Tushar Shivdasani

During my internship at the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office (FSLSO), I was given the opportunity to work closely with surplus lines filings submitted by Lloyd's of London, I was trained to identify discrepancies in these filings, whether they involved mismatches in the listing of foreign or alien insurers, incorrect effective or expiration dates, or agent and surplus lines license inconsistencies. Spotting these errors required attention to detail and a clear understanding of regulatory expectations in Florida’s surplus lines market.

I regularly used SLIP+, and RAPID to cross reference data and fix incorrect entries. For instance, if a policy’s effective date was listed incorrectly or didn’t align with regulatory timelines. Being trusted with these responsibilities allowed me to develop a heavy mindset and gain a working knowledge of how surplus lines insurance operates in practice and not just theory.

As I continue my studies at the University of South Florida, I am confident that my FSLSO internship will expand my academic process. This internship didn’t just prepare me for future classes or a future job. It gave me a professional identity and direction that I’ll carry with pride, which will hopefully help me accomplish my American dream.