Ask Acorn
Ask Acorn is an Irish insurance brokerage and financial services intermediary that compares car, home, and van insurance quotes from over 14 insurers and distributes pensions and protection products through a national network of 120+ advisors and 7 branches across Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGalway, Ireland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ask Acorn does
Ask Acorn is the consumer-facing trading name of Acorn Brokerage Limited, an Irish-owned insurance brokerage and financial services intermediary headquartered in Galway, Ireland, and operating since 2012. The company aggregates and distributes general insurance products — car, home, and van insurance — by comparing quotes from over 14 leading insurers, and complements this with financial planning services covering pensions, life and income protection, critical illness cover, and savings and investments. Distribution is delivered through three parallel channels: a website-based self-serve quote journey with online quotation calculators, a phone-based call centre, and a network of over 120 financial advisors operating out of 7 physical branches across Dublin, Cork (two locations), Galway (two locations), Monaghan, and Tralee.
The underlying technology is a website-led comparison and quotation platform that interfaces with multiple insurer back-ends to produce multi-carrier quotes, supplemented by offline advisor-led sales and service. The product catalogue is broad for a broker of its size, including specialised offerings such as Electric Car Insurance, Landlord Insurance, Multi-Year Fixed Cost Home Insurance, Breakdown and Windscreen add-ons, and the Acorn Life Master Trust pension structure. The firm is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and operates as part of the broader Acorn Life Group, with Acorn Life DAC acting as a preferred provider for certain life products while other providers are sourced where Acorn Life DAC cannot meet a specific need.
Revenue is generated through a multi-stream model: commission paid by insurers on policy completion and renewal (the dominant stream), a Premium Finance Charge of 7.9% (APR 22.8%) on monthly instalment plans, capped administration fees (up to €100 for personal home and motor policies, €50 for travel, €25 for mid-term alterations, €20 for cancellation), and life/pension commissions with no direct fees charged to the customer. The customer base is primarily individual Irish consumers, with secondary segments covering business van owners, landlords, retirees, and families seeking protection cover; geographic reach is national within the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland explicitly excluded.
Ask Acorn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ask Acorn
- Legal name
- Acorn Brokerage Limited
- Website
- https://askacorn.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ask Acorn is an Irish insurance brokerage and financial services intermediary that compares car, home, and van insurance quotes from over 14 insurers and distributes pensions and protection products through a national network of 120+ advisors and 7 branches across Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ask Acorn industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insurtech-Enabled Brokerage (Digital Brokers & Aggregators) (FSAEADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Broker-Dealer Affiliated Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAB), Customer Engagement, CRM & Agent/Broker Enablement Platforms (FSAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Ask Acorn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Galway
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Ask Acorn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel
Revenue model
- Insurance Commission: Ask Acorn is paid by commission—a percentage of the premium paid or amount invested—from insurers on completion of business and at renewal. For general insurance products such as motor and home insurance, administration fees may also be charged.
- Premium Payment Plan Finance Charges: Premium Finance Charge of 7.9% (APR 22.8%) applied to monthly instalment payments for insurance policies.
- Administration Fees: Maximum charges for new and renewal policies: €100 for personal home/motor insurance, €50 for travel insurance, €8 for MIS breakdown, €25 for mid-term alterations, €20 for cancellation.
- Life and Pension Commission: No fees charged for life and pension business; remuneration comes from commissions paid by insurers or product providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Personal Home and Motor Insurance |
| Other | Annual | Travel Insurance |
| Other | Annual | MIS Breakdown |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Mid Term Alteration |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cancellation |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Premium Financing Payment Plan |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ask Acorn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ask Acorn is an Irish insurance brokerage, operating as the trading name of Acorn Brokerage Limited within the Acorn Life Group. It offers comparison and placement of car, home, and van insurance from 14+ insurance providers, alongside pensions, savings and investments, and personal protection products. The brokerage employs 106 staff and over 120 financial advisors across multiple Irish branch locations and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Product overview
Ask Acorn is an Irish insurance broker and financial services company operating as a multi-product distribution platform. The core offering consists of car, home, and van insurance products distributed across over 14 leading insurers, complemented by protection (life insurance), pensions, and savings/investment products. The platform functions as a broker connecting customers with insurance providers and financial product suppliers. Key insurance products include specialized car insurance (with electric vehicle, breakdown, windscreen, and open driving options), home insurance (including landlord, multi-year fixed cost, and first-time buyer variants), and van insurance for both commercial and personal use. Financial services include pension planning through the Acorn Life Master Trust, income and critical illness protection, and investment/savings products. The company is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and distributes products from multiple insurance providers including Aviva, Axa, Zurich, and other Irish insurers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Car Insurance Motor insurance policy placement and comparison service for private motorists, sourced from 14+ insurance providers in the Irish market. For individual consumers seeking personal car insurance.
- Home Insurance Homeowners and landlord insurance product, placed through the brokerage's panel of 14+ Irish insurance providers. For homeowners and residential landlords.
- Van Insurance Commercial van insurance product for sole traders and small business owners, arranged via the brokerage's multi-provider panel.
- Personal Pensions / PRSA Personal retirement savings accounts (PRSAs) and pension products for individuals planning retirement, advised by the company's network of 120+ qualified financial advisors.
