Family Office Insurance Partner
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Family offices handle an extraordinary amount of complexity: multiple entities, properties across state lines (and sometimes international borders), collections worth millions, and family members with wildly different risk profiles. Yet insurance, one of the most fundamental pillars of asset protection, often gets treated as an afterthought. Policies are scattered across carriers, renewals slip through the cracks, and nobody has a clear picture of where the gaps are. The result? Families with $50 million in assets sometimes carry coverage that wouldn't fully protect a $5 million estate. Finding the right insurance partner for a family office means working with someone who understands both the advisory world and the specialized coverage these families actually need. Avery Insurance Agency has spent more than 125 years building exactly this kind of practice: a consultative, relationship-driven approach that treats insurance as a core piece of the wealth management puzzle, not a commodity to be checked off a list. This is how that coordination works in practice, and why it matters more than most advisors realize.
The Role of Avery in the Family Office Ecosystem
Family offices exist to protect and grow generational wealth. That mission touches everything from tax planning to philanthropy to estate structuring. Insurance should be woven into each of those conversations, but it rarely is. The reason is simple: most insurance agencies aren't built to work alongside sophisticated advisory teams. They sell policies. They don't think in terms of entity structures, trust-owned assets, or cross-border liability.
Aligning Risk Management with Holistic Financial Planning
Risk management and financial planning are two sides of the same coin. A family office might spend months structuring a trust to hold a $12 million waterfront property, only to discover the homeowner's policy doesn't reflect the trust ownership, or worse, that the coverage limits haven't been updated since the home was worth $6 million. Avery's consultative approach is designed to catch exactly these misalignments. By sitting alongside the advisory team during planning conversations, insurance stops being reactive and becomes part of the strategy from day one. The HNW household insurance market is expected to grow from $49.18 billion in 2026 to $64.86 billion by 2035, reflecting just how much demand exists for specialized coverage at this level.
Acting as an Extension of the Advisory Team
The best insurance relationships inside a family office don't feel like vendor relationships. They feel like having another team member. Avery's model is built around this idea: dedicated account teams who know each family's assets, entities, and risk tolerance. When a family office advisor calls about a new property acquisition or a child turning 16 and getting a car, the Avery team already has context. There's no need to re-explain the family structure or dig through files. This kind of embedded partnership saves time, reduces errors, and means coverage decisions happen at the speed the advisory team needs.
By: Tod O’Dowd, CIC, CAPI
President of Avery Insurance Agency
Most families assume they're well-covered. They have homeowner's policies, auto insurance, maybe an umbrella. But the gap between "having insurance" and "being properly protected" can be enormous, especially when assets are complex and spread across multiple structures.
Auditing Current Coverage for Asset Protection
A proper coverage audit for a high-net-worth family isn't a 30-minute review. It involves mapping every asset, every entity, every driver, every property, and every potential liability exposure. Then it means comparing that map against what's actually covered and at what limits. Common findings during these audits include umbrella policies that don't sit on top of all underlying policies, properties insured at replacement costs that haven't been updated in five years, and personal liability limits that are laughably low relative to the family's public profile. With 58% of global financial assets controlled by HNW households, the stakes of getting this wrong are significant. Avery represents carriers like Chubb, PURE, Berkley One, Vault, and Hanover, which means the audit isn't constrained to a single carrier's product set. The right solution gets built from the right combination of markets.
Addressing Emerging Risks: Cyber, Fraud, and Global Liability
Here's where things get interesting, and where many traditional agencies fall short. High-net-worth families face risks that didn't exist a decade ago. Social engineering fraud targeting family office staff. Ransomware attacks on home networks connected to smart home systems. Identity theft schemes that exploit publicly available information about wealthy families.
Cybercrime losses for HNW individuals exceed $12 billion annually, and that number keeps climbing. Global liability is another growing concern. A family with a vacation home in France, a yacht registered in the Caymans, and a child studying in London needs coverage that works across jurisdictions. These aren't standard policy add-ons. They require specialized placement and careful coordination.
