Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Zurich U.S.: How Do They Compare for Fidelity Bonds?

Heffernan names bond routes for home-care and financial firms; Zurich structures ERISA bonds by benefit-plan complexity. 4,5,9

What Is Heffernan Insurance Brokers?

Heffernan’s technology practice targets mid- and late-stage, venture-funded and pre-IPO companies; early-stage firms seeking a direct online quote should compare digital providers. It also offers claims consulting and workers’ compensation support. 1,2,3

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Zurich U.S. Business Insurance: Products, Access, and Claims

Zurich U.S. serves Middle Market businesses and large or national accounts with commercial property-casualty and specialty insurance. Buyers can explore product lines and work through an agent or broker; the insurer named on a quote or policy identifies which Zurich company underwrites that coverage. 7,8

Read the Zurich U.S. profile

What Are Fidelity Bonds?

Fidelity coverage can reimburse certain losses when employees steal money or property they handle. If employees manage company funds, customer property or benefit-plan assets, identify each owner and compare the required protection for each interest. 10,11,12

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Fidelity Bonds

Buyer and bond type

Heffernan arranges an Employee Dishonesty Bond for home-care agencies and a fidelity or financial-institution bond for family offices and financial firms. Zurich’s Express and Select products are ERISA fidelity bonds for benefit plans: Express addresses one straightforward plan and Select multiple or complex plans. A home-care agency or family office should ask Heffernan which bond meets its contractual or operational need; a plan sponsor can compare Zurich’s tracks to the plan’s structure. The names alone do not establish matching coverage triggers. 4 9

Coverage details to request

Heffernan’s reviewed pages identify the products and audiences but do not describe their insuring agreements, exclusions, or claim triggers. Zurich says its ERISA bond covers direct loss of money, securities, or property caused by employee fraud or dishonesty and may include designated agents or independent contractors in its employee definition. Buyers therefore have more specific covered-loss information in Zurich’s record, while a Heffernan placement requires the proposed form to answer those questions. 5 9

What to Confirm in Fidelity Bonds Quotes

  • Ask Heffernan for the covered loss triggers, named insureds, exclusions, and whether a home-care employee or financial-firm role fits. 5
  • Ask Zurich whether your plan qualifies for Express or Select and how contractors are treated in the employee definition. 9

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

5.2/ 10

Review Score

1 rated source

Heffernan’s available review sample is small and local, with a low Google rating for one office. Check the team that would actually serve your business.[6][7][8]

Read Heffernan Insurance Brokers reviews

Zurich U.S.

-/ 10

Review Score

No reviews found

The available Zurich review evidence is mixed and comes from distinct populations: a car-rental-business editorial rating, broad global and U.S. review-platform snapshots, and a BBB business-profile grade. These are not a representative measure of every Zurich commercial policy or claim.[1][4][5][6][7]

Read Zurich U.S. reviews

Offering Details

Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Zurich U.S.: Fidelity Bonds: documented features by provider

CriteriaHeffernan Employee Dishonesty / Fidelity BondsZurich ERISA Fidelity Bond
Role in This Line

Heffernan arranges fidelity-type bonds as one line within two specialty practices: an Employee Dishonesty Bond for home-care agencies and a Fidelity/financial institution bond for family offices and financial firms. It places these bonds with insurers rather than issuing them itself. 4,5Company-reported. Home Care and Family Office practice-page listings; no dedicated fidelity-bond product page was found.

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Issuing Insurer

The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or bond underwriter for either the home-care Employee Dishonesty Bond or the family-office fidelity bond. 4,5Not publicly disclosed. Home Care and Family Office pages as read on 2026-09-23.

Confirm in your quote.

Who It’s For

Heffernan lists fidelity-type bonds for two named buyer segments: home care, home health, and hospice agencies, and family offices, trustees, financial advisors, private equity firms, and foundations. 4,5Company-reported. Direct practice-page listings; no minimum size or other eligibility criteria for the bond specifically were published.

Zurich offers Express ERISA bonds for a single non-union plan with straightforward needs (fraud/dishonesty limits up to $1 million) and Select for multiple or complex plans with higher limits and optional coverages. 9Company-reported. Zurich American Insurance Company (ZAIC) is named as underwriter.; ERISA fidelity bonds; United States. Available for approved states; quoted limit and specific coverages depend on qualification.

Coverage Features

Heffernan uses two different bond product names for its two client segments: "Employee Dishonesty Bond" for home-care agencies and "Fidelity/financial institution bond" for family offices and financial firms. Neither page describes the bond's insuring agreement, exclusions, or claim triggers. 4,5Company-reported. Home Care and Family Office pages as read on 2026-09-23.

Zurich says its ERISA fidelity bond covers direct loss of money, securities or property caused by employee fraud or dishonest acts, and may include designated agents/independent contractors in its employee definition. 9Company-reported. Zurich American Insurance Company (ZAIC) is named as underwriter.; ERISA fidelity bonds; United States. Subject to definitions in the issued bond.

Limits and Retentions

Neither the home-care nor the family-office page publishes a bond penalty amount, limit, or deductible for the fidelity coverage. 4,5Not found in reviewed sources. Home Care and Family Office pages as read on 2026-09-23.

The Express option offers fraud/dishonesty limits up to $1 million; Zurich says Select provides higher limits and added coverage flexibility for complex or multiple plans. 9Company-reported. Zurich American Insurance Company (ZAIC) is named as underwriter.; ERISA fidelity bonds; United States. No numerical Select maximum appears in the opened page.

Risk Services

Heffernan's published claims-advocacy services list workers' compensation, general liability, auto, and property claims support; fidelity or crime-bond claims handling is not described on that page. 6Not found in reviewed sources. Claims Advocacy page as read on 2026-09-23; does not establish that fidelity-bond claims receive no support, only that this page does not describe it.

Confirm in your quote.

Full Comparison

More Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons

Other Fidelity Bonds Comparisons

Sources

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

  1. 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. 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. 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. Home Care Business Insurance. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; We offer comprehensive coverage for: ... Crime - Third Party Theft, Employee Dishonesty Bond, Cyber & Identity Theft, Medical Billing E&O, Property Coverage and more. Accessed 2026-09-23.
  5. Family Office. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Coverage for Family Offices, Trustees & Financial Firms: ... Trustee liability insurance, Property and auto insurance, Fiduciary liability insurance, Fidelity/financial institution bond, Cyber liability insurance, Crime insurance, General liability insurance. Accessed 2026-09-23.
  6. Claims Advocacy. Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Services We Offer: Workers' Compensation Claims Expertise; Medical Triage Services; General Liability, Auto & Property Claims Support; Online Risk Management & HR Support; Streamlined Vendor Compliance. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Zurich U.S.

  1. About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance. Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. ERISA Fidelity Bond | Zurich U.S. Insurance. Zurich U.S.; ERISA Fidelity Bond options, limits, eligibility, insurer, underwriting conditions. Accessed 2026-09-28.

Fidelity Bonds Guide

  1. Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Fidelity; Surety Bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2008-04: Guidance Regarding ERISA Fidelity Bonding Requirements. U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; Q1–Q3 pp.2–3; Q2 pp.2–3. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Crime Terms and Conditions. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; I.A.1–3 p.1; III.S pp.8–9; V.B.1–2 pp.18–20; CRI consideration p.1; III.P p.8; V.A.3 pp.16–17; V.A.4 p.17; V.B.3 p.20; IV.L p.15. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . 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. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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