Millions of South African television viewers will soon get a glimpse into the pressure individuals in the insurance industry face to succeed, with four young intermediaries helping to tell that story.
The Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA) joins a growing number of industry stakeholders in congratulating The Insurance Apprentice (TIA) 2025 for its transition into the mainstream. Entering its 11th year, this popular talent-focused competition will air on national broadcaster SABC 3 today at 7 pm, across eight weekly episodes.
The move to public television promotes the financial services sector to the broader public while raising awareness of the rich and varied careers on offer in insurance. This year’s competition features a diverse group of professionals who will go head-to-head in tackling complex, high-stakes challenges that test business acumen, client-centred thinking and technical capability.
Notably, four of the 20 finalists are employed by FIA member firms. These under-35 professionals represent businesses ranging from boutique domestic brokerages to global players like Aon and Marsh, affirming the calibre of intermediary talent rising through the ranks domestically. Their participation in the competition is a timely reminder of the value of financial advice and the essential role intermediaries play in helping clients manage risk in an increasingly complex environment.
TIA 2025 promises to be bigger and bolder than ever, and viewers can look forward the series of high-pressure tasks that lie ahead. You will, however, have to wait until the grand finale, set down for 9 September, to find out whether an intermediary snatches the coveted title.
Insurance and risk management specialist Darius Wyngaardt made it through to the final grouping this year, in his second attempt and was also in the top 20 last year. He describes the competition as a unique platform to bring the noble calling of insurance broking into the limelight.
This participant exemplifies the kind of talent that finds its way into non-life insurance. With a degree in International Relations, he began his career in politics, later worked in offshore wealth management, and eventually entered the insurance sector, first in the commercial broking division at a large direct insurer before making the move into independent broking.
TIA, he says, allows emerging insurance professionals to make their mark. It is an opportunity to benchmark your skills against those of your peers as well as build meaningful relationships with top talent in a competitive industry.
The competition also serves a dual purpose of educating the public on the role of insurance and the value of advice when purchasing it. “This show will remind viewers that brokers exist, and that you can approach somebody to act as your intermediary when buying insurance,” he said. “Consumers will become aware that their intermediary has their interests at heart.”
Do brokers hold an edge in the TIA format, and why?
One clear advantage is that brokers have a holistic understanding of the entire insurance value chain, from claims to underwriting to writing or renewing business plus the day-to-day administration in between. “An independent broker cannot rely on claims or sales excellence alone; they must develop a wider range of skills than individuals in a specialised role,” Wyngaardt said.
Brokers are custodians of the value of advice and often find themselves challenging the status quo. An often-overlooked reality is that intermediaries serve as a vital link between client and underwriter. They are there to negotiate on behalf of the client and secure the best possible outcome whether negotiating policy terms and conditions, or claims outcomes
Repeated engagements for and on behalf of the client help intermediaries to develop and finetune their commercial instincts, including laying down the law when necessary. Wyngaardt shared an example of a claim that required 78 emails to resolve, with the matter being finalised when the brokerage took a firm stand: “So far and no further.”
He also offered a nod to the strengths of smaller brokerages. Large multinationals tend to operate in corporate-to-corporate spaces whereas niche brokers can build closer relationships directly with clients. These relationships lead to an improved understanding of the client’s insurance needs.
The intermediary is central to the adviser-client-insurer dynamic. “We recognise insurance as the backbone of the economy, and strive to grow our premium on the back of our clients’ continued successes rather than through inflation-linked increase, Wyngaardt said. He encouraged viewers to think of insurance as the safety net beneath a trapeze act. Without it, the performance cannot continue.
The South African insurance sector is almost as large as the banking sector. TIA 2025, with four intermediaries on board, serves as a powerful reminder of how critical financial and risk advice is in the financial services realm.
And though there are plenty of twists in this eight-episode “reality drama” series, the industry emerges as the true winner. The SABC broadcast puts the insurance industry, and the myriad career and professional development opportunities it offers, firmly under the spotlight.