Customizing Solutions Across Complex Asset Classes
A family office portfolio might include a $20 million primary residence, a wine collection worth $3 million, two rental properties held in an LLC, and a 60-foot sailing yacht. No single off-the-shelf policy handles all of that well.
Protecting Tangible Wealth: Real Estate, Collections, and Yachts
Each asset class has its own coverage nuances. Fine art and collectibles, for example, need agreed-value policies, not actual cash value coverage that depreciates. A yacht requires hull coverage, protection and indemnity, crew liability, and potentially pollution liability. Real estate held in trusts or LLCs needs policies that name the correct entities and reflect current reconstruction costs, not market value.
Here's a quick comparison of how standard versus HNW-specific coverage typically differs:
| Coverage Area | Standard Policy | HNW-Specific Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Home Replacement | Capped at policy limit | Guaranteed/extended replacement cost |
| Collections | Limited sub-limits ($5K-$10K) | Scheduled, agreed-value coverage |
| Liability | $300K-$500K typical | $5M-$50M+ umbrella stacking |
| Water Damage | Excludes flood/sewer backup | Comprehensive water damage included |
| Temporary Living | 12-month cap | Unlimited duration, comparable housing |
Avery's team works through each asset class with the family office to make sure nothing is underinsured or, just as wasteful, over-insured with duplicate coverage.
Specialized Liability for Family Office Entities and Directors
Family offices themselves carry liability exposure that's easy to overlook. Directors and officers of the family office entity can be personally liable for decisions that result in financial loss. Employment practices liability covers claims from household or office staff. Fiduciary liability applies when the family office manages assets on behalf of family members.
Commercial tort liability costs have increased at an average annual rate of 8.8% from 2016 to 2025, which means the cost of being underinsured is rising fast. These policies need to be structured carefully, with the right limits and the right carriers who understand the family office context.
Streamlining Administration for Multi-Generational Wealth
When three generations of a family each have properties, vehicles, and personal liability exposure, the administrative burden of managing all those policies can overwhelm even a well-staffed family office.
Consolidating Disparate Policies into a Unified Program
It's not unusual to find a family with 15 to 20 separate policies across six or seven carriers, each with different renewal dates, different billing cycles, and different claims contacts. Consolidation doesn't always mean moving everything to one carrier. Sometimes the best yacht insurer isn't the best home insurer. But it does mean creating a single point of coordination. Avery builds unified insurance programs where every policy is tracked, every renewal is managed proactively, and every family member's coverage fits into a coherent whole. This is the kind of coordination that makes Avery a genuine insurance partner for family offices, not just another agency sending renewal notices.
Simplified Reporting and Renewal Management for Staff
Family office staff need clear, accessible reporting. That means a single summary document showing all policies, limits, deductibles, and renewal dates. It means advance notice before renewals so there's time to review, not a last-minute scramble. And it means having one phone number to call for any insurance question, whether it's about the patriarch's art collection or the granddaughter's first apartment. Katherine Frattarola, a leader in the private client insurance space, has noted that
families are being more proactive in implementing risk mitigation measures. Simplified administration makes that proactive approach possible.
The Avery Advantage: Concierge Claims and Advisory Support
Insurance is only as good as what happens when something goes wrong. A policy is a promise, and the claims process is where that promise gets tested.
Proactive Advocacy During Complex Loss Scenarios
When a $4 million home suffers a major water loss, the claim isn't simple. There are restoration specialists to coordinate, temporary housing to arrange, contents to inventory, and adjusters to negotiate with. Avery's claims team acts as the family's advocate through the entire process, pushing back on lowball estimates, coordinating with contractors, and keeping the family office informed at every step. This concierge-level claims support is one of the clearest differences between working with a specialized agency and buying insurance online.
Ongoing Market Analysis to Optimize Premium Costs
Premiums for high-value properties and collections have been volatile in recent years, driven by catastrophe losses, inflation in construction costs, and tightening reinsurance markets. Avery continuously monitors market conditions and carrier appetite, rebrokering coverage when better terms become available and advising families on risk mitigation steps that can reduce premiums. That might mean installing a water leak detection system to qualify for a credit, or restructuring deductibles across a portfolio to lower overall costs without increasing meaningful risk exposure.
