ACC Service

If you didn't already know, here at Insurance People we not only deal with all types of insurance (personal, business and all fire and general) but we also offer an ACC review service - free and no obligation, of course.

The number of small to medium business owners that we are now helping with their ACC and Business Insurances is considerable and we want to spread the word...

Our advisers are specialists who work closely with ACC and self employed people to ensure that in the event of injury or illness the business continues to operate, income continues to be paid whilst premiums and levies are cost effective for the business.

Have you ever reviewed your ACC?

Did you even know that you had a choice to negotiate and agree with ACC on what amount of compensation you will receive?

Its called ACC CoverPlus Extra, which may suit you if:

• your income fluctuates
• your personal income is not a true indication of actual earnings
• your business will still generate income while you're injured
• you have not been self employed for long
• you want a guaranteed level of lost earnings compensation

And, you too can apply if this sounds like you...

• Self employed and wok in your own business
• Sole traders
• Sub contractors
• Self employed who work in a partnership
• Trades people

Sound like you? Wouldn't you like to see if you can reduce your ACC levy cost?

CLICK here to arrange a review...    or CLICK here for more info on ACC...

House Insurance

House Insurance is changing in New Zealand - square metres has gone and it is now based on sum insured. All House Insurance will go through this transition, and you will receive advice from your insurer if you haven't already.

This is a big shift for home owners, as no two houses are the same - the cost of replacing them varies hugely depending on materials, fittings, and design factors. Therefore your sum insured needs to be sufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding your home including architect fees, demolition and debris removal costs.

It is very important that your home is insured for the correct sum. If it's underinsured it could mean that in the event of a total loss, your cover is not sufficient to rebuild your home. On the other hand over-insuring will mean that you are paying a higher premium than necessary. You need to be sure that the value you insure your house for is enough to fully cover a total rebuild in the case of a total loss. You can obtain a value from a qualified independent professional such as a builder, valuer or quantity surveyor. This would be your choice and at your cost to give you peace of mind that you've set the right sum insured not just accepted the insurance company's value.

There is a calculator tool that most insurers are offering their clients as a guide for working out the correct sum insured, as an example you can click here to go to Lumley's - it is free to use so feel free to go through and use it!

Our recommendation is to make sure you are informed, read any and all advice and correspondence you receive from your insurer or broker - this is quite an important change for all home owners.

If Insurance People are your brokers, watch your letterbox as your advice is due out shortly and please read all that is enclosed and contact your Adviser should you have any questions or concerns.

If we are not your brokers and you would like a quote or advice, contact us anytime it would be our pleasure to help!

www.insurancepeople.co.nz   freephone 0800 823 823

Why we do what we do...

This client testimonial says it all really... its why we, at Insurance People, believe in what we do.

We believe that everyone should have the best possible insurance cover in place, the best possible contingency plan so that no matter what life throws at us - we have protection, financial protection to give us choice of treatment and to alleviate any financial strain!

Onny Faleafa is one of our insurance advisers, and this is a testimonial from his client Kerry Bethune who was diagnosed with cancer last year. Thanks to Onny, Kerry and his wife can now spend time on things that matter most - each other...

Click here for Kerry's testimonial >              Click here to meet Onny Faleafa >

If you would like to review your insurances
freephone Insurance People today 0800 823 823

Breaking News - New Insurance People Website

The much awaited new and improved Insurance People website is now live!
Ready for you to view, share and spread the word.

Our Services are extensive - we really are your one stop Insurance shop!

• Personal insurance: Life, Health, Income & Mortgage Protection, Disability Cover
• ACC reviews for all self employed
• Business Insurance: Key Person, Start Up Cover, Buy/Sell Agreement, Material Damage, Business Interruption
• Domestic Fire & General: House, Contents, Car, Boat, Bike, Travel, Landlords Protection
• Commercial Fire & General: Commercial Vehicles, Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Statutory Liability and Employers Liability.

Click here to meet the team >

Get the service that you deserve - talk to our team today: freephone 0800 823 823

2013 New Year Resolutions

What will your New Year resolutions be?

