Shouldn't I buy Insurance Online?

ANSWER: YES... YOU SHOULD!

You should buy Insurance online to save the hassle of having to interact with an insurance advisor. BUT this is only relevant to products which don't need any advice.

It is just like going to a pharmacy: some medicines are over the counter medicines but some medicines need a doctor's prescription as they might have side effects or certain dosage requirements.

An example would be: for a cold and cough, you can buy over the counter; but if you are seeking treatment for cancer and need to buy a chemotherapy injection that is ONLY by prescription or it could be fatal.

It's the same with trying to buy an insurance product online. Some products are simple and easier to understand hence can be purchased online like Car Insurance or Home Insurance or Travel Insurance as they have been commoditized in most scenarios; but again if you have a high end painting in your house or a limited edition sports car and that needs to be insured speaking to a qualified insurance advisor is a requirement.

Just like in medicine where it is a matter of LIFE & DEATH... you do need a trusted and professional advisor.

When planning your financial future; looking at the unique changes of geopolitical risk, health risk, or risks unknown.... getting a professional advisor by your side is worth the effort of finding the right advisor.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED: Don't we have financial planning calculators online to do that for us?

So let me ask you: Don't we have self diagnosis website for medicine as well? But after we self diagnose, getting a doctor to sign off on certain illnesses is still the requirement to buy a prescription drug.

Similarly, you need a Financial Advisor to sign off on certain advice, like what combination of products is most effective? Should I only buy Term or only buy Permanent or should I buy a Combination?

Find an advisor you feel comfortable talking your personal agendas with and be open about your life objectives; Learn to self diagnose as well for smaller issues, learn to do self reviews as well.

For that ask for the "rules of thumb" financial advisors follow (28000 - Make Every Day Count is a book that provides these "rules of thumb" which is available on www.28000days.com)

Just like we have BMI to measure the ideal height to weight ratio we have similar "rules of thumb" in financial planning:

An example:
1. 10 times of Annual Income for Family Income Protection.
2. 20% of whatever you earn towards your Retirement.

If you are a client reading this:
Speak to your financial advisor today and read up to self educate;

If you are a financial advisor reading this: please share this with clients who you believe needs to read this...

And please always remember "Do not compare GOOGLE to my Professional Degrees"

#sanjaytolani #speaker #author #28000days #advisor #mentor#onlineinsurance #insuretech #fintech #buyonline #financialplanning

When a critical illness claim is paid out... what should you do?

An observation & A case study:

A family recently was paid out a critical illness claim which was 5 times the annual income when the husband (who is tbe breadwinner) had a heart attack. The financial advisor gave the right advice to ensure the family had enough in the event an event such as this did happen.

However; What should they have done with this money versus what they did with the money...

Starting with what they did...

1. 6 months after receiving the money; he bought a new rolex watch.

2. The family went on a long summer vacation and spent in excess of 3 months of his salary.

3. Made a down payment to a new house and took the rest of the money for the property as a mortgage.

4. Bought a new car.

5. Renovated their current house.

At the end of spending all this; they were left with less than 3 months of income from the total pay out...

Do you think they made the right decision? Some might say.. well it is their money and they have the right to choose how and when and where they use the money; plus didn't he get to fulfill his desires? Also didn't he get a loving family vacation which should have helped him recover? And they did make some long term capital investments too didn't they?

Think about it:

1. The person is surely not insurable for an income protection ever again.

2. He did make a capital investment into a property but also took on a bigger liability than his investment.. which can't be insured in the event he has another major critical illness and we all know relapse is a possibility.

3. Purchased luxuries from an advance payment of income which they wouldn't have if they didn't get this pay out. (It was not a bonus from work... but it was treated as a bonus)

A lot of families are unaware of what to do in the event they do get a critical illness pay out in the form of a big lump sum of cash.

As a financial advisor it is our responsibility to guide them:

1. Build up an annuity so they keep getting basic regular income in the event he does need to take off from work in the future.

2. Keep money aside (if extra) for commitments such as school fees and or a more comfortable retirement; we all know for a fact even after suffering a critical illness longetivity of life is still an issue; people are living longer even after suffering a critical illness; or would you prefer being a burden on the Children?

