Back to Blog

The role of insurance in Kiwis’ life

As New Zealand continues to navigate through unpredictable times, financial protection has become increasingly crucial. And in a country where the population numbers slightly over five million, insurance plays a significant role. The latest quarterly snapshot from the Financial Services Council (FSC) paints an intriguing picture of the country's life insurance sector, a vital piece in the larger financial security puzzle for millions of Kiwis.A healthy life insurance sectorWith 4.1 mil...

Eight habits of healthy people

Time to boost your happiness? Experts say there are some behaviours that do seem to be linked to overall happiness. Here are a few to think about.MovementYou don’t have to be a marathon runner or lift weights in the gym every morning. But regular physical exercise can boost the endorphins in your brain, research shows. As the Mental Wealth Project notes, for some people this can be as effective as medication for mild depression. Try and get up and move around for at least half an hour every da...

Some helpful add-ons to enhance your cover

Considering a more robust insurance plan or curious about your options? There are several add-ons available to enhance your existing coverage. In this article, we'll unveil five valuable extras that could bring more security and peace of mind. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to explore these benefits further.Life insurance: accelerated trauma benefitHave you considered taking out a Trauma policy and ‘accelerating’ it against your life insurance?  With trauma insurance, you ca...

10 essential steps to stay cybersafe

In today's interconnected world, cyber threats are evolving and becoming increasingly sophisticated. What’s more, they’re targeting businesses of all sizes and people from all walks of life, and often, these threats are difficult to spot until it's too late. To counter this, CertNZ has a great infographic, with their top practical tips for cyber security. These include:1. Embrace data backupThink of data backup as your digital insurance policy. Should a cyber attack render your devices ...

Key reasons to increase your life insurance cover

Key reasons to increase your life insurance coverIs your life insurance cover still fitting your needs? Life's full of surprises, and you need to be prepared. In this article, we explore key reasons to consider increasing your life insurance cover. Ready to protect your loved ones' financial future?Tying the knotGot married? Your financial responsibilities may grow when you tie the knot. This can include joint loans, credit card balances, and mortgages. Ensuring that you have an adequate level o...

Your income protection insurance 101

You might have heard people talk about income protection insurance, and wondered exactly what it is, and whether it is something you need in your financial toolkit.So, here are a few things to consider when you are deciding whether income protection is right for you.What is income protection for?Income protection is designed to step in when you are off work and unable to earn your normal income. Unlike ACC, which only covers accidents, income protection can also help if you are off work due to i...

Money and happiness: It’s complicated

Does having more money make people happier? You might think it’s a trick question – anyone who’s struggled with money or worried about their financial lives knows that a windfall can make a big difference.But it turns out that, in the bigger picture, the relationship between money and happiness is a complicated one.Money does cause stressIt’s clear that when you have money worries, it is not good for your overall happiness and wellbeing. Research by the Financial Services Council fo...

Key questions to ask your insurance adviser

An insurance adviser can be an invaluable asset to help you navigate the wide array of personal risk products available to financially protect you, and those you love.We can help you make sure you get the right cover in place to financially secure what matters to you, and – perhaps even more importantly – make sure the cover stays relevant over time.If you are thinking about meeting an adviser for the first time, or it’s time for a check-up, here are a few key questions you may want to ask...

Four ways insurance can give you priceless peace of mind

While the past few years have shown us that all sorts of things can come ‘out of the blue’, there are ways to help yourself feel more in control financially. And one of these ways is having the right insurance cover for your needs and situation.If you’d like to grant yourself some peace of mind, here’s how insurance can make a difference.Protecting your familyA common concern for a lot of people is taking care of their families. And sometimes, this means going through some tough but nece...

Protecting your goals in 2023 and beyond

What are your goals for the year ahead? Perhaps saving more money, getting healthier, or buying a home?As you work hard to get there, having appropriate personal risk insurance in place can help you protect the road ahead. Here are some key things to consider, depending on your New Year’s resolutions.I’d like to… save moreAre you looking at cutting your spending in 2023? Whether you’re saving for a big-ticket item or to build up your emergency fund, ‘saving more’ is one of the most c...

Your ‘Kiwi summer’ toolbox for a great holiday break

Are you going through your travel packing checklist? Here’s something you may like to add, alongside your jandals, toothbrush and a brand-new tube of sunscreen: a Kiwi Summer toolbox, packed full of helpful, interesting and plain-quirky links to make the most of the season. So let’s unwrap it… Heading to the beach?Safety first is a great guiding principle, wherever you’re planning to go. If you’re heading to the beach, for example, you may want to use Safeswim.org.nz to view the w...

Insurance, inflation and your financial resilience

Since New Zealand’s rate of inflation took off in late 2021, it’s been top of the agenda in lots of people’s discussions about their personal finances.As the cost-of-living pressure has gone on, it’s prompted a lot of us to go back to the basics, reassessing our budgets and ensuring we have things like emergency funds in place to cover a potential rainy day.Financial resilience is more important than ever in a high-inflation environment, and insurance can help you shore up your defences....

