Our History

Since 1932, Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group has tailored insurance and risk management programs to meet the unique needs of each family, business and individual we insure.

Our dynamic team is made up of career insurance professionals and industry leaders dedicated to understanding the changing marketplace. Our collaborative approach utilizes our collective years of experience to better serve our customer. 

The insurance companies we represent are among the strongest financial institutions in the world. Equally important is their long history of equitable claims payment delivered with exemplary service. 

View Our Agency Timeline

Our Approach

Your lifestyle is one that deserves to be protected.

Risk Synergy® — A Personalized and Proprietary Approach

At Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group we deliver an integrated insurance and risk management program that protects the assets of each individual, family, and business we insure.

Risk Synergy is a synchronized collaboration of:

  1. Tooher-Ferraris’ Team
  2. Insured Family, Association or Business
  3. Insurance Carrier Resources

By coordinating underwriting, loss control, audit, claims, our team, and your objectives, we can deliver a superior and sustainable plan.

RISK SYNERGY DELIVERS:

  • Optimal Pricing
  • Transparency in Underwriting
  • Tailored Coverage
  • Reduced Exposure to Loss
  • Superior Claims Management
  • Stability
  • Unique Wellness Programs

From compliance to communication, Tooher-Ferraris will deliver a full spectrum of solutions for your personal and business needs.

As a Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agency we offer multiple insurance carrier options, knowledge and experience to help identify your strategic objectives with the goal of delivering innovative insurance and risk management solutions.

Our Values

Integrity

Showcase the highest ethical standards internally and externally during each day and throughout each interaction.

Advocacy

Advocate on behalf of the client and educate them throughout the process.

Teamwork

Collaborate collectively for the benefit of the business and customers.

Consistency

Deliver reliable, responsive, and professional, high-touch service.

Philanthropy

Give back. Donate time and engage with those throughout our community that are in need.

Thought-Leadership

Learn, grow, and be ahead of the curve. Navigate our customers through the changes in the marketplace.

Our Mission

Thoughtful insurance, you can trust.

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.

Social Responsibility

Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group is actively involved in giving back and proud to support local charities that work to enrich the lives of others. Each year we are committed to donating a portion of our profits to organizations that directly impact our community.

Here are a few of the organizations we have donated to over the years:

  • The Darien Road Race to benefit The Community Fund of Darien
  • Laurel House, Inc.
  • Darien Youth Hockey Association
  • Greenwich September 11th Memorial
  • ElderHouse
  • Darien Athletic Foundation
  • Stamford Center for the Art’s
  • Connecticut Food Bank
  • Sono Stroll / Human Service Council Norwalk
  • American Red Cross
  • The Carver
  • Vietnam Veterans of Wilton / Darien
  • Stamford Education 4 Autism
  • Weston CT Volunteer EMS
  • CT Children’s Medical Center
  • Turn of River Fire Department
  • United Way of Greenwich
  • Westchester Medical Center / Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital
  • Bridgeport Carib Youth
  • Wilton Family YMCA
  • Wilton Little League
  • Circle of Care

A Brief Agency History

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.

Insights

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