3. If investing in a property, do not leverage the property as the liability may be to big to recover from in the event of another mishap and use the rental income to create an annuity.

4. Update insurance policies for other members of the family as if anything did happen to them; the breadwinner who already suffered a critical illness may not physically be able to handle the multiple responsibilities.

If you are a client reading this; have this discussion with your family....

If you are an advisor reading this; share this with your clients as they may not be aware of what to do....

Why not have this discussion with them when they are purchasing an income protection plan; in the event they do they this pay out; what should they do with it?

If you believe this is useful information please share this with people around you.

#sanjaytolani #speaker #author #28000days #advisor #mentor#incomeprotection #financialplanning

Partnership Insurance (A Case Study)

Partnerships are made in Heaven; But not all Partners survive the ride through HELL.

 – Sanjay Tolani

What is partnership insurance and who needs it?

Many companies are built on the symbiotic relationship between partners, therefore protecting the value of that partnership is the key to success. Unfortunately, many are unaware on how to protect this value in the event of a mishap like death of a partner or loss of income due to an illness.

The idea is to protect each other’s interest by purchasing an insurance plan; where the company gets enough liquidity to be able to buy out the share from the deceased partner’s family or provide liquidity to hire managers to continue taking care of the responsibility of an ill partner. This liquidity will protect the company, the partnership and the family in maintaining the status quo.

Investors who invest into a running business, may want to protect their investment, by insuring the working partner, as in the event of an unfortunate illness or death the business would be without a captain to steer the boat away from the rough waters; and could cause big losses to the investor.

What can you include in your plan?

The plan is designed according to a partnerships need. For example, it can include an income protection cover; in the event of a major illness; a partner is unable to work for a long period of time, the productivity of the company may significantly be reduced. The company would be provided with a lump sum amount of cash to sustain this “Loss of Income”; thereby buying time for the partner to recover.

It can also include the involvement of a family member of the deceased partner in the business as a part of the inheritance and succession plan, or hiring a new manager to assist with the responsibilities.

A well designed plan also needs to be reviewed with changing circumstance, changes in responsibilities and changes in succession.   

A Real Life Case Study

Company ABC Ltd. had 3 partners; John, Jim and Jack. The three partners shared different responsibilities in the business and held equal shares. The Auditors had valued the company at US$ 15 Million.

Unfortunately, when John passed away; the partners had to decide what the future of the company would be. Would John’s family continue to get profits in equal share as the partners? Who will undertake the burden of John’s responsibility? If the partners want to buy out John’s shares; where will the liquidity of US$ 5 Million come from? Will the wife sell the shares?

Partnership insurance opens up many ways to handle such a situation. Discussing a succession plan, inheritance and liquidity to buy out shares can all be covered in the Partnership Insurance Document.

If you do care about the future of the business you are building, ensure to insure the partnership.  Please share this information with everyone around you. 

#sanjaytolani #speaker #author #28000days #mdrt #topofthetable #partnership #insurance #familyprotection #lifeinsurance #incomeprotection

Health Insurance for Parents & Children living in Dubai

A lot of my friends had decided to send parents back to the home country from Dubai due to the compulsory medical insurance for them which is effective 30th June 2016 as it is very expensive to get coverage for senior aged parents.

Dubai Health Authority in collaboration with the insurer's have designed a basic product for "Sponsored Parents ONLY" . 

This is in line with the Health Authority Directive that everyone in Dubai should have health coverage by 30th June 2016.

If your "Parents" are sponsored by you in Dubai; you can now buy the basic DHA approved Medical Insurance for them for a flat rate of only AED 2500,

if your "Wife" is on your sponsorship the flat rate for the basic DHA Medical Insurance plan is AED 1750;

and for your "Children" on your sponsership the flat rate for the basic DHA Medical Insurance plan is AED 650.

If you have any questions on the above plans please email it to:

medical@goodwillinsurance.com

#healthinsuranceforparentsindubai

#healthinsuranceforchildrenindubai

#healthinsurance

#parents

#housewifes

#children

Summary of Economic News through February 2016

–      Global equities came under pressure in February, posting a negative return in US dollar terms. Perceived safe havens rallied for a second consecutive month with Treasury, gilt and Bund yields falling.   

