The three major risks are premature death, inability to work because of a long-term accident or illness, and the need to find large amounts of cash to fund medical care.
 

                   Did You Know!

Five out of every ten males aged 25 years old are likely to become disabled due to an illness or accident before they turn 65 that will prevent them from working for at least a month

Seven out of every ten females are likely to become disabled due to an illness or accident before they turn 65 that will prevent them from working for at least a month.

Of these, nearly a third will still be on claim 12 months later.
Source: Davies Financial & Actuarial Limited

 

One in Three of us will get
cancer
before we die

 
Click here to order a copy of Cover Your BreastsThese notes and more have been written into a book.

To order your copy $29.95 (NZD)
Click here to email Alison
My view on the importance of insurance and how it can help - refer to Alison coping with cancer
 

Income Protection Insurance
If you are unable to work for 15 hours per week you could be paid 75% of your income*

 

Life Insurance
Provide for your family in the event of your death.  Did you know if you are terminally ill you may be entitled to a 25% pay-out?

 

Medical Insurance
Does your health insurance cover the cost of non Pharmac approved drugs?*

 

Trauma/Living Insurance
Would you like a lump sum payout if you had a heart attack, cancer or stroke?*

 

Income protection insurance - why protecting your income is so important
 

Business Succession Planning

 
Alison Coping with Cancer
 
Health Insurance a matter of life or death for businesses - Sunday Star Times Article 22/4/07

* terms and conditions will vary with the insurance policy and company chosen and any pre existing medical conditions that you may have.

 

Alison's Breast Cancer Diary
Feelings after diagnosis, surgery, and chemo-therapy

Alison Renfrew - Certified Financial Planner, author of Cover Your Breasts 28 March 2007  Since starting to write my story I have heard about people I don't know reading it who are keen to follow my progress.  I heard today that staff in a major NZ insurance company are telling each other about it and yesterday my personal fitness coach asked me if Fiona had contacted me. Not yet.  Hello Fiona.  I believe you also have breast cancer.  I hope you clobber it.

Today I was talking with a clinical psychologist at Wellington Hospital and I mentioned my diary.  She asked if she could tell others who are going through the cancer experience if it was o.k. to refer them to it.  I said I welcomed readers.  She said I might get people contacting me and I replied that I would be delighted to communicate with as many people as I am able to.  This is one way that I can give back.  Everyone I have met who has experienced cancer has been supportive to me and it's my turn to support others.  I welcome the opportunity.

Note:  I 'm a very fortunate woman to have a loving and supportive family, many wonderful friends, clients, and business associates.  To all of you who have offered your support through various ways; flowers, cards, e-mails, phone calls, outings etc. I thank you.  You have motivated me to get well and get on with life. 

A significant part of the story you are about to read is comprised of e-mails from and to my friends.  To protect their confidentiality I have referred to them either by their initials or Christian names only - unless they have agreed to having their names mentioned.  Personal or business issues have been removed from the e-mails, hence, the brevity of some of them.  Sometimes you will read.....etc.... when you read this it means that we were talking about other matters.

After there has been e-mail dialogue I make the first sentence in the next paragraph bold so that you know I am back to communicating with you, the reader, rather than the person in the e-mail.

Alison Renfrew mid chemo cycle April 07I have received some positive feedback from this writing.  Someone suggested that all women with cancer would like to read it.  Sue Duncan from New Plymouth had her mastectomy just a week after I had mine. She read my story at home and cried and cried while quaffing a bottle of Pinot Noir with her husband.  "This story has helped her to grieve and also consider options about chemo therapy treatment. and she suggested that all women would be interested.  Johnny, my personal trainer reckons Richard should also contribute from time to time as he is the primary care giver.  He has never complained about the extra chores he does around the house.  The fact that I hardly ever cook, or that my absences from the office due to chemo therapy, appointments with medical specialists, and time out due to sickness has prevented me from being up to date with my work is something we both have to accept.  We can only do our best based on our abilities at this time.

The primary caregiver can suffer and feel left out.  He too needs nurturing and positive affirmations. He was hurting and grieving as much as I was after the cancer diagnosis.  When he saw me suffer from the pain of the surgery the grief of the loss of my breast he felt deeply sad for me.  The only thing he could do was to support me and think about what was happening.  It follows that many care givers will be frustrated by a feeling of powerlessness and they would be interested in knowing how to provide support without wearing themselves down.  The caregiver needs to stay healthy and positive.

NEXT

 

Useful websites
www.cancerhelp.org.uk 

Alison Renfrew - Profile          Alison Renfrew - Financial Planner of the Year    Alison coping with cancer