Specialist life insurance broker
A life insurance broker on your side
Choosing life insurance should not be something you do alone or guess at. A specialist life insurance broker compares the market for you, recommends cover that fits your life, and stays with you through underwriting and any claim. In most cases it does not cost you more than going direct.
We compare a panel of major insurers. How we are paid. No pressure.
How we help
We do the hard part, so you do not have to
If you are looking for a life insurance broker, you probably want one thing: someone to take the hard part off your hands. A life insurance broker is a licensed adviser who works across a range of insurers rather than for any single company, compares them for you on quality and price, and recommends cover matched to your situation. The same person is often called a life insurance adviser or advisor. Their job is to do the research, translate the fine print, and be the person you can call when it matters, including at claim time.
A good broker does far more than fetch a quote. The work usually includes:
- Understanding your situation first: your debts, dependants, income, health, and what you actually need cover for.
- Comparing the market across a panel of major Australian insurers, on policy definitions and features, not just headline price.
- Reading the fine print so you compare like with like. Two policies with the same cover amount can pay out very differently.
- Structuring the cover correctly, including whether it is held inside or outside super, and sizing it to genuine need rather than over-selling.
- Guiding you through underwriting, including testing the market with a de-identified profile first in harder cases, so a recorded decline is avoided.
- Supporting any claim, dealing with the insurer on your behalf when you and your family need it most.
- Reviewing your cover each year, so it stays appropriate and competitively priced as your life changes.
In short, you get a person in your corner, not a form and a call centre.
The honest comparison
Direct, super, or a specialist adviser
| Going direct / online | Cover in super | Specialist adviser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The advice you get | General advice only, issued without a check that the cover suits your circumstances. | No personal advice. A default amount that may not reflect your income, debts or dependants. | Personal advice built around your health, income and family. |
| Who compares the market | Not compared for you; you pick the insurer and amounts yourself. | Not compared; one group policy chosen by the fund. | We compare a panel of major Australian insurers for you. |
| Getting accepted | You apply and take whatever terms come back. | Automatic, but on limited group terms. | We can test insurers quietly first, before you commit. |
| If you ever claim | You deal with the insurer on your own. | You go through the fund, which can be slower and harder. | We complete the forms and advocate for you until it is paid. |
| As life changes | Typically not reviewed as your circumstances change. | Typically not reviewed as your circumstances change. | Reviewed each year as your life changes. |
| What it costs you | The premium, sometimes plus a fee. | Premiums come out of your super balance, shrinking retirement savings. | Commission inside the premium, any fee agreed up front. |
The honest comparison
Why use a specialist life insurance adviser?
There are three ways Australians get life insurance: buying direct online, the default cover inside super, or through a specialist adviser. Keep scrolling to see how they compare, question by question.
The advice you get
Going direct
General advice only, issued without a check that the cover suits your circumstances.
Cover in super
No personal advice. A default amount that may not reflect your income, debts or dependants.
With Safety Nest
Personal advice built around your health, income and family.
Who compares the market
Going direct
Not compared for you; you pick the insurer and amounts yourself.
Cover in super
Not compared; one group policy chosen by the fund.
With Safety Nest
We compare a panel of major Australian insurers for you.
Getting accepted
Going direct
You apply and take whatever terms come back.
Cover in super
Automatic, but on limited group terms.
With Safety Nest
We can test insurers quietly first, before you commit.
If you ever claim
Going direct
You deal with the insurer on your own.
Cover in super
You go through the fund, which can be slower and harder.
With Safety Nest
We complete the forms and advocate for you until it is paid.
As life changes
Going direct
Typically not reviewed as your circumstances change.
Cover in super
Typically not reviewed as your circumstances change.
With Safety Nest
Reviewed each year as your life changes.
What it costs you
Going direct
The premium, sometimes plus a fee.
Cover in super
Premiums come out of your super balance, shrinking retirement savings.
With Safety Nest
Commission inside the premium, any fee agreed up front.
General information only. It compares typical features and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Individual situations vary, and default cover in super suits some people. A review can confirm what is right for you.
Why a specialist
A dedicated specialist is worth finding
Here is something most people do not realise: the kind of specialist who does this work has become genuinely rare. The number of licensed financial advisers in Australia has almost halved, from a peak of around 28,000 to about 15,500 today (Adviser Ratings), and after the 2018 commission reforms most advisers stopped offering life insurance advice altogether. Risk has become a specialty practised by a shrinking few.
That matters to you in a simple way. A generalist who rarely arranges life cover is not the same as a specialist who does it every day, knows the insurers' quirks, and reads the definitions for a living. Finding a dedicated life insurance specialist, and one who intends to keep doing it, is harder than it used to be, and worth the effort. We are one of the few who have chosen to focus only on personal risk insurance.
Licensed financial advisers in Australia
Source: Rainmaker, Adviser Ratings, FAAA
~28,000
advisers at the peak
15,400
by 2025, and still falling
“You see a cardiologist for your heart, not your GP. Your family’s cover deserves a specialist too.”
