Commercial insurance for Plano businesses

Plano runs on professional firms and technology companies, and their biggest exposures usually sit in a contract, not on the premises. Kristi Howton works with Plano owners from nearby Frisco.

Read the contract first.

Client contracts often require specific limits for professional liability, cyber or technology E&O, plus an umbrella. Kristi starts with what the contract actually requires, and for how long. One software client’s contract required $5 million in cyber and tech E&O for only thirty more days, so instead of accepting a large renewal she arranged a thirty-day extension at the prior year’s terms.

Professional firms.

Law, accounting, engineering and consulting firms sell judgment, and their biggest risk is a claim that the work was wrong. Claims-made policies, retroactive dates and the gap that can open when a firm changes carriers all need a careful read.

Technology companies.

Cyber and technology E&O are classes where prices have been rising. A broker with underwriter relationships can sometimes change the term, the limits or the structure, not just the price.

Questions we hear

The short versions of conversations Kristi has with business owners every week.

What is the difference between a commercial insurance broker and a captive agent?

A captive agent represents one insurance company and can only offer that company’s policies. An independent broker like Infinity Group Insurance holds appointments with many carriers, so the job is to find the carrier that actually wants to write your kind of business, not to fit your business into one company’s shelf.

What does it cost to talk to Kristi?

Nothing. The first conversation is a free, no-pressure look at your business and your current coverage.

When should I start the conversation before my renewal?

Sixty to ninety days before your renewal date. That leaves time to read your contracts, fix gaps and take the account to market if the numbers justify it. If your renewal is next week, call anyway.

What insurance does a Plano professional firm usually need?

Professional liability (errors and omissions) at the core, then cyber, employment practices liability, and the general liability that leases and clients still require. The right mix depends on your contracts.