Summary of Insurance Brokers

• Insurance brokers work with insurance companies to provide appropriate cover specific for your personal situation and needs. Unlike an insurance company, they take the time to get to know you and properly consider what insurance you need. As their client, you can ask questions.
• If you have health issues or a unique family situation, insurance brokers can help to find exactly the right policy for your needs.
• If you run a business, a business insurance broker can help you assess your risks and find the most appropriate policies at the best price.
• ​There's no direct cost by dealing with an insurance broker - they get paid by the insurance company by way of a commission when they sell a policy. If you don't buy a policy, you won't be charged by the insurance broker.
• If you need to make a claim, insurance brokers fight in your corner and deal with the insurance company directly. This can save a lot of hassle and time during what's likely to already be a stressful time.
• The most important thing is to find an insurance broker you're comfortable with.

Our guide tells you what you need to know about insurance brokers. We outline:

• What is an insurance broker, and what they do?
• The pros and cons of using an insurance broker
• What to be wary of, as well as tips for finding one you want to work with
• What questions to ask an insurance broker to make sure you're getting the best deals in the market

​An insurance broker is a person who sells an insurance policy to a customer on behalf of an insurance company. An insurance broker works one-on-one with you to find out your specific insurance needs. For example, if you have two young children and are looking for life insurance to protect their futures, an insurance broker will ask you the amount of cover you want and other questions to get a better understanding of your needs. The insurance broker then offers a range of policies from different insurers which are matched to your precise needs.

​An insurance broker brings a lot of expertise and insights into insurance, and offers are more personal experience compared to dealing with an insurance company directly. Insurance brokers must act with your best interests and have a duty of care in how they behave - this means they must be able to explain and justify any insurance policy recommendations they make.

If you need to make a claim, you won't deal with the insurance company your policy is with. Instead, and quite helpfully, your Insurance broker will make the claim on your behalf. This can save considerable time and eliminate the hassle in what is likely to be a difficult time for you and/or your family.

Insurance brokers work with a broad range of clients, but most tend to be over the age of thirty when people look at protecting their families by taking out life insurance and related policies. Insurance brokers can also be introduced through mortgage brokers when purchasing a home. 

Insurance can be complicated and having someone you can meet with can make things much easier. If you want to buy insurance but are not sure where to start, and/or are insuring for something unusual, an insurance broker is a great place to start. They’re experts in the insurance market and can usually find you excellent cover at a price that beats going directly to an insurance broker. Best of all, when it's time to claim

Disclaimer: MoneyHub believes that insurers brokers are, in most cases, a good place to start for the following products:

1. Life insurance (our guide explains more, and has sample policy prices)
2. Mortgage protection (our guide explains more, and has sample policy prices)
3. Income protection (our guide explains more, and has sample policy prices)​
4. Disability and trauma

Comparing is a good starting point
Comparing prices for other general insurance using our guides is a great place to start to find the best policies. By doing so, you can most likely save money when looking for cover. Our price comparison guides cover:

• Landlord protection insurance
• Travel insurance
• Home Insurance
• Car Insurance
• Contents Insurance
• Renters' Insurance

No - insurance brokers work around the country, either as part of a group (such as Mike Pero Mortgages, which also sells a range of insurance policies) or as stand-alone providers. Like any professional service, the exact service you will receive will depend on who your provider is. For this reason, we suggest using Google to search for well-reviewed insurance brokers.

There are no upfront or service fees. Insurance brokers make their money from commissions paid to them by the insurers you buy a policy from. You won't necessarily pay more for your insurance either by using an insurance broker. To explain further, insurance brokers work the same as travel agents who earn commissions from airlines and hotels etc.

It is up to you to decide which policy and company you want to be insured with. Unlike the process of getting a mortgage, the insurer you select probably isn't as important as the bank you borrow from. Nonetheless, insurance brokers will be paid differently by each insurance company, so be sure you pick the right policy that meets all of your needs. 

You won't know how much your insurance broker earns from your policy - New Zealand law does not require brokers to disclose commission payments.

The expertise of an insurance broker can vary from one to another. To get the best results, ask two essential questions: 

1. How many insurers do you work with? The more insurers the broker has a relationship with, the higher the chances you'll get the most appropriate policy at the best price. A good answer is at least five insurers, but the more they cover, the better the options will be. 
2. What are your fees and commissions? You can ask that, even if they are not legally obliged to tell you. If they do, it will probably create trust and help you understand a little bit more about how insurance brokerage works.