Bilal Iftikhar

At Arch Global Advisors (AGA), Bilal oversees all our clients' insurance needs.  It is, he says, an important responsibility. “We live in a world where financial matters affect the entire family,” he says. “With insurance, if something goes wrong in a client’s life, the family will be covered.” 

As the go-to expert at AGA in life insurance and disability and long-term care, the two areas that most affect clients, Bilal works closely with the firm’s financial advisors, aligning the client’s insurance needs with their overall financial goals. For example, if clients are considering taking out a new life insurance policy, Bilal obtains their personal and health information, and then identifies five or six appropriate insurance companies that are suitable to meet the needs (and the budget) of a client. “My goal is always to get the best insurance policy at the right price to meet the client’s goals,” he says. 

Bilal’s a smart shopper: By taking out the right insurance policy, he says that some clients can obtain a 2-3 percent bonus a year for the first few years of their policy; a savings that can be invested right into their retirement portfolio. Knowing the ins and outs of a complex and ever-changing industry is part of Bilal’s responsibility. He keeps abreast of the many changes that affect the insurance industry, integrating with affiliates and specific insurance companies, attending seminars to keep his pulse on the industry and often-changing governmental regulations. 

His Background:

Like many of those on the AGA staff, Bilal brings a global perspective: Born and raised in Pakistan, he immigrated to the United States at age 17, settling in East Harlem in New York City. He graduated from the City College of New York with a major in business administration and management.  He later earned a second bachelor’s degree—this one in computer science—from Lehman College, also part of CUNY. Working at AGA is also a family affair for Bilal since Sheraz, one of the co-founders, is his brother. 

Fun Fact:

A runner, Bilal is proud to have completed the New York City Marathon in 2010: That is 26.2 miles through the winding streets of the five boroughs of New York City.