Our History

A Specialty Insurer with More Than 50 Years of Expertise Serving Niche Insurance Markets

RLI is a U.S.-based specialty insurer that offers a diverse portfolio of property and casualty insurance coverages and surety bonds. Since 1965, we’ve been making a difference, shouldering risks in niche insurance markets that give our customers the security to create, explore, grow and prosper. In 2015, we celebrated 50 years of innovation and helping customers safeguard their assets and livelihoods.

RLI’s history of innovation dates to the early 1960s, when Founder Gerald D. Stephens, recognized the expense of replacing contact lenses, and founded RLI — Replacement Lens, Inc. — a contact lens insurance agency. In 1965, he acquired the holding company that would later become RLI Corp. RLI was one of the first insurers of contact lenses. In time, it emerged as the largest insurer of its kind in the world.

Building upon this success, RLI entered the commercial property and liability insurance field and expanded into the direct writing of a commercial umbrella program. Over time, RLI has continued to diversify its product portfolio, focusing on niche and underserved insurance markets that require specialized expertise.

An entrepreneurial spirit and relentless focus on innovation are the foundation of our success and continue to differentiate us today. We consistently keep our eyes on the challenges our customers face, and find innovative ways to solve them — whether that's offering products for underserved specialty markets, or enhancing and developing products that are new to the marketplace.