Protection For Your Financial Plan

The good news is that there are four main types of personal insurance that can help to guard you against the financial impact of these threats. They are life, total and permanent disability, trauma and income protection insurance.

But what’s the difference between them? And how can they help support your financial and lifestyle goals?

Life Insurance

Putting aside the obvious emotional consequences for your loved ones – if you died tomorrow, who would be affected financially and how? Could the mortgage still be paid? Would future school fees still be taken care of? What would happen to the lifestyle of those closest to you?

If you have life insurance and pass away (or in some cases, if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness), a life insurance policy pays a lump sum to your chosen beneficiary or your estate - depending on your policy nomination. Your financial adviser can provide guidance on how to nominate this according to your wishes. The size of this lump sum will depend on the amount you’ve agreed with your insurance provider.

Life insurance isn’t necessarily only for the household’s main breadwinner, but for anybody whose death may affect their family’s ability to cope financially. If the worst happened to you, the lump sum benefit paid to your loved ones would help soften the blow of living without your income. Not only would this give them a better chance of continuing in the lifestyle to which they’re accustomed, but they’d also be able to protect their own financial future.

Potential financial benefits:

• pays debts
• pays funeral costs
• helps cover household living expenses
• the remaining amount can be invested for the future.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance

An injury or illness that leaves you permanently disabled is also very likely to damage your income-earning capabilities. But debts and medical bills still need to be paid and the future financial health of your loved ones still needs to be taken care of.

TPD insurance pays a lump sum if you become totally and permanently disabled and are therefore unable to work. Various TPD products carry different definitions of ‘totally and permanently disabled’, so be sure to get some guidance from your financial adviser before deciding on a policy.

As with life insurance, the TPD payout amount is agreed before the policy is put in place. This ensures it will be sufficient to pay medical bills and protect your loved ones financially if you ever need to make a claim.

Potential financial benefits:

• pays debts
• helps cover medical costs
• funds any property refurbishments needed due to disability
• helps cover household living expenses.

Trauma insurance

The reality is that many of us will suffer from a major medical incident at some point in our lives. When an illness makes it impossible for you to work for a while, your finances can take a major hit if you’re faced with medical bills and other costs while you’re recovering.

Trauma insurance provides a safety net for you and your family to relieve some of the financial stress associated with serious illness. If you make a successful claim against your trauma cover, you’ll receive a one-off tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with one of the medical conditions listed in your policy. These may vary from one insurer to another, but they usually include common and serious conditions like cancer, stroke and heart attack.

You can use this payment however you choose – from paying your out-of-pocket treatment costs to covering your living expenses or taking a holiday to focus on your recovery.

Potential financial benefits:

• pays debts
• covers medical and rehabilitation costs
• helps cover household living expenses
• enables you to reduce your work hours or take time of

Income protection

If you get sick or injured and you’re unable to work for an extended period, it could have a serious impact on your day-to-day finances and ongoing financial plan. An income protection policy can make things easier by providing up to 75% of your usual income, which is paid on a regular basis while you’re not working.

Many income protection policies can be tailored to suit your needs and budget. For instance, you may be able to reduce your premium costs by opting for a longer waiting period – which is the length of time you have to wait for your payments to start after you make a claim. Some other factors that may affect your premium costs include the maximum benefit period, the frequency of your premium payments and whether your policy has a pre-agreed benefit value or a value that’s assessed based on your income when you make a claim.

Premiums for income protection may also be tax deductible.

Potential financial benefits:

• provides ongoing income to cover living expenses
• helps to cover medical costs
• investment strategy can potentially continue uninterrupted during the recovery period.

 
Making the decision to see engage with our financial planning services means that you want to make a positive difference to your personal financial future. We truly believe everyone needs a financial plan. We can help you to understand the intricacies of investing, taxation, and the ever-changing legislation around superannuation. Our finance advice can really make a difference to you by helping you identify realistic goals, and put strategies in place to achieve them.

Are you ready to take control of your personal finances?
Get the SMART team working with you. Call SMART Business Solutions Financial Planning on 03 5911 7000 or reception@smartfinancialplanning.com.au.

Important information: This document contains general advice. It does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider talking to a financial adviser before making a financial decision.