Understanding insurance brokers in Singapore starts with one question that clears up most of the confusion: who does the person actually work for? A tied agent represents a single insurer and sells that company's products. An insurance broker represents you, the client, and shops your risk across many insurers to find the right cover at the right price. That difference matters most when you need to claim.
Brokers are usually paid a commission that is built into the premium, so engaging one does not normally cost you more than going direct, and you gain an advocate who negotiates on your behalf. The market splits into local general brokers, SME and employee-benefits specialists, global corporate brokers, digital comparison platforms and expat health specialists. I will explain how to choose and how they are paid, then give you my picks.
This is part of my Terris Recommends Finance and Insurance series, and it is general information, not insurance advice. It pairs with my guides to financial advisers and will-writing services.
Key Takeaways
- 1 A tied agent represents one insurer and sells that company's products. An insurance broker represents you, the client, and shops your risk across many insurers for cover and price.
- 2 Brokers are usually paid a commission built into the premium, so using one does not normally cost you more, and a broker is your advocate at claim time.
- 3 AWG and Times are my all-round local picks, David Ho leads for SME and employee benefits, and the global brokers suit larger, complex commercial risk.
- 4 Verify any broker is a MAS-registered insurance broker on the Financial Institutions Directory before you engage them.
- 5 This is general information, not insurance advice. Match the broker to your need: personal, SME, commercial, employee benefits or expat health.
What I look for in an insurance broker
Beyond the brand, here is what actually matters when you choose a broker.
- Who they represent. A broker should represent you, not an insurer, and place your business across the market. Ask them directly whom they act for and how many insurers they work with.
- MAS registration. Verify the broker is a registered insurance broker on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory. Broking is a regulated activity here.
- How they are paid. Usually a commission inside the premium, sometimes a fee for complex commercial work. It does not normally cost you more than going direct, but ask so you understand any conflicts.
- The right segment. Personal lines, SME packages, large commercial and specialty risk, employee benefits, or expat health are different specialisms. Match the broker to your actual need.
- Claims support. The real value of a broker shows at claim time, when they advocate for you against the insurer. Ask how they handle claims before you sign up.
One tip: for a business, a broker who understands your industry's specific risks, from work injury to professional indemnity, is worth far more than the cheapest quote.
How the best insurance brokers in Singapore compare
| Broker | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| AWG | Local, personal and commercial | Both personal and business |
| Times Insurance | Local general broker | An established all-rounder |
| David Ho | SME and employee benefits | Group health and WICA |
| Marsh | Global corporate broker | Large and complex risk |
| Howden | Global specialist broker | SME and specialty lines |
| Aon | Global broker | Risk and employee benefits |
| eazy | Digital broker | Compare and buy online |
| Insurance Market | Digital comparison broker | Personal-lines comparison |
| SingSaver | Digital comparison | Mass-market compare |
| Pacific Prime | Expat health specialist | International health cover |
How are insurance brokers paid in Singapore?
Understanding the cost of a broker is mostly about how they are paid rather than a fee you see.
| Model | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Commission from insurer | Built into the premium | Does not normally cost you extra |
| Fee for advice | Charged for complex commercial work | Agreed upfront |
| Digital comparison | Commission on policies bought | Free to compare |
Because a broker is usually paid the same commission the insurer would otherwise keep, using one to shop the market rarely costs you more than buying direct, and often finds better cover. For large commercial risk, a transparent fee arrangement can be cleaner, so ask how the broker is remunerated.
1. AWG Insurance Brokers
AWG is my all-round local pick because it genuinely does both personal and commercial insurance well. A registered insurance broker, it covers personal lines like travel, maid, motor and personal accident, alongside commercial cover such as work injury, trade credit, marine cargo and employee benefits, serving individuals right up to large organisations.
That breadth means one broker can handle your household and your business. For a small business owner who wants both sides covered by a single, established broker, it is where I would start.

