About Us

PERMA helped organize the first joint insurance fund (JIF) for New Jersey municipalities. Today, PERMA administers 24 JIFs of various types. 310 of PERMA’s 695 insurance clients have been with the firm for at least 25 years and 73% (505) were with the firm in 2007 when it was acquired by Commerce Insurance Services (today Conner Strong & Buckelew).

PERMA is recognized for its leadership and innovation, including:

  1. The first municipal joint insurance fund (JIF) for property & casualty in New Jersey and one of the earliest in the country: Since 1985, this program has saved taxpayers over $3.1 billion. The Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund (MEL) and its affiliated JIFs have an annual budget of $200 million and retain a statutory surplus of $200 million.
  2. The first employee benefits JIF program in New Jersey: Since 1992, this program has saved the taxpayers almost $800 million. Today, PERMA’s public entity clients provide healthcare benefits for over 165,000 individuals.
  3. The first state-wide electric and natural gas cooperative for governmental entities: The Sustainable Energy Joint Meeting (SEM) is a governmental entity that was formed in 2009 and currently has 202 members including 162 municipalities. To date, the SEM has saved taxpayers $34 million.
  4. The first JIF program for New Jersey counties: The New Jersey Counties Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund (CEL) began offering broad property & casualty coverage in 2010. The CEL currently insures 10 counties and to date has saved taxpayers $85 million.
  5. An environmental liability JIF: This program, known as the E-JIF, provides public entities in New Jersey with the most comprehensive environmental coverage in the country.
  6. Risk Control and Safety Programming: PERMA runs a safety institute that trains over 50,000 workers each year across a wide range of risk control topics.