Scott Winton Insurance Brokers is built on a foundation of strong family values and lasting client loyalty. Established by the late Ron Tatarka in 1992, the business has grown into one of the largest independent insurance brokers in Australia and is now in the capable hands of his son, Avi Tatarka.
“My father started this business from scratch; literally door-knocking to sell life insurance. When I joined in 2008, he told me, ‘You’re going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up the ranks,’” Avi recalls. “And I’m lucky he did, because otherwise I would not have been nearly as prepared as I needed to be to take on the CEO role when he suddenly passed away at the beginning of this year.
“His loss was a huge challenge for me, not only on a personal level but also in terms of the business. I had to step up and reassure our staff and our clients that I was committed to carrying on my father’s legacy,” he notes.
“My father viewed all Scott Winton employees as extended family. And when he died, our employees pulled together like a family, working incredibly hard to ensure a smooth transition process. Since I’ve taken over, it’s been so satisfying to see them continue to flourish. Our valued clients have also stayed with us, and we’re now experiencing one of the most successful periods in the history of the company – an achievement I’m sure would make my father proud.”
Whether it’s dealing with small businesses or large corporations, Scott Winton is dedicated to serving the best interests of all clients through the provision of ethical and professional insurance broking services. “My father always taught me to treat every client, big or small, with the same amount of respect.”
And that approach has led to some surprising rewards. “One of my smallest clients in the manufacturing space was finding it tough due to market changes affecting their industry and on the verge of shutting operations in Australia. A few months after I met with them, I received a call with news that they had acquired another company and now, years later, they’re one of my largest accounts,” Avi states proudly. “They stayed with Scott Winton because we provided them with the highest level of service regardless of their size – it made no difference to us.”
When Avi entered the insurance industry a decade ago, it was much softer than today. “Premiums were cheap and there was low risk. Now, however, the insurance industry in Australia is facing one of the most difficult environments it has ever encountered. Many insurers are pulling back and premiums are increasing across the board. Small brokers are being bought out by larger ones, and many are asking themselves, ‘Will new technology make insurance brokers redundant?’”
Avi strongly disagrees. “It’s our job as brokers to sit down and advise our clients on risk management and property valuation so they understand the type of cover they really need. That individual service and personal connection is something you can’t get online and it’s what will see some brokers disappear and others survive.