–      US equities registered a small negative return. Investors deferred expectations for further rate increases after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen warned that global financial market turbulence could set back US growth.

–      In the eurozone, weak inflation data reinforced expectations of further monetary policy easing. In the UK, sterling came under pressure after a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU was called for 23 June.

–      Japanese equities posted sharp declines amid doubts over the success of “Abenomics”, a stronger yen and concern over the slowdown in China.

–      Emerging markets outpaced their developed world counterparts. Expectations for stimulus measures in China spurred a rally in commodity-linked stocks. 

Why do expats need to buy Life Insurance?

Without the right protection, families are sadly left with a burden of many expenses in the event of a tragedy. However, a proper life insurance policy can provide important funds to ensure the future of an expat’s family. Some of these expenses include:

1. Paying off obligations, permitting the family to be free from money related commitments to others
2. Resolving the estate, including paying legal costs
3. Giving resettlement back to the nation of origin
4. Covering future educational costs

Here are 3 ways how life insurance benefits expats and their families:

1. Provides Financial Stability

The aftermath of a family tragedy can be a troublesome, unpredictable period. It can take quite a long while for a family to fiscally settle after the death of the essential salary worker.

With a life insurance policy, a family can have the savings it needs to bolster its finances during resettling. This can give the family a cushion to get a stable wage, permit the family to stay in its present home, or supplant lost retirement funds.

2. Secures the Family's Future

Some protection policies can not only cover the family’s primary income earner, but the spouse as well. Insuring the spouse on the off-chance something happens, permits one insurance policy to do the work of two. While one naturally hopes no sudden tragedies occur, this layer of protection guarantees a family's financial future regardless of which spouse may unexpectedly pass.

3. Helps Ensure a Bright Future for Your Children

A primary reason why expats select their careers is to provide stability for their families. As expats spend their time overseas, there is a higher risk something unforeseeable could happen. Obtaining an insurance plan that meets the needs of an individual and his or her family can provide essential funding after a sudden tragedy. The right type of policy can help cover educational expenses, weddings, and other important events in the children’s lives.

What to Look for in a Life Insurance Policy

Finding the right life insurance policy requires a careful evaluation of a family’s needs, the type of insurance needed, and other important factors.

Expats should consider the following when choosing a policy:

1. Medical underwriting limits
2. Borderless coverage, especially for expats and frequent international travelers
3. Benefit limits
4. Whether premiums are fixed throughout the policy term
5. The type of coverage needed, such as Deaths All Causes as a result of illness, accidents, and acts of war and terrorism; or Deaths Natural Causes in high-risk areas
6. Eligibility age
7. Types of exclusions
8. Term renewals (for example, every year or every 10 years)

How Much Coverage Should I Get?

According to the Life Insurance and Market Research Association, experts recommend having enough life insurance to replace income for 7 to 10 years, but each individual must calculate their beneficiaries’ future financial needs. Several factors (such as age, children, mortgage, income, etc.) must be considered to determine the appropriate amount of life insurance coverage.

Source: Clements Worldwide

To know more: please read "28000- Make Every Day Count"
Available on: www.sanjaytolani.com

‪#‎expat‬ ‪#‎insurance‬ ‪#‎lifeinsurance‬ #28000 ‪#‎sanjaytolani‬ ‪#‎speaker‬ ‪#‎author‬‪#‎financialadvisor‬ ‪#‎moneymangement‬

What is your Biggest Asset?

You create the Assets for your estate and family...

What is more important? You or the Assets?....

NOW...Which is insured? .....

Research suggests that most people are insured less than the assets they own... just shows how much we ignore the source that builds the assets. 

Insure yourself and the income which builds your estate.

YOU ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSET!!!

What is Income Protection and Why do we need it?

We know for a fact; plans and dreams are built on the potential income which we will earn over our lifetime.

Loans for University, Car Loans, Mortgages, Personal loans for Weddings, etc are all built on the potential income earned by the individual or the family.

In the last few decades, this has encouraged people to now start thinking about having Income Protection.

Now there are two potential reasons why a person can lose income:
1. Loss of Employment/Economic Downturn
2. Loss of Income due to Bad Health

If a person losses his/her job on average they can get a job within 6-9 months, even if not at the same level maybe with a 20-30% pay cut, hence it has been a recommendation to always hold liquidity to cover expenses for 6 months as a buffer.