Six signs it’s time for an insurance review

While good insurance policies provide huge peace of mind, they are not something you can “set and forget”. It’s important to regularly review your cover to make sure it’s still appropriate for your circumstances.So, here are six signs it’s time to book in a review.It’s a been a while since you last talked to your adviserAs your insurance adviser, we like to keep in regular contact with you. If it’s been a year or longer since you last got in touch, now would be an excellent time to...

Self-employed: income protection or key person insurance?

When you’re self-employed, your business largely (if not entirely) depends on you. So insuring yourself against the unexpected makes sense.  If you’re looking for insurance, you may have come across two options – income protection and key person insurance. So, what’s the difference between them? As we’ll see, while they both help cover financial costs in case of certain unexpected setbacks, they differ in the way they work – one helps the business keep going, while the other ten...

Why use an insurance adviser?

When you’re thinking about taking insurance, you often face one key question early in the process: do you turn to an adviser for some assistance, or go it alone? While Kiwis are a nation of DIY-ers, there are some important reasons why an insurance adviser can be an invaluable asset in your financial life. We know what we are doing This might seem obvious, but it’s an important thing to note from the outset. While you have specialised skills in your area of expertise at work or home, you mig...

Is Misinformation About ACC Putting People at Risk?

New Zealanders remain confused about what is covered by ACC - and as a result, many are not seeking the financial protection they may need. Here’s what a recent report has revealed. One in five Kiwis expects ACC to cover them for serious illnesses The no-fault accidental injury compensation scheme only covers injuries resulting from an accident. But according to a recent study* released by insurer Partners Life, many respondents mistakenly thought they would be covered by ACC if unexplained ba...

Six insurance misconceptions to watch out for

Insurance is something most of us think we are fairly familiar with. But some common misconceptions might be standing in the way of you getting the maximum protection possible from your insurance policies. How many of these have you heard? #1: I don’t need insurance, ACC will help New Zealand’s ACC scheme is great if you are injured and need to take some time off work,  have to make adjustments to your home to cater for your injury, or need treatment to get back on your feet. But unlik...

Are you overdue for a check-up

When it comes to your health, are you taking a preventative approach? Everyone knows the cliché, “prevention is better than cure”, but we do not always take it to heart. Life gets in the way, we’re busy and sometimes some important regular health checks can be skipped. When was the last time you had any of these important check-ups? You may find your insurance is on hand to make the process very simple and easy. Skin checks Unfortunately, New Zealand is a world-leader when it comes to sk...

Keeping your insurance records healthy

You probably have personal insurance cover for peace of mind. You know that, when you have good policies in place, they’ll be there to help those you love if you are no longer around. Or maybe they’ll step in for you if you are ill and unable to function as you do now. But do those closest to you know how to find details of these policies, so they can call on them easily? It’s helpful to give some thought to how you store your insurance records, so that they can be accessed when they are n...

Keeping cover and cutting costs

High inflation is hitting the headlines and hip pockets, and in this kind of environment it’s natural to review the household budget – what is going out and what could be reduced.  Insurance is of course one of those expenses. But it’s not one that can easily be turned off and on like a Netflix subscription – there can be some costly consequences of cutting cover.  Having said that, there are a number of ways policy benefits can be adjusted to provide some cost-relief (dependin...

Having the ‘life insurance talk’ with your partner

No one likes to think about things not going to plan. But over the course of your financial life, some unexpected events may happen. That’s why taking out insurance is integral to your personal and financial wellbeing. And if you’re in a couple, having appropriate cover in place can help protect the life you’re building together. So, is it time for a conversation with your partner about your insurance needs? Here are a few tips to get you started.  Getting on the same pagePersonal ins...

Seven interesting benefits of having health cover

Are you exploring your health cover options? Or perhaps you’d like a refresher of the benefits your policy already brings?  As we’ll see in this guide, there’s more to health insurance than skipping the public system waiting list or having elective surgery. Depending on the insurer, you may be able to access some lesser-known perks. Read on to learn more. Access to non-Pharmac funded coverAt its core, health insurance is designed to give you faster access to medical diagnosis and trea...

"Dear tomorrow…" Send your future self a letter

If you could say one thing to your future self, what would it be? What are some of the important things you’d like to remind yourself, before life gets in the way again?  Have you ever thought about writing a letter to Future You? Think of it as starting a conversation with your own self, through space and time. Because time does fly, but a lot happens in between, and sending a letter to your future self can be an excellent reminder of that.  But how, you may ask? Technology never ce...

Six great apps to try in 2022

Are you getting the most out of your smartphone, and perhaps making your device an ally for your New Year’s resolutions? Here are some popular apps you can try this year. Pocket You know how you spot an article as you’re browsing the web and make a mental note to come back to read it – then promptly forget about it? Pocket is designed to solve that problem. It allows you to save news, magazine articles, videos, recipes in one place, and come back to them when you want to. It’ll also lear...

Your cover and your New Year’s resolutions

As one year moves into another, it’s a great time to take stock of where you’re at, and where you’d like to be in another year’s time. So, do you have any financial goals for the year ahead? Here’s how insurance can help you achieve them. Like to save more money? Saving more money is consistently one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. If you’re looking to cut your spending and put a bit more money into savings this year, it could be a good time to review your insurance pol...