Deciding whether to embark on the journey of setting up your own insurance brokerage is no simple task.

It requires careful thought and preparation to ensure you give your venture the best chance of success in the UK insurance industry. Below are essential points to ponder before taking the leap into entrepreneurship:

Hard work: Talent alone won’t cut it in running a successful insurance brokerage. In the early days, experience will give way to determination and, above all else, hard work. To increase your brokerage’s chances of success, you must personally commit to putting in the hours. Although the workload may reduce with time, hard work remains a critical ingredient in the early stages.

Establishing an insurance brokerage involves more than just understanding insurance policies. You’ll also need to handle administrative tasks, marketing, client relationships, and business development. Being prepared to embrace a demanding work ethic from the outset is essential to lay a solid foundation for your brokerage’s success.

Self-belief: Starting your own brokerage can be a challenging and nerve-wracking decision, especially if you are leaving a secure job. There may be moments of self-doubt, questioning whether you have what it takes to make it on your own. To navigate through these challenges, cultivate a strong belief in your abilities and a firm resolve to persevere. Self-belief is crucial to maintaining motivation, especially during tough times.

Additionally, consider seeking support from experienced mentors or networking within the insurance industry to gain insights and encouragement. Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can boost your confidence and provide valuable guidance.

Financial opportunity: Financial stability is critical when venturing into entrepreneurship. Before setting up your brokerage, ensure that your personal finances are well-organized to withstand a period of reduced income. Most new brokers experience a time lag between acquiring clients and receiving commissions. To ease financial stress during this period, it is advisable to have a minimum of six months’ worth of living expenses saved up as a buffer.

Furthermore, explore potential financing options, such as business loans or grants, to secure additional financial support for your brokerage’s growth.

Being a great broker: As an insurance broker, your expertise and personalized service are what set you apart. Clients seek brokers for their expert advice in navigating the complexities of insurance programs. Whether you are starting alone or with a small team, prioritize delivering excellent service to your clients.

Invest in continuous professional development to stay updated on industry trends, regulations, and new insurance products. Building strong relationships with clients based on trust and reliability can lead to long-lasting partnerships and word-of-mouth referrals, which are invaluable for a growing brokerage.

In conclusion, starting your own insurance brokerage in the UK requires careful planning, hard work, self-belief, and financial preparedness. It is a journey that demands dedication and a commitment to providing exceptional service to your clients. While these considerations are crucial, there are many other factors to weigh, and seeking guidance from experienced partners like the Movo Partnership can prove invaluable in making the best decisions for your future career.

With the right support and determination, you can embark on a successful and rewarding path as an independent insurance broker. If you’re considering taking the leap, we have various models tailored to suit different individuals and businesses. Feel free to reach out to us for a confidential discussion about your aspirations and goals.

Are you contemplating a career change and considering the world of insurance?

Transitioning into a new industry can seem daunting, especially one where you can easily encounter many rules and regulations to get your head around before you can get to where you want to go. However, insurance certainly can provide an exciting journey full of opportunities. Here are some tips to help you get started and navigate your change.

CAPITALISE ON EXISTING SKILLS
Firstly, it’s important to remember that existing skills and experience are valuable. Many skills are transferable and highly sought after in the insurance industry. For instance, experience in sales, customer service, data analysis, or management can be a great asset in various insurance roles.

EXPLORE SUITABLE ROLES
While it might not be possible to jump straight into a senior role in the insurance industry, there are many roles that could be a good fit. We’ll explore some here:

Insurance Sales Executive: Perfect for those with a background in sales or customer service. It involves using communication and persuasion skills to sell insurance policies and help clients select the right coverage for them. It’s a dynamic role where every client brings a fresh challenge or opportunity.

Claims Adjuster: This role is suitable for those with experience in investigation, negotiation, or customer service. It involves solving puzzles every day as claims are investigated and the company’s liability is determined. It’s a role that combines an element of detective work combined with helping people, making it both challenging and rewarding.