But, if a person falls sick or gets disabled it would immediately put a stop to income.

Now the question usually asked is... well all my expenses for treatment would be covered by my Medical Insurance... Reality: Medical Insurance (individually purchased or by the company or government) would usually pay bills related to the treatment; but what about the daily expenses?
The family would still have to cover mortgage payments, education fees of the kids, might need to change lifestyle and or the house, other expenses like car loans.

Hence, Income Protection... Ensuring the family continues to get the income which the family would require in the event a person falls ill to be able to meet the financial commitments and to continue living the same lifestyle.

www.sanjaytolani.com

#sanjaytolani #speaker #author #28000 #incomeprotection #income #financialplanning #mdrt #topofthetable

Note: All proceeds from the books are donated to charity.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY LIFE INSURANCE?

So one of the most important questions asked about Life Insurance is...

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY INSURANCE?

I mean, would it not make sense to invest the money in Hard Assets instead? Hard Assets give you higher returns...don't they?

Well, to get maximum return out of a Life Insurance policy, ensure you buy it "1 DAY before you die"; it would generate the maximum return; no asset class can match that rate of return. #LOL

But then that rises a bigger question... Which day is that??? Unfortunately, not all of us know (some claim to know) when that day is. So the best day to buy Insurance was "YESTERDAY", as our last day could be today.

Question: Do you want the same regret tomorrow? "I wish i had insurance yesterday"

"NOW" is when you have the power to protect your hard earned wealth and income.

Your delay... Your Loss...

If you want to know "How much is enough?" you can read more in "28000 - Make Every Day Count"

www.sanjaytolani.com

#sanjaytolani #speaker #author #mdrt #topofthetable #lifemember #orderonline #charity

Note: all proceeds from sale of the book goes to charity.

RMB Is Now a Reserve Currency. What It Means for Treasurers

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced Monday that the Chinese renminbi (RMB) has met the criteria to be included in the Special Drawing Right (SDR) basket of currencies. Effective October 1, 2016, the RMB will join the U.S. dollar, euro, Japanese yen and British pound in the SDR basket.

For corporate treasury and finance professionals, this news could make the RMB a more attractive option for both payment and funding.

Debra Lodge, head of RMB business development, North America at HSBC, believes that adding the RMB to the SDR basket could change the way that some U.S. companies view their foreign exchange risk both onshore and offshore. “This may challenge large U.S. companies—who purchase inventory from China—to rethink their purchasing strategy and shift to buying goods with RMB or simply add RMB into their currency hedging portfolios,” she said. “The bottom-line, U.S. companies will need to be RMB ready as the currency continues to reach key milestones in 2016.”

Additionally, some experts believe that U.S. companies may look to the RMB as the U.S. is expected to raise interest rates any day now. “We will see more U.S. companies considering raising capital in RMB, especially as many expect that the U.S. will raise rates in coming weeks,” said Martin Maciak, head of development, Americas at HSBC Global Banking and Markets.

However, for the RMB to truly progress into a global currency, some changes will likely need to take place in China. “There are still many capital controls in place that prohibit the currency from being freely used and until that happens, it can't be mentioned in the same breath as the USD, EUR or JPY without an accompanying asterisk,” said Alfred Nader vice president, Latin America and the Caribbean Western Union Business Solutions and an expert on the RMB. “Because of this, you won’t see a rush towards the RMB anytime soon. You will see a trickle, and the Chinese will have to be content with this until they loosen their capital controls. After all, a trickle is better than nothing.”

View from Asia

The SDR basket was a major topic of discussion during a plenary on the RMB at the recent Sibos conference in Singapore. A quick poll of attendees found that 62 percent believe that the RMB should be added to the SDR basket.

But not all experts believe the RMB belongs in the basket at this time. During the Sibos plenary, Amol Gupte, region head of treasury and trade solutions, APAC for Citi, said that while he expected the IMF to include the RMB, he didn’t think it should. “The reason I say ‘no’ is, I’d like to see much more capital account convertibility before it becomes a reserve currency,” he said. “If you are a reserve currency, you want to incent a foreign investor not just to own their own currency but to own somebody else’s currency as well. That’s what a reserve currency is. To do that, you need a lot more trust, transparency and liquidity for it to really succeed. I think it still needs to mature.”