A family office that treats insurance as an afterthought is leaving one of its most important protective layers to chance. The right approach means having a dedicated partner who understands the full picture: the entities, the assets, the family dynamics, and the evolving risk environment. Avery Insurance Agency has been doing this since 1899, building custom insurance programs that protect families so they can focus on what matters most. If your family office is managing insurance across multiple carriers without a unified strategy, or if you suspect there are gaps you haven't identified, a comprehensive coverage audit is the place to start. Reach out to the Avery team for a consultative review of your current program. It's the kind of conversation that tends to surface surprises, and addressing those surprises before a loss is always better than discovering them after one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is working with Avery different from going directly to a carrier like Chubb or PURE? Avery represents multiple top-tier carriers, which means your coverage is built from the best options across markets rather than limited to one company's products. You also get a dedicated advocacy team for claims and ongoing management.
How often should a family office review its insurance program? At minimum, annually. But any major life event, asset acquisition, or change in family structure should trigger a review. Avery builds these triggers into the ongoing relationship so nothing falls through the cracks.
Can Avery coordinate coverage for assets held in trusts or LLCs? Yes. This is one of the most common areas where coverage gaps appear. Policies need to reflect the correct ownership entities, and Avery's team is experienced in structuring coverage across complex ownership arrangements.
What does a coverage audit involve, and how long does it take? A full audit maps every asset, entity, and liability exposure against existing coverage. For a complex family office, this typically takes two to four weeks and results in a detailed report with specific recommendations.
Does Avery handle insurance for family office staff and domestic employees?
Yes, including workers' compensation, employment practices liability, and other coverages specific to household and office staff.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tod O’Dowd, CIC, CAPI
I'm the President of Avery Insurance Agency, a family-owned independent agency serving individuals and businesses across New England and in 40+ states. With a hands-on, consultative approach to personal and commercial risk, I help clients — from high-net-worth homeowners and contractors to restaurant owners and property managers — find the right coverage without the guesswork of working with a single-carrier agent.
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by Families and Businesses for Over a Century
Trusted by New Hampshire Families and Businesses for Over a Century
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Home Insurance
Your home is your most valuable asset. Avery’s home insurance protects your property, belongings, and liability so you can feel secure no matter what happens.
High-Value Home Insurance
Own a home valued over $2 million? Our Premier Client Services program provides coverage built around high-value properties and the unique risks they carry.
Auto Insurance
Whether you drive a daily commuter, a classic car, or a motorcycle, Avery finds the right auto coverage for your vehicle and your budget.
Boat & Watercraft Insurance
From small boats on New Hampshire’s lakes to luxury yachts, Avery provides watercraft insurance covering your vessel, passengers, and liability on the water.
Umbrella / Personal Liability Insurance
An umbrella policy adds an extra layer of liability protection above your home and auto coverage. One of the most cost-effective ways to protect your financial future.
Valuable Possessions Insurance
Jewelry, art, collectibles, and other high-value items need coverage beyond a standard homeowners policy. Avery insures your most prized possessions at full appraised value.
Protect Your Business & Livelihood
Commercial Insurance Solutions Designed for New England Businesses.
Comprehensive Commercial Coverage That Keeps Your Business Running
General Liability Insurance
Protect your business from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury. General liability is the foundation of any solid business insurance program.
Commercial Property Insurance
Covers your building, equipment, inventory, and other physical assets against fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered losses. Keep your business protected from the unexpected.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ comp covers medical costs and lost wages when an employee is injured on the job. Avery helps businesses meet state compliance requirements and manage costs effectively.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Data breaches and cyberattacks are a growing risk for businesses of all sizes. Cyber liability covers response costs, legal fees, and customer notification expenses after a security incident.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Covers your business against employee claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and related issues. Essential for any business with employees.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Whether a single truck or a full fleet, commercial auto insurance protects your business against accidents, damage, and liability on the road.