Underwriting Assistant: This role is ideal for those with experience in data analysis or administrative roles. It involves assisting with the evaluation of potential clients and risks, requiring attention to detail and analytical skills. It offers a deep dive into the risk assessment side of insurance.

Risk Management Consultant: Suitable for those with a background in business, finance, or consulting. It involves helping businesses identify and manage risks, requiring strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s a role where significant impact can be made on a business’s success.

Insurance Compliance Officer: Ideal for those with experience in legal, regulatory, or compliance roles. It involves ensuring that the company complies with laws and regulations, requiring attention to detail and a strong understanding of regulatory requirements. It’s a role that keeps the company on the right track.

Insurance Claims Clerk: This role is suitable for those with administrative or customer service experience. It involves managing the claims process from start to finish, requiring organisational skills and empathy for clients going through difficult times. It offers a comprehensive view of the claims process.

Insurance Marketing Specialist: Ideally suited for those with a background in marketing or public relations. It involves promoting insurance products, requiring creativity, and understanding of customer needs. It’s a role that brings insurance products to life for potential clients.

Insurance Broker: This role is suitable for those with experience in sales, negotiation, or customer service. It involves helping clients navigate the complex world of insurance policies, requiring good communication skills and a desire to help others. It’s a role that puts the individual in the driver’s seat of helping clients protect what matters most to them.

PURSUE FURTHER EDUCATION
Consider pursuing a certification in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). This qualification provides a solid foundation in insurance principles, including underwriting, claims, and legal and regulatory issues. It’s a practical qualification that can enhance understanding of the industry and make individuals more attractive to employers.

NETWORK
Networking is crucial when transitioning into a new industry. The UK insurance industry hosts numerous events, such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) Conference, the CII also host numerous networking events. These events provide opportunities to meet industry professionals, learn about the latest trends, and potentially discover job opportunities. For a list of events in 2023 click here.

Networking is more than just exchanging business cards. It’s about building relationships, learning from others, and opening doors to opportunities that might not be advertised. It’s a chance to learn about the industry from those who are already part of it and to make a name known within the industry.

BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT
Remember, a career change is a significant step and it’s okay to start slow. It might be necessary to start in a lower-level role and work up. But with existing skills and experience, progress is likely to be quick.

If you like to discuss roles in the industry further, we’re always more than happy to talk and point you in the right direction if we can. The Movo Partnership also has a number of roles throughout the network business in the UK that may be appropriate. Why not contact us.

Many of us working in insurance harbour an aspiration to start our own businesses within the sector.

You may even have a close relationship with the sector but work outside it currently or can see the potential to make a career and some good money starting a brokerage.

Joining a network of appointed representatives (ARs) within the insurance industry can be a fantastic first step. As a leading AR network, we are governed and committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, competence, and integrity. This commitment not only ensures our success but also protects the interests of our clients, other members of our network and aligns with the requirements of our regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

One of the key requirements set by the FCA for joining an AR network like ours is having relevant experience within the insurance industry, we ask for 5 years worth. You might wonder, why is this so important? Let us give you the reasons behind this requirement.

1. Understanding the Industry Landscape
The insurance industry is a highly regulated professional industry. Having prior experience in this field provides a solid foundation for understanding these intricacies. This knowledge is crucial for navigating the industry effectively with insurers, third parties, but most importantly serving clients’ needs to the best of your ability.

2. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
As an AR, you will be expected to adhere to the FCA’s rules and regulations. These guidelines are designed to maintain the integrity of the financial markets and protect consumers. Prior experience in the insurance industry equips you with a better understanding of these regulations. Whilst we do equip all our brokers with the best technology to ensure compliant broking and advice, having a good level of industry experience vastly reduces the risk of non-compliant activities taking place which you may not be aware of.

3. Prioritising Consumer Protection
At the heart of the FCA’s mission is the protection of consumers. This aligns with our own commitment to our clients. Having prior experience in the industry means you’re in a better position to understand the needs of consumers and how to provide them with the products and services that meet their needs and requirements. This experience is invaluable in building trust and fostering long-term relationships with clients.