- Savings and Investments Investment and savings products offered with advice from qualified financial advisors for individual customers seeking wealth accumulation.
- Protection Insurance Personal protection products covering life assurance, specified illness cover, and income protection for individuals and families.
- Acorn Life Master Trust Group PRSA / master trust arrangement operated by Acorn Life Group, providing a workplace pension vehicle accessible to employees.
Companies that use Ask Acorn
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ask Acorn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ask Acorn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Acorn Life DACcoreAcorn Life DAC is Ask Acorn's preferred provider for certain life products. Acorn Life DAC pays Acorn Brokerage Ltd. to cover costs associated with administering Acorn Life DAC business. Ask Acorn presents offerings from other providers when specific life products are unavailable from Acorn Life DAC.
- AIGminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- AllianzminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- ARB UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- AvivaminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- AxaminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- BundleBeeminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Capital Insurance MarketsminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Cover CentreminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- DolmenminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- EversureminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Fastnet UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Footprint UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Intact Insurance (RSA)minorInsurance provider (formerly RSA) offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- IverniaminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- KennCominorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Kidd InsuranceminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Liberty Insurance (Red Click)minorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- MISminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- OBFminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Ornella/PatronaminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Pen UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Prestige UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- SertusminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- Wrightway UnderwritingminorInsurance underwriter offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- ZurichminorInsurance provider offering general insurance products through Ask Acorn's brokerage network.
- RSL Financial Services LtdminorFinancial services partner operating under Ask Acorn network at EastGate Cork and Dublin branches.
- Howard Financial Services LtdminorFinancial services partner operating under Ask Acorn network at Cork branch.
- DLON Financial Services LtdminorFinancial services partner operating under Ask Acorn network at Cork branch.
- HCW FinancialminorFinancial services partner operating under Ask Acorn network at Dublin branch.
- Mortgage and Financial SolutionsminorFinancial services partner operating under Ask Acorn network at Cork branch.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ask Acorn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Irish Life: One of Ireland's largest life insurance, pensions, and investment companies (part of Great-West Lifeco) — directly competes with Ask Acorn's protection, pension, and savings products but with much broader scale and proprietary products rather than brokerage distribution.
- Zurich Ireland: Large multi-line Irish insurer offering general insurance, life, and pensions through both direct and broker channels including Ask Acorn — broader product portfolio but similar underlying customer base in personal lines.
- Aviva Ireland: Major Irish general insurance and life provider offering car, home, and pensions across direct and broker channels — comparable product overlap to Ask Acorn but with much larger scale and brand recognition.
Direct peers
- Bonkers.ie: Irish price comparison platform across car, home, and van insurance — competes with Ask Acorn's digital quote tool but lacks the in-person financial advisor network that Ask Acorn offers for pensions and protection.
- Liberty Insurance Ireland: Irish general insurance provider (Red Click brand) that distributes through brokers including Ask Acorn — competes in the same car and home insurance market but via dual direct and broker channels.
- Quote Devil: Irish insurance broker and price comparison site offering car, home, and van quotes from multiple providers — closely comparable in distribution model and product scope.
- 123.ie: Irish insurance broker offering home, car, and van insurance with online quotes from multiple insurers — directly overlaps with Ask Acorn's core personal lines brokerage business.
- Arachas Insurance Brokers: Large Irish insurance brokerage group offering commercial and personal lines across multiple insurers, comparable to Ask Acorn in product breadth but with stronger commercial / SME orientation.
- Chill Insurance: Major Irish insurance broker offering car, home, van, and travel insurance through multi-carrier comparison with both online and advisor channels — almost identical GTM model to Ask Acorn and the closest direct competitor.
Regional players
- Compare the Market: UK price comparison aggregator with very similar multi-carrier insurance model — relevant benchmark for Ask Acorn's digital comparison capability but operates only in the UK, not Ireland.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ask Acorn social profiles
Digital presenceAsk Acorn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ask Acorn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ask Acorn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ask Acorn M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ask Acorn
What does Ask Acorn do?
Ask Acorn is an Irish insurance brokerage, operating as the trading name of Acorn Brokerage Limited within the Acorn Life Group. It offers comparison and placement of car, home, and van insurance from 14+ insurance providers, alongside pensions, savings and investments, and personal protection products. The brokerage employs 106 staff and over 120 financial advisors across multiple Irish branch locations and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Is Ask Acorn a public or private company?
Ask Acorn is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ask Acorn founded?
Ask Acorn was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ask Acorn based?
Ask Acorn is headquartered in Galway, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Ask Acorn make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Insurance Commission is the primary driver. The others are premium Payment Plan Finance Charges, administration Fees and life and Pension Commission.
Who are Ask Acorn's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Irish Life, Zurich Ireland and Aviva Ireland. Direct peers are Bonkers.ie, Liberty Insurance Ireland, Quote Devil, 123.ie, Arachas Insurance Brokers and Chill Insurance. Compare the Market is listed as a regional player.
Does Ask Acorn have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ask Acorn.
What industry is Ask Acorn in?
Ask Acorn's product category is Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAN, Insurtech-Enabled Brokerage (Digital Brokers & Aggregators), with a secondary code of FSAEABAB, Broker-Dealer Affiliated Wealth Advisory. Its NAICS code is 52421 and its SIC code is 6411.