PersonalUmbrella
PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc. is a managing general agent founded in 1999 that distributes admitted personal umbrella insurance through a web-based platform to licensed independent agents and brokers in 47+ states, earning commission on Markel-backed policies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersEmeryville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PersonalUmbrella does
PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc., founded in 1999 and headquartered in Emeryville, California, is a managing general agent (MGA) that distributes admitted personal and small-commercial umbrella insurance exclusively through licensed independent insurance agents and brokers. The company's core offering is a web-based platform that enables producers to obtain quotes in approximately three minutes and order policies in another three minutes, with no application and no motor vehicle record (MVR) required; admitted coverage is backed by Markel Insurance Company (A.M. Best A XV, financial size category $2B+), with limits available up to $10,000,000 across 47 states plus the District of Columbia. The technology stack is a proprietary online portal supporting self-service quoting, policy editing, ordering, and review, complemented by separate insured-facing (PersonalInsured.com) and MyMGA.com sub-brand platforms.
The business model is commission-based: PersonalUmbrella pays producers 15% commission on new policies and 10% on renewals, while MyMGA.com business pays a flat 10% on both new and renewal premium, with commissions settled quarterly against gross premiums paid to the program administrator. Distribution runs exclusively through independent agents and brokers (producers) who register through the website, receive a Producer ID for login-based access, and integrate with major agency management systems including Applied Systems and ASCnet. Producer acquisition is driven by industry trade shows (Big I, PIA, IAOA, AMS/NetVu, Applied/ASCnet, Farmers) and earned media in Rough Notes, Insurance Journal, and Independent Agent / Insurance Agent magazine. Underwriting relies on a centralized in-house team of roughly a dozen underwriters supported by phone-based underwriter availability, with policies typically issued within 72 hours.
Leadership is concentrated in a long-tenured operating team — including a Chief Marketing Officer (Daina Kawchack Smith), VP Business Development (Michael Blewett), Underwriting Manager (Eric Stewart), and MyMGA General Manager (Mary Nyquist) — with multiple family-named staff across underwriting, payments, and accounting functions suggesting an owner-operated private company. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds, no parent company, and no recorded M&A activity, sustained over 27 continuous years of operation through 2026.
PersonalUmbrella firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PersonalUmbrella
- Legal name
- PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://personalumbrella.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc. is a managing general agent founded in 1999 that distributes admitted personal umbrella insurance through a web-based platform to licensed independent agents and brokers in 47+ states, earning commission on Markel-backed policies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PersonalUmbrella industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Umbrella Insurance Services
- NAICS
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Umbrella Insurance (FSAJANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)
Keywords
Where PersonalUmbrella is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emeryville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PersonalUmbrella business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commission on PersonalUmbrella Policies: The company earns commission revenue by acting as a managing general agent, earning 15% commission on new policies (1st year premium) and 10% commission on renewal policies (2nd year and continuing). Commission is paid quarterly based on gross premiums paid to the program administrator.
- Commission on MyMGA.com Policies: The company also earns commission revenue from MyMGA.com policies at a flat 10% rate for both new and renewal policies (1st year, 2nd year and continuing).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Personal Umbrella Coverage - Commission for Producers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels11 records
PersonalUmbrella product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc. operates as a managing general agent (MGA) and managing underwriter that issues personal and commercial umbrella insurance policies backed by Markel Insurance Company (A.M. Best A XV, admitted). Licensed independent insurance agents and brokers use its web-based platform to quote and order umbrella policies in minutes, with no application or motor vehicle record required and coverage limits up to $10,000,000. The company operates in 47 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and pays producers a 15% commission on new business and 10% on renewals.
Product overview
PersonalUmbrella.com operates as a managing underwriter platform offering personal and business umbrella insurance products exclusively through licensed insurance agents and brokers. The core platform (PersonalUmbrella.com) enables rapid quoting and policy ordering with a 3-minute quote-to-order process, while the companion MyMGA.com platform handles MyMGA-specific policies. Markel Insurance Company serves as the primary admitted insurer with an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent), providing coverage limits up to $10,000,000. The company offers a direct bill and agency bill options with commissions of 15% for new policies and 10% for renewals through PersonalUmbrella.com, and 10% for both new and renewal policies through MyMGA.com. PersonalInsured.com serves as the policyholder portal for accessing policies and online payments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MyMGA.com: Related MGA (Managing General Agent) platform offering additional insurance products, with 10% commission for new and renewal policies
Products and services
- PersonalUmbrella.com Personal Umbrella Insurance Policy Admitted personal umbrella insurance policy issued by Markel Insurance Company through the PersonalUmbrella.com platform. Coverage limits up to $10,000,000, including Excess UM/UIM, with optional addition of apartments and offices. Available to independent insurance agents and brokers for their personal lines clients across 47 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia. Policies are issued within 72 hours with no application and no MVR required for quoting.
