---
title: "Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance"
description: "USI names CNA as the underwriter of its CPA-specific AICPA program; Heffernan's small-business page names no insurer for any industry it lists."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

USI names CNA as the underwriter of its CPA-specific AICPA program; Heffernan's small-business page names no insurer for any industry it lists.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Heffernan Insurance Brokers and USI Insurance Services for Professional Liability (E&O) 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

USI runs a CPA-specific program underwritten by CNA with bundled risk-management resources, while Heffernan's small-business division places E&O for a broader industry list without naming an insurer. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business 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 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. [5](https://www.usi.com/about-usi "The Power of ONE") [6](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/technology/ "Technology Insurance") [7](https://www.usi.com/commissions-fees/ "Commissions and Fees")

[USI Insurance Services profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi)

## 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. [11](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html "FAQ: Professional liability insurance") [12](https://www.iii.org/article/professional-liability-insurance "Professional liability insurance") [13](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance "Get business insurance") [14](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf "Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance")

## Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

### A Named Carrier for One Client Type

USI's page states its AICPA Professional Liability Program is underwritten by CNA, a named carrier, but only for CPA firms enrolled in that program; its separate Business Services practice brokers E&O for other business types without naming an insurer. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") Heffernan's small-business page names no insurer for any of the industries on its list. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance")

### Who Qualifies

USI has offered CPA coverage since 1967 and been the endorsed AICPA Program provider since 1994, so the CNA-underwritten program applies specifically to accounting firms. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") Heffernan instead serves sole proprietors through fast-growing companies in construction, food, health care, hospitality, nonprofits, real estate, technology, transportation, and vintners and growers, none of which is tied to a professional-association endorsement. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance")

### What's Bundled With the Policy

USI says firms enrolled in the AICPA program get supportive claims handling and exclusive access to risk-management resources, including engagement-letter templates:

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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description..)

Heffernan's page describes no comparable bundled resource; it says only that it will research and build a custom package for industries not already on its list. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance")

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

- If you're a CPA firm, ask USI whether you're placed in the CNA-underwritten AICPA program or its general Business Services E&O line. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") [10](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/business-services/ "Business Services")
- Ask Heffernan which carriers it typically places E&O with for your industry. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance")
- Ask USI which risk-management resources apply if your business isn't a CPA firm. [10](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/business-services/ "Business Services")
- Ask Heffernan for a premium range and limit, since its page publishes neither. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Heffernan Professional Errors and Omissions Brokerage | AICPA Professional Liability Program (USI Affinity) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Heffernan lists errors and omissions among the coverages its small-business division places for clients, shopping the line with insurers rather than underwriting it. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; no dedicated professional-E&O product page was found..) | 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") [10](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/business-services/ "Business Services") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: AICPA program page and Business Services practice page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Not described in the reviewed sources. | 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Direct quote from the AICPA program page; CNA underwrites only this named program, not USI's other professional-liability placements..) |
| Who It’s For | Heffernan's small-business division says it serves sole proprietors through fast-growing companies across industries including construction, food, health care, hospitality, nonprofits, real estate, technology, transportation, and vintners and growers, and will custom-design a package for industries not listed. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; not exclusively E&O-specific, but describes the buyer base for the page listing this coverage..) | 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description..) |
| Coverage Features | Heffernan describes errors and omissions coverage as protecting against claims for problems with a company's product or service that result in a financial loss to a client. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23; the page does not list specific exclusions, claims-made versus occurrence form, or endorsements..) | 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description; actual insuring agreements, exclusions and conditions are set by the issued CNA policy form..) |
| Limits and Retentions | The reviewed page does not publish limits, retentions, or premium ranges for errors and omissions coverage. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Program page description..) |
| How to Apply | Heffernan directs small-business buyers to contact the firm's small-business division to request a quote and says it will research and build a custom package for industries not already listed. [4](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/ "Small Business Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Small Business Insurance page as read on 2026-09-23..) | 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. [8](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/ "Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Contact instructions on the AICPA program page..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/professional-errors-omissions): Professional E&O insurance addresses claims that a mistake in your advice or services caused a client financial loss.
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/commercial-property)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/crime)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/cyber)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/employee-health-benefits)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/employment-practices)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/fiduciary)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Medical Malpractice Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/medical-malpractice)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Representations and Warranties Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/representations-warranties)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/surety-bonds)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs USI Insurance Services Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-usi/workers-compensation)
- [Alliance Risk vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [At-Bay vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/at-bay-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Beazley vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-heffernan/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Beazley vs USI Insurance Services Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-usi/professional-errors-omissions)

## 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; 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.
4. [Small Business Insurance](https://www.heffins.com/business-insurance/small-business/). Heffernan Insurance Brokers; The types of coverage we can provide include... Errors and omissions protects against claims for problems with your product or service that result in a financial loss; industries served list; Specialty Programs; contact for custom-designed packages. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### USI Insurance Services

5. [The Power of ONE](https://www.usi.com/about-usi). USI Insurance Services; History, client-count, nationwide office, and P&C / benefits / personal risk / retirement description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Technology Insurance](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/technology/). USI Insurance Services; Technology practice client types, seed-to-IPO range, and listed insurance placement lines including PrivaSafe. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Commissions and Fees](https://www.usi.com/commissions-fees/). USI Insurance Services; Licensed-producer authority, insurer-paid commission default, contingent compensation, and client request right. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Accountants Professional Liability — USI Affinity](https://www.usi.com/programs/affinity-programs/accountants-professional-liability/). 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.
9. [USI Specialty Program Solutions](https://www.usi.com/programs/). 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.
10. [Business Services](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/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

11. [FAQ: Professional liability insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/commercial/pl-faq.html). 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.
12. [Professional liability insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/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.
13. [Get business insurance](https://www.sba.gov/counseling/launch-your-business/#business-insurance). U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14. [Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/documents/pl-sample-policy-wording.pdf). 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.

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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