Test Your Broker’s Knowledge
Having a broker is like having a financial advisor at your disposal 24/7. A broker acts as a middleman between a client (that will be you, totally overwhelmed by the daunting world of insurance) and insurance or medical aid companies (the companies waiting for innocent victims such as yourself).
Brokers schedule meetings with their clients, discuss their needs and requirements, answer any questions they might have and then source the best possible product to suit the needs of their clients.
What are a couple of questions you can ask brokers to test their knowledge?
What type of products do you sell? It is important that your broker specializes in the specific products you require. If you are looking for short term insurance, it might be disastrous if your broker only handles life insurance! Some brokers can assist you with anything from business and home insurance to car insurance and medical aids!
Are you an independent broker? Depending on the broker’s field and level of expertise, he/she might be allied with more than one insurance firm. This is important to prevent the broker from trying to force you to go with a certain insurance company. Remember that brokers receive commission and incentives from the insurance firms and they will put pressure on you to make use of the companies where they will also benefit through your business. If they are associated with a couple of insurance companies, your chances of getting an unbiased quote is much better.
Not all brokers are as qualified as we might think…
Have you had any investment or similar financial training? It is reassuring if your broker had at least some kind of formal training. As they work with customers’ money on a daily basis, you’d assume that all brokers know what they’re doing, but the sad fact is that a lot of brokers are only salespeople with one goal: To sell as many policies as possible!
How long has your company been in business? You might be entrusting this person with your total lifesavings, therefore you should be 100% sure that you’re not dealing with a fly-by-night company or broker. New brokerage firms are formed on almost a daily basis; make sure that your broker is with a professional and reliable firm.
What if I want to cancel my policy? If you are not satisfied with your investment, your insurance policy, your medical aid or any other financial product, you would want to cancel or switch to another company. Enquire about the procedure and the penalty or cancellation fees involved.
Will you stay in touch? It is important that brokers communicate with their clients! This does not have to be a weekly phone call, even an occasional newsletter will do. Any changes to your policy or new products and special offers should be communicated to the client.
May I contact some of your existing clients for a reference? The best referral is a word of mouth referral! If your broker is hesitant if you ask if you can contact one or two of their clients, they might be hiding something.
Are you only available during office hours? This is very important as life does not stick to office hours! If you have an emergency and need to get hold of your broker, you need to know that they will be available!
Follow the above guidelines carefully – the result will be a good relationship with your broker and the assurance that your requirements are properly taken care of!
Brokers are there to make our lives easier – by choosing the perfect broker for your requirements, your insurance will be smooth sailing from now on!


