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.

Life insurance brokers are actually intermediaries between the customer and the insurance companies. So, they do not work for one specific company. Instead, they look at all the insurance companies, searching out the least expensive life insurance policy, which matches whatever specifications you have set.

Choosing a life insurance policy is much easier when you have the right broker. They do the research for you, seeking out the best options available. Brokers normally receive their commission from an insurance company if they pass on a customer, but some may charge fees as an alternative. For the most part, however, insurance brokers earn their money through commissions, and insurance companies set those. The insurance broker’s commission percentage is already included in the cost of the premium, and each insurance company sets that amount. However, should you opt to procure that same policy yourself, directly from the insurance company, you would still pay the same price.

Rebating is a practice that is prohibited in most places, although some brokers still use it. With rebating, an insurance broker will lower their commissions, and then pass that savings on to the customer. Although the saving may be quite tempting for some people, it is probably not a smart idea to use an insurance broker that rebates. The main reason is that it is illegal. On top of that, the rebated amount is taxable income, and 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.

First, determine the broker’s level of experience. The more experience, the better able they are to help you. Newer brokers just do not have the same degree of experience on which to draw, and they don’t have the same depth of contacts. Inexperience can be very costly. Newer brokers do not have as extensive a relationship portfolio, and that means you could miss the best policy for your particulars. Inexperience often results in misinformation, as well.

Determine what your broker’s qualifications are, and find out how many companies they work with. This can help give you an idea how comprehensive their policy search will be. The more companies they deal with, the more options they can offer you. Your broker should know the tendencies of each company. In essence, the better your broker knows the market, the more money you save.

Graham McKenzie is the webmaster for a leading South African Life Insurance provider. For more information visit: http://life.insurance123.co.za/

[tags]Insurance, Finance, Life Insurance, Life Cover, Health, Death, Disability, People, Family[/tags]