Great American Insurance Group’s Executive Liability Division and Synergy Professional Associates Introduce New Fiduciary Liability Program for Multi-Employer Plans

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Great American Insurance Group’s Executive Liability Division (ELD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Synergy Professional Associates of Kinnelon, NJ as National Production Coordinator for Multi-Employer / Taft-Hartley Plan Fiduciary Liability Insurance.

“Great American’s financial strength and claims expertise coupled with Synergy’s extensive knowledge of the marketplace and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 make this partnership an excellent strategic resource for brokers representing clients in this niche.”

Great American’s ELD has been providing management liability insurance for over two decades. Its Multi-Employer Plan Fiduciary Liability Underwriting Unit was organized in 2005 and is focused on addressing the personal liability of management and labor union-appointed fiduciaries of multi-employer trust funds.

Myles Alonzo will direct the program’s marketing efforts. Mr. Alonzo joined Synergy in 2009 after having demonstrated the ability to profitably underwrite and market this highly specialized product with several major carriers specializing in this class. He has a reputation in the marketplace of providing excellent service to the brokerage community. Myles graduated with a degree in Finance from University of California Santa Barbara and earned his JD from John F. Kennedy School of Law.

“Our relationship with Synergy offers independent agents additional expertise in helping their clients manage the unique needs of Taft-Hartley Plan fiduciaries,” explains Ryan FitzSimmons, Underwriting Manager, “and provides Great American the opportunity to more effectively grow this segment of our business. Brokers who utilize the program can expect to receive new and improved rates and coverages while continuing to enjoy the same exceptional service ELD is known for.”

Ira J. Dawer, CPCU, RPLU and President of Synergy, also commented on the program’s value proposition: “Great American’s financial strength and claims expertise coupled with Synergy’s extensive knowledge of the marketplace and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 make this partnership an excellent strategic resource for brokers representing clients in this niche.”

The policy is admitted in 37 states and is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. Plan types being quoted include defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, and numerous health and welfare benefit plan types. Individual policies can be written on a plan specific basis or master policies can be created to address multiple plans.

For information or a fiduciary liability quote, please contact:

L. Myles Alonzo, JD
SYNERGY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES
dba Synergy Professional Insurance Brokers [California License No. OF22479]
135 Kinnelon Rd., Suite 102
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
973 850 1030 direct
973 850 1035 fax
[e-mail]
www.synergy-ins.com

About the Executive Liability Division

Great American’s Executive Liability Division, based in Schaumburg, Illinois, has been a prominent market for Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance (D&O) since 1986. The Division also specializes in miscellaneous professionals' liability, private equity and general partners’ liability, employment practices liability, and fiduciary liability insurance products. The Division also has regional offices in Chicago, Illinois, New York, Princeton, New Jersey, and Toronto and Ontario.

About Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialty commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, indexed and variable annuities and a variety of supplemental insurance products. Great American Insurance Company has received an “A” (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company since 1908 (most recent rating evaluation effective on March 27, 2009). The members of the Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG’s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AFG”.

About Synergy Professional Associates, Inc.

Synergy Professional Associates is a Managing General Agent & Surplus Lines Broker specializing in Professional Liability and Association programs. Our highly experienced staff provides exceptional service to producers throughout the United States. The principals of Synergy have been writing professional lines since 1991 with an emphasis in the placement of Lawyers Professional Liability, Insurance Agents and Brokers Professional Liability, Fiduciary Liability, Mold Inspectors and Miscellaneous Professional Liability on both a standard and surplus lines basis. Synergy operates on an open brokerage basis with duly appointed producers.