Here’s a concise guide to insurance brokers who specialize in high‑net‑worth (HNW) individuals — what they do, how to find and vet them, what coverages to expect, and next steps.

What a HNW insurance broker does

• Designs and places bespoke personal insurance across complex exposures (homes, valuables, autos, yachts, private aircraft, cyber, kidnap & ransom, personal liability/umbrella, excess liability, fine art/wine/jewelry collections, personal staff, etc.).
• Negotiates access to private‑client or admitted and non‑admitted carriers and programmatic wording not available to standard retail consumers.
• Builds policy wording and endorsements tailored to wealth preservation (agreed value, blanket coverage, worldwide coverage, transit protection, increased limits for restoration/conservation of art).
• Coordinates loss prevention, risk management and claims advocacy (often 24/7 concierge claims service).
• Integrates with estate planners, family offices, trust attorneys and wealth managers.

Typical coverages and specialty policies you should expect

• Private client homeowners / estate policies (often “scheduled” coverage for multiple residences).
• High‑value auto (agreed value, replacement cost, limited mileage/exotic car endorsements).
• Fine art, jewelry and collectibles (agreed value with specialized valuation clauses).
• Yachts and private craft (hull, liability, crew).
• Aviation (personal aircraft hull & liability, pilot coverage).
• Personal excess/umbrella liability (high limits: $5M, $10M, $25M+).
• Cyber/privacy and identity theft for individuals and households.
• Kidnap, ransom & extortion (including family security services).
• Employment practices and liability for household staff.
• Event coverage, transit and storage coverage for exhibitions or loans.

Where to find HNW brokers

• Referrals: family office, private banker, estate attorney, wealth manager, other HNW clients.
• Search for “private client” or “private client services” alongside major broker names in your region.
• National/global brokers commonly have dedicated private/client divisions — for example: Marsh (Private Client), Aon (Private Client Services), Gallagher (Private Client Services), Lockton (Private Client Group), Brown & Brown / USI and other regional brokerages often have private‑client teams. (Use referrals and local vetting rather than picking only by brand.)

Fee structure and conflicts

• Compensation often commission from insurers, but some brokers charge a fee or a combination. Ask about transparency: which part of their compensation comes from insurers vs. direct client fees.
• Larger placements and specialized markets may require wholesale/broker of record arrangements — understand who controls placement and claims advocacy.

How to vet and choose a broker — checklist

• Proven HNW experience: specific experience with clients of similar net worth and asset types (art, yachts, aircraft, etc.).
• Carrier access: relationships with specialist/admitted and non‑admitted private client carriers.
• Claims advocacy & track record: examples of recent complex claims managed and client references.
• Risk‑management services: do they provide loss control, appraisals, security assessments?
• Contract clarity: sample policy wordings, key endorsements, and exclusions explained in writing.
• Privacy/confidentiality practices and cyber security for client data.
• Responsiveness & service model: dedicated client team, 24/7 claims line, onsite inspections.
• Licensing and professional credentials (state licenses, professional liability/errors & omissions insurance).

Key questions to ask a prospective broker

• Do you have a dedicated private client team? How many clients like me do you handle?
• Which carriers do you place private client business with and which markets are admitted vs. surplus?
• Can you provide references from current clients and examples of complex claims you managed?
• How are you compensated — commissions, fees, or both? Will you disclose all compensation?
• What loss prevention, valuation and appraisal services do you provide or coordinate?
• How do you handle claims advocacy and disputes with insurers?
• What confidentiality protections and data‑security measures do you maintain?

Red flags

• No references or no recent examples of complex claims handled.
• Unwillingness to disclose compensation model or to put service levels in writing.
• Overreliance on a single carrier without access to specialty surplus markets.
• Poor responsiveness in initial interactions.

Documents and information to prepare before meeting

• Current policies (home, auto, umbrella, valuables, yacht/aircraft).
• Recent valuations/appraisals for art/jewelry/collections.
• List of residences and usage (primary, secondary, rental, staff).
• List of high‑value items with purchase dates/receipts.
• Recent claims history and loss runs (last 5–7 years).
• Any security measures, alarm systems, staff details, and travel plans.

Next steps (practical)

• Ask your wealth manager/family office for 2–3 broker referrals.
• Request a formal proposal (coverage summary + sample policy language + fees/commissions).
• Compare at least two specialist brokers (not just local retail agents).
• Consider a broker of record letter (if you choose to switch) so they can get loss runs and start placements.

If you’d like, I can:

• Draft a short interview/checklist email you can send to prospective brokers.
• Help you evaluate two or three proposals if you paste the key terms here.

Which of those would be most helpful?