PIA Agents and Brokers E&O review for insurance agents: E&O cost, coverage and policy terms
Errors and omissions insurance protects an agency when a client claims a mistake, such as a missed coverage, cost them money. PIA, the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, offers it through state programs. In Florida, Ohio and Illinois that's AIFS, a Michigan agency that shops several insurers for you.
It suits agencies, brokerages, MGAs and wholesalers that want a broker to compare insurers. Every price is quoted after underwriting.
- Best for
- Independent agencies, brokerages, MGAs and wholesalers that want a broker to shop several E&O insurers
- Price
- Quote only. The online form gives a nonbinding estimate
- Insurer
- Depends on the market. Utica, Liberty Mutual, Arch, USLI and Lloyd's are among them
- Lines covered
- P&C, life and health, annuities and financial products by endorsement
- Admitted
- Varies by insurer and state
Our take
PIA's E&O route fits an agency that wants someone to shop its renewal with several insurers instead of buying one fixed program. AIFS places Florida, Ohio and Illinois agencies with markets such as Utica, Liberty Mutual and Arch, while other states route to PIA affiliates.
Because the insurer changes, so do the terms. Compare each offer on whether it keeps your retroactive date, puts defense outside the limit and covers temporary staff and contractors.
Start-up agencies can apply too.
Pros
- One application can reach several E&O insurers
- Start-up agencies and wholesalers can apply
- Free E&O seminars for AIFS policyholders
Cons
- No published prices, and the online estimate isn't a quote
- Coverage terms change with the insurer you're placed with
- Some markets are surplus lines, with no state backing if they fail
- Each state routes to a different program
Who can buy
- Licenses
- Each insurer sets its own licensing and underwriting rules
- Lines
- Retail, wholesale, surplus lines and MGA operations all apply
- Years licensed
- Start-ups qualify. If your principals have under three years of experience, you describe it on the form
- Prior claims
- The form asks about claims, discipline and canceled coverage in the past five years
- Membership required
- No. Members and nonmembers can ask for a quote
Some state affiliates give members better rates.
What it costs
- How it's priced
- AIFS shops your agency with several insurers after full underwriting
- What sets the price
- Revenue, staff, product mix, surplus lines share, claims history and the insurer
- Discounts
- Credits for E&O classes vary by insurer
- Online estimate
- The AIFS online form returns a nonbinding premium estimate. It isn't a quote
Insurer and admitted status
- Issuing insurer
- The market AIFS places you with: Utica Mutual, Liberty Mutual, Arch, USLI, Scottsdale, Admiral, Landmark or Lloyd's of London
- Admitted
- Some markets are admitted, meaning the state backs claims if the insurer fails. Surplus lines markets carry no such guarantee
- Administrator
- Agency Insurance & Financial Services (AIFS), a Michigan agency
- States
- Florida, Ohio and Illinois use AIFS. Texas, New York, Virginia and California route to other PIA affiliates, mostly Utica National
Policy form, prior acts and tail
Most agent E&O is claims-made: it covers a claim made during the policy term, for work done after the retroactive date.
- Policy form
- Set by the insurer you choose
- Retroactive date
- The form records your current retroactive date, the earliest date of work the policy covers. Ask each market to honor it
- Prior acts
- Note on the form whether you have full prior acts today, so the new policy can match
- Tail options
- Set by the insurer. PIA of Kentucky says its Utica program has several
Limits, deductibles and defense
- Defense costs
- Depends on the market. AIFS tells buyers to ask whether defense sits inside or outside the limit
- First-dollar defense
- Optional with some markets, so the deductible doesn't apply to defense costs
- Deductible type
- Loss only or loss and defense costs, by market
Who the policy covers
- Employees
- Ask each market whether temporary staff are covered
- Independent contractors
- Ask each market whether 1099 contractors are covered
Included and optional coverage
| Coverage | Included or optional | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| First-dollar defense | Optional with some markets | By quote |
| Cyber | Separate AIFS policy or an endorsement | By quote |
| Employment practices | With your E&O or on its own | By quote |
| Third-party administration, PEO and loan origination | Optional endorsements | By quote |
| Financial products, mutual funds and annuities | Optional endorsements | By quote |
How to apply
Pick your state
The PIA E&O page sends Florida, Ohio and Illinois to AIFS and other states to their own programs.
Complete the indication form
Fill in the AIFS online form, or email the PIA form to eando@pianational.org.
Gather your numbers
Staff counts, premium and commissions, product mix and your current E&O carrier, limits and retroactive date.
Get an estimate
You get a nonbinding premium estimate, then a full application for underwriting.
Bind with the chosen market
The insurer issues the policy once it accepts the application.
The online estimate doesn't commit any insurer to offer coverage.
Claims and risk management
- How to report
- Follow the claim steps in your insurer's policy
- Claims help
- AIFS gives direct access to claims and underwriting teams
AIFS policyholders get four free one-hour E&O seminars, including one on certificates of insurance. Some insurers give premium credits for attending.
Cancellation and renewal
- Renewal date
- Send PIA your renewal month and its E&O team will try to reach you before it. Tracking the date is still up to you
- Payment options
- Set by the insurer. PIA of Kentucky's Utica program has payment plans with no interest
PIA Agents and Brokers E&O alternatives
- Big I Professional LiabilityQuote onlyOne Swiss Re program with defense outside the limit
- Utica NationalQuote onlyThe insurer behind several PIA state programs
- MarkelQuote onlySpecialty insurer for agents and brokers
- NAPA E&OFrom $680 a year, solo P&C, $1M/$1M, $5,000 deductiblePublished prices for solo P&C agents and small agencies
- HiscoxQuote onlyBuy direct from the insurer online
See every option in E&O insurance for insurance agents.
Frequently asked questions
How much does PIA E&O cost?
PIA doesn't publish prices. The AIFS online form gives a nonbinding estimate, and the final price comes after underwriting.
Who issues the policy?
The insurer AIFS places you with, such as Utica Mutual, Liberty Mutual, Arch, USLI or a Lloyd's market.
Do I have to be a PIA member?
No. Members and nonmembers can ask for a quote, though some state affiliates give members a discount.
Will I keep my prior acts if I switch?
It depends on the insurer. List your current retroactive date on the form and pick an offer that honors it.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by PIA Agents and Brokers E&O, reviewed in October 2026, together with our team's experience working with insurance agents and agency owners since 2008.
Corrections
Vendors change their pricing all the time and they don't email us when they do. So if you see a price on here that's gone up, a plan PIA Agents and Brokers E&O quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where PIA Agents and Brokers E&O has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.