Universal Risk Advisors
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
"Universal Risk Advisors" is the historical name of the managing general agent (MGA) now operating as Evolution Risk Advisors, Inc. (ERA), part of Universal Insurance Holdings. ERA/Universal Risk Advisors serves as MGA for Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company and American Platinum Property & Casualty Insurance Company, handling underwriting, policy administration, distribution, and claims administration for personal residential homeowners business. Public filings describe the operating model and general risk approach, but there is no current, public, carrier-maintained producer or appetite guide specific to Universal Risk Advisors/ERA that lists granular target classes, restricted risks, or state-by-state eligibility rules. Operational notes from current filings: - Role and scope: Universal Risk Advisors (now ERA) functions as the MGA for Universal’s ‘Insurance Entities’ (primarily Universal Property & Casualty and American Platinum), responsible for underwriting, pricing, policy issuance, and reinsurance support for personal residential homeowners and related property lines. All underwriting is performed using state‑filed rate and rule manuals as the basis for rating and risk selection, and inspections are supported by Universal’s inspection subsidiary (Universal Inspection Corp/Wicklow).([universalinsuranceholdings.com](https://universalinsuranceholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/UVE-12.31.18-10K.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Product orientation: The core focus is personal residential homeowners (HO) and related dwelling/property forms; some filings reference commercial residential multi‑peril, but the dominant book is residential homeowners, heavily concentrated in Florida with expansion into other licensed states via appointed independent agents and online platforms.([docs.universalinsuranceholdings.com](https://docs.universalinsuranceholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/10K_2021.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Geographic footprint: Universal’s insurance entities write homeowners across a multistate footprint with Florida as the primary state and additional states accessed via independent agents and online portals. Homeowners policies may also be distributed through partner agencies such as GEICO’s agency platform, where Universal Risk Advisors/Universal Property & Casualty appear as home insurance markets.([geico.com](https://www.geico.com/about/corporate/geico-ins-agency-companies/?utm_source=openai)) - Underwriting process: Risk evaluation is described as both individual and portfolio‑based. ERA/Universal Risk Advisors performs underwriting consistent with filed underwriting manuals and relies on property inspections as part of the underwriting process. Reinsurance is actively managed to control catastrophe exposure, with a fully licensed reinsurance intermediary (Blue Atlantic Re) involved in placing the catastrophe program.([universalinsuranceholdings.com](https://universalinsuranceholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/UVE-12.31.18-10K.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Distribution and producer relations: Universal’s homeowners products are sold through an appointed independent agent network and, in some states, direct/online channels (e.g., Universal Direct). The MGA manages agent appointments, licensing paperwork, and oversees the distribution network. A standard agent licensing form for Universal Risk Advisors identifies it as the managing general agency for Universal Property, with contact details for agent licensing and appointment processing; however, it does not include risk‑selection or appetite detail.([universalproperty.com](https://universalproperty.com/docs/AgentAppointment/Step6-LicenseInfoForm.pdf?utm_source=openai)) Because Universal Risk Advisors now operates as Evolution Risk Advisors and the carrier does not publish a stand‑alone public underwriting or appetite guide at the MGA level, detailed rules for preferred, restricted, or declined risks (construction type, age of home, protection class, distance to coast, prior losses, roofs, etc.) must be obtained from: - The state‑filed underwriting manuals and rate/rule filings for Universal Property & Casualty and American Platinum in the relevant state, and - The agent/producer portal, agency bulletins, or direct underwriting communications supplied to appointed producers. Practical guidance for brokers/producers (based on structure rather than a published appetite card): - Treat Universal Risk Advisors/ERA as the MGA channel for Universal Property & Casualty and American Platinum homeowners business rather than a separate risk‑bearing carrier. - Expect appetite and eligibility to follow each insurance entity’s state‑filed underwriting manual and catastrophe management strategy for personal residential homeowners. - For current appetite, target classes, coastal and catastrophe restrictions, and submission requirements, rely on the Universal agent portal and underwriting bulletins or contact the MGA’s underwriting/marketing staff directly using the contact details on Universal’s agent resources and licensing materials. No public document was found that clearly enumerates current preferred vs. restricted homeowner risk characteristics or provides a checklist‑style submission/triage guide specific to Universal Risk Advisors. Those details appear to be housed in internal manuals and agent‑only resources rather than on a public underwriting or appetite page.