As an adviser, there are few things more challenging than sitting across the table from someone who has just been given the news they have bowel cancer asking “So tell me how is my plan going to work?”

When it comes down to it the right policy is only half of the solution. In this situation not only did we put the plan in place, when it has come to this point we have it right, exactly how they want it.

When we say we put our clients front and centre, we mean it. After answering ‘that’ question above, not only has our client taken the time to say thank you for persevering, they took the time to write the following.

When it comes to financial advice, and sales in general, there are typically five approaches that sales people take.

1. Ideal world
2. Client budget
3. Average first
4. Replace with cheaper
5. Next step

We are firmly an ideal world advisory firm, as we like to consider ourselves advisers, rather than just sales people. 

Sales people sell stuff; we collaboratively weave you a risk protection plan that is driven by your desired outcomes.

If you are looking for the '13% level of funding in New Zealand' Article, it's moved here due to some changes with our web software, if not, read on ;)

An estimated one in four New Zealanders will at some point suffer from anxiety during their life according to the Mental Health Foundation. As the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in our country, anxiety is also a condition many people do not seek medical assistance with. Yet excessive anxiety can cause significant disruptions to the life of an individual, making early recognition and treatment essential.

Often this is a question about 'Am I protected?' The person is looking for reassurance that the insurance they have taken and have been paying for is going to work.

It is also a very practical question.

If you have been relying on your recently deceased partner's income to pay the bills, it is a really valid question.

It is that time of year, its fresh and new and the possibilities await!

My question to you is what are you going to do different to ensure you achieve the things you want?

Someone somewhere has said, "To repeat the same thing over and over and expect a different result is the definition of insanity." So what are you going to do to avoid the insanity of repeating the last few years?

They say all is fair in love and war. 

And it was first said by Miguel de Cervantes who made the comparison in 1604 in Don Quixote when he wrote, "Love and war are all one . . . Which was translated from the original Spanish used.

Variations have been used since, though it was not until 1850 that we saw the exact phrasing we know today.

Frank Smedley wrote in his novel, Frank Fairlegh: Scenes from the Life of a Private Pupil:

I'm doing Movember this year, raising funds and awareness for men's health, please support the cause here mobro.co/willowgrove

I want to raise awareness about mens health and getting regular medical checks, even when you feel fine.

As a life insurance adviser, dealing with preventable conditions, particularly with men, is one of the most frustrating things I encounter.

This one might be a rocky ride. Possibly going to offend a few people too.

Sorry, not the intention, if it helps just one person move forward in life, it is all worth it.

So what am I prattling on about?

One of the things that regularly comes up with the discussion on risk is estate planning. This post is the first of a three-part legal series from the team at Legal Beagle to outline the considerations on estate planning that might apply to you.

Continuing from the previous blog on breast cancer claims, we are going to get a bit technical and dive much deeper into what today's policy wordings say about cancer definitions.  

We did something similar on heart attack definitions a couple of months ago, though this is significantly longer. I am going do something I have not seen in a blog, add an appendix!