Website: awginsurance.com
Type: Local, personal and commercial
MAS registered: Yes, registered insurance broker
Best known for: Genuinely covering both personal and business insurance
2. Times Insurance Brokers
Times is my pick for an established local all-rounder. Operating since 1976, it is one of the oldest local general brokers, covering commercial lines like contract and construction, property, casualty and motor, as well as personal insurance, with decades of market relationships behind it.
That longevity brings deep insurer connections and claims experience. For a business or individual who values a long-standing, dependable local broker, it is a strong choice.

Website: timesinsurance.com.sg
Type: Local general broker
MAS registered: Yes, registered insurance broker
Best known for: One of the oldest local general brokers, since 1976
Contact Times Insurance Brokers directly
3. David Ho
David Ho is my pick for SMEs and employee benefits. An independent broker with a named-broker, personal-service model, it specialises in the cover a growing business actually needs: work injury compensation, group health and medical, group personal accident and flexible benefits.
That focus on the employee-benefits and SME side, with a single point of contact who knows your account, is exactly what a start-up or SME wants rather than a call-centre. For business protection and staff benefits, it is my recommendation.

Website: davidho.sg
Type: SME and employee-benefits broker
MAS registered: Yes, licensed independent broker
Best known for: SME cover and employee benefits with personal service
4. Marsh Singapore
Marsh is my pick for large and complex commercial risk. As part of the world's largest insurance broker, it brings deep corporate risk expertise across cyber, directors and officers, property and casualty, as well as SME packages and employee health and benefits, backed by global scale and data.
For a mid-sized or large company with serious or specialised exposures, that depth is hard to match locally. It skews corporate rather than walk-in retail, so it is the pick when your risk is substantial.

Website: marsh.com
Type: Global corporate broker
MAS registered: Yes, licensed broker
Best known for: Large, complex corporate risk
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5. Howden Singapore
Howden is my pick for SMEs and specialty lines from a global network. It combines a dedicated SME offering with strong specialty expertise, in areas like cyber, marine, construction and professional indemnity, plus employee benefits and private wealth, so a growing company can access specialist cover.
That blend of SME accessibility and specialty depth sets it apart from purely corporate brokers. For a business with a specific or technical risk to place, it is a strong choice.

Website: howdengroup.com
Type: Global specialist broker
MAS registered: Yes, MAS-regulated intermediary
Best known for: SME cover plus specialty lines
6. Aon Singapore
Aon is my pick for risk and employee benefits at scale. A global broker and human-capital firm, it is particularly strong on employee health and benefits, framing them around staff retention and cost, as well as broader risk, reinsurance and data and analytics.
For a larger employer thinking about its benefits programme as a strategic tool rather than a commodity, Aon's human-capital angle is genuinely useful. It is a corporate-tier choice for benefits-led needs.

Website: aon.com
Type: Global broker and human capital
MAS registered: Yes, licensed broker
Best known for: Risk and strategic employee benefits
7. eazy Insurance
eazy is my pick for a digital broker that still acts for you. Its Singpass-integrated portal lets you compare and buy motor, travel, home, health and business cover online, and it positions itself clearly as representing the client rather than an insurer.
That combination of a slick digital experience and a genuine broker model, covering both personal and business lines like public liability and work injury, is a nice middle ground. For someone who wants to compare online but still have a broker behind it, it is a strong choice.

Website: eazy.com.sg
Type: Digital broker
MAS registered: Yes, MAS-regulated broker
Best known for: A digital portal that represents the client
Contact eazy Insurance directly
8. Insurance Market
Insurance Market is my pick for comparing personal lines with a broker's tools. A digital comparison broker, it lets you compare and buy motor, travel, home, maid and health insurance using its own rating and comparison analysis, so you can weigh options side by side.
Being MAS-registered, it offers the transparency of comparison with the backing of a broker. For an individual who wants to shop personal insurance efficiently and objectively, it is a handy platform.

Website: insurancemarket.sg
Type: Digital comparison broker
MAS registered: Yes, registered broker
Best known for: Comparing personal insurance with broker backing
9. SingSaver
SingSaver is my pick for quick, mass-market comparison. A well-known digital comparison brand holding a brokerage licence, it lets you compare travel, home and maid insurance across many policies and insurers instantly, which is handy for a fast, no-fuss personal-lines purchase.
It is more comparison platform than advisory broker, so it suits straightforward cover rather than complex needs. For an individual who just wants to compare and buy a simple policy online, it is a convenient choice.