Moshe Chaiton, Director & Principal Adviser
How we get paid
No catch, no separate advice fee
This is the question we are asked most, so we will answer it plainly.
Using Safety Nest does not cost you more than going direct. We are paid a commission by the insurer, and that commission is already included in the premium we quote you, so nothing is added on top. Your conversations, the research, the application help, claims support, and ongoing reviews are all part of the service, covered by that commission.
Commission is regulated. Under the Life Insurance Framework an adviser can be paid up to 60% of the first year's premium upfront plus up to 20% each year ongoing, or up to 30% level each year. These caps apply across insurers, so we are generally not paid more for recommending one insurer over another, and any remuneration is disclosed in our Financial Services Guide. In the occasional case where a fee does apply, for example a small standalone policy where commission alone does not cover the work, we tell you up front in the first meeting and set it out in writing before you commit. There are no surprise fees.
What you pay
The commission is already inside your premium
Paid by the insurer, included in the price. Your advice, application help, claims support and reviews are part of it.
Our responsibility
Acting in your interest, and easy to verify
A broker giving personal advice is legally required to act in your interests and to base any recommendation on the cover, terms, and price that suit you. We are bound by Australian privacy law in how we collect and store your information, and our authorisations are a matter of public record. Anyone giving personal advice on life insurance in Australia must appear on the Financial Advisers Register, published on ASIC's Moneysmart at moneysmart.gov.au, where you can search by name, adviser number, or ABN and confirm exactly what advice they are authorised to give. We encourage you to verify us there, and to read our Financial Services Guide, before you share any personal details.
Why Safety Nest
A specialist broker who stays with you
A deliberate specialist
Fully licensed advisers who focus only on personal insurance, not a generalist who dabbles.
A researched panel comparison
We compare a panel of major Australian insurers on quality and price, and keep the research on file.
How we are paid
Paid by commission already inside the premium, with any fee disclosed up front.
Credentials you can verify
Listed on the ASIC Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register; our FSG discloses how we are paid.
Claims advocacy
At claim time you deal with us, not the insurer alone, at no extra fee.
No pressure
A quote, or even a cover review, commits you to nothing. We move at your pace.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Is a life insurance broker the same as a financial adviser?
In Australia, giving personal advice on life insurance is a form of financial advice, so a life insurance broker must meet the same licensing and registration requirements as any financial adviser. They must be authorised under an Australian Financial Services Licence and appear on the ASIC Moneysmart Financial Advisers Register. Some advisers choose to specialise in insurance even though their licence covers more, much like a medical specialist who focuses on one area.
Does a life insurance broker cost me anything on top of my premium?
Usually not. A broker is generally paid a commission by the insurer, which is already built into the premium rather than added on top. If a broker does charge a fee in a particular case, it must be disclosed in the Financial Services Guide before you proceed. So in most cases you do not pay anything extra for using a broker.
Why use a broker instead of buying directly or through my super?
Going direct usually means general advice on one product, where you choose the amount yourself and deal with a company at claim time. A broker compares a range of insurers on quality and price, gives advice matched to your circumstances, and supports you through underwriting and any claim. Default cover inside super is often basic group cover that is not tailored to your health, so it is worth comparing both with an adviser.
Does commission bias which insurer you recommend?
Commission is a real potential conflict of interest, which is why it must be disclosed. Under the Life Insurance Framework the commission caps apply across insurers, so a broker is generally not paid more for placing you with one insurer over another, and a broker giving personal advice must act in your interests. You can confirm how any adviser is paid, and the insurers they deal with, in their Financial Services Guide.
How do I check a life insurance broker is properly licensed?
Anyone giving personal advice on life insurance in Australia must appear on the Financial Advisers Register, published on ASIC's Moneysmart at moneysmart.gov.au. You can search it by name, adviser number, or ABN to confirm they are licensed and see the scope of advice they can give. Finding an adviser through an ad does not make them less legitimate, but it is sensible to verify on the register, ask for the Financial Services Guide, and check independent reviews before sharing personal details.
At claim time, do I deal with you or the insurer?
With cover arranged through a broker, you generally deal with your broker rather than the insurer at claim time. The broker obtains and helps complete the claim forms, liaises with the insurer on your behalf, and advocates through the process, so you and your family are not left navigating a large company alone. There is no separate fee for this claims help.
Is this a high-pressure sale?
No. There is no obligation to decide on the spot. Getting a quote, or signing an authority to review your existing cover, does not commit you to taking out a policy. You are free to take your time, compare options, and talk it over with your family.
Will my personal and medical information be kept private?
A broker is bound by Australian privacy law in how they collect, use, and store your details. When researching the market, a broker commonly approaches insurers with a de-identified profile first, so insurers can indicate terms before any application, and your identifying details are generally only shared when you choose to proceed. You can ask any broker for their privacy policy and how long they keep records.
Speak to a specialist
Talk to a real life insurance broker
A no-obligation chat with a specialist who does this every day. We compare a panel of major insurers, explain the options in plain English, and we are paid by a commission from the insurer, with no separate advice fee.