If 2012 has been a bit of a struggle with a few curve balls thrown your way...
Or maybe its been an absolutely fantastic year - you got married, engaged, had a baby, bought a new house, bach or boat... well worth celebrating!

If you want 2013 to be even better than 2012 then its time to ensure you are covered with every bit of insurance you need... and nothing you don't!

We are here to help you through the "mine field" of insurance. Risk management is the key to living comfortably and we have insurance brokers who are experts in their field ready and waiting to talk to you...

Make 2013 a great year and talk to Insurance People today.

freephone 0800 823 823 or email us

Christmas Office Hours

Thank you to all our valued clients it has been great to help you all throughout 2012 and to all our business friends we thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you all in 2013.


Office Hours
Please note our office will be closed Monday 24th December and reopen Thursday 3rd January at 8.30am.

Fire & General Claims
Should you need to make a claim on your House, Contents or Car during this period please note the following numbers:

If your policy is with Lumley - freephone 0800 781 782 then press 2
If you policy is with AON Stylecover - freephone 0800 50 51 52
If your policy is with Vero - freephone 0800 800 134

For urgent matters with your Commercial Insurance
Contact Roger Morrell direct on 021 434 223.

We will be back in the office from Thursday 3rd January and you can call us on 0800 823 823 to assist with your claim or query.

1Cover Travel Insurance
Should you need to take out travel insurance or make a claim please contact 1Cover direct on 0800 000 333 or visit www.1cover.co.nz

Mortgages - On Call Brokers
During the Christmas period we have mortgage brokers available to assist Auckland-wide, please do not hesitate to call 0800 823 823 to be connected with our local on call broker.
Insurances - Personal Risk
Should you need urgent assistance with your personal insurance while the office is closed please do not hesitate to contact your Adviser, as many are on call.

Merry Christmas &
 Happy New Year to you all

From the team at Mortgage People

Travel Insurance

Do you need travel insurance over christmas? Don't leave it to chance...

1Cover Secret Santa Sale is on now!

GET A QUOTE - www.1cover.co.nz or call Insurance People today freephone 0800 823 823

The cost of health insurance

Further to the article "Wealth alone does not guarantee a happy retirement, we need our health as well"... being in good health and having the most appropriate insurance in place is just so very important to you at all stages of life.

What is very interesting and concerning as advisers, are the recent statistics out from the Health Funds Association of New Zealand in the last quarter to 30th September 2012 Claims paid were up 4.8%, now that may not sound like much, however in real numbers it means:

Claims paid in the 12 months to September 2012 totalled a staggering $863,000,000
An increase of $39,000,000 on the previous year.

"Growth in claims costs has been running at a high level over recent years due to increased demand, expansion of services funded, and medical inflation, although the rate of growth has slowed in the last year or two, mainly reflecting the fall in lives covered."


So whilst the number of us with health insurance is decreasing our need for health insurance is certainly high. There has been a significant reduction in lives covered among those of working age - and that is scary to say the least; because is that not when we need it most?

We work most of lives paying off our home, gathering assets, raising a family - and yet we take the risk of loosing some or all of it from not having the best possible cover to protect us, our family and our assets.

REVIEW vs CANCEL
We recommend that you always review your options of cover and never hastily cancel any insurance cover unless you are absolutely sure! As we age, it is natural that our premiums will increase, however so do products advance and our options increase.

There are simple things you can do to decrease your insurance premiums if there are budgeting constraints such as, taking a higher excess, or opting for a longer wait period before the cover pays out, or reduce the amount of cover.

Also, a product that you took out many years earlier, may not now be so relevant and there may be another product that would suit your current circumstances and be more cost effective.

What is the true cost to you
Health insurance is invaluable to us when we need it - the amount of money paid out in claims in the last 12 months is proof of that. How many families must have been affected? How many families have survived financially due to receiving insurance money?

As our previous article said "we can not self insure for a risk we can not quantify and unfortunately some people will get sick and require significant amounts of expensive medical treatment"... as the above claims amount shows - RISK is REAL.

