Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Encyclopedia
The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) is a non-profit organization with membership open to persons interested in the promotion and development of the professional liability industry.
The Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) Program provides participants with a broad, basic understanding of professional liability disciplines. The RPLU designation is the only industry designation for professionals in the field of professional liability. PLUS has developed a comprehensive curriculum for the professional liability industry. The curriculum includes 23 modules, including core modules:
• Fundamentals of Liability Insurance/Commercial General Liability Insurance: Overview
• Professional Liability Insurance: Overview
• Financial Analysis
• Professional Liability Reinsurance
• Professional Liability Insurance Claims
• Medical Professional Liability Insurance: Introduction
• Directors & Officers Liability Insurance: Introduction
PLUS University is a four day, classroom-style instructional event designed for new entrants to the professional liability industry. The curriculum for PLUS University is drawn from the RPLU modules, and courses are led by experienced members of the industry.
The 2010 International Conference in San Antonio, TX was attended by over 1,800 members and featured speakers and panel presentations on current industry topics including legal malpractice, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, notice, the financial crisis, crisis management, shareholder litigation, and employment discrimination. Keynote speakers included former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
and Co-Founder of Apple Computer, Inc., Steve Wozniak
. Past conferences have featured noted speakers from within and outside the professional liability industry, including former United States President, Bill Clinton
, and former United States Secretary of State, General Colin Powell
. The 2011 International Conference will feature Prime Minister Tony Blair
and best-selling author Daniel Pink.
PLUS also organizes panel discussions and educational, networking and charitable events throughout the year. Key events include a D&O Symposium held annually in New York which focuses on directors and officers liability issues, a Professional Risk Symposium, which focuses on employment practices, errors and omissions, and fiduciary liability, and a Medical Professional Liability Symposium. Regional chapters also organize regular educational, networking and charitable events.
A key component of the Future PLUS initiative is the establishment of a new membership level for professionals who are 35 years old or younger. The Future PLUS membership level allows professionals who are newer to the industry to join PLUS for just $50 annually and includes the full benefits of a PLUS membership, including member rates for the PLUS curriculum, national and chapter events, member access to plusweb.org, and receipt of the monthly PLUS Journal. In addition, a newly-created Future PLUS Committee will elect a member to participate in all PLUS Board meetings.
The Founders Award recognizes a member of PLUS who has made lasting and outstanding contributions to the Society. The Award is presented in honor of the spirit and dedication of PLUS Founder Angelo J. Gioia and other individuals who have contributed selflessly to create PLUS and establish it as the voice of the professional liability industry.
History
PLUS was founded in 1986. Since then, PLUS has grown from 300 members in 1989 to over 6,000 members, representing over 1,000 companies active in the many fields of professional liability, including underwriters, brokers, risk managers, program managers, attorneys, claims examiners, general agents, teachers/professors, and students.,Education
PLUS is recognized in the industry as the primary source of professional liability educational programs and seminars. The Society’s comprehensive educational approach includes an annual International Conference, annual symposia, the RPLU designation program, and educational events organized by regional chapters of PLUS, all of which provide educational and networking opportunities.The Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) Program provides participants with a broad, basic understanding of professional liability disciplines. The RPLU designation is the only industry designation for professionals in the field of professional liability. PLUS has developed a comprehensive curriculum for the professional liability industry. The curriculum includes 23 modules, including core modules:
• Fundamentals of Liability Insurance/Commercial General Liability Insurance: Overview
• Professional Liability Insurance: Overview
• Financial Analysis
• Professional Liability Reinsurance
• Professional Liability Insurance Claims
• Medical Professional Liability Insurance: Introduction
• Directors & Officers Liability Insurance: Introduction
PLUS University is a four day, classroom-style instructional event designed for new entrants to the professional liability industry. The curriculum for PLUS University is drawn from the RPLU modules, and courses are led by experienced members of the industry.
Events and Programming
PLUS holds an annual International Conference, which brings together thousands of members from throughout the United States and around the world for three days of world-class educational programming and networking opportunities. From the inaugural meeting in 1988, which had 125 attendees, the annual International Conference has grown dramatically in both the number of attendees and in the breadth of topics covered.http://www.roughnotes.com/rnmagazine/2009/october09/09_10p085.htm, Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) International Conference Special Section.The 2010 International Conference in San Antonio, TX was attended by over 1,800 members and featured speakers and panel presentations on current industry topics including legal malpractice, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, notice, the financial crisis, crisis management, shareholder litigation, and employment discrimination. Keynote speakers included former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
and Co-Founder of Apple Computer, Inc., Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
. Past conferences have featured noted speakers from within and outside the professional liability industry, including former United States President, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and former United States Secretary of State, General Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. The 2011 International Conference will feature Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and best-selling author Daniel Pink.
PLUS also organizes panel discussions and educational, networking and charitable events throughout the year. Key events include a D&O Symposium held annually in New York which focuses on directors and officers liability issues, a Professional Risk Symposium, which focuses on employment practices, errors and omissions, and fiduciary liability, and a Medical Professional Liability Symposium. Regional chapters also organize regular educational, networking and charitable events.
Publications
PLUS publishes the PLUS Journal monthly. The Journal features articles and opinions on current issues affecting the professional liability industry.Future PLUS
On June 15, 2011, PLUS announced the Future PLUS initiative. Future PLUS seeks to attract, educate and retain the next generation of professional liability insurance specialists to ensure a bright future for the industry and PLUS, its flagship educational and networking association.A key component of the Future PLUS initiative is the establishment of a new membership level for professionals who are 35 years old or younger. The Future PLUS membership level allows professionals who are newer to the industry to join PLUS for just $50 annually and includes the full benefits of a PLUS membership, including member rates for the PLUS curriculum, national and chapter events, member access to plusweb.org, and receipt of the monthly PLUS Journal. In addition, a newly-created Future PLUS Committee will elect a member to participate in all PLUS Board meetings.
Awards
The PLUS1 Award is presented to a person whose efforts have contributed substantially to the advancement and image of the professional liability industry. Criteria include reputation and success in the professional liability industry, history of lectures and service on panels addressing topics in the industry, current activity in professional liability, activity and involvement in PLUS, longevity in the insurance industry, and measure of impact on the professional liability industry.The Founders Award recognizes a member of PLUS who has made lasting and outstanding contributions to the Society. The Award is presented in honor of the spirit and dedication of PLUS Founder Angelo J. Gioia and other individuals who have contributed selflessly to create PLUS and establish it as the voice of the professional liability industry.