About Newlights
A New York firm. An American practice. A private-advisor approach.
Founded in 1998 above a coffee shop in the Flatiron District, Newlights now protects more than 140,000 American families, firms, and businesses across all 50 states.
Our story
Insurance, written like advice — not a transaction.
Newlights was founded by a small group of underwriters and former financial-services attorneys who believed insurance had drifted too far from the policyholder. In 1998, that meant returning calls personally and writing policies that named the right risks.
Twenty-seven years later it means the same thing — only now we do it for individual investors, RIAs, hedge funds, family offices, and businesses across every U.S. state. We've grown to a team of 480 across New York, Chicago, Austin, and San Francisco, while keeping our claims-paid ratio above 98%.
Our financial strength is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best, and our policies are underwritten by Newlights Indemnity, Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. carrier.
What we believe
Three principles, applied every day.
Underwrite with precision
Risk is specific. We price it that way — no off-the-shelf templates dictating your premium.
Pay claims with conviction
Coverage is meaningless if it doesn't hold up. 98% of our claims are paid on first review.
Advise like an owner
Every account is paired with a senior advisor whose name and number are on your policy.
Leadership
Who runs the firm.
Elena Marsh
Chief Executive Officer
Former Head of Specialty Lines at a Top-10 U.S. carrier. 28 years in insurance.
Daniel Okafor
Chief Underwriting Officer
Built financial-institution programs across North America. Lloyd's-trained underwriter.
Priscilla Chen
Chief Claims Officer
Specialty-lines claims advocate. Named Insurance Business America Elite Woman 2023.
Milestones
Twenty-seven years, one philosophy.
Newlights is founded in New York's Flatiron District with three underwriters and a single homeowners product.
Launches its first specialty E&O program for Registered Investment Advisors.
Pays $112M in claims through the financial crisis without missing a renewal — earns first A.M. Best A rating.
Opens Chicago office; launches private-client umbrella program.
Crosses 50,000 active policyholders; launches in-house cyber liability practice.
Opens Austin and San Francisco offices; introduces digital-asset E&O for crypto-native RIAs.
Upgraded to A.M. Best A+ (Superior). Surpasses $2B cumulative claims paid.
Now insuring 140,000+ American families, firms, and businesses across all 50 U.S. states.
Corporate facts
The numbers behind the policy.
Newlights Insurance Company is a privately-held U.S. carrier. Our policies are underwritten by Newlights Indemnity, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary domiciled in Delaware and admitted in all 50 states.
- Founded
- 1998
- Headquarters
- New York, NY
- U.S. offices
- 4 (NYC, CHI, AUS, SF)
- Employees
- 480
- NAIC #
- 87412
- Domicile
- Delaware, USA
- A.M. Best
- A+ (Superior)
- Reinsurers
- Lloyd's, Munich Re, Swiss Re