets companies that manage employee benefit plans such as pensions or health insurance, specifically calling out startups and growth-stage companies that introduce benefits early to attract talent. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page framing; not a guarantee of eligibility for a particular company..) |
| Coverage Features | On the family-office page, fiduciary liability insurance is listed alongside directors and officers, professional liability, employment practices liability, trustee liability, and other management-liability-adjacent lines as coverage the practice can arrange, without describing the policy's insuring agreement or exclusions. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Family Office page as read on 2026-09-23..) | Relm says fiduciary liability protects plan sponsors, trustees, administrators, investment committees, and directors and officers with 'discretionary authority' under ERISA, covering legal fees, settlement and judgment costs tied to employee benefit plans. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page general description; the issued policy and declarations control..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither page publishes a fiduciary-liability limit, retention, or premium range. [3](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/ "Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage") [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Business Insurance and Family Office pages as read on 2026-09-23..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Risk Services | Heffernan's family-office practice describes a Risk Management Assessment: itemizing a client's structures, assets, and exposures; crafting insurance and risk-management strategies to close coverage gaps; and helping navigate claims, for its fiduciary and financial-institution client base. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Family Office page as read on 2026-09-23; a company-described service, not a measured outcome..) | The reviewed fiduciary liability page does not describe dedicated plan-administration review or risk-control services beyond the general coverage description. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Financial Lines page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| How to Apply | The family-office practice's fiduciary-liability coverage is reached through a named Private Client Group specialist contact rather than a self-service online quote flow. [4](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/ "Family Office") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Family Office page as read on 2026-09-23; the general business-insurance page's fiduciary listing routes through Heffernan's general Contact Us form instead..) | Relm sells fiduciary liability coverage through insurance brokers; its reviewed pages do not describe a direct online quote. [7](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/ "Financial Lines Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Financial Lines page framing; consistent with Relm's broader broker-distribution model..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm): 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.
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/commercial-property)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/crime)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/cyber)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/employment-practices)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/general-liability)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Relm Insurance Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-relm/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-heffernan/fiduciary)
- [Alliance Risk vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-relm/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-heffernan/fiduciary)
- [Beazley vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-relm/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-heffernan/fiduciary)
- [Chubb vs Relm Insurance Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-relm/fiduciary)

## Sources

### Heffernan Insurance Brokers

1. [Our Story](https://www.heffins.com/about-us/our-story/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Headquartered in Walnut Creek; nationwide presence; founded 1988; employee owned; niche practices including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Technology Company Insurance](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/technology/). 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.
3. [Heffernan Business Insurance Brokerage](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Corporate and executive protection, such as employment practices liability, directors and officers liability, fiduciary responsibility, cyber liability, and kidnap and ransom are also available through our comprehensive business insurance programs.. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Family Office](https://www.heffins.com/family-office/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; We serve: Family offices, Trust companies, Individual and professional trustees, Financial advisors/CPAs/attorneys, Private equity firms, Foundations, Financial institutions; Coverage for Family Offices, Trustees & Financial Firms: ... Fiduciary liability insurance ...; Risk Management Assessment section; contact Lacey Garrison. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Relm Insurance

5. [Relm Launches US MGA](https://relminsurance.com/relm-launches-us-mga/). Relm Insurance; Opening paragraphs describing US MGA and distribution partners. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Relm Launches AI Liability Solutions](https://relminsurance.com/relm-insurance-launches-ai-suite/). Relm Insurance; NOVAAI, PONTAAI and RESCAAI: Applicable Users and Coverage Highlights. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Financial Lines Insurance](https://relminsurance.com/lines-of-business/financial-lines-insurance/). Relm Insurance; Fiduciary Liability Insurance: What Is Fiduciary Liability Insurance?; Make Sure Benefits Don't Backfire; What Does Fiduciary Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Fiduciary Liability Insurance Guide

8. [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.
9. [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.

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