Personal risk management plan – do you have one?

Risk Management Plans don’t only apply to businesses – every person and family should also have a plan to help them cope in the event of an unexpected crisis.

No doubt you have insured your car as the risks of damage are obvious to you on a daily basis. You will almost certainly have insured your home and contents against fire, burglary or storms. But what about your greatest asset: your income?

Statistics show that as a working adult, earning an average income is worth more than $3.7 million over a 40-year full-time career, assuming no increase in earnings. How would you cope if your family’s primary income earner met with serious illness or accident?

Your Risk Management Plan

Professional guidance is crucial in establishing your risk management plan. You need to consider the extent of your financial commitments and review what assistance may already be in place. This may include insurance cover within your superannuation, employer protection, existing insurance policies or other sources.

Fortunately, a range of insurance policies are available to cover the risks you confront. These include:

• Loss of Life or Total & Permanent Disablement. By including this in your superannuation it is effectively a tax deduction as your superannuation comes from pre-tax income.
• Income protection. A critically important cover for income earners. It will provide you with income in the event of sickness or accident for a predefined period. If you are a small business operator you can include the costs of operating your business while you are incapacitated. The premiums are a tax deduction.
• Trauma insurance. This is sometimes referred to as critical illness insurance and provides for a lump sum in the event of suffering a specific injury or illness. It is ideal for a non-income earning partner who may not qualify for income protection.
• Child Trauma insurance. Many families are devastated when a child is struck with a critical illness. This may mean one or both parents having to give up work while the child undergoes lengthy treatment. Some companies are now providing specific policies to assist the family in such a catastrophe.

A licensed financial adviser will be able to help you prepare a Risk Management Plan… just in case.

The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.