I have worked in the insurance industry for over 39 years. The first 12 years as an employee of Mercantile Mutual and then NZI, where my job titles included Area Manager & Commercial Underwriter. I founded the business that became Geelong Insurance Brokers in 1993, with no clients or staff, and it has grown to now have over 3000 clients, and 12 employees. Concurrently, I also served 21 years in the Australian Army (mostly Reserve), and retired only due to disability at the rank of Major. I am a Rotarian with over 25 years service to the local & international community.
I have extensive experience & knowledge of all forms of General Insurance, including Risk Advice. I can also provide advice on Life Risk products, including Key Person & Partnership Protection.
If you thought insurance was all about finding the cheapest premium, then keep this sobering thought in mind: any short-term “win” in savings on your premium is soon forgotten if your claim isn’t paid. Or, even if your claim is paid, you need to be sure it’s paid fairly – and quickly. At Geelong Insurance Brokers, we work with our clients to ensure they have the right cover – not just the cheapest premium.
Through more than 32 years in the Insurance industry, we’ve witnessed some horror situations. Good people who thought “I’m covered” – only to find out the hard way that they should have used a knowledgeable, expert broker like ourselves. Why is using a broker so important? We’re not an agent, which means we don’t just work for one major insurance company. We can choose from a wide range of reputable insurers to find the insurance company with the right solution and cover.
It’s our job to work for you, to track down and recommend reputable insurers that offer you quality cover. That’s why using a broker makes so much sense. But more than that, we also love being a part of the local Geelong community. Since 1981 when our managing director Don Shields got started in the industry, and through all the years since (our business name has changed over the years from Don Shields & Associates to Insurance Solutions and now Geelong Insurance Brokers) our aim has always remained the same:
What our Clients say…
“Always managed to get the best deal, with the best cover…”
“We were referred to Geelong Insurance Brokers, it’d be over a decade ago, so over 10 years. It’s been a “one stop shop” for us over the years. We’ve always managed to get the best deal, with the best cover for our particular industry. We’ve got trucks, trailers, machinery. It’s all competitive and done quickly and without a hassle. It’s a one-stop shop and it’s easy, and I’ve found Don and the staff in there easy to get along with, they understand what you’re trying to achieve. They translate it well, from plumbers speak into insurance speak.”
Chris Beretta
Manager, DA Beretta Pty Ltd (Plumbing and Gasfitting)
“You come back confident that you’ve got the best deal you can get, with the greatest security…”
“They’ve supported us in all our growth. It’s just never wavered and we get great service from them too. We tend to pride ourselves on dealing with like-minded companies. They do all the hard work, all the spade work, and you come back confident that you’ve got the best deal you can get, with the greatest security. It’s just peace of mind, I mean, I’m not an insurance expert, so, I mean that’s what we get with Geelong Insurance Brokers.”
John Spence
Founder and Managing Director, Prestige Jayco
“They go the extra mile… it’s always the best to suit you…”
“It’s that sort of service where they go the extra mile, they find the right cover, they get it at the right price. They’re not always the cheapest, but it’s always the best to suit you. The whole team down at Geelong Insurance Brokers really do what they say they’re going to do. If they say they’ll ring you tomorrow, they’ll ring you tomorrow. If they say they’ll send you an email, they’ll send you an email.”
Greg Ure
Chief Executive Officer, Caron Laboratories Pty Ltd
“Looking after us, not themselves…”
“Don, Chris and the team look after several home and business policies for us and take care of everything. They’re always upfront and looking after us, not themselves. Our latest renewal was less than last year’s premium – they did the review without us asking, making sure we get top value … so refreshing from any business these days! 10 out of 10.”
Dean Kennedy
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