Health Insurance is about swapping a relatively small monthly premium

for the certainty that as much cash as is necessary is

immediately available should you need it!

Insurance People Claims Service
We have a skilled claims team at Insurance People, we act on your behalf and deal with the insurance company and medical professionals to ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible so that you can concentrate on recovery! We are here for you when you need us most - at claim time!

Insurance People offer free advice on all insurance - freephone 0800 823 823 today.

Wealth alone does not guarantee a happy retirement, we need our health as well

As advisers our aim is to help clients retire comfortably and with the financial freedom to enjoy it.

Mortgage Advisers help people during their working life to accumulate enough wealth to achieve a happy retirement and Insurance Advisers do their best to help people reduce risk!

A healthy lifestyle is important for all of us but even people living a healthy lifestyle can get sick and if we do, we may need very expensive medical treatment. The simple truth is we can not self insure for a risk we can not quantify and unfortunately some people will get sick and require significant amounts of expensive medical treatment.

Medical insurance is about swapping a relatively small monthly premium for the certainty that as much cash as is necessary is immediately available should you need it.

Planning...

• We have an aging population in New Zealand which means that free public health as we know it now it may not exist in 10 - 20 years;
• There are a number of things we can do to ensure we have the ability to pay medical insurance premiums in old age;
• The sooner in life we start doing something about health insurance the easier and more affordable it will be;
• A long term "living" plan will help rather than when it is too late!

When considering canceling or reducing your insurance you need to understand all your options and the consequences.

Mortgage People & Insurance People offer free advice on all  mortgage and insurance matters. We can not recommend enough the importance of reviewing your insurance!

freephone 0800 823 823  www.mortgagepeople.co.nz | www.insurancepeople.co.nz

Source: Full article available from the NZ Mortgage Magazine - written by Steve Wright, Technical General Manager Partners Life.

First Home Buyers Seminar

IMPORTANT NOTICE: First Home Buyers Seminar has been postponed...

Free appointments now available for all First Home Buyers with your local mortgage broker. Call freephone 0800 823 823 to book in!

Email us to find out when our next First Home Buyers Seminar is being held near you.

 http://www.mortgagepeople.co.nz/where-start

First Home Buyers Seminar

Buying your first home can be intimidating and it doesn’t necessarily get any easier after the first one either. By using a Mortgage People consultant you will receive honest unbiased advice and we guarantee to put you “our client” first. At Mortgage People we have been helping first home buyers realise their dreams of owning their first home since 1989, you’ll be surprised at how easy we make it and our service is free.

Are looking at buying your first home?
Book in for a chat about your home ownership dreams with our mortgage team 

 

Join us at our next free seminar:

 

 

Cover for your children

Following our blog on insurance for critical illness at the end of August (click here to view), we'd like to share some interesting facts on why protecting your children is so important.

The thought of taking out insurance for our children can be unsettling, as we don't wish to think anything could possibly happen to our little ones... but, for many parents dealing with a sick child is reality. To support the family financially - there are many options available for parents to add cover for their children to their existing insurance policy.

Examples of some of the Conditions covered include:
* Cancer, Stroke, Tumours, Head Trauma, Paralysis, Loss of limbs/sight or speech, Organ Transplant, Deafness, Chronic Kidney failure...

Examples of some of the Cover Options from various insurers for children*:
* First $10,000 of cover free
* Up to $75,000 per child from age 3 to 21 years
* Automatic cover for children aged from 2 to 18 years; up to $50,000 as a one off payment
* One off payments up to $200,000
* Up to 43 conditions covered with a lump sum payment of $50,000

The reason why you do need trauma insurance on you and your children is because many conditions don't leave you permanently or totally disabled but it does have... a significant impact on our ability to work, may require long periods of time in rehabilitation or hospitals, reduces your spouses ability to work and brings additional expenses.. such as travel costs, accommodation during treatment, extra child care costs or home nursing.

