Your lifestyle is one that deserves to be protected. Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group’s proprietary methodology, Risk Synergy®, produces a customized insurance and risk management program for each individual, family, and business that we insure. Our friendly and knowledgeable team advocates, educates, and delivers high-touch service to our customers with honesty, integrity, and dependability.

STAMFORD, Conn.

1928 – Joseph J. Tooher Sr., former acting Postmaster of this community and a former Chairman of the Democratic City Committee along with his wife, the former Mary Louise Brennan, formed the Brennan-Tooher Insurance Agency out of their home on Hillside Avenue in Stamford, CT. Mr. Tooher served as a State Senator from 1942 to 1944.

1932 – The Agency was incorporated in July of 1932. With only a handful of insurance carrier appointments, the Agency’s focus was strictly Personal Lines including home and auto lines of business for families within Stamford, CT.

1970 – Peter P. Ferraris, Jr. joined the agency in early the summer while working as a 6th-grade school teacher at the Stark School in Stamford, CT. He loved to teach and educate his students on not only the answer but the “bigger picture” and life. During the summers he split time between working as a carpenter and within the agency. After several summers, he realized he had a passion for helping people, enjoyed insurance and providing guidance throughout the insurance sales process.

1975 – It was shortly after he became a full-time agent eventually taking over the business in the mid-’70s. Although the Tooher family was no longer involved in the business the name was kept, becoming Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group. At the time Joseph J. Tooher had recently been the Postmaster General of Stamford, CT duly elected in July of 1962. Peter immediately opened up a Commercial Department for small businesses seeing an opportunity in an underserved market.

1978 – Tooher-Ferraris Insurance purchases The Bartlett Insurance Agency – Old Greenwich, CT

1979 – Tooher-Ferraris Insurance acquires a small Personal Lines agency, Maguires Insurance Agency – Old Greenwich, CT 

1980 – In the early ’80s, Peter Ferraris uncovered an opportunity with an exclusive market writing HOA’s, Condo Associations, and Co-ops, called Community Association Underwriters (CAU).  CAU was one of the first products designed specifically tailored to Condo Associations. Tooher-Ferraris was one of two exclusive agencies in CT to offer these policies. It was a time in Connecticut where there was an explosive growth of residential development. CAU afforded best-in-class service, a better policy form, and rates that were substantially below the rest of the insurance carriers attempting to write this business. Due to the success of this program, our Condo Department was formed focusing exclusively on Homeowner’s Associations.

1982 – Purchased Rhinehart Walters Insurance Agency – Stamford, CT, an Independent Insurance Agency focused on Personal Lines and Small Commercial businesses.

1987 – Chris Tallcouch joins Tooher-Ferraris to focus on commercial lines business development and eventually becomes Vice President of Commercial Lines. Chris brought extensive knowledge of insurance and a fantastic reputation for client advocacy.

1998 – Carolyn Ferraris joins the agency as Reception and Office Manager, responsible for the “first hello” to the backbone support of the Agency Account Executives. Recently expanding her role further by acting as Quality Manager in our Homeowner’s Association Department.

2001 – Eric Ferraris joined Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group after working at Priceline.com for 3 years. Working in various capacities within Priceline, Eric gained a much better understanding of software, network infrastructure, and how technology could shape the customer experience. Eric brought his technology focus to the Agency and has kept with his father’s tradition of educating while delivering risk management and insurance solutions. 

2003 – Agency relocated to Wilton, CT.

2005 – Commercial Lines Department began to focus on targeted classes of business that our preferred carrier partnerships had specialty programs for including Arborists, Landscapers, Refuse Haulers, Hospitality, Custom Home Builder’s, Real Estate Portfolios.

2008 – Agency started delivering Individual Life, Disability, and Long-Term Care solutions.

2010 – Personal Lines department focus expanded to High Net Worth with new partnerships with unique carriers to serve this growing market: Ace, AIG Private Client Group, Chubb, Cincinnati, PURE.

June 2018 – Thoughtful Insurance ® trademarked.

September 2018 – Risk Synergy ® trademarked filed and unique client service model created.

February 2016 – Frank Pingelski was hired to head up our Homeowner’s Association Division, becoming Vice President. As a key part of our Agency, Frank manages the relationships with Property Managers, Association Boards, and our Specialty Insurance carrier partners.

March 2021 – Benefits Division opened to service Group Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Voluntary Benefits.

Present Day – One of the largest independent family-owned and operated insurance agencies in Connecticut with licenses in 38 states. What makes our Agency unique is the 36 career insurance professionals, their focus on customer service, insurance expertise, and delivering unique solutions for our clients through our long-standing insurance carrier partnerships. We serve over 2500 clients with four distinct specialty departments including Homeowner Associations, High Net Worth Personal Lines, Specialty Commercial Lines, and Group Benefits.