About Us – Insurance Comparison Advice NZ - Wide
How I Began in the Insurance Industry
In February 2011, I lived just 1km from the epicenter of Christchurch’s 6.9 earthquake. Navigating the settlement process for my own house and contents claims was both eye-opening and nerve-racking. It taught me the importance of understanding insurance entitlements, gathering the right information, and negotiating effectively. With this newfound knowledge, I began helping others in my community for free, providing them with the resources they needed to engage with their insurance providers. I saw firsthand how little most people knew about their policies and entitlements unless they asked the right questions.
At the time, I was an owner ( for 30 years) of a business manufacturing custom contact lenses, helping people with complex eye conditions gain their sight, so transitioning to personal and business insurance advice was a natural step, as it allowed me to continue helping people in a meaningful way.
The Flaws of the Insurance Industry: My Experience
During my time at a nationwide finance and insurance brokerage firm, I was deeply troubled by the working conditions. As a lifelong business owner, I was used to having control over my work, so seeing how staff were trapped in a system that benefited the company more than the employee was unsettling. Employees faced constant pressure to meet sales targets, often working long hours with no guaranteed income unless they closed a sale. Many were earning less than minimum wage for their efforts, and when they did make a sale, the company took the lion’s share of the commission.
This kind of environment leaves little room for ethics or client-focused service. Employees are forced to prioritize their survival over their morals because meeting personal financial obligations takes precedence. “It’s no wonder the industry has a bad reputation”, for pushy sales tactics—it’s not the fault of individuals but the pressure of the system they’re working under. This experience reinforced my belief that “there had to be a better way”, one where clients’ needs come first, without the crushing burden of unrealistic targets and commissions.
As you can imagine, this setup did not align with my values.
I accepted an offer to join a small mortgage broker firm, where I could truly assist clients with their insurance needs. My background as a landlord, decades of investment experience, and qualifications in Insurance, Investments, and Lending enabled me to provide valuable advice.
However, things changed when the company was bought out by a larger firm, and the work environment reverted to the same target-driven setup as the nationwide firm—constant pressure, only getting paid if a sale was made, all while servicing over 60,000 clients on their database. I had no desire to work under those conditions again, so I declined their offer.
I founded Proactive Financial Advice Limited with a simple mission: to offer evidence-based, client-centered insurance advice. Every recommendation we make is backed by research and contract wording, and if we cannot clearly demonstrate that a client will benefit from our advice on a policy, then we will state you already have the best cover compared to the present market.
We use an independent insurance research firm to provide comparison reports, and our job is to give you the information you need to make an informed decision. We also offer ongoing support with claims, annual reviews, and are always available to answer questions.
At Proactive Financial Advice, our motto is “Personal Insurance the Better Way—Being There for the Right Reasons.
Our priority is your peace of mind. We’re here to provide you with the best insurance advice, backed by facts, not pressure. Book a 15 min Teams meeting or phone call and I can answer any questions you have. Click here to book a time to talk.