Best D&O Insurance

Travelers is the best overall for D&O insurance

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Directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance is a way for a company to protect its leaders from financial losses as a result of a lawsuit. More specifically, D&O insurance is meant to protect directors’ and officers’ from claims made against them while serving on the board of directors or as an officer of a private or not-for-profit company.

The best D&O insurance is easy to purchase, has comprehensive coverage, and comes from a reputable company. Customer service and cost also play a significant role in the purchasing process. Read on to see which companies we think are best.

The Best D&O Insurance for 2023

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Best Overall : Travelers


Travelers logo

Travelers logo

Why We Chose It

We chose Travelers as the best overall D&O insurance because of its long and strong history and its demonstrated leadership in the insurance industry.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Longevity in the industry

  • Strong financial strength rating

  • Offer a breadth of insurance coverage options

Cons
  • No online quote

  • No online chat option

Travelers is an insurance company that has been around for more than 165 years. It employs more than 30,000 employees and 13,500 independent contractors in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Travelers has won numerous awards including several from Forbes for being one of America’s Most JUST Companies, to several more from Fortune's list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Its longevity and leadership in the insurance industry are why we chose Travelers as our best overall choice for D&O insurance. 

Travelers offer a wide variety of insurance products from individual home, car, and umbrella insurance to business insurance including cyber, general liability, and management and professional liability. Directors and officer insurance is one of the management and professional liability insurance policies offered by Travelers. 

No matter what type of organization you work for, Travelers has you covered with D&O insurance for public, private, and nonprofit. Travelers can help to cover you and your company and also help you to understand how D&O insurance can protect you. To apply for a policy, you can search for an insurance agent in your area and contact them directly. Or, you can request a quote by filling out an online form and an agent will contact you to follow up. The cost of your policy will depend on the size, type, and risk level of your business so you will need to speak with an agent for more details. 

With AM Best financial strength rating of A++, you can trust that you are in capable and reliable hands with Travelers.

Best for Startups : Founder Shield


Founder Shield

Founder Shield

Why We Chose It

Founder Shield was an easy choice for the best D&O insurance for startups because it is focused on protecting rapidly evolving and venture-backed startups.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • User-friendly website

  • Strong customer service

  • Can access all insurance information from online portal

Cons
  • Lacks the longevity and history of many other providers

  • No online quotes

Founder Shield was launched in 2012 and is headquartered in New York. It leverages technology to make the insurance application and purchasing process seamless and simple. Founder Shield wins our spot for the best D&O insurance for startups because it is focused on providing risk management solutions for rapidly evolving companies. 

The cost of Founder Shield D&O insurance will vary greatly between companies based on a number of variables including the company's claim history, funding, industry, as well as revenue and financials. Founder Shield does provide some average premiums based on the size of a company. 

A company with annual revenue ranging from $1 million to $10 million can expect premiums in the ballpark of $6,000 to $7,000 and a deductible of around $25,000. Companies with annual revenue of $10 million to $25 million can expect an average premium of $10,300 with a deductible of around $50,000, and companies with $100 million to $250 million in revenue can expect ballpark premiums of $52,800 with a deductible in the range of $125,000.  

Founder Shield has made getting D&O insurance easy. All you have to do is sign up by providing details like your name and email, and then you can start the online application process. Once you submit your information you will then be paired with a specialist to provide additional details about your company.

Best for Nonprofit : CoverWallet


CoverWallet

CoverWallet 

Why We Chose It

CoverWallet is our choice for the best D&O insurance provider for nonprofits because it recognizes the specific needs and risks faced by nonprofit organizations and has the insurance solutions necessary to protect these organizations.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Online quote

  • Breadth of business insurance

  • User-friendly interface

Cons
  • No physical branches

  • Lacks the longevity and history of some of the other companies

Launched in 2015, CoverWallet is a commercial insurance agency and brokerage headquartered in New York. In 2020, CoverWallet was acquired by Aon Company, a global professional services firm that provides risk, retirement, and health solutions.

CoverWallet wants to make it as simple and convenient as possible for you to get the insurance coverage you need for your company. They do this by allowing customers to buy and manage their insurance completely online. CoverWallet is our choice for the best D&O insurance for nonprofits because it understands the unique needs of nonprofit companies and has the D&O insurance solutions to help you mitigate your risks.

When it comes to the cost of CoverWallet insurance, the exact amount you pay will be based on the specifics of your company. However, CoverWallet suggests that coverage for a startup nonprofit corporation will start at $400 annually. For its Standard nonprofit coverage, which bundles general liability and D&O. You are able to pay your premium in full or in monthly installments and you can also manage your payments online. 

You can get a D&O insurance quote in a matter of minutes, completely online. You will need to answer a series of questions about your business including the type of industry you are in, your annual revenue, and questions about your financials and assets. You will be given an annual quote and you can then follow up with an advisor by calling, chatting, or emailing.

