https://completemarkets.com/company/sdins-/California-MGA-and-Surplus-Lines-Brokerage/
Sinclair-Dwyer is your trusted source for placing hard-to-place and unique commercial property and casualty risks in California. As a California-based MGA and Surplus Lines brokerage, we specialize in providing access to Century Surety Insurance, a leading non-admitted Surplus Lines carrier known for insuring niche markets since 1978.
Target Classes and Market Appetite
We offer a broad appetite for main street businesses and specialty risks that often fall outside the parameters of admitted markets. Our program is ideal for agents and brokers looking to place business for clients in challenging or non-standard industries. Classes of business we target include, but are not limited to:
Apartments
Auto Dismantlers
Bakeries
Barber Shops and Beauty Salons
Bars and Taverns
Bazaars
Bed and Breakfasts
Billiard and Pool Halls
Bingo Halls
Car Washes
Condominiums
Convenience Stores (with or without gas)
Day Care Centers
Garage Liability
Health Clubs
Homeowners Associations
Hotels
Hunting Clubs
Janitorial Services (excluding handyman work)
Laundromats
Nightclubs
Pawnshops
Recycling Centers
Resorts
Restaurants
Retail Stores
Security Guards
Strip Centers
Tanning Salons
Vacant Land
Video Stores
Mini Warehouses
Coverage Features and Risk Solutions
Whether you're working with a neighborhood salon or a nightclub, Sinclair-Dwyer can help you secure the right coverage through Century Surety Insurance. Our program addresses exposures for property, general liability, and specialized risks unique to these industries. We are especially effective at handling accounts with prior claims, unique operations, or higher inherent risk profiles.
Example scenarios include:
A restaurant with live entertainment and liquor sales needing general liability and property coverage.
A mini-warehouse facility seeking insurance despite limited occupancy or older construction.
Underwriting Considerations
This is a non-admitted program underwritten through Century Surety Insurance, giving us greater flexibility when addressing risks that fall outside standard markets. While minimum premiums may apply depending on class and exposure, we aim to offer competitive pricing for qualified accounts. We review each submission thoroughly and can assist with unusual or hard-to-place exposures.
Availability
Our California MGA and Surplus Lines Brokerage program is available exclusively in the state of California. Agents and brokers licensed in California can access this market through Sinclair-Dwyer to meet the needs of their diverse commercial clientele.
Why Work With Sinclair-Dwyer?
With deep expertise in California’s non-admitted insurance market, Sinclair-Dwyer delivers responsive service, flexible underwriting, and knowledgeable support for agents and brokers. We help you secure coverage for your clients when standard markets can’t respond—giving you a competitive edge with access to Century Surety Insurance's strong appetite for specialty risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?This program is ideal for main street and specialty businesses in California, including bars, restaurants, salons, daycares, pawnshops, and more that may not qualify for admitted markets.
Is this program available outside of California?No, this program is currently only available for risks located in California.
What lines of coverage are typically offered?Coverage options typically include commercial property, general liability, and industry-specific enhancements depending on the risk class.
Can you write risks with prior claims?Yes, we can consider risks with prior losses. Each submission is reviewed individually to assess insurability and pricing.
Who is the carrier for this program?The program is written through Century Surety Insurance, a non-admitted Surplus Lines carrier with a long history of insuring niche markets.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.
https://completemarkets.com/company/pennsylvania-lumbermens-mutual-insurance-company/Diversified-Insurance-Coverages/
For over a century, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (PLM) and Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (ILM) have specialized in supporting the unique needs of the lumber, woodworking, and building materials industries. Through this strategic affiliation, PLM and ILM offer agents and brokers a reliable, long-term partner with deep industry knowledge, tailored coverages, and responsive service.
Our Diversified Insurance Coverages program is structured to address the evolving risks faced by businesses in the lumber and building materials sectors. From sawmills and wood product manufacturers to distributors and retail yards, we understand the complexities your clients face and work with you to deliver insurance solutions that support their operations and growth.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is designed for businesses in the lumber, building materials, and wood products industries. Ideal accounts include:
Lumberyards and building material dealers
Wood manufacturers and millwork operations
Wholesale distributors of wood-based products
Sawmills and wood treating facilities
If you have a client operating a multi-location lumber distribution business or a regional sawmill with specialized equipment and property exposures, this program offers comprehensive protection tailored to their operations.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
PLM and ILM offer a broad portfolio of coverages designed to address the primary exposures of wood-related businesses. Available coverages include:
Property
General Liability
Commercial Umbrella
Commercial Auto
Inland Marine
Equipment Breakdown
Business Interruption and Extra Expense
In addition to robust coverage, clients benefit from specialized services that support risk prevention and claim resolution:
Dedicated business development representatives
Industry-specific risk management resources
Experienced claims handling with wood industry expertise
Flexible billing and payment solutions
User-friendly producer portal for quoting and servicing
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
PLM and ILM underwrite each account with a focus on long-term risk management and financial stability. While minimum premiums will vary based on risk size and location, accounts with meaningful property, auto, or inland marine exposures are typically a good fit. Agents should be prepared to provide detailed loss history, property valuations, and operational overviews when submitting risks.
Territories and Availability
This program is available on an admitted basis in all U.S. states, including the District of Columbia. PLM and ILM proudly serve a national footprint, offering consistent underwriting, claims, and risk management support across all territories.
Why Work With PLM and ILM
As the only mutual insurance companies in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the wood and lumber industries, PLM and ILM offer unmatched field expertise and a commitment to policyholder success. Agents working with PLM and ILM gain a strategic partner who understands their client’s business, provides value-added services, and backs it with responsive service and stable underwriting practices.
Explore our website to learn how having PLM and ILM as your strategic partner can benefit you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?This program is ideal for lumberyards, millwork operations, wood product manufacturers, and wholesale distributors of building materials.
Is this program available in all states?Yes, the Diversified Insurance Coverages program is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia on an admitted basis.
Are there any specific underwriting requirements?Underwriters typically require detailed property information, loss runs, and a clear outline of business operations to assess risk appropriately.
What value-added services do PLM and ILM offer?Policyholders benefit from specialized risk management, expert claims handling, dedicated representatives, and easy access to online tools through the producer portal.
Who are the carriers behind this program?This program is backed by Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual and Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Companies.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.