We all dream about where our life is heading at any given point in time. Some of us are focussed on career goals or building a business, others on raising a family or buying a home. Even though our futures consist of different goals, protecting ourselves against financial disaster is a common need.

When Maria graduated from university she was recruited by a law firm and given a position within their commercial property team.

Now, at 24, she is focussed on her career and achieving her goals which include buying a house, having a family, travelling the world with her future husband and retiring to the Coromandel.

On her Dad’s advice she met an Adviser who carried out a thorough needs analysis and worked with Maria to develop her personal insurance plan.
Maria took out a SmartLife policy to ensure she would have life insurance when the time came to purchase her first home. Her SmartLife policy includes a Special Events Increase Benefit which allows Maria to increase her SmartLife cover if she takes out a mortgage, gives birth to a child, adopts a child, has a salary increase, becomes a carer for the first time or on every 5th year her policy is in force.

As well as her SmartLife policy, Maria took out a SmartLiving policy. This will protect her financially should she suffer a serious medical condition or have to undergo a major medical procedure, or become permanently disabled.

But Maria was also quite concerned about what would happen to her lifestyle if she were to be off work for shorter periods of time like a few months or maybe a year. As a young woman enjoying her income and the freedom it brings, she wanted to make sure she had money if she became unable to work. Her Income Protection policy makes sure Maria will still be able to save for her first home, and still have some spending money, even if she is unable to work. The Income Update Benefit on her Indemnity Income Protection policy also allows her to increase her sum insured by up to 7.5%pa to keep pace with her increasing salary.

Maria is confident of staying with her firm for a long time and is now looking to purchase her first house. Fortunately she had the insight to get her insurance sorted and can focus on achieving her goals knowing she has financial protection should the unexpected occur.