A new podcast has featured the five different routes to becoming a Gauntlet appointed representative, as Gauntlet Group announces its launch of a fifth pathway – Gauntlet Unite.

The podcast, available here https://bit.ly/4im2ILw  sees Gauntlet’s managing director, Roger Gaunt, talking through all of the ways in which insurance sales professionals and account executives can become appointed representatives of Gauntlet.  Joining the Gauntlet AR Network through any of these routes enables the new AR to reap the numerous benefits of working with an appointed representative principal that has unique elements to its AR proposition.

Points of difference underpinning the appointed representative pathways

The points of difference, as Roget Gaunt explains, comes from Gauntlet’s status as an independently owned, UK operated network and one that has been established for over 15 years.  Backed by the stability of Gauntlet Risk Management, which celebrated its 30^th anniversary in October 2024, the network has an agility that others struggle to match, as Roger highlights.

The other point of difference that assists anyone joining Gauntlet as an appointed representative, through any of the routes, is the input of the direct sales team. This operates on behalf of Gauntlet, in its capacity as a vibrant commercial insurance broker in its own right.

However, this team is also the engine room for the Gauntlet appointed representative network.  It contributes a volume of business for insurers which, when added to business placed by the network of ARs, constitutes a considerable proposition for any insurer partner.

Furthermore, the direct sales team also acts as a test bed for sales campaigns, which can then be rolled out to the network.  This benefits appointed representatives wishing to follow a profitable strategy.

The 5 routes to becoming a Gauntlet appointed representative

pdf infog 5 routes

Roger explains all of this, whilst also going into specifics with regard to the five routes.  The first is the traditional route – Gauntlet Start-up Broker – which is where a talented insurance professional joins Gauntlet straight from an employed role and launches their own brokerage, with Gauntlet’s support, on a self-employed basis.

The second route is an innovative means to level the playing field for talented professionals, by making life as an appointed representative accessible to all.  Regardless of financial standing, level of savings or family circumstances, the possibility of becoming your own insurance boss is available.

Gauntlet Brokerage Builder is a de-risked way to make a move into self-employment, as a try-before-you-fly route to becoming an AR.  The individual remains employed and on a salary, whilst also building their future brokerage and client base.  A 22-month programme enables them to test themselves in the role. If they hit the set milestones, they can leave the programme with a ready-made pool of clients, which they retain.

The third route to becoming a Gauntlet appointed representative  is that for those brokers who are currently directly authorised insurance brokers but who are running out of time to achieve the income they had originally envisioned.  Coupled with this is usually a realisation that they have no real exit route strategy.

They are typically also suffering the stress of compliance, accounting and PI purchase, and cannot take time out of their brokerage.  The broken dream of running their own brokerage is even more fractured, through typically having poor access to insurer agencies.

Providing directly authorised brokers with access and an exit

For these brokers, there is the Gauntlet De-authorisation Fast-track route, which allows a broker to switch their status to appointed representative and become reborn as a broker.  With all that Gauntlet can provide, its market access and its buying power, which translates into higher commissions, they can be financially better off by becoming an AR.

The AR options for returning and uniting brokers

The fourth route to Gauntlet appointed representative status  is one that welcomes brokers who sold a previous insurance business, have seen through the terms of their sale and are now ready to seize the market opportunity that exists for a great local broker, delivering personalised service.  Gauntlet Phoenix has already proved extremely popular. ‘Retired’ brokers are already coming out of their early retirement and starting up again, as second-time-around brokers with Gauntlet.

The fifth route, Gauntlet Unite, is a team proposition.  Two or more account executives, sales managers or broking pros can have the comfort blanket of continuing to work together, by starting their insurance brokerage in tandem.  By keeping a successful team united, with Gauntlet’s assistance, they can form an appointed representative-run business and play a dynamic part within the Gauntlet AR Network

The appointed representative network valuing morals and ethics

The merits and attractiveness of each of these routes is discussed by Roger in the podcast, as he highlights a higher level of enquiries by prospective appointed representatives than ever before.  Having compared Gauntlet’s appointed representative offering with others, highly professional broking talents are choosing an AR network that reflects their ethics and morals.  They are electing to join one which has a first-rate reputation amongst other ARs and insurers.

Roger also explains the type of aspiring broker attracted by the network and its offering and the buzz that he personally gets out of helping these individuals thrive and succeed.

There is much more to be learned from the podcast, about both the routes into becoming a Gauntlet appointed representative and the overall ethos of the Gauntlet AR Network.  Head to https://bit.ly/4im2ILw to listen.