Best for Small Businesses : HUB International


Hub International

Hub International

Why We Chose It

We chose Hub International as our choice for the best D&O insurance for small businesses because it doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all insurance. Instead, it works with clients to tailor its insurance programs and provide customized coverage.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Customized insurance options

  • Easy-to-use website

  • Offers breadth of business insurance coverage

Cons
  • Shorter history than many other insurance providers

  • No online quote

In 1998, eleven Canadian brokerages merged to form what is now Hub International Limited. Today, Hub International is a leading insurance broker headquartered in Chicago managing over $93 billion in assets. 

Hub International is our choice for the best D&O insurance for small businesses because it provides customized insurance options to properly address the specific needs of your company. Hub International will work with you to determine your coverage priorities by asking specific questions, such as whether you want to insure all of your employees or just the board and executive team. In addition to D&O insurance, Hub International also offers other forms of professional liability insurance including Employment Practices Liability Insurance and Cyber Insurance. 

Hub International’s D&O insurance offers its customer coverage features including personal asset protection, claims protection, and workplace and employment protection. To get a quote for D&O insurance, you need to fill out an online application with personal information including your job title, email, company name, number of employees, and type of industry, and select your method of contact, either by email or phone. A Hub International broker will then reach out to you to assist you with the process.

Best for International Companies : American International Group (AIG)


AIG

 AIG

Why We Chose It

We chose AIG as the best D&O insurance for international companies because of its extensive international presence in 70 countries and jurisdictions around the world.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Longevity in the industry

  • Multinational

  • Wide selection of business insurance options

Cons
  • No online quote

  • Might not be best for small startups; prefers companies that are financially stable with experienced management teams

AIG was founded in 1919 in Shanghai, China. Today, AIG is a leading global insurance organization with a presence in approximately 70 countries and jurisdictions. The company has specifically been helping organizations to create protection for senior leaders with over 40 years of offering D&O insurance. 

AIG is our choice for the best D&O insurance for international companies as it offers businesses multinational service with one of the largest global networks in the industry. It also provides expansive claims capabilities seeing over 25,000 claims per year and paying out $1.5 billion in claims annually. As of 2021, AIG was also the 3rd largest D&O insurance provider in the US based on market share. 

AIG expresses a preference for companies that are financially stable with experienced management teams and does not prefer risky industry sectors such as high tech, life sciences, energy, and healthcare. It offers a number of different D&O insurance products including primary D&O liability, side-A D&O liability, and primary D&O endorsement.

To sign up for D&O insurance with AIG, you need to submit an application form. AIG does not provide online quotes and you must speak with an AIG representative.

Best for Combined EPLI Policy : The Hartford


The Hartford

 The Hartford

Why We Chose It

The Hartford is our choice for the best combined Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policy because it makes buying insurance easy, and potentially more cost-effective, by bundling products such as D&O and EPLI insurance.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Over 200 years in the industry

  • Strong financial strength

  • 24/7 customer service

Cons
  • Online quotes only available for certain products

  • No online quote for D&O insurance

The Hartford Financial Services Company got its start in 1810 as a fire insurance company. Today, The Hartford is a leading investment and insurance company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. 

With The Hartford, you can choose to purchase D&O insurance as a separate policy or you can choose to bundle it with other types of coverage. The Hartford wins our selection for the best combined EPLI policy because it offers a bundled D&O and EPLI policy as a potential way for smaller companies to get more cost-effective insurance. 

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) is meant to cover employee-related claims including harassment, discrimination, or wrongful termination. A more comprehensive EPLI is also available which includes crime and fiduciary coverage.  

For some types of insurance, you can get a quote in a matter of minutes by filling out an online application form. You will have to answer a number of questions about the size of your business including the number of employees and your annual revenue. You will also be asked about where your business is located and the type of work you do. After filling out the online application form, The Hartford will send you an email with a link to your quote. For other types of insurance (including D&O), you must speak with a Hartford representative to get a quote. 

The Hartford states that the cost of D&O insurance varies greatly on factors including the type of business, company revenue, and prior legal claims. However, they reference a report from Advisen to suggest that “the average annual cost per million dollars of coverage paid by private companies with revenues up to $50 million falls in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.” 

With over 200 years in the insurance industry and an AM Best financial strength rating of A+, you can feel confident in The Hartford.

Final Verdict

D&O insurance can be a wise choice for any type or size of company. When choosing D&O insurance, consider variables such as the terms and conditions of the D&O policy, the financial strength of the insurer, company history, and cost. Travelers Insurance is a solid option for D&O coverage with over 165 years of experience in the insurance industry, a strong financial strength rating, and a wide range of insurance products.  

