For Canadian connoisseurs of the cherished, worn-leather feel of vintage baseball gloves, or those who hold their breath when handling a Wayne Gretzky rookie card, there’s good tidings. NFP, a luminary of the property and casualty world, has unveiled a novel insurance program tailor-made for sports memorabilia collectors. This initiative, concocted in harmony with Berkley Asset Protection, is designed to plug the gaping holes left by ordinary homeowners insurance, much to the relief of collectors who see their troves as more than mere sentimental hoards.
Imagine, for a moment, the peril of possessing such treasures under the usual confines of run-of-the-mill insurance policies. Standard offerings tend to cast a disdainful eye on what they deem peripheral items, such as a prized autographed hockey stick or a meticulously preserved collection of baseball cards. These are often relegated to the category of ‘additional items,’ with coverage that barely scratches the surface of their true value.
Enter Greg Dunn, Managing Director of Personal Risk at NFP in Canada, who brings to the table an insurance solution that understands the pulse of a collector’s heart. With features like automatic coverage for new acquisitions and comprehensive transit insurance, Dunn’s team is offering a safety net that begins to expand the very instant a new item is purchased. This shifts the paradigm from reactive protection to proactive peace of mind, a luxury in the often precarious dance of collection and preservation.
Adding to this symphony of specific coverage is Olivia Cinqmars-Viau, AVP of fine art underwriting at Berkley Asset Protection, who crafts these policies with a tailor’s precision. Each policy is stitched together with the finesse required to suit the unique dimensions of a collector’s inventory, recognizing that no two collectors’ needs are identical. This approach not only protects the financial investment in these collectibles but also respects their historical and emotional worth.
From the echoing halls of the Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo, Canada’s premier gathering for aficionados of this genre, comes the applause of its president and owner, Steve Menzie. Menzie, who has seen countless collectors fret over the fragile fate of their items, supports this new venture wholeheartedly. He understands that while the heart may rule the realm of collecting, the mind must not forget the financial stakes involved. It’s why this partnership between NFP and Berkley is more than a mere business endeavor—it’s a beacon of security in the murky waters of personal collections.
The stage is set for a grand unveiling of this innovative program at the upcoming Sport Card & Memorabilia Expo in Toronto, running from April 25-28. Here, the NFP’s Personal Risk team will not just be another face in the crowd but will shine as knowledgeable advisers, ready to elucidate the nuances of this insurance plan to all attendees. Their presence is a testament to NFP’s broader vision of catering to niche markets with hyper-specific needs, employing tactics that consider both global reach and localized service.
For collectors, the message is clear: your treasures, those silent yet eloquent fragments of history, finally have a shield worthy of their legacy. This insurance is not merely a financial safeguard but a ribbon tying the past to the present, allowing collectors to breathe easier and maybe, just maybe, to sleep a little sounder at night knowing that their legacies are secure. This program isn’t just about preserving valuables; it’s about valuing what’s invaluable—the stories, the moments, the memories encapsulated within each piece of memorabilia.
