Reinsurance broker / intermediary
A reinsurance broker, also called a reinsurance intermediary, arranges reinsurance between a ceding insurer and one or more reinsurers. It designs the program, negotiates terms, and places the risk, and it often handles the flow of premiums and claims between the parties.
Ceding insurers use reinsurance brokers to decide how much risk to keep and how much to transfer, and then to find reinsurers willing to assume it on acceptable terms. Brokers bring market knowledge, help model exposures, negotiate pricing and contract wording, and coordinate the parties throughout the placement.
In the US, the NAIC's Reinsurance Intermediary Model Act distinguishes a reinsurance intermediary-broker, who acts on behalf of a ceding insurer, from a reinsurance intermediary-manager, who has authority to bind or manage reinsurance on behalf of a reinsurer. These roles carry licensing and fiduciary duties.
Not all reinsurance is placed through brokers. Some reinsurers deal directly with ceding insurers in what is known as the direct market. Brokered placements are common for large, layered, or complex programs, where independent advice and access to many markets add value.
A ceding insurer or a program might work with a reinsurance broker to place its risk with reinsurers such as RiskCube Re, an AI-native reinsurer focused on emerging and complex exposures.
Definitions are educational and general, and specific contracts, endorsements, and state rules may modify them. For regulatory guidance, refer to the NAIC or the Insurance Information Institute.