Website: singsaver.com.sg
Type: Digital comparison
MAS registered: Holds a brokerage licence
Best known for: Fast mass-market insurance comparison
10. Pacific Prime Singapore
Pacific Prime is my pick for expats and international health cover. It specialises in expat and international health insurance, including family, maternity and dental, as well as group and business insurance, comparing international plans that ordinary local brokers do not handle well.
With two decades of experience and a global footprint, it understands the cross-border health-cover needs of expats and international companies. For an expat or a firm insuring international staff, it is my recommendation.

Website: pacificprime.sg
Type: Expat health specialist broker
MAS registered: Yes, insurance broker
Best known for: International and expat health insurance
Contact Pacific Prime Singapore directly
How I put this list together
I looked at whom each broker represents, MAS registration, how they are paid, their segment, and their claims and service reputation. I deliberately spread the list across local general brokers, SME and benefits specialists, global corporate brokers, digital comparison platforms and expat health, because the right broker depends entirely on what you are insuring.
This is general information, not insurance advice, and details are checked when I publish and revisited as things change. Always verify a broker is MAS-registered, and ask how they are paid and how they handle claims, before you engage them.
What is the difference between an insurance broker and an insurance agent in Singapore?
An insurance agent, or tied agent, represents one insurance company and can only sell that company's products. An insurance broker represents you, the client, and can place your business across many insurers to find suitable cover and competitive pricing. The practical upshot is whose side they are on: a broker is your advocate and will negotiate for you, including at claim time, whereas an agent works for the insurer. For anything beyond a simple single-product purchase, a broker's independence usually works in your favour.
Do you pay more to buy insurance through a broker?
Usually not. Brokers are typically paid a commission that is built into the premium, the same commission the insurer would otherwise keep or pay a direct channel, so using a broker to shop the market rarely costs you more than buying direct, and it often secures better cover for the price. For large or complex commercial risk, a broker may charge a transparent advisory fee instead, which is agreed upfront. Ask any broker how they are remunerated so you understand the arrangement, but do not assume a broker is more expensive.
Do I need an insurance broker for my small business in Singapore?
For a small business, a broker is often worth it because business insurance is more complex than personal cover, spanning work injury compensation, public liability, professional indemnity, property and employee benefits, and the right structure depends on your industry. A broker who understands your sector can identify gaps, place cover across insurers, and advocate for you at claim time, which is hard to do yourself. For a very simple micro-business, a direct package may suffice, but as you take on staff and contracts, a broker like David Ho or a general broker becomes valuable.
Are insurance brokers in Singapore regulated by MAS?
Yes. Insurance broking is a regulated activity in Singapore, and brokers must be registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, appearing on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory under categories such as registered or exempt insurance broker. You can and should verify a broker's registration on the directory before engaging them. This regulation gives you recourse and standards to rely on, and checking takes only a couple of minutes, so never work with a broker you cannot find on the MAS register.
The best insurance broker in Singapore is the one that represents you and specialises in what you are insuring, so match the broker to the need: AWG or Times for an all-round local broker, David Ho for SME and benefits, the global firms for complex commercial risk, and Pacific Prime for expat health. Verify their MAS registration, and remember a broker usually costs you no more than buying direct while giving you an advocate.
Get the right broker and you have someone on your side when it matters most, at claim time. This guide is general information, not insurance advice.
If you run an insurance or professional-services business and your website is not bringing in enquiries, that is what I do. I design websites for businesses across Singapore. Get in touch for a free consultation.
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Professional Opinion-haver
Terris
Chief Recommender · I do the digging so you don't have to
Terris is a Singapore-based web designer and digital strategist who has spent 8+ years building websites for local businesses. His Terris Recommends series shares personal picks for the best service providers across Singapore, informed by his experience working with businesses across industries.
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