Thorner Financial Services Ltd is a family owned and managed insurance brokerage based in Upper Hutt, Wellington, established in 1991. Operating as an independent Financial Advice Provider (FAP), Thorner brings together general insurance, home loans, life insurance and investment advice under one roof, giving clients a single point of contact for their financial protection needs.
As an independent broker, Thorner has access to a wide range of insurance providers, including strategic partnerships with New Zealand's leading insurers and offshore markets such as Lloyd's of London. Their general insurance advisers are qualified Financial Advisers under NZ law, members of the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand (IBANZ), and part of the Steadfast Cluster Group — Australasia's largest general insurance adviser network — giving Thorner improved buying power and a broader range of products when negotiating with major insurers.
Beyond insurance, Thorner offers a comprehensive home loan service through Sovereign's lending facility, along with specialist investment and KiwiSaver advice, including support for clients transferring Australian superannuation. The practice describes its approach to personal investment planning as genuinely personal, tailoring advice to each client's individual circumstances.
Since 1991, Thorner Financial Services Ltd has operated as a family owned and managed insurance brokerage from its office on Main Street in Upper Hutt. Over more than three decades, the practice has grown into what it describes as an insurance hub — bringing personal life insurance, general insurance, business insurance, home loans and investment advice together under one roof.
As an independent Financial Advice Provider, Thorner isn't tied to a single insurer. This independence gives clients access to policies from multiple companies, with Thorner's advisers working to find the best fit rather than pushing a single provider's product. The practice maintains strategic partnerships with New Zealand's leading insurers and even offshore markets such as Lloyd's of London, broadening the options available when arranging cover.
Thorner's general insurance advisers are qualified Financial Advisers under New Zealand law, meeting disclosure obligations, minimum qualification standards and ongoing professional development requirements. They are also members of the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand (IBANZ) and part of the Steadfast Cluster Group, Australasia's largest general insurance adviser network. Being part of this network gives Thorner improved buying power and access to a broader range of exclusive products when negotiating with major insurers on behalf of clients.
On the domestic insurance side, Thorner arranges cover for homes, contents, motor vehicles, boats, caravans, electronics and goods in transit. The team takes time to explain policy options in everyday language, helping clients weigh up choices like adjusting their excess, spreading payments, restricting who can drive an insured vehicle, maximising multiple policy discounts, or installing alarms to reduce premiums. For renters, the team also stresses the value of keeping contents cover up to date, since it provides liability protection as well as cover for belongings.
Thorner also reminds clients about the practical details that make a real difference at claim time — providing valuations for items like jewellery, and checking whether a policy includes "new for old regardless of age" cover for things like drapes and light fittings, which can otherwise leave a gap in a payout.
For clients buying a home, Thorner offers access to Sovereign's flexible and competitive home lending facility, helping clients save on bank fees and pay off their home loan faster. This sits alongside the practice's life insurance offering, giving clients a way to protect both their property and their family's financial security through one adviser relationship.
Thorner Investment Services Ltd takes what the practice calls a genuinely personal approach to investment planning, tailoring advice to each client's individual goals. This extends to KiwiSaver planning and specialist support for clients transferring Australian superannuation savings to New Zealand — a process that can be complex without expert guidance.
Thorner's office is located at 22 Main Street, Upper Hutt, and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Clients can reach the team by phone on 04 528 8088 or by email for questions about insurance, home loans, life insurance, investments or KiwiSaver.