Insurance for Living has Joined B1G1

One of my biggest joys in life has always been contribution. And here at Insurance for Living, we’ve always believed that businesses have the power to change lives. 

That’s why we’ re very proud to let you know we’ve become a Partner with Buy1GIVE1 (or B1G1). It’s an amazing organisation which lets us align everything we do to giving back in the most impactful of ways.
 

Just as one simple example ? Whenever people take out a new policy with us, five ? yes 5 ? families in Kenya will each be getting a goat ? yes that's right ? a goat! And that goat will give them a sustainable income for life.
 

It costs you nothing. But it makes such a difference. It’s just a great feeling to be giving as you know.

And now, when you take out a policy, your family is well protected and another 5 families get sustained. We think it’s what being in business is about ? Changing lives.

We also encourage other businesses to join B1G1 and help raise funds today!

Thank you for playing a part in making it happen.

Protecting Your Most Precious Asset

Have you got your child's insurance attached to your current Life Insurance policy? This is a new policy and if you haven’t revised your insurances lately it would be a good time to do it now to get this benefit.

It’s a natural desire to want to wrap your child in cotton wool and protect them from harm. But while cotton wool might protect them from sticks and stones, children are just as much at risk of suffering a traumatic event as adults.

Did you know the maximum benefit on the Child’s Critical Illness option has been increased from $50,000 to $200,000? Importantly, you decide how you spent the lump sum payment.

While money can’t buy a quick recovery, it can ease financial pressures you may face during an emotional time. Having Child Cover allows you to focus on your family when they need you most.

This is Lachlan’s story

Three year old Lachlan pulled a bowl of partly made jelly onto himself. The boiling water from the jelly caused third degree burns to his face and hands.

Fortunately, on Lachlan’s 2nd birthday, his parents took out a Child Cover Policy. They were able to claim a lump sum payment of $50,000 which helped pay for:

• The top burns plastic surgeon in Australia
• A part-time nanny to look after their other child
• Lachlan’s mum to be able to take 6 months off work to be with Lachlan during the many operations

Lachlan’s dad was relieved they had taken out Child Cover. Not only because they didn’t have extended family to assist with extra child care, but the family was able to concentrate on Lachlan’s recovery without feeling financial pressure. He was able to continue running his own business, knowing the welfare of both his children was being looked after.

If you would like to have a free review on your current insurances to make sure you have this added benefit feel free to visit my website to book an appointment www.insuranceforliving.com.au

Covering The Cost of Children

Raising children is the ultimate reward but it's far from a priceless experience.

Studies have shown the number of households with children is sent it drop below the number of single person and couples with no kids households. It's a major demographic shift. A range of different studies have found the typical Australian family will spend more than $500,000 bringing up two kids to the age of 21.

On average, about 23 per cent of the family income goes to raising two children. That's a big chunk of your budget. Yes, its expensive. Yes, it means adjusting your lifestyle.

But having children has always been a financial burden. The cost of kids is an easy excuse for delaying a decision to concentrate on career and enjoying the material things in life. There's nothing wrong with that if that's your choice. Just don't use the expense of children as the excuse.

The reality is you can afford to have children if you really want to. Like millions have in the past, you just make it work. It may mean a beach holiday in Australian rather than going overseas, or buying a second hand car rather than a brand new one. Lifestyle decisions definitely change but the important things in life don't have to.

The key is to start the financial planning before the family planning. This is the time to discuss whether that weekly half-carton of beer will still fit into the equation. Get used to living on a single wage. This will prepare you for parenthood on a single wage and at the same time help build a nice little nest egg.

But take it from us, the joy of having children far out weighs any financial impost.

So it's even more important to ensure your Life Insurance policies are in place so if something were to happen to you, your family would be financially secure.  

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Are you going to shave for this great cause????

The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s biggest fundraising events! People sign up and get sponsored to shave or colour their hair. The money they raise funds free services to support people with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders, and their families, as well as research to improve treatments and find cures.

More than 11,500 people are expected to be diagnosed with a blood cancer or related blood disorder in Australia this year – equivalent to 31 people every day. Money is needed to fund research to find better treatments and cures and fund the Leukaemia Foundation’s free services to support patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

More than 125,000 people from all walks of life are expected to shave or colour their hair in 2012. Some will go it alone while others will get together with family and friends. Many schools will run a special ‘Crazy Hair Day’ for kids on Friday 16th and lots of people will take part in one of our special industry challenges at work.

