Independent by Design: Ownership Structure and Your Errors & Omissions Partner
Let’s be real for a second. As we move through 2026, the insurance world feels a bit like a game of musical chairs. Between private equity buyouts and aggressive mergers, it’s getting harder to tell who you’re actually doing business with.
For local, family-owned brokerages, this isn’t just “business as usual.” Ownership matters because it dictates the culture, how fast you get an answer, and – most importantly – if you can truly connect and relate to the person on the other end of the line.
Relationships > Quarterly Targets
We’ve all seen it: a partner gets bought out, and suddenly the focus shifts from helping brokers to hitting quarterly shareholder numbers.
ProForm is built differently.
We’re independently owned and family-led as a proud member of the Reliance Group of Companies. Because we don’t have out-of-country investors breathing down our necks, we have the freedom to take the “long view.”
We’d much rather invest in a 10-year relationship with you than a 3-month profit spike. To us, accountability is personal. When decisions are made by people who actually care about their reputation, the service just feels different.
Jim Ball and Michelle Harris (Loupret) have cut out the rigid corporate layers so that when you need an answer, you get one – fast. They aren’t just names on another corporate org chart; they’re in the trenches.
The Independent Advantage in 2026
The current market is tough. Between the shifting “blame culture” and the legal vacuum created by ICBC’s changes in B.C., brokers like us are under more pressure than ever. When the threat matrix hits, you need a partner who is:
Accessible & Responsive: We’re local. We pick up the phone, we return calls. We’re at events and we visit our brokers offices.
Consistent: We’ve been independent and family owned for 16 years. We represent stability in a market characterized by constant turnover and aggressive acquisition.
Relatable: We’re your neighbours. Your colleagues. You know us, and we know you. Our kids play soccer together!
We’ve Got Your Back
At the end of the day, independence isn’t just a buzzword for us, and nor is it for you. It’s how we protect the things that matter: your reputation and your Duty of Care. We’re proud to be family-owned, and we’re even prouder to stand alongside the local brokerages that keep this industry human.
Family-owned and independent since 2010. We’re here for the long haul.
Want to chat about how an independent E&O partner can support your firm?
Give us a shout:
Michelle Loupret, Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 604-910-0695
Email: michelle@proforminsurance.com
This article was written by Michelle Loupret – a broker E&O expert with over with 20 years of experience in the commercial insurance industry. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by insurance brokers, she has honed her skills in account management, administration, broking, wholesaling, project leadership, product development, and underwriting.
For more information, please contact:
ProForm Insurance
Michelle Loupret
Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 604-910-0695
Email: michelle@proforminsurance.com