We Know Your Industry
Tailored Insurance Programs for the Industries That Drive New Hampshire
We Understand the Risks Your Industry Faces — and How to Manage Them
Contractors Insurance
From general contractors to specialty trades, Avery understands the unique liability and property exposures your business faces on every job site in New England. We build coverage programs that keep your crew and company protected.
Restaurants & Hospitality
Restaurants, hotels, and marinas face distinct risks — from slip-and-fall liability to liquor liability and food spoilage. Avery designs coverage programs for the specific needs of the hospitality industry.
Real Estate & Property
Whether you own a portfolio of investment properties or manage a condo association, Avery provides the right mix of property, liability, and management coverage to protect your real estate investments.
We Make It Simple
Getting Covered with Avery Is Easy
Step 01
Connect with an Avery Advisor
Call, email, or request a coverage online and we will respond the same business day.
Step 02
We Build Your Coverage Plan
We shop top-rated carriers, compare your options, and recommend the best fit for your needs.
Step 03
You Get Protected and Stay Protected
We place your coverage, review it annually, and advocate for you if you ever need to file a claim.
Let’s Clear Things Up
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
Straight Answers From the Advisors Who Know This State Best
What does it mean that Avery is an independent insurance agency?
An independent agency like Avery is not tied to any single insurance company. We represent multiple top-rated carriers, which means we can shop the market on your behalf and recommend the coverage that truly fits your needs — not the one that benefits any single insurer.
This independence gives you access to more options and unbiased advice. Our advisors are compensated to serve your interests, not to push a specific product. That is a significant advantage over captive agents who can only offer one carrier’s policies.
How much does it cost to work with an Avery advisor?
There is no direct cost to you for working with an Avery advisor. Independent agents are compensated through commissions paid by the insurance carriers when a policy is placed. You receive expert guidance, market comparisons, and ongoing service at no extra charge.
In fact, many clients find that working with Avery saves them money. Our advisors know how to identify the right coverage levels so you are not paying for protection you do not need, and you are not left exposed where you do.
Does Avery help with claims?
Yes — and this is one of the most important things that sets Avery apart. When you have a claim, our in-house claims advisors go to work for you. We guide you through the process, communicate with the insurance company, and advocate for a fair and timely outcome.
Several of our team members hold professional claims designations, including AIC and AINS. We do not just help you file paperwork — we actively represent your interests to make sure you receive the full benefit your policy provides.
Where in New Hampshire does Avery provide coverage?
Avery serves clients throughout the state of New Hampshire from our offices in Wolfeboro and Portsmouth. Whether you live in the Lakes Region, the Seacoast, the White Mountains, or the Merrimack Valley, an Avery advisor is ready to help you find the right coverage.
Our advisors understand the specific risks that come with living and doing business in New Hampshire — from harsh winter weather to seasonal watercraft exposure. We apply that local knowledge to every coverage recommendation we make.
How does Avery handle high-value homes and assets?
Avery offers a dedicated Premier Client Services program for clients with homes valued over .5 million, significant investment portfolios, fine art collections, jewelry, yachts, and other complex assets. This program pairs you with a specialist who understands the unique risks of high-net-worth households.
Through carriers that specialize in high-value personal lines, we provide guaranteed replacement cost coverage, agreed value policies, and comprehensive risk management strategies. Your advisor will conduct a detailed review of your full asset portfolio to make sure nothing is overlooked or underinsured.
How often should I review my insurance coverage?
Avery recommends a full coverage review at least once a year. Major life events — buying a home, starting a business, adding a vehicle, getting married, or making significant home improvements — are all good triggers for an immediate review outside your annual cycle.
Insurance needs change over time, and policies that were right for you a few years ago may leave gaps today. Avery advisors proactively reach out to clients for annual reviews and keep up with changes in the insurance market that could affect your coverage or premium. Our goal is to make sure you are always protected and never paying for coverage that no longer fits.
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Portsmouth (HQ)
7 Islington St #102, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone Number: 603.766.3733
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21 S Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Phone Number: 603.569.2515