Life and Health Insurance Broker in New York
Protecting what matters most.
Life, accident and health coverage for individuals, families and business owners, offered by The Rothswell Agency, separate from our Brightway property and casualty business. Policies are compared across insurers through a New York licensed life broker, and recommendations follow New York's best-interest standard (Regulation 187).
Licensed agent and broker, New YorkLife insurance in New York, explained by a licensed broker.
Life insurance pays money to the people you choose if you die. New York families use it to replace income, pay off a mortgage or other debts, fund a child’s education and leave something behind. Business owners use it to protect a company and its partners. The right policy depends on how long you need coverage, how much you need and what you can afford, so we start with your situation and compare insurers before we recommend anything.
Start with the guide that fits: term life insurance, whole and universal life insurance or life insurance for business owners. If you are not sure where to begin, or you are asking about accident and health coverage, contact us and we will arrange a conversation at our Madison Avenue office or by phone. Ne shqip: sigurim jete ne New York.
Insurers and partners
Life and health coverage from insurers available in New York.
Access to insurers through our agency, our brokerage general agency Ash Brokerage and other distribution channels. Availability varies by product and is subject to carrier appointment and underwriting. Logos are trademarks of their respective owners; their use does not imply endorsement.
Our promise as your broker
When we act as your broker, we work for you. Your best interest comes first, not the insurance company’s.
We represent you
Under New York law, a licensed insurance broker acts on behalf of the client, not the insurer.
We compare the market
We look across insurers to find the coverage that fits your needs and budget.
We put it in writing
Every recommendation follows New York’s best-interest standard (Regulation 187), and we explain how we are paid (Regulation 194).
Leadership
Ardi Shita
Group CEO and Chief Insurance Officer
Rothswell · The Rothswell Agency LLC
A New York finance executive whose career spans investment banking, asset management, financial institutions, insurance and law. He leads Rothswell and The Rothswell Agency, where he is the licensed producer for life, accident and health insurance, acting as a New York licensed life broker for clients. He is a Managing Director at Oberon Securities and has been involved in more than $4 billion of transactions, after leading regulated banking and financial institutions as chief executive, chairman and board director.
Career highlights
- Oberon Securities
Managing Director, Investment Banking, at a Manhattan investment bank: debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions and complex advisory mandates.
- Transactions
Involvement in more than $4 billion of transactions over his career.
- Regulated financial institutions
Former chief executive, chairman and board director of regulated banking and financial institutions.
- Asset management
Former co-founder and Fund Manager at Eagle Capital, Private Equity Fund in New York.
- Law
Former managing partner of a law firm, with a legal and commercial-law education.
Licenses
Life Broker
New York license LB-1951560
Life; Accident and Health; Travel Accident
Life, Accident and Health Agent
New York license LA-1951560
Life; Accident and Health; Travel Accident
Designated sublicensee
The Rothswell Agency LLC, license LA-1997378
Life; Accident and Health; Travel Accident
Issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services; licenses expire February 13, 2028 (individual) and June 30, 2027 (agency). Verify at dfs.ny.gov.
Training
New York Regulation 187: best interest of clients in life insurance and annuity transactions
Anti-money laundering for the insurance industry
Completed October 2026.
Education
Executive MBA, NYU Stern School of Business
DBA candidate, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
Legal and commercial-law education
- Term life
- Protection for a set period, such as the years of a mortgage or while children are at home.
- Permanent life
- Whole and universal life coverage that lasts a lifetime and can build cash value.
- Estate and legacy planning
- Life insurance used to provide liquidity for heirs and to support an estate plan, coordinated with your attorney and accountant.
- Business owners
- Key person coverage and life insurance used to fund buy-sell agreements between partners.
- Accident and health
- Accident and health-related coverage for individuals and families.
- Travel accident
- Accident coverage for business and personal travel.
Understand your needs
We start with your family, income, obligations and goals, not with a product.
Compare insurers
As a licensed life broker we compare policies across insurers on your behalf.
Recommend in your best interest
Our recommendation and the reasons for it are documented under Regulation 187, and we explain our role and how we are paid (Regulation 194).
Apply and underwrite
We handle the application and work with the insurer through underwriting.
Review over time
We review coverage as your life, family or business changes.
- What is the difference between a life insurance agent and a broker in New York?
- A licensed agent represents the insurer. A licensed broker represents the client and can place coverage with insurers on the client's behalf. We hold both New York licenses, and we tell you which role we are acting in.
- What is New York Regulation 187?
- Regulation 187 requires that recommendations about life insurance and annuities be in the best interest of the consumer, without placing the producer's or the insurer's financial interests ahead of the consumer's. We document our recommendation and the reasons for it.
- How are you paid?
- Insurers generally pay commissions on the policies they issue, and compensation can vary with the policy, the insurer and sales volume. At or before the application we explain our role and whether we are paid by the insurer, and you can ask for details of our compensation at any time (New York Regulation 194).
- Should I buy term or permanent life insurance?
- Term insurance covers a set number of years and suits needs with an end date, such as a mortgage or the years children depend on you. Permanent insurance is designed to last a lifetime and can build cash value, which suits estate, legacy and some business needs. Read our guides to term life and to whole and universal life, or ask us to compare both for your situation.
- How much life insurance do I need?
- It depends on your income, debts, dependents, existing coverage and goals. We walk through each of these with you and show how different amounts and lengths of coverage compare, rather than applying a single rule of thumb.
- Do I need a medical exam?
- Many policies require underwriting, which can include a health questionnaire, a review of medical records and sometimes an exam. Some insurers offer simplified processes for certain ages and amounts. Availability varies by insurer and product.
- Which insurers can you work with?
- We place coverage through our agency, our brokerage general agency Ash Brokerage and other distribution channels. Which insurers and products are available depends on carrier appointments, the product and underwriting, and we identify the insurer by its full name and home office before you apply.
- What does accident and health coverage mean?
- Accident and health is the New York license line for insurance against injury, illness and related loss. The specific products we can offer depend on insurer appointments, so ask us what is available for your situation.
- Can life insurance be part of an estate plan?
- Yes. Life insurance is often used to give heirs cash without selling assets, to equalize inheritances and to fund business succession. We coordinate with your attorney and accountant and do not give legal or tax advice.
- Who do you serve, and where are you located?
- We serve individuals, families and business owners in New York. Our office is at 211 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016. You can reach us at 646 821 3520 or info@rothswell.us.
| Agency | The Rothswell Agency LLC, insurance agent license LA-1997378 (Life; Accident and Health; Travel Accident), expires June 30, 2027 |
| Licensed producer | Ardi Shita, NPN 22062424: life broker license LB-1951560 and life, accident and health agent license LA-1951560, expire February 13, 2028 |
| Regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services. Licenses can be verified with its producer search at dfs.ny.gov. |
Coverage is subject to underwriting, insurer approval and the terms of each policy. When acting as an agent, a producer represents the insurer; when acting as a broker, the producer represents the client. Compensation may include commissions paid by insurers; at or before the application we explain our role and how we are paid, and details are available on request (New York Regulation 194).
Let’s talk
Tell us a little about you, and we will get back to you.
info@rothswell.us646 821 3520211 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016