Industry Contributions and Achievements

2026 – NAIFA Los Angeles Will G. Farrell Public Service Award presented to Thomas Petersen.

2025 – Expanded the scope of business to Reinsurance.
– Petersen International Brokers opened an office in London.
– Petersen International Brokers was granted authorization by the Financial Conduct Authority to conduct insurance business in the UK.

2024 – Established a Critical Injury plan for Athletes.

2023 – Launched the Disability online enrollment to streamline processing of applications.

2022 – Launched the Failure to Survive online enrollment to streamline processing of applications.

2021 – Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of corporate disability insurance (Senate Bill 5760-A) in New York.

2020 – Approved as a Lloyd’s Broker, Petersen International Brokers is established.
– Created a Loss of Value plan for Athletes.

2019 – IDIS W. Harold Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Thomas Petersen.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (Senate Bill 33-2-301) in Montana.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (House Bill 1219) in South Dakota.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (House Bill 260) in Maine.

2018 – Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (House Bill 247) in Louisiana.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (House Bill 345) in Kentucky.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (Senate Bill 2510) in Tennessee.

2017 – Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (Senate Bill 17-274) in Colorado.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance (Senate Bill 38-1-20) in South Carolina.

2016 – Launched the Short Term Medical Online Enrollment.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance in Colorado.

2015 – Created the first High Limit Disability plan with a 10 year policy term.
– W. Harold Petersen was elected into the Insurance Hall of Fame in Iowa.
– Created a Graded Benefit disability plan for medically substandard cases.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance in Maryland.
– Developed the Short Term Medical plan for individuals without health coverage.
– Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance in South Dakota.
– Created the first income protection plan to cover Stock Option compensation.

2014 – Enhanced the Accelerated Benefit plan to age 70.
– Developed a special disability plan for the NFLPA.

2013 – Created the Accelerated Benefit To Age 65 plan.
– Developed a 10 Year Disability Benefit Period.

2012 – Instrumental in passing bills that amended previous legislation prohibiting the sale of special use disability insurance in Iowa and Nebraska.

2011 – Launched a suite of online producer tools designed to streamline production.

2010 – Developed the Professional Equity Guard Plan to protect professional sole proprietor companies.

2009 – Developed and introduced the industry’s first Disability Financial Planning Portfolio.

2008 – Introduced contingency insurance plans for Disability, Failure to Survive and Non-Appearance cases.

2006 – Instrumental in passage of bill in New York to amend the insurance law in relation to salary protection insurance.

2005 – Founding member of the International DI Society dedicated to preserving the Disability Insurance Industry
– IDIS W. Harold Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award presented to W. Harold Petersen.

2003 – War & Terrorism Insurance created for persons who have accepted work assignments in Afghanistan, Iraq and other danger areas.

2002 – NAIFA Los Angeles Will G. Farrell Public Service Award presented to W. Harold Petersen.
– Launched group excess disability plans for highly compensated employees. Wrote the white paper, “Disability Insurance In America.”

2001 – Developed the first severance agreement disability plan.

2000 – Coverage to insure Venture Capitalists loss due to disability of Key persons, and Severance Benefits for persons disemployed due to merger and Acquisition.

1999 – Increased Maximum Benefit on International Major Medical Plans to $5,000,000 per person.

1998 – Binding Authority at Lloyd’s increased to $20,000,000 per person.

1997 – Professional Athletes Disability Insurance Benefits in force exceeds 800 million dollars.

1996 – Developed special plans of disability insurance that are sponsored by the Country Music Association and by the National Hockey League Players Association.

1995 – Created an Entertainment Division to underwrite a menu of “Entertainment Disability Plans” for persons in the field of entertainment: Disability, Medical, Non-Appearance and Event Cancellation.

1994 – Developed Umbrella Major Medical Plan for persons wanting greater coverage than provided by their existing plan.

1993 – Created special Disability Plans for Entertainers and Professional Athletes.

1992 – Developed Kidnap/Ransom Insurance, Confidential Life and Special Use Term Life Plans. Wrote the paper, “Income As An Asset.”

1991 – Developed, “The Bridge Plan”, a substitute Medicare Plan for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals while awaiting eligibility to participate in Medicare.

1990 – Admitted to do business in Canada.
– Wrote the book, “The Disability Insurance Tax Digest.”

1989 – Created, “The International Major Medical Plan” for U.S. citizens and foreign nationals while traveling or living in other countries.

1988 – Binding authority at Lloyd’s raised to $10,000,000 per person. Wrote the book, “Cashing In On Cash Value Disability Insurance.”

1987 – Produced and published the books, “The Untold Truths about Disability Insurance” and “Life Is Just A Cash Flow.”

1986 – Developed the “Disability Financial Planning Course”, leading to designation of Disability Financial Planner (DFP).

1985 – The National Association of Health Underwriters named W. Harold Petersen, RHU, President of Petersen International, recipient of the Harold R. Gordon Memorial Award, the Health Insurance Industry’s highest accolade.

1983 – Appointed as a Correspondent to Lloyd’s with in-house authority up to $5,000,000 per
person.

1979 – Licensed and functioned as Surplus Excess Lines Broker and Registered Administrator.

1973 – Became the nation’s largest producer of Return of Premium disability plans.

1972 – Developed multiple life discount premium plan for endorsed mass marketed plans.

1971 – Created and underwrote the first Residual Disability Benefit Plan.

1968 – Introduced payroll deduction, life and disability plans for government employees.

1964 – Created the “Health Insurance in Business Planning Course”; overhead expense, buy-sell, key-person and loan indemnification.

1963 – Created the unique “Health Insurance Training Course” with emphasis on disability insurance.

1962 – Developed first successful Disability Cash Value and Refund of Premium Plans.

1961 – Created an underwriting facility for high limit disability insurance combined with comprehensive underwriting system to extend coverage to substandard and unusual occupational risks.

1960 – Established Underwriters National Assurance Company, a legal reserve life insurance company, which specialized in disability insurance.

1959 – Established Advanced Health Underwriting Seminars at leading universities: Purdue, Florida State, Notre Dame, Indiana, Butler, Michigan State, USC, Tulane.

1958 – Created the Disability Insurance Training Council Study Course for agents and brokers.

1957 – Established Accident and Health Division, American United Life.

1952 – Established Special Risks Department, Mutual of Omaha, Reinsured at Lloyd’s.

1950 – Design of the very first policies to qualify under the sweeping California Minimum Benefits Law.

1948 – Developed premium ratings on Disability Insurance to accommodate the insuring of sub-standard risks.