Katrina Church

Director | Head of Client Engagement

Many New Zealanders put insurance in the too hard basket – life is busy and often people don’t know where to go to get sound advice. One of the things I love about what I do is helping people make decisions that are right for them, their families and their business.

I started my career in insurance in 1998 as a tied adviser with what was then called Guardian Assurance. I realized fairly quickly the importance of impartial advice – ensuring the right product is placed rather than being tied to one insurer – and became an associate with a brokerage called Apex Advice Group.

After four years of what I call my ‘apprenticeship’, I then started my own firm Synergy Financial Solutions. In 2006 I merged my practice with Insurance People and have been managing and growing the team since then.

My team and I are passionate about insurance and giving advice that makes a real difference. Often the time that this is most evident is at claim – in fact, I consider my greatest achievement to be getting a $180,000 claim that a new
client had been battling with for 18 months paid within two days, simply by bringing the parties together in a room.

That is the difference a quality adviser who places a high value on relationships makes, and that’s what you’ll find with myself and my team at Insurance People.

Simon Fisher

Director, Insurance People and Mortgage People

I joined the insurance industry in 1996 and am now a Director and Shareholder of Insurance People Limited. I am a financial adviser providing advice on personal and business risk Insurance. I also hold various directorships and manage our insurance group on a day to day basis. I have had an extensive corporate background in insurance, where I have held senior management roles in both sales and operations so have the knowledge, understanding and expertise in focusing on getting the best outcome for my clients. I hold a Diploma in Marketing), which was completed through AUT.