Background

S.H. Smith & Company is one of the largest privately owned specialty brokers in the country. Our size allows us to provide you with all of the markets you need, with the negotiating power you demand. We have been in business since 1982 under the current ownership structure, with the firm's original roots going back an additional thirty years. Under the direction of our president, Scott H. Smith, the firm has grown to over $200 million in written premium with more than 100 employees. In addition to our home office in Hartford, Connecticut, S.H. Smith & Company is a national organization conducting business through our seven regional offices located in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island.

Our structure is that of four wholesale divisions under one umbrella: Professional & Management Liability; Commercial Property, Casualty and Environmental; In-House Underwriting; and our Program Unit. While we are structured by product area, our brokers are also cross-trained by industry specialty that spans a variety of product lines. This allows us to better understand your client's business challenges with a high level of expertise and the ability to craft solutions that are forward-looking and results driven.

We provide our agent partners with detailed analytics, providing quote and coverage comparisons, in-depth market analysis, and benchmarking data––all from our state-of-the-art paperless offices. We are experienced, well-qualified, solution driven and service oriented. As an organization, S.H. Smith & Company is fully committed to consistently providing value-added services. We believe that we are uniquely qualified to serve as an effective advocate for your clients.

Scott H. Smith, President

After acquiring the firm in 1982, Scott Smith assembled a powerful team of professionals, leading the firm to become known as one of the largest and most successful specialty brokers in the country. Well-regarded for its unmatched expertise in areas ranging from large umbrellas to products liability to property exposures, under Scott's leadership, S.H. Smith & Company also has a special focus in the professional liability, directors and officers marketplace.

Scott is very active in professional organizations and with numerous charitable, arts and social organizations. He is involved with the IIABA, PIA, NAPSLO, PLUS, CIAB, and AAMGA. He sits on the Chubb Producer Advisory Council as well as the Maxum advisory board. He is a past member of the board of the Wadsworth Atheneum, incorporator of the Hartford Art School, and is affiliated with organizations such as the University of Hartford, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, and the Hartford Hospital Group.

Our Team

The majority of our in-house brokers at S.H. Smith & Company have a minimum of 6 years prior underwriting experience with a commercial carrier and an average of 15 years in the insurance industry. Our brokers possess unique expertise and skill sets needed today in the placement of coverages for industries and circumstances including financial institutions, medical liability exposures, environmental liability, property insurance, program underwriting, financial transaction insurance including representations and warranty, IPOs, mutual funds, private equity firms, errors and omissions, directors and officers liability, security and privacy coverage and all the rudimentary lines of business both on a primary and excess basis.

Team Approach

With seven core office locations through the U.S. and field sales representatives in additional locations, our clients receive hands-on service combined with territorial experience and expertise. Our hub and spoke strategy is designed to give our clients immediate access to our resources and expertise; helping to maximize our efficiency even further is our proprietary computer system that allows 24/7 connectivity and ability to share information throughout our organization.

Each of our regional sales managers works directly with our in-house product specialists to bring our clients responsive and attentive service and a depth of knowledge and creativity.

This innovative and solutions-oriented approach has enabled us to become the wholesale broker of choice for many of the country's premier independent agencies and members of broker networks both regionally and nationally.