If your child needs you, receiving a lump sum payment from a trauma insurance gives you the financial freedom to take time off work to be there for your child when they need you most ... and it helps cover any other costs that arise.

click here to arrange a coffee & chat

freephone 0800 823 823  www.insurancepeople.co.nz

*All options noted are from a variety of insurers and are all subject to the specific policy words and any underwriting criteria.

Down to business

For most of you who have been with us for years, you know where we are located - no. 30 Ponsonby Road, the K'Road end next to Cafe People...

Don't worry we have't moved and nor are about too - we've just added our name to front of the building so that everyone else now knows where we are! And we've also got signs down the driveway so you no where to park!

Down to business...

The insurance industry, the products and benefits and features continues to evole - it's a big job keeping up to date with everything available and as a team we have training every week - this means you are getting the best possible, and importantly, most current and relevant advice from our team.

 

If you want to discuss or review your insurance, give us a call anytime - we offer a free insurance reveiw service to everyone.

freephone 0800 823 823 or click here to book a coffee & chat.

 

Click here to see the team > 

 

 

 

What's your plan?

"Don't allow death to take you by surprise"    read full article here
This was a headline that caught our attention in the past weekend's NZ Herald which had some very useful information that can make such a big difference. Getting your affairs in order while you are young'ish, fit and healthy just makes sense... leaving things till you're incapacitated or not done at all can create quite a nightmare for those left behind.

Have you thought about what would happen if ... you were unable to work again or prematurely died...

• What bills will be still need paying?
• Will your mortgage be paid in full or payments be met?
• How or where would you be buried; how would this be paid for?
• Who will take care of your children?
• Will your family be financially secure?

These are just some of the key areas that we as advisers help people make decicions on each day.

Ownership
Who owns your insurance policies?
Will the right money from a claim reach the right hands at the right time - when they need it most?

Funeral Cover
Depending on your wishes; have you any idea about the costs of a funeral and how your family will pay for this?
Some life insurance policies have a funeral component that can be paid promptly - does yours?
Do you know what you are entitled too - Work and Income have a funeral grant for people with limited means.

Financial Survival
Have you considered how your family will survive financially if you cease earning an income from being incapacited or prematurely die?
What additional costs (such as, child care) would occur if the home keeper was incapcitated?
Have you mortgage protection cover or income insurance?
What is the cost to you from not having insurance?

Are you self employed
Would your business continue to generate an income without you working in it?
Who will act on your behalf?
Would your family continue to receive income?
How will your shares/financial interest be distributed?

So, our recommendation is to have a review of your affairs - regularly!

Life changes and stuff does happen so at least annually sit down and complete a personal stock take of what's important to you & your family.

Book a review today - freephone 0800 823 823
or click here to book a meeting

Family Cover

There is nothing more precious that a new bundle of joy...

If you are planning a family or have a new arrival due - in amongst the excitement of gettting prepared with the new cot, push chair, high chair, car seat, baby clothes and toys... what about insurance? Protecting whats most precious...

Let us know as soon as you can so that we can ensure baby is covered on your medical insurance...

• some policies offer free cover for the first three months; and
• some at two years

We will check what you are eligible for and get it sorted so that there is no need for underwriting.

And, don't forget if think you need to review all of your insurance so that it remains cost effective and gives you the best possible cover for your whole family, give us a call - 0800 823 823. It's a free service.

Money Week 2012

It's started...

Have you booked your Sorted Seminar - " Think, Shirnk & Grow"?

• THINK ahead - make a plan for your money & be prepared for the unexpected
• SHRINK your debt - get rid of high interest debt quickly & manage your mortgage
• GROW your savings - save regularly to reach your goals & invest in your future

We are seminar facilitators - the seminar takes about an hour, and by the end of it you'll know more about the steps you can take to get financially sorted - and where to go for help!

Sorted is brought to you by the Commission of Financial Literacy and Retirement Income.
If you haven't checked out their website you should: click here https://www.sorted.org.nz/

Contact Gillian Winiata-Hedley to organise your seminar 0800 823 823.

Policy Ownership

When reviewing your insurance or if you recenlty took out a new insurance policy - did you give serious thought to the ownership... and the consequences of it?

