What an insurance broker does
An insurance broker advises clients on general insurance, such as home, auto, tenant, travel and small business coverage, compares options from the insurers your brokerage represents, and places and services the policies. In Ontario, brokers must be licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) and work for a RIBO-registered brokerage. New Level 1 licensees work under the supervision of a principal broker.
For a brokerage, brokers drive revenue and retention. A good one asks the right questions, explains coverage and exclusions clearly, records advice carefully and keeps clients through renewal season. A careless one creates errors and omissions exposure. Finch confirms each candidate's licence level and status, and screens for the mix of sales drive and attention to detail your brokerage needs, whether in personal lines or small commercial.
Typical responsibilities
- Assess client needs and recommend suitable general insurance coverage
- Quote and compare options across your insurer markets
- Bind coverage, issue documents and process changes and cancellations
- Conduct renewal reviews and remarket accounts when pricing or coverage changes
- Document advice and client decisions to meet RIBO and brokerage standards
- Generate new business through referrals, cross-selling and outbound follow-up
Qualifications and credentials
- A RIBO licence in good standing; Level 2 is often preferred for unsupervised work
- Experience in personal or commercial lines at a brokerage, or in a related role at an insurer
- Knowledge of Ontario auto insurance, including the standard policy and accident benefits
- Progress toward the CAIB or CIP designation is often valued
- Experience with broker management systems and insurer portals
Who hires an insurance broker
- Independent insurance brokerages
- Brokerage networks and consolidators
- Brokerages serving specific communities, professions or industries
- Brokerages with call centres serving personal lines clients
Where we recruit insurance broker candidates
We fill insurance broker roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- RIBO licence level, status and any restrictions, checked before you meet them
- Lines of business, insurer markets and the size of book handled
- Sales activity and retention habits, with examples
- Documentation practices and approach to E&O risk
- Eligibility to work in Canada and availability for office or hybrid work
Interview questions to ask
- A client wants the cheapest auto policy available. How do you make sure they understand what they are giving up?
- Walk me through how you prepare for a renewal when the insurer has raised the premium sharply.
- How do you record advice that a client has declined?