Gupte asked attendees to consider what exactly will happen once the RMB achieves SDR basket status and becomes a reserve currency. “Sure, there will be some countries that will buy the RMB as a reserve currency, but that’s not going to change anything in my view,” he said. “You think of world reserves today; about 70 percent of the world reserves are in the dollar, about 15 percent are in the euro, 5 percent in the sterling, 5 percent in the yen and 5 percent in everything else. Is that going to change by a big magnitude if the vote is ‘yes’? I don’t believe so.”

Copyright © 2015 Association for Financial Professionals, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Here are some secrets about Life Insurance which the Super Rich are not telling you

So as an advisor to several Ultra HNI families and after several discussions with them, I have realized that the way Life Insurance is perceived by some of the SUPER SUPER Wealthy families is very different from the rest of the population. Below I have tried to quickly summarize some of those observations and comments.

The Ultra HNI Clients buy Life Insurance; EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED IT!!!! WOW... !!

Now why do they buy it then? (The Million Dollar Question)

1. Liquidity! A lot of wealthy families are "Asset Rich" but liquid poor. The Life Insurance policy becomes a quick tool to create liquidity when any key person in the family passes away to ensure Hard Assets are not liquidated in a "Fire Sale". It also protects the reputation of the family

2. Income Replacement: AND I get this question asked a lot... But don't the Super Rich have passive incomes and established businesses?? Well they do, But when the primary breadwinner passes away, these income sources may start to dry up, so the Life Insurance provides a quick buffer to help stabilize the income flow.

3. Wealth Transfer: We all work very hard to build HARD Assets; It is essential that these HARD Assets are transferred to the next generation without loosing value. Taxes, Transfer fees, Probate costs, Lawyers, Trusts, Foundations, the more complex the structure the more fees the estate has to pay. Life Insurance ensures those payments are made without touching any of the assets in the estate. Hence ensuring full Wealth Transfer.

4. Hedge against the Future: But don't the SUPER RICH already have a secured future? Well just like a car, every estate needs to have Shock-Absobers, Seat Belts and Airbags. You may be in a Rolls Royce, but you would still need the essential protections from uncertainity. Life Insurance is the Shock Absober in the Estate Value. It hedges the pot holes on the way. Life is unpredictable and so is your estate value.

5. Life Insurance as an Asset!! Life Insurance is not considered an expense on the Super Rich Income Statement; one of the reasons why a lot of people think the Super Rich don't have it..It is on the Balance Sheet as an Asset. No wonder a lot of people have the Myth that Life Insurance is only for the Poor and not the Rich. Life Insurance is an option (for all the traders and accountants out there) which is always "in - the - Money" which means; it will always have value for an estate even at its worst performance. Its a Liquid Asset/Property on the Balance Sheet of the SUPER RICH

This is a quick summary of the discussions I have had with many families. If you believe you know someone who could benefit from this information. Please share it.

‪#‎sanjaytolani‬ ‪#‎author‬ ‪#‎speaker‬ ‪#‎financialcoach‬ ‪#‎mdrtlifemember‬ ‪#‎MDRT‬#28000 ‪#‎orderonline‬

www.sanjaytolani.com

What financial resolutions should be planned for the new year?

So with the new year round the corner... Bonuses might come through... but more essentially.. What financial resolutions should be planned for the new year?

Some tips when planning (Not a new mantra...just some wisdom and old information which we might have been forgotten or ignored)

1. Preplanning or Re-Planning your Budget: Sometimes we ignore some of the small sources of income and also miss out on the small leaks of expenses in our daily busy lives. Once a year... it would be good to be reflective and just relook at where some of the money just disappeared....Only a small leak is needed to sink a boat... would be good to recheck the small leaks

2. Emergency funds: If you are thinking.."What emergency fund?" ...Well imagine if you did have an emergency? Something as simple as loosing your job! The rule of thumb for emergency funds is 6-9 months of expenses... It's a buffer good to keep a check on...sometimes it gets dried up... best time to top it up is usually when the bonus flows in..

