Introduction

Why insure?

You’ve worked hard to be where you are today and can now enjoy the rewards of your efforts. Or perhaps you’re still making steady step-by-step progress towards a long-term goal. Either way there’s probably a lot resting on your shoulders – family or work responsibilities, a business to run, financial commitments, not to mention what you owe to yourself in your personal aspirations for a rich fulfilling life.

So why put it all at risk? Just as things seem most comfortable and secure, life has a way of turning up unexpected events that change things in an instant; illness, injury, a burglary or fire, the loss of income through illness or accident or death.

That’s where insurance moves in with much-needed financial support to help you back on your feet, or provide the long-term assistance to ease your mind and help you deal with your new circumstances.

The options

Insurance falls into three broad categories which together provide the guarantee of financial security for all aspects of life.

Protecting your income and that of your dependants

Income protection insurance makes sure you could cope if you were suddenly unable to work because of injury or illness. It provides a regular income to help you pay the bills and day-to-day living expenses without having to delve into savings. And most importantly, it will ensure you still have a home.

Life and disability insurance helps your dependants if you are disabled or when you die. Those are difficult enough times without the added burden of financial worries. With life and disability insurance you can do something to help by ensuring your dependants receive a lump sum payment so they can pay debts, meet funeral costs and continue to live comfortably.

Three types of schemes - term life, whole of life and endowment- each bring different benefits allowing you to tailor your choice to personal circumstances.

Trauma protection insurance covers you should you become ill or be injured and find your income disappear or reduced just as you need extra resources to meet medical expenses. Trauma protection insurance, either included in your general life insurance or as a separate policy, ease the load by providing a one-off lump sum.