Life insurance brokers and life insurance agents are very different. Agents are hired by, and work for, one company. Because they work for a specific company, they push products for that business. Consequently, an insurance agent does not sell products for a rival insurance company.
In contrast, life insurance brokers operate between the customer and the insurance companies, in general. They do not tie their wagon to a specific company, but look at all companies, seeking the cheapest life insurance policy, which still matches the specifications you have set.
Choosing the right life insurance policy is much easier, if you have a good broker. They will do all the research and sift through the mountain of options, looking for the packages and deals that might work best for you. Although some do charge a fee, brokers are paid on a commission basis. The insurance companies reimburse them whenever they pass on a customer. In fact, the broker’s commission is already factored into the cost of the insurance policy premium. It is interesting to note that, if you went directly to the insurance company, you would still pay the same price for a particular policy.
Rebating is a practice that is prohibited in many places. Still, you will always find some brokers that still use this practice. Rebating is when an insurance broker lowers their commission rates, and then passes that savings on to their customer. Although the saving could be very enticing, it is just not a wise choice to deal with an insurance broker that rebates. The main reason is, of course, that it is illegal. Aside from that, the rebated amount is taxable income. You would have to declare it as such.
It is very important to choose the right insurance broker. Brokers not ony have relationships with many different companies, and this allows you to have a wider range of options. In addition, they know the ins and outs of the insurance world, and can guide you in the right directions. When deciding on your broker, it is important to ask the right questions, and get the right answers.
You will want to determine their level of experience, and naturally, the more the better. Newer brokers just do not have the same level of experience, nor have they developed depth in their practice. Inexperience can be very costly. A less experienced broker will not have as extensive a contact portfolio, either. This means, you may well miss out on the deal that would be most advantageous for you. It is not uncommon for inexperience to result in misinformation, and that can be very costly.
Determine the qualifications of your insurance broker. It’s also a good idea to find out how many companies they work with. The more companies they are involved with, the more options there will be. Also, it’s important your broker knows the peculiarities of each company. The bottom line is this, the more your broker knows the market, the better the chance of securing a great deal.