Windward Risk Managers Earns National Recognition as Top Financial Services Workplace

Windward Risk Managers has been named to the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance list by Fortune and Great Place To Work®, achieving the #21 ranking nationally in the Small & Medium category for organizations with 10-999 U.S.-based employees. This recognition carries significant implications for the insurance industry, particularly in the challenging Florida homeowners market, where employee retention and satisfaction directly impact customer service quality and company stability during hurricane seasons.

The company stands out as the highest-ranked organization on the 2025 list focused exclusively on residential property and casualty insurance for U.S. homeowners. This distinction matters because it demonstrates that specialized insurance providers can compete with and even surpass larger financial institutions in creating exceptional workplace environments. Among banks, wealth firms, benefits consultancies, and specialty commercial insurers on the list, Windward Risk Managers maintains a unique residential focus through its affiliated carriers Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, Edison Insurance Company, and Ovation Home Insurance Exchange.

Employee feedback reveals why this workplace excellence matters for policyholders and the broader insurance market. Employees describe Windward Risk Managers as having a close-knit culture with big-company resources – a rare combination that translates directly to superior service quality, faster turnaround times, and higher customer satisfaction rates. The company achieved remarkable survey results with 95% of employees saying Windward Risk Managers is a great place to work, compared with just 57% at a typical U.S. company. These standout scores centered on ethics, belonging, and pride indicate a workplace culture that likely contributes to better decision-making and more ethical treatment of policyholders.

The workforce composition statistics underscore the company's stability and appeal in a competitive labor market. Thirty-nine percent of employees joined in the past two years, indicating healthy growth and attraction of new talent, while 34% report 6-20 years of tenure, demonstrating strong employee retention. This balance between new perspectives and institutional knowledge is crucial for an insurance company operating in Florida's volatile property market, where experience with hurricane claims processing directly affects policyholder outcomes during catastrophic events.

Paul Adkins, CEO of Windward Risk Managers, emphasized that the recognition reflects the strength of their team and collaborative culture, noting that employees are the driving force behind their success. The company's commitment to fostering an environment that values hard work, celebrates achievements, encourages giving back, and makes work enjoyable has proven effective in building a sustainable organization. Founded in 2005, Windward Risk Managers has operated for two decades in Florida, partnering with exclusive and independent agent networks to serve homeowners through challenging market conditions.

The methodology behind the Fortune Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance list, administered by Great Place To Work, evaluates the consistency and equity of the employee experience using its Trust Index survey. Companies must be Great Place To Work-Certified to be considered for the list, ensuring that the recognition reflects genuine workplace quality rather than superficial measures. This rigorous evaluation process adds credibility to Windward Risk Managers' achievement and suggests that their workplace practices could serve as a model for other insurance companies seeking to improve employee satisfaction and retention.