Builders Specialty Group: Powering Profitable Partnerships
Growing Together. Winning Together.
At Builders, our focus is on delivering unparalleled property and casualty insurance solutions backed by decades of industry expertise. A key driver is Builders’ Specialty Group, where we partner with world-class Program Administrators to offer a diverse range of insurance solutions to targeted customers.
Builders’ Specialty Programs are insurance arrangements where a Program Administrator or Managing General Agent (MGA) manages the daily operations of an insurance program on behalf of Builders that generally operates as the carrier.
What does Builders bring to this arrangement? Policies issued through such an arrangement leverage Builders’ access to multiple regulated markets, strong industry brand and reputation, and financial backing. Builders’ financial strength and stability — with a recently affirmed AM Best rating of “A” (Excellent), Financial Size Category IX, and $1.2 billion in total assets — provide confidence to agents, brokers, reinsurers, and customers.
In addition to our strong capital position, Builders offers seasoned industry experts, and proven alliances with global reinsurance partners. These advantages distinguish Builders as a leader among program solution providers by offering prime opportunities for Excess & Surplus (E&S) specialty markets nationwide as well as admitted markets — including expanded capacity provided by reinsurance.
“Builders brings not only balance sheet strength and established expertise, but also an exceptional team of talented professionals.” – Real estate insurance experts Honeycomb, announcing the launch of Honeycomb Specialty in partnership with Builders
A key ingredient of our success is our people and the relationships they build. Our Specialty team members focus on the success of our Program Administrators. At Builders, we take the time to truly understand our partners’ market risks so that we can deliver focused solutions and profitable programs.
Our team members are passionate, highly creative, and willing to look beyond traditional parameters to deliver the right property and casualty solutions. Builders is widely recognized for its industry-leading due diligence and risk assessment capabilities. Our expertise stems from thoughtful analysis, ongoing monitoring of our partners’ books of business, and a steadfast commitment to applying the full scope of Builders’ capabilities to every endeavor. We understand what reinsurers are looking for, which variables can derail a program in the marketplace, and how to navigate those challenges with strategic precision.
As a result, our programs are nimble, adaptive, and aligned with our partners’ strategic growth. We seek out the best MGAs in the marketplace — those leveraging technology, looking to grow, and possessing deep expertise in their lines of business. For example, when a client sought an alternative to an underperforming program, we devised a creative reinsurance structure that diversified their risk without fully replacing their existing carrier. The outcome gave our client a way to diversify carrier concentration risks with much needed additional capacity to grow their business.
Our team is resourceful, proactive, and always seeking to create market-driven solutions. Sometimes this means helping seasoned MGAs expand into new lines of business; other times it’s providing underwriters with the flexibility they’ve been seeking. Whether adding products, diversifying carriers, or refining underwriting strategies, we remain committed to mutual growth.
Because we are financially sound and backed by a team with vast market experience, we can partner with world-class global reinsurers and offer the kind of tailored, focused solutions that drive long-term success for our partners and for Builders. In every engagement, our goal is simple: Grow together. Win together.
Builders currently writes tailored products for a diverse range of Specialty Programs that include general liability, professional liability, commercial multiple peril, business owners’ policies, commercial automobile, inland marine, builders risk, workers’ compensation, crime, excess/umbrella, surety/warranty, reinsurance, and more. Visit Builders’ Specialty Programs webpage for more information.
About Tony Barner, MPA, CIOP, FSIL, LSSBB, MCMC, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Secretary Builders Insurance:
With more than 24 years of leadership experience in the insurance industry, Tony Barner drives Builders’ operational strategy with a focus on growth, innovation, and long-term profitability across both regulated and non-regulated products. He leads the company’s Specialty Division, overseeing product management and development, legal and compliance, actuarial services, project management, reinsurance, specialty programs and program audits. He also serves as President of Bondex Insurance Co., a surety subsidiary of Builders.
