Is It Worth Getting Insurance Through a Broker?

Short answer: for most people, yes.

Longer answer: it depends on whether you value clarity, choice, and having someone on your side, or whether you’re happy to guess your way through fine print and hope for the best.

What You Get When You Use a Broker

Choice, not a single opinion

When you go direct to an insurer, you’re only seeing one option. One product range. One version of “what’s best.” A broker can compare policies across multiple insurers, which means:

• Better visibility on pricing and features
• Real comparisons, not marketing spin
• A policy that fits you, not the insurer’s standard template

That alone often makes it worth it.

Advice that’s actually about you

Insurance only works if it’s set up properly. A broker looks at:

• Your income and budget
• Mortgages and debts
• Your job and lifestyle
• Whether you have children or dependants
• What would genuinely matter if something went wrong
• Potential events you may not have considered

Instead of guessing how much cover you “should” have, you get something tailored to your life.

Less admin, fewer headaches

Insurance applications can be surprisingly involved. A broker:

• Walks you through the process
• Explains what matters
• Handles insurer questions and follow-ups
• Keeps things moving

You don’t need to figure it out on your own or spend hours dealing with insurers directly.

Advocacy when it matters most

This part often gets overlooked until it really matters. If you ever need to claim:

• You’re not dealing with a call centre or generic contact form
• You have a real person who knows you and your cover
• Someone is actively pushing the claim forward
• Review terms regularly before claim time

At claim time, that support is invaluable.

But Can’t I Just Buy Insurance Online?

You can. And for very simple situations, that might be fine. But many people don’t realise:

• Cheap policies often come with exclusions
• Small wording differences can have big impacts at claim time
• It’s easy to underinsure or insure the wrong thing entirely

Insurance isn’t something you want to discover problems with later.

Does Using a Broker Cost More?

Usually, no. In New Zealand, brokers are typically paid by the insurer, and the cost is already built into the premium. You generally pay the same whether you go direct or use a broker. So the real question becomes: why wouldn’t you?

So, Is It Worth It?

If you want clear advice, options across insurers, less admin and proper support if you need to claim, then yes, getting insurance through a broker is usually worth it. Insurance should feel reassuring, not confusing. Our job is to make sure it actually does.