Do you know who owns your insurance policies?

Do you own all your policies? 
Are they in joint ownership with your spouse or partner?
Does an X own your policy?

We take out insurance to protect us from the "unexpected", and the impact on our world - personal, business, family and friends. Have you given thought to where the money could go to from making a claim on your insurance... would the money get to the right hands when it is needed most?

Ownership has to suit the purpose or need for the type of cover you have in place. 

It may well be that you are taking the insurance out specifically to pay back in to your business should you not be able to work for a period of time; this enables your business to continue to trade and produce an income...

Or you may have taken out lump sum insurance specifically for your personal needs - to cover any unexpected costs as a result from an injury or illness; or to cover your regular outgoings like your mortgage payments...

Your options

The ownership of all policies should be discussed. Even once your cover is in place you can update the ownership to suit your life as it changes... like, separation or divorce or a new partner/spouse... or new business venture.

The thing to keep in mind is that who ever is the "owner" not the insured person is who will get the money if a claim is made!


Call 0800 823 823 anytime for a chat about your policy ownership.

Insurance for critical illnesses

• Males have a two in five chance and females have a one in four chance of suffering a critical illness between the age of 30 and 65
• 60% of cancer sufferers will survive at least five years after diagnosis
• 78% of stroke victims will be alive 1 year later
• 57% of heart attack patients will be alive 1 year later

Critical Illness Cover or what is sometimes referred to as Trauma Insurance...

When considering the above statistics, chances are that you don't have to look too far before you will find that you know someone who has had some sort of critical illness or serious trauma.  When a major trauma occurs, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke the ongoing medical costs and day to day living can be a heavy burden to carry. There is insurance specific to these types of illness referred to as Trauma Cover which pays out a lump sum to ease the financial stress so that you cope with the effects on your lifestyle, family and work – so that you can concentrate on your recovery.

If you can’t afford for something to happen (have a look below at the image...), you should seriously consider taking out relevant insurance.  The insurance industry is constantly changing and insurance companies are updating product benefits – an adviser has the knowledge to explain what is available and more importantly what best suits your circumstances.

Our top “insurance” tip

Review your insurance regularly and most definitely when ever your life changes… such as, changing house, increasing debt, buying or selling a business, health issues, having a baby, easing into retirement.

Arranging a review is as easy as calling 0800 823 823 or clicking here to email a request for someone to call you! And, through Insurance People our service is free and no obligation.

Don’t put your health care in someone else’s hands – with personal insurance you are in control.

The importance of travel insurance

In the weekend news there was an article about the value of Travel Insurance... this is one time when you need to understand the small print and depending on where you are going and what you are taking with you - the most comprehensive cover is your best bet.

"Overseas injury's high price
Graham Catley will never go overseas without insurance after a gash on his shin attracted a $10,000 medical bill in America.
Catley, 57, was racing his yacht in a San Francisco regatta two years ago when a large pleasure boat crossed over his bow, throwing him into the choppy water. While he was being tossed about, something cut through his wetsuit and into his shin.
Catley was taken to the hospital where he received 30 stitches before being discharged. But not before they demanded $10,000.
"In the end it cost US$10,000 to get stitched up. It's just nuts," he said.
Sailing injuries account for an average of 70 ACC claims each year and the sport is often excluded from travel insurance.
Fortunately Catley was covered by his insurance company who reimbursed the $10,000 on his return."
- Source http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10824616

Generally overseas travel is one of excitement, relaxation and discovery - whether that be for personal or business ... so it just makes sense to ensure you have some sort of protection for the unexpected so as to minimise the personal and financial hurt!

At Insurance People we have direct access to 1Cover - who have options to suit what ever your travel need.

GET A QUOTE or for more information contact us anytime on 0800 823 823.

First Home Buyers Seminar

Are you a first home buyer?
Do you have family or friends looking to buy their first home?

A free seminar hosted by Mortgage People with a great panel of local East Auckland experts offering their knowledge and know-how, book your seat now - freephone 0800 823 823 or email us.