Have you ever asked yourself or given thought to the following: “What would happen if my spouse were to pass away today?” “Would I still be able to afford the education costs of our children to ensure that their dreams can be fulfilled?” “Will I be able to carry the household on my own, ensuring all debts and daily living expenses can be maintained?” “Are we going to lose our house and other assets should my spouse pass away today?” “Would the hopes and dreams for our family, which we formulated together, have to be abandoned?”
These thoughts and questions form a part of our discussions we have with clients, during our first consultation and continue to be discussed throughout our relationship. They are not easy questions nor matters that people really want to talk about. But they are very real and need to be faced head on.
We strongly believe in a very personal relationship that is built by “face-to-face” communication and having open and honest discussions to assist our clients in formulating actionable financial plans. Their plan must accommodate their individual needs and financial aspirations, allowing for changes as they go through life’s varying stages. This can only be achieved through personal interaction which far outweighs chatbot or call-centre financial product providers. The specific needs of every client are different as everyone is unique and have their own concerns, life goals and dreams.
As Liberty Financial Advisors, we base our relationships with our clients on trust. We discuss client’s specific needs, dreams and goals. It is imperative that an action plan is formulated and implemented, but more importantly, that it is tailored to every client’s needs. The plan must be affordable and maintained by the client into the future.
Liberty’s “Badge of Honour” is presented to Liberty advisors who have delivered on their promises to their clients by payment of claims based on the advice provided by the financial advisor at inception of these products. Our advice has one objective, to ensure our clients and their dependents’ financial freedom is secured. We take pride in our service and the transparent advice we offer to our clients, always placing their needs first and proving that our word is my bond.
Allow me to relate a few of my most rewarding experiences:
Soon after starting at Liberty in 2014, an important client of mine asked me to assist his parents in formulating a plan which would provide financial security to his mother in the event of the death of his father. Our plan was implemented but after only knowing them for a year and being invited into their home as a friend, the terrible reality of death, was realized. Liberty paid the claim, my client’s mother was able to settle all liabilities, and we had ensured that we had secured her financial freedom.
Not long after this, I was in the position of offering another client a life plan. We discussed life cover, disability and dread disease cover and she was very reluctant to consider the dread disease benefits I had recommended. Not because these are bad benefits, but because she was under the impression that she would not need the cover. As an honest and caring advisor, I informed her as follows: “Ruth, cancer and leukaemia are the most prominent claims for females according to Liberty’s claim stats. For this reason, I will include dread disease of R500 000, while still remaining inside your budget”. She accepted the proposal, and her policy was issued. Unfortunately, 6 months into her new life plan, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Based on the Top-Up benefit I had included in the dread disease benefit – Liberty paid her 100% of the cover! You can imagine her relief, when I told her that the funds would be paid because it was a successful claim – and that she can make use of these funds in any way she chose. Happily, she later informed me that she was cleared of the cancer, and she used these funds to pay off debt and to build onto her current property; a dream she had for some time.
In 2021, I again made good on my promises to two additional clients. Liberty paid close to R3 000 000 after these two clients tragically passed away.
The first death claim was due to COVID complications, and the second, due to a fatal heart attack. I specify fatal, as some heart attacks do not cause death but could possibly lead to disability. The first client’s policy was only issued in January of 2020. If you consider that the total amount of premiums paid over the 12 months amounted to only R 7 536.00 – and Liberty paid out R 1 000 000, would you not also agree that it is best to place the risk with Liberty? Without the miracle of Life Insurance her family would have been left in a precarious financial position.
The crux of the matter with regards to the above claims are this:
Our clients become our friends where strong bonds are created. Although any death claim is initiated by tragedy for the family, our clients are secure in the knowledge that they have provided for their families into the future.
The personal agony and new concerns associated with disability or contracting a dread disease are eased and our clients can rest assured that they will have extra funds to pay for the necessary changes that will have to be made in their lives and will have funds to pay for medical expenses over and above what the medical aid and gap cover paid.
Our clients can rest assured that with us as their advisors, Liberty as the insurer and the action-plans we implement, they will be relieved of the increased stresses resulting from being disabled or contracting a dreaded disease and can focus on getting better, moving on and building a better life past the heartache and tears of the tragedy.
In conclusion, I want to ask you this: Can you tell me when you will die? Can you predict when you will be diagnosed with a dread disease (the big “C” amongst others)? Do you know when you could be disabled and not able to earn an income?
As IWCP-Liberty advisors, we can tell you this – when these financially devastating events cross your path, you will have the peace of mind knowing that the plans we put in place will guarantee your and your family’s financial freedom.
