Our role and duty of care
BrokerUnion Insurance is a brokerage licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). As your broker, we act on your behalf, not the insurance company's. We have a professional duty to be candid and honest, to recommend coverage that is suitable to your needs, and to disclose any information that may be relevant to your decision to purchase or renew a policy.
- We provide every new client with a copy or link to the CISRO Principles of Conduct for Insurance Intermediaries and the Fact Sheet About Your Registered Insurance Broker.
- All mandatory disclosures are made no later than the time of quote and re-confirmed in writing at binding and at each renewal.
Insurers we represent
We hold direct contracts with all of Canada's major personal, commercial, and life & health insurers. Our complete list of carriers is published on our home page and is available on request. For certain niche or hard-to-place risks we may use a single market, an MGA, or a non-licensed insurer, if that applies to your policy we will tell you, in writing, before you agree to bind.
How we are compensated
BrokerUnion is paid by the insurer through a base commission on the premium you pay. Commission rates vary by insurer and product, typically between 5% and 20% for personal lines and up to 25% for commercial lines. We may also be eligible for contingent profit commissions, additional payments from an insurer that are not guaranteed and depend on the overall profitability, growth, or volume of our entire book of business with that insurer (never on your individual policy). Any broker service fee, policy fee, or financing fee will be disclosed to you before the service is rendered.
Conflicts of interest
BrokerUnion and its principals do not hold an ownership interest in any insurance company, premium financing company, or MGA, and no insurer holds an ownership interest in BrokerUnion. We will disclose in writing, before you agree to purchase or renew, any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest, including network affiliations, referral fee arrangements, sales incentives offered by an insurer, or any new conflict that arises mid-term.
Sales incentives and third-party financial interests
We will tell you if an insurer is offering us a sales incentive (such as a trip, gift, or non-monetary benefit) tied to placing your business with them, or if a third party has a financial interest in your transaction. There is no minimum materiality threshold, if it exists, we disclose it.
Premium financing and referrals
If you choose to finance your premium, we will tell you the name of the financing company, the interest rate, and any fee or commission we receive. If we refer you to a third-party service (for example, a restoration contractor or legal counsel) and receive a referral fee, that will also be disclosed to you in writing.
Written confirmation and recordkeeping
At binding you will receive a written summary of the disclosures discussed with you. We maintain client records, including notes, emails, broker-management-system entries, and where applicable call recordings, that demonstrate compliance with RIBO's mandatory disclosure requirements. You may request a copy of your file at any time.
Complaints handling
If you are not satisfied with our service, please contact our Complaints Officer at info@brokerunion.ca. We will acknowledge your complaint within two business days and provide a final position within 30 days. If you remain dissatisfied, you may escalate your complaint to the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario at 1-800-265-3097 or complaints@ribo.com, and to the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) at 1-877-225-0446.
Questions about any of these disclosures? Contact us or call your dedicated broker. We're happy to walk you through how these requirements apply to your specific policy.