3. Plan for Big Life Changes: Marriage, Children, Starting a business or buying a house, Kids going to University or even retirement... When best to start saving for these potential life events? Answer: The sooner the better... the cost of delay can be very expensive. Time passes by very fast and these commitments will just come knocking on the door...

4. Start paying down your debt: Very essential that you consider the cost of the debt which you may be carrying... Personal Loans and Credit Card debt is one of the most expensive forms of debt.. Try to avoid carrying debt that's not essential... and paying it down is most important..to ensure that other financial commitments can be met in the future. Exactly one of the reasons to ensure your children don't start life with a debt.. plan for their university while you can.. giving them a strong foundation will ensure they get a slight head start at facing life with confidence.

5. Protect your Income: All of the above strategies can go down the drain; if the source of your wealth dries up.. YOUR INCOME... Income Protection is very essential for any budget and financial plan. Your income can be hampered due to two potential reasons... loosing your job or a major recession (Point 2 is what comes handy then) or you if you fall sick and are unable to work; then who continues to pay off the debt or pay off expenses? Insurance companies have in the last 30 years started building income protection products usually called Critical Illness Protection Plans which would provide you a lump sum which would support your family for an additional 3-10 years.

6. Fulfill atleast one dream or desire: Do put aside a small fund to ensure you fulfill your desires as well.. or else regret kicks in or end up taking up unnecessary debt. No point in killing desires... But plan these splurges as well.

If you find it useful.. please share this with your friends and family as well. A lot more tips have been written in my book "28000 - Make Everyday Count" which is available in 3 Languages: English, Hungarian and Bahasa Indonesia

www.sanjaytolani.com

#loveyourfamily #plan #income #retirement #debtmanagement #incomeprotection #financialplanning #budgeting #sanjaytolani #speaker #author #28000

Planning your retirement?... you have a lot of work cut out for you....

So this is a slightly long article... but I felt I should write down my thoughts for my friends and family....

1. Longevity: People are living longer than ever before... (not healthier but longer)... very important to think how long will your income last after you retire. Setting up a minimum income guaranteed every month should be the first criteria for your retirement plan.

2. Healthcare Costs: We know we are going to live longer... cost of healthcare is also increasing... how are we going to manage this risk? Health Insurance? Health Care Fund on the side? Critical Illness Insurance for experimental medication? Long Term Care Insurance for nursing homes? Cost of Changing a house in case of disability? WOW... overwhelming isn't it? Even as I type this... I can feel this is something everyone should always have on their radar of planning.

3. Government Support: Never underestimate the power of this support... sometimes its the only thing that might help... but also don't overestimate this support as government policies change and you don't want to be left without any coverage. So plan as if you have to fend for yourself alone... this is an additional support level.

4. Inflation: Yes every financial planner talk about it... how real is it.... very real .... how can it affect your future income...BIG TIME... do not loose sight of this rate... it can creep up real fast and eat into your income pie... make sure your minimum income guaranteed every month is inflation protected... or 20 yrs into your retirement (when you are even more old) you might be struggling to make ends meet... so Watch it very carefully.

5. Investment Risk: Yes we all talk about risk too... Low risk... Low returns... High risk ... high returns... so what happens if we start taking risk with our pension money... well either we have a lot more than we need...or we are gonna be facing a huge challenge to catch up... watch it very carefully as well... take risks early..and reduce it as you grow older..when you cant afford to loose...

6. Legacy: An over rated and over used word... but its something we all can relate to... how do we want to be remembered? the person who was an asset or a liability on the family?? what did you do for the next generation(s) to remember you? Some of us want to be remembered for our deeds... and some of us really don't care... so painting everyone with the same brush is probably unfair.. however... as we grow older... we do want to be recognized and not totally forgotten by society... and especially our grand kids.. so think about it...

If you liked this article... please share this with your friends... I have written a lot more in my book "28000 - Make Everyday Count" which is now available in 3 languages - English, Hungarian & Bahasa Indonesia

www.sanjaytolani.com

‪#‎retirement‬ ‪#‎retirementplanning‬ ‪#‎sanjaytolani‬ ‪#‎author‬ ‪#‎speaker‬‪#‎financialplanning‬ ‪#‎investments‬ ‪#‎insurance‬ #28000 ‪#‎orderonline‬ ‪#‎retire‬‪#‎lifeinsurance‬