Compare the Best D&O Insurance

Company Year Founded AM Best Rating Customer Service Options Other Available Business Policies
Travelers
Best Overall
1853 A++ Phone, email Commercial auto & trucking; cyber; general liability; property; small business owner’s policy; surety bonds; workers compensation
Founder Shield
Best for Startups
2012  N/A Email, chat, phone Cyber, E&O, crime, fiduciary, general liability, employment practices liability, product liability, property insurance, workers compensation, and more
CoverWallet
Best for Nonprofits
2015  A (Aon Company) Phone, email, chat General liability, workers compensation, business owners policy, commercial property, professional liability, umbrella, errors and omissions, employment practices liability insurance, fiduciary, cyber, island marine, product, special events, liquor liability, and more
HUB International
Best for Small Businesses
1998  N/A  Email, phone, chat Commercial property, liability, workers’ compensation, EPL, commercial auto, cyber, aviation, marine, medical malpractice, surety bond, and more
AIG
Best for International Businesses
1919  A Email Accident and health, casualty, environmental, management liability, cyber, kidnap and ransom, political risk, mergers and acquisitions, property, warranty, and more
The Hartford
Best Combined EPLI Policy
1810 A+ Phone, email Business owner’s property, general liability, commercial auto, commercial flood, umbrella, cyber, marine, multinational, risk engineering, surety and fidelity bonds, and more

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is D&O Insurance?

Directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance is a way for a company to protect its leaders from financial losses as a result of a lawsuit. More specifically, D&O insurance is meant to protect directors and officers, and their spouses, from claims made against them while serving on the board of directors or as an officer of a private or not-for-profit company.

A business leader may benefit from D&O insurance in the case that the company fails to adhere to certain regulations or laws or if there is a claim against the company with regard to employment practices.

What Is Covered Under D&O Insurance?

D&O liability insurance covers individuals for claims made against them while they are serving as a director or an officer. D&O liability insurance consists of three different coverages called “sides.” 

  • Side A: Provides individual coverage to the companies directors and officers when the company can’t indemnify the individuals
  • Side B: Provides reimbursement to the company for costs incurred while defending the individual director or officer in a lawsuit
  • Side C: Provides entity coverage to the company for claims made against it

Typically, any illegal or intentional wrongdoing will not be covered by D&O liability insurance.

When Does a Business Need D&O Insurance?

D&O insurance is not required, however, many businesses that have a corporate board or advisory committee may benefit from D&O insurance. It’s not just large public companies that can benefit. Even small businesses, not-for-profit, and start-ups can get D&O insurance.

How Much Does D&O Insurance Cost?

The cost of D&O insurance can vary greatly based on a number of factors including:

  • Age of company
  • Size of company
  • Number of employees
  • Amount of coverage required
  • Past claim history
  • Industry sector
  • Domestic and international activity
  • Revenue  

According to ballpark estimates made by Founder Shield, a company with annual revenue ranging from $1 million to $10 million can expect premiums in the ballpark of $6,000 to $7,000 and a deductible of around $25,000. Companies with annual revenue of $10 million to $25 million can expect an average premium of $10,300 with a deductible of around $50,000, and companies with $100 million to $250 million in revenue can expect ballpark premiums of $52,800 with a deductible in the range of $125,000.

What Is the Difference Between D&O Insurance and E&O Insurance?

Both D&O and errors and omission (E&O) are types of professional liability insurance. However, D&O insurance is typically for leaders who are higher on the corporate ladder, protecting their personal assets from claims and lawsuits against them. Errors and omission insurance is available for employees at all levels of a company. It is often purchased by professional service providers or companies to protect them against client claims of negligence, misinformation, or inadequate work.  

Does an LLC Need D&O Insurance?

A limited liability company (LLC) may not necessarily require D&O insurance and it is not mandatory for an LLC to have D&O insurance. However, it still might be something to consider. If you have a board of directors or officers, then your company might benefit from the protection offered by D&O insurance coverage. Similarly, if you are trying to recruit board members, you might want to consider D&O insurance. Without a D&O policy board members would be responsible for covering themselves should they encounter a legal issue while working on your behalf. 

Methodology 

We researched 12 companies offering D&O liability insurance and evaluated insurers based on variables such as company longevity and reputation, terms and conditions of insurance, the financial strength of the insurer, and customer reviews. When selecting insurers, we also considered the other types of business insurance offered. Finally, we also took into consideration the usability of the company website and how easy it is to get a quote.

Advisor having a meeting with clients about D and O insurance

Bloom Productions / Getty Images

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
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  2. AM Best. "AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of the Travelers Companies, Inc. and Its Main Subsidiaries."

  3. Founder Shielf. "About Us."

  4. Founder Shield. "D&O Insurance Frequently Asked Questions," Click on "How Much Does D&O Insurance Cost?"

  5. Insurance Journal. "Aon to Acquire CoverWallet, Small-Medium Business Digital Insurance Agency."

  6. CoverWallet. "Insurance for Founders: D&O Insurance Explained."

  7. HUB. "About Us."

  8. AIG. "Discover the History of AIG."

  9. AIG. "Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance."

  10. American International Group. "2021 Form 10-K," Page 333.

  11. S&P Global. "US D&O Insurance Industry Surpasses $4B Direct Written Premiums in Q3."

  12. The Hartford. "Our History."

  13. The Hartford. "Types and Costs of D&O Coverage."

  14. Advisen. "The Private Eye: Spotlight on the US Private D&O Market."

  15. AM Best. "AM Best Affirms the Credit Ratings of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries."

  16. Insurance Information Institute. "Directors and Officers Insurance."