- MyMGA Umbrella Insurance Policy Umbrella insurance policy distributed through the MyMGA.com platform to licensed insurance producers, including Florida special market placements handled by the MyMGA General Manager. Carries a flat 10% producer commission on both new and renewal business (1st year, 2nd year and continuing).
Quantifiable outcome
- Quote in 3 minutes - Order in 3 minutes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PersonalUmbrella
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PersonalUmbrella technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
PersonalUmbrella partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Markel Insurance CompanycoreMarkel Insurance Company is the primary insurer for PersonalUmbrella's umbrella program. Markel has an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent) with financial size category XV ($2 Billion or greater). The company provides admitted umbrella policy forms with $0 S.I.R. and offers limits up to $5,000,000 in Wyoming and similar limits in other states.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PersonalUmbrella competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RPS (Risk Placement Services): RPS is one of the largest US MGAs and wholesale brokers, operating a personal umbrella program marketed to independent agents. Directly comparable MGA business model, producer-channel focus, and admitted carrier backing.
- Tapco Underwriters: Tapco Underwriters operates a personal umbrella program distributed through independent agents with online quoting - a direct comparable to PersonalUmbrella in product, channel, and target customer (insurance producers placing personal umbrella).
- Venture Insurance Programs (Westfield): Venture Insurance Programs is a managing general underwriter offering personal umbrella and related specialty programs to independent producers. Direct comparable: MGA structure, admitted paper, producer-channel GTM.
Emerging players
- SkyCover Insurance: SkyCover is a digital-first excess liability / personal umbrella MGA offering online quotes through a producer portal. Comparable product offering and channel; represents the digitally native next-generation version of PersonalUmbrella's model.
Broad incumbents
- Burns & Wilcox: Burns & Wilcox is a major specialty wholesale brokerage and MGA placing umbrella and excess liability business for independent agents. Comparable channel and product overlap, though operates much more broadly across specialty lines.
- CRC Insurance Services: CRC is a large wholesale insurance broker placing excess and umbrella coverage through independent agents nationally. Comparable channel reach and product category, with broader portfolio.
- Amwins: Amwins is one of the largest US wholesale distributors and MGAs, with specialty programs including personal umbrella distributed via independent agents. Comparable channel and product set, much larger scale.
- NSM Insurance Group: NSM is a specialty MGA building and underwriting niche programs distributed through producer networks, with personal lines exposure. Comparable MGA business model and producer-channel GTM.
- Brown & Riding: Brown & Riding is a specialty wholesale brokerage placing excess, umbrella, and liability coverage for independent agents. Comparable channel and product overlap, with broader specialty portfolio.
- High Street Insurance Partners: High Street is a large independent insurance agency network that places personal umbrella coverage and competes for the same producer relationships PersonalUmbrella serves. Comparable end-customer (independent agents) and product line, though operates a full-service brokerage rather than MGA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PersonalUmbrella social profiles
Digital presencePersonalUmbrella compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
PersonalUmbrella financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PersonalUmbrella leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
PersonalUmbrella funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PersonalUmbrella M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PersonalUmbrella
What does PersonalUmbrella do?
PersonalUmbrella.com Insurance Services, Inc. operates as a managing general agent (MGA) and managing underwriter that issues personal and commercial umbrella insurance policies backed by Markel Insurance Company (A.M. Best A XV, admitted). Licensed independent insurance agents and brokers use its web-based platform to quote and order umbrella policies in minutes, with no application or motor vehicle record required and coverage limits up to $10,000,000. The company operates in 47 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and pays producers a 15% commission on new business and 10% on renewals.
Is PersonalUmbrella a public or private company?
PersonalUmbrella is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PersonalUmbrella founded?
PersonalUmbrella was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PersonalUmbrella based?
PersonalUmbrella is headquartered in Emeryville, United States, in the North America region.
How does PersonalUmbrella make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Commission on PersonalUmbrella Policies are the primary driver. The others are commission on MyMGA.com Policies.
Who are PersonalUmbrella's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RPS (Risk Placement Services), Tapco Underwriters and Venture Insurance Programs (Westfield). SkyCover Insurance is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Burns & Wilcox, CRC Insurance Services, Amwins, NSM Insurance Group, Brown & Riding and High Street Insurance Partners.
Does PersonalUmbrella have an API?
No public API is recorded for PersonalUmbrella.
What industry is PersonalUmbrella in?
PersonalUmbrella's product category is Umbrella Insurance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJANAA, Personal Umbrella Insurance, with a secondary code of FSAEADAK, Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services. Its NAICS code is 5242 and its SIC code is 6411.