4. Enhancing Business Management Skills
Running a successful insurance brokerage involves more than just understanding insurance. It requires business acumen, including financial management, staff management, and strategic planning. Experience in the insurance industry often provides opportunities to develop these skills, preparing you for the challenges of managing a brokerage. We don’t doubt you have these skills, but it remains a requirement for them to also have been acquired within the insurance industry, this is where we can assist.

5. Demonstrating Professional Competence
The FCA requires that individuals performing certain roles within regulated firms are ‘fit and proper’. This means they must be honest, financially sound, competent, and capable. Prior experience in the industry can help demonstrate this competence and reassure both us and the FCA of your suitability for the role. We are not a black and white business by any stretch of the imagination and our goal is to enable business start-ups and give them everything they need to become successful, however we are governed by certain rulings.

 

In conclusion, while the requirement for previous experience might seem like a hurdle, it is a crucial step in ensuring that our network maintains the highest standards of professionalism and service. It’s about more than just ticking a box; it’s about ensuring that we, as the Movo Partnership, are equipped to navigate the complex landscape of the insurance industry, comply with regulations, protect our consumers, aid successful businesses as well as run a successful and thriving business ourselves.

 

If you’re an experienced insurance professional looking to join a network that values your expertise and supports your growth, we’d love to hear from you. If you don’t quite hit these criteria, we’d love to talk to you and aid you in taking your next steps in the industry. The Partnership is made up of a vast array of businesses and roles from broking to marketing, HR to accounts and everything in between. So still have a chat with us, we’d love to help you take the next positive step in your journey within the industry. 

Your experience is a real strength in the insurance industry and building on this really creates value for you, your future customers and of course the longevity of the industry.

Please feel free to get in touch wherever you are on your current journey.

 

You’ve decided to start up your own insurance broking business and are now considering which AR model suits you best. Allow us to give you a short overview of both models you are likely to come across whilst doing your research online.

The options, in the main, are as follows:

The traditional model

Since 2005, the AR models have been hitting the market. These models allow insurance brokers to deal with clients, collate risk information but in the main, do not allow brokers to deal with underwriters directly. Placement is controlled centrally, and commission is split on a pre-agreed percentage amount.

The Movo model

There is no stipulation by the FCA that requires AR’s not to have direct access to insurers. In fact, this is an anomaly in the UK commercial marketplace. In other classes of business, and other territories, the AR model, as it is run by Movo, is the norm.

The Movo model aims to give our brokers all the benefits of being directly authorised, but with less administrative burden.

Benefits of the traditional model

• Suited to the casual broker or brokers who lack the time or resources to manage the full broking cycle.
• Gains a larger team for support regardless of income generated.
• A well-resourced central broking team can be an asset.

The disadvantages of the traditional model

• Not broking for a long period can reduce market knowledge.
• A poorly resourced (or inexperienced) central broking team can create operational issues which are outside the broker’s control.
• A fixed commission sharing model isn’t always the best or fairest method to distribute income.

Benefits of the Movo model

• Direct access to insurers means you can build a trading relationship with insurers.
• We have a fixed fee* which means you can budget for your network costs.
• Our brokers control the placement of their own risks and generally are fully in charge of their brokerages.

The disadvantages of the Movo model

• Brokers will have a higher workload as they have no central broking team, in return for lower costs.
• Brokers will need to be skilled in broking to insurers, if they do not have these skills, they may be unable to obtain competitive terms.

Industry averages indicate that, on average, profitability for brokers ranges between 19%-23%. Picking an arbitrary split in commission will likely lead to some issues down the line for one or both parties.

Movo also operates a commission split but this is fixed by an amount rather than percentages. This is why we call it a ‘Fee’. The Movo Partnership proposition aim is to be the most cost-effective way to run a brokerage available, and to encourage new start-ups to replace the brokerages being lost to M&A activity.

Please feel free to contact us for a confidential discussion.