WHEN:15-17 March 2012

WHERE: Many people will arrange their own event at home or work, while others will shave or colour in front of a crowd. The Leukaemia Foundation also hosts some public events which are listed at www.worldsgreatestshave.com closer to the time.

HOW: Sign up online at www.worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.

Creating Good Eating Habits from a Young Age

Good eating habits from an early age can help prevent eating disorders writes Rachel Browne. Teaching children to have a healthy relationship with food from a young age can reduce the likelihood of them developing eating disorders.

This means teaching them that food is fuel for the body, rather than a reward or punishment, says Christine Morgan, chief executive of the eating disorders support group, The Butterfly Foundation.

Ms Morgan has noticed an increase in the number of children diagnosed with early-onset eating disorders, which can start from as young as eight, in the past few years. You need to teach children to eat when they are physically hungry. We use food in a number of ways which aren't related to hunger. Food can be used as a reward; treats can be removed as punishment. Children build up these complex emotional links with food. We need to get back to the idea that food is fuel which gives you energy.

If you are active as a parent your child is much more likely to be active. If you make healthy food decisions your child is much more likely to do it. And if you do it as a family then they're much less likely to have any other problems in terms of eating disorders.

The Sun-Herald's Healthy Habits campaign about childhood obesity supported by the Children's Hospital, will cover critical topics and shows families practical steps to become more active and make better food choices. www.smh.com.au/national/obesity

Insurance for the Stay-at-Home Parent

Stay-at-home parents put in an estimated 94.4 hours of domestic duty each week 1. They're the child carer, support teacher, house cleaner, laundromat executive, school project manager, taxi driver, the gardener and so much more! If illness or injury were to strike a stay-at-home parent to the point where they could no longer perform their domestic duties, how would your family cope???

According to a study released by Salary.com, a stay-at-home parent would earn nearly $124,000 a year if they were to be paid in cash for their roles at home. For the stay-at-home parent to be adequately covered, they need to ensure their insurance will cover the costs of outside help. For example;

Meal service for four people - $570 per week 2
Nanny - (based on 5 x 9 hour days) $1,125 per week 2
House cleaner - (based on 6 hours per week) $150 per week 3

I can provide families with peace of mind through a range of insurance options for stay-at-home parents.

Life Cover
A cost effective way to protect the running of the family in the event of death or terminal illness.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Cover
Pays a lump sum if the client suffers from total and permanent disability, such as multiple sclerosis or loss of limb.

Trauma Cover
Provides a lump sum if diagnosed with certain medical conditions such as heart disease or cancer.

Income Care Plus Benefit
Income Care Plus pays the working parent a monthly benefit if they are unable to earn an income due to illness or injury.

I can also introduce a domestic help benefit to the Income Care Plus product. If the life insureds spouse or defacto (who is a home maker or not working more than 20 hours per week) is disabled due to an accident, you will get help to pay child minding and housekeeping costs for up to three months.

1 The eighth annual survey of mothers' market value, by Salary.com
2 As quoted on www.liteneasy.com.au
3 As quoted by dial-an-angel

Source: Update Magazine

Bowel Cancer Act Now!

With one in 24 Australian women expected to develop bowel cancer, there's no room to cut corners when screening for the disease, write Professor Kerryn Phelps.

Bowel cancer us one of the most common cancers faced by women. Its symptoms, such as blood or mucus in faeces, persistant change of bowel habit, general discomfort or cramps in the abdomen and bloating, a feeling of fullness and tiredness, usually appear when the disease is well advanced, so it can be difficult to treat. Diagnosis at an early stage, there's a 90 per cent cure rate.

Who is at risk?

• Bowel caner is the second most common cancer in Australia among men and women.
• At least one in 22 Australians will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime
• Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, with more than 13,000 new cases each year
• About 80 Australians die each week from bowel caner
• Bowel caner becomes more common as people get older and mainly affects people over the age of 50

Prevention

• Regular colonoscopies or, if not available, FOBTs
• A high-fibre, low-fat diet
• Regular exercise
• Maintain healthy weight and waist circumference
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Limit fatty foods, fried foods, red meat and processed meat
• Ensure an adequate intake of vitamin D, as people with higher levels of this vitamin have been found to have a 50 per cent reduced risk of developing colorectal caner. Meanwhile, patients with higher vitamin D levels before a diagnosis of colorectal cancer have significantly higher survival rates.