Claims Advocacy

Many people are intimidated by the claims process. You need to deal with

• a multitude of forms,
• unfamiliar terminology,
• requests for further information,
• understanding if you potentially qualify for a payment

Dealing with all this when you are either grieving or suffering ill health can be daunting. This particularly applies to those who have insurance through their super fund or from buying direct, with no adviser to assist them with the process.

Many in this situation will engage a lawyer to assist when, in fact, there is no dispute and they don’t require legal advice, simply someone to help them understand the policy they have. We assist with the paperwork and communicate with the insurance company to smooth out the experience and provide guidance in an innately stressful time. With 35 years experience in assisting clients with their claims management, we can help.

If your claim is unfairly declined, that’s when formal complaints processes, tribunals and lawyers may come into play.

Family-owned or closely held Business

We have extensive experience working with family-owned and closely held businesses. Often they are started from scratch. As they become successful and grow the dynamics often become more complex. It can be difficult to navigate the conversations that need to happen to move forward or create a constructive environment to make important decisions. These decisions can affect the future of your business direction, structure or employees.

If there is more than one generation involved in the business, the complexity multiplies and sometimes conflicting agendas or personalities can come into play.

Whether it is succession planning, internal conflict, uncertainty about future direction or you simply require an independent facilitator for important meetings, we can help.

Estate Planning Conflicts

How often do we hear about the Will being read and family members never speaking to each other again, or battling in court for years?

Effective estate planning includes setting expectations before the event, as well as putting the legal documentation in place, to ensure our wishes are carried out. If these things aren’t managed well, they can create permanent rifts between family members. Extended disputes over estates deplete the legacy. But there’s a lot more to lose than money, a lifetime of shared history can be lost in an instant.

This can be particularly challenging if there is a business involved and some, but not all, offspring are actively engaged in it. How do you equalise your estate to ensure siblings feel equally looked after? Are there any skeletons in the closet you hope never come to light (eg. unknown potential beneficiaries)? Ideally, planning ahead, in conjunction with your legal advisers, can minimise potential conflict and preserve family relationships. Unfortunately, many don’t foresee the potential conflicts and if you wish to try and preserve relationships after the fact, we can help.

Clarifying and understanding your Personal Insurance

Many people hold multiple personal insurance policies, privately and via their super funds. Although, with time, they no longer remember how they work and what they cover. If you would like them explained in layman’s terms to determine if it’s appropriate for you to seek advice and review them with an adviser, we can help.

• Life insurance
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD)
• Trauma/Critical Illness
• Income Protection/Salary Continuance