Photo: Max Rhulen

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

- Albert Einstein

About Rhulen Specialty and Our Philosophy.

We are insurance people with program and captive ownership experience.

We are insurance program people, with a legacy dating back to 1934. We have deep expertise in building programs, underwriting, marketing, and claims. We are crisis management people, since 2005, with hands-on crisis management experience responding to some of this nation’s most critical events. Informed by this experience, we have developed proven techniques to plan for, prevent, mitigate, eliminate, and/or manage the outcome of critical event.

This unique combination of expertise positions us to assist risk-bearing companies and MGAs in developing strategies and tools to improve the outcomes of their complex casualty businesses (e.g., improving frequency & severity, growth, retention, broker satisfaction, visibility).

Having started our careers as agents, underwriters, attorneys, and crisis managers we have developed experience-based approaches that make programs better.

Our leadership has expertise in building programs, underwriting, marketing, and claims. 

We have developed experience-based techniques to plan for, prevent, mitigate, eliminate, and/or manage the outcome of critical events. We use this knowledge both offensively and defensively for our partners.

Our concept of “Better with Us” proves true with every program we engage with. We stand behind the outcomes we achieve for our partners.

Rhulen Specialty Program Experience – Founders

Our team is comprised of insurance professionals who have spent their entire careers in the specialty program business.

  • Harry started his insurance career in the family business. After law school he returned to assist in the transition of the Rhulen Agency to its new parent. Thereafter, he went to work for Frontier Insurance Company, working in claims, legal, underwriting, program development and broker relations. Instrumental in the creation of several specialty programs, and responsible for the onboarding or acquisition of dozens more, Harry has been an outspoken advocate of how carriers and MGA’s could improve program outcomes. 

  • Suzanne Rhulen Loughlin has a long pedigree in the specialty insurance space. She is the granddaughter of Max Rhulen, founder of the Rhulen Agency, Inc, established in 1934. After graduating from law school Suzy joined Wilson Elser in New York City where she defended a wide variety of insurance claims. She took an in-house position at a specialty carrier to litigate medical malpractice cases, and ultimately built an in-house law firm of 45+ litigators that handled liability actions from inception through trial. Suzy also participated in Claim Committee for over 10 years, overseeing complex casualty claims.

  • Jim spent the last 35 years leading and innovating in the risk management and specialty insurance space. As an underwriter for the Home, Underwriter’s Re, and CEO of United Capitol, Jim was an innovator and thought leader. Jim brought these skills to Firestorm in 2005 applying emergency response, business continuity, workplace violence, communicable illness/pandemic planning, toolkits, assessments, test exercises, and webinars for the benefit of his insurance clients.

Rhulen Specialty Program Experience – Leadership Team

Our team is comprised of insurance professionals who have spent their entire careers in the specialty program business.

  • Carl Abramson has been a licensed insurance broker for 40 years. He is a seasoned professional in the insurance industry. Originally from New York, Carl began his journey in insurance in his family-owned insurance agency. After selling the agency Carl rose through the ranks in the Frontier Insurance Group, Associated Mutual Insurance Cooperative, and Berkshire Hathaway's Guard Insurance Company managing specialty programs, agents and brokers. Carl’s expertise and leadership skills earned him a position on the board of directors for the New York Young Insurance Professionals, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry. Carl brings his broad subject matter expertise in underwriting, risk management, and strategic planning to the team. Carl’s ability to build strong relationships and drive business development has been instrumental in the company’s growth and success.

  • Prior to joining Rhulen Specialty to enhance our claims capabilities, Joe established and ran a law firm with three partners. He had previously served as Chief Claims Officer of an insurance holding company, directing claim divisions of several insurance companies responsible for medical malpractice, general liability, surety and bad faith claims. He began his legal career at Gordon and Silber as a defence attorney.

  • Nichole administers all insurance programs that are serviced by Rhulen Specialty. In addition, her research skills are used to perform the critical function of open-source intelligence when responding to crisis events. A 5th generation insurance family member, with roots deeply embedded in the insurance agency program business, Nichole also worked in the Rhulen Agency, founded by her great grandfather, Max Rhulen. Known for her photographic memory, technology, and information skills, Nichole provides invaluable support to the entire Rhulen Specialty team and the insurers, reinsurers, brokers, agents, and insureds we serve. 

Harry, Jim and Suzy co-founded Firestorm Solutions, LLC, CrisisRisk Strategies, LLC and acquired Due Diligence Inc.- all part of the Rhulen Specialty family.