You are young, possibly past the‘I am INVINCIBLE’ teenage years, but young nonetheless. You are healthy, making plans, getting started and on the way to the life you’ve decided you want.

And yes I am referring to those of you in your 40’s as well. It has been said that 40 is the new 30, and 30 the new 20 - isn’t it! So yes you could be one of the young ones I am referring to! 

SO WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR INSURANCE!

Ahhh it’s because you are young and healthy, you don’t need it. It’s a cost that you’d rather save. Its money better spent on dinner out with friends, or buying yet another gadget.

WITHOUT BEING RUDE, IF YOU THINKTHIS, I REALLY WANT TO SHAKE YOU!!

Because it’s this belief that sees so many people end up reliant on state support at some stage living out a meagre existence simply because they put off protecting themselves and their families.

I know health insurance policies,income protection and even mortgage insurance are not exactly exciting conversation pieces. They are however SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT conversations you SHOULD HAVE, and you should be having them with your partner, your adult children and with ME!

Why? It is simply because you are young and healthy, that YOU SHOULD BE INSURED! When you are fit and healthy is the best time to take out insurance.  It gets much more difficult,and possibly much more expensive, when you are older and are experiencing health issues.

It’s too late when you are older and are sick!

Some Statistics that should castsome reality on your life –

1)            8000people per annum have strokes in New Zealand ¹

2)            At the time of the last census, 20% of New Zealanderslived with a disability ²

3)            Cancerwas the leading cause of death for both males and females in NZ in 2009 with8437 people having cancer recorded as the underlying cause of death ³

4)            Thereare an estimated 60,000 stroke survivors in New Zealand.  Many are disabled and need significant dailysupport ⁴

¹ The Stroke Foundation of NZ 2010/ ² 2006 disability survey, statistics NZ 2006/ ³  Ministry of Health. 2012cancer / ⁴  The Stroke Foundation of NZ 2012

Now we all believe it will never happen to us. But it does, it happens to a lot of people.  I meet people almost every week that tell me that someone in their family or circle of friends has been diagnosed with a serious medical issue. Then they tell me how it’s impacted their lives, the things they have had to give up, the cutbacks they have had to make and the costs that they never thought of.

And there is often not a lot I can do, because it’s too late if they haven’t already got insurance. Of course, if they are a client the conversation tends to be more positive and focused on solutions.

The facts of insurance:

·        Eating the right foodand staying fit and healthy is under your control. Everything else one couldsuggest is not.

·        As you age you aremore likely to experience health issues (this is not to say that young peopledon’t get sick)

·       Insurance is a method of protection. Just like vehicle insurance, you know that the mere fact you drive a car puts you at risk of an accident.  Insurance is the same – the fact that you are a human being means you are at risk of having a/some health issue/sat some stage in your life.

Age and experience allows us the benefit of hindsight – so irrespectiveof whether you are 22, or 52  – use that knowledge and get some insurance cover NOW

Leaving Insurance until it is too late?

‘There are two kinds of people!’  I have discovered this fact since I have been involved in the insurance industry.

The first kind are people that ‘get it’.  They understand their value, their risk and they understand that insurance is simply the method by which they protect their most important asset – themselves!

These people understand that their health, their ability to earn an income, theirs and their families futures, are worth protecting.

 And then there are the other kind of people ……….

People who either don’t understand or don’t want to think about the 'what ifs'-  What will happen if I get sick?  What happens if I can’t go to work?  Who will pay the mortgage, pay the bills, feed the kids?

These people seem to think ‘it’ will never happen to them.  But unfortunately ‘it’ does happen, to people just like them.  These who are protected by insurance at least give themselves and their family the benefit of financial support.

I have had the personal experience of meeting people who have been tragically affected by illness or injury.  Some had adequate insurance cover, some didn’t.  The potential futures of those with as opposed to those without insurance couldn’t be more different.

So as we head into Christmas, I’m making a personal plea –regardless of whether you speak to me or someone else.  Please consider insuring your and your families most important asset – You!

Scott

Chase suffers with cystic fibrosis a daily focus on keeping his lungs healthy. Chase has a HUGE dream of heading to New York to experience both a white Christmas as well as spend some time with previous PM Helen Clark at the UN! So to help his venture a little Scott and a bunch of guys made their ride in the Contact Great Lake Cycle Challenge count a little more and raised over $2,000 towards Chase’s dream It was tough going with high winds and a course that challenges the best! The criteria for sponsorship was that the entire team had to complete the race of 160kms - and they did!

Just like our role in helping you achieve your property goals we were proud to support this young man. Go Chase!

Yes the banks want business and they are changing some of the benefits and throwing in a few tempters along the way. So what can you do if you are fixed?

TALK TO US.

With a little investigation we can help you determine if the benefits you are (or in many cases – aren’t) receiving are worth your while. And yes we have gotten free iPads for clients and cash for clients - it’s all in a day’s work!

We are taking on new clients so if you know of anyone that is needing a mortgage or insurance
– get them to call us! We are able to obtain some excellent interest rate offers regardless of the extra giveaways.

*Conditions apply – not ours, the banks!

• Removal – moving furniture and goods
• Power – disconnection and reconnection fees – and if a new customer often a bond
• Phone - disconnection and reconnection fees – and one month in advance is typical
• Post – telling everyone where you now are – this has reduced with the power of social networking though!
• Ongoing Costs – after you have moved in Insurance – house and contents
• Rates – (both local body and environment and set by councils with whom you have little negotiation or control over)
• Utilities – water, power, communication

So our biggest tip – let us negotiate up front with the lender on your behalf saving you money which you then have for other costs that you know will occur.

Actually no one, we just wanted you to read this section! For those of you that have bought and sold you’ll understand this section, on the REAL costs of moving.

These costs are often overlooked and can cause the most stress, and for new home buyers this is when the subsidy mentioned earlier – counts, and can make the biggest difference to your first property purchase!

When you buy a house or property, it’s not simply the cost of the actual property that you need to account for:

• Registered valuation report - required for over 80% borrowing $450-500 (approx.)
• LIM report $170-200 (approx)
• Lawyer range from $800-1,250 (approx)
• Builders report - required in many cases : $300-800 (approx)
• Potential Total Additional costs $2,750