The Basics of Travel Insurance

Awareness of Travel Insurance has increased tremendously following the incident of MH370 and MH17. Many are worried that they might be injured or even dead when flight catastrophes happen. The main thing people are worried about is how their family members can continue on with their demise or lost of earning ability. 

Travel insurance can help cover medical expenses or financial losses you might incur while traveling. It's often pitched as the best protection for those traveling domestically or overseas. This article will explain what kind of coverage you need before you sign on the dotted line and start paying for protection against the unforeseen and unpredictable. 

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

There are four main categories of travel insurance: 

• Trip cancellation
• Medical Expenses and Other Expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Accidental death/flight accident

Trip Cancellation Insurance

As its name implies, trip cancellation insurance (sometimes known as trip interruption insurance or trip delay insurance) covers you in the event that you or your traveling companions need to cancel, interrupt or delay your trip.

Policies differ in terms of which reasons are acceptable, but it's fairly typical for this insurance to cover cancellation or interruption for the following reasons: 

• Sudden business conflicts
• Delay in processing your visa or passport
• Illness or injury
• Weather-related issues

Some policies may include additional coverage, which would insure you against one or more of the following events:

• An act of terrorism
• The vendor (cruise line, tour company, airline) going out of business
• An accident on the way to the airport
• Jury duty

The insurance pays the difference between the refund you get from the vendor and the amount you originally paid for the trip. 

Medical Expenses and Other Expenses

Reimburses the actual necessary and reasonable medical, surgical or hospital charges and emergency dental treatment charges incurred as a result of accidental bodily injuries or death, illness during the Journey including repatriation costs, outside the Insured Person‘s home country for Overseas/Annual Coverage. 

Domestic Coverage shall be limited to reasonable medical, surgical or hospital and emergency dental treatment incurred as a result of accidental bodily injuries or death during the Journey including transportation cost incurred in moving the Insured Person within Malaysia. Other benefits include follow up treatment, funeral expenses, compassionate care and child care benefit.

Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance

This type of insurance provides coverage for medically necessary evacuation and transportation to medical facilities. These costs can easily reach USD10,000 out of pocket if you don't have coverage. This becomes extremely useful should you become stranded in a remote rural area without easy access to needed facilities. 

Accidental Death and Flight Accident Insurance

These types of insurance pay benefits to a traveler's surviving beneficiaries, as with life insurance. Benefits are paid out in the event of an accident resulting in death or serious injury to the traveler.

There are other more benefits which are too long to be listed here

Why Travel Insurance exist? Simple.

It is because of protection, Income and Medical Protection.

Contact Us for more information about Allianz Travel Care, which covers risk such as Act of Terrorism

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When You Passed Away, Who Concerns The Most of Your Estate?

News from http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/

There will 3 parties that will put their utmost concern to your estate when you are no longer around.

• Your Family (Future Daily Expenses)
• Creditors (Loans)
• Government (Tax)

What is "Estate"?

An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time alive or dead. It is the sum of a person's assets – legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind – less all liabilities at that time. 

Family aside, banks and government will definitely be the 2 parties that will be in contact with your family members once you are dead.

• Within sixty (60) days, the bank will be in touch with your family members and business partners (if any), to request for any loans or repayment to be settled
• Inland Revenue Board (IRB) or better known as Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) will create a file to collect back any outstanding taxes
• Creditor(s) will also start to look for the administrator of your estate or apply to the court as administrator so they can collect whatever debts left by your good self

When you are no longer around, your family members and your loved ones will need to live on... with money

• How can they plan to settle your repayment or loans?
• If you are in business, how can they decide who will be the successor?
• How can you make sure your estate is distributed accordingly to your loved ones?

When you are still alive...

Do you want to give your loved ones lovingness?

Or to leave your loved ones with indebtedness?

Contact me for POSSIBLE SOLUTION

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Mortgage Enhancement Programme

Ever wonder how people reduce their Mortgage Tenure, owning 100% of their house 5 - 10 years faster than anyone?

Why some people can afford to do "early settlement" on their Mortgage and yet has surplus for new property investments, children education and even vacations?!

We have recently formulated a SOLUTION to help you to achieve the following objectives:

• Reduce your mortgage tenure (own 100% of your house 5 - 10 years earlier)
• Cut down on your mortgage interest paid (save RM5000 - RM10,000 on interest alone!)

Set an appointment with us to know more today!
Give us 27 minutes and let us amaze you on how easy it can be done!

Visit our facebook page for more information.

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Why is Life Insurance a Useless Product?

In my first few years as an Insurance Consultant, the biggest challenge I face everyday is to convince my clients and prospects to look at a life insurance policy as a necessity!

Most of the prospects I've seen, bought a savings or investment plans. The most I could do is to convince them to consider a medical insurance plan to provide for emergency hospitalization bills. Sometimes, selling medical & health insurance plan is an uphill battle with certain prospects.

In financial planning, life insurance is always form the foundation of the planning process. Unfortunately, it's the most important product that is hardest to buy, because it's meant to be useless!

4 years back, I met a young account executive who just started working, and I go on to explain the importance of putting a life insurance in place for her. As she is young, it's so easy to convince her about taking this small step towards financial planning. With the lower income as a fresh graduate, I suggested for her to start a life + medical insurance at the lowest premium that she can afford and she can upgrade it later when her income increases. She was completely sold on the idea on our first appointment. However, she said she will need to talk to her mom on this matter.

One week later, when we met up for the application, she told me she agrees with me but her mother told her that buying a life insurance is totally useless. Thus, she have second thoughts about signing on the dotted line.

My reply to her was simple, "Aren't you glad that your mother told you that life insurance is useless?"

Shocked, she asks, "I don't get you, what do you mean?"

I look straight into her eyes and told her, "Nobody would ever buy a life insurance hoping it's going to be useful. And I'm sure you are glad your mother did not get to use it."

From that day onwards, I never had any problem selling this "useless" product anymore!

Life Insurance is meant to be useless because it's money given to you at the time you would need it the most, when you lose your job due to death, disability and diseases.

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Insurance Saving Plan, Really That Good?

After many months of resting, I am back in action.

Today, we shall talk about Insurance Saving Plan, is it really that good?

Let's look at an example from one of the Insurance Company.

Disclaimer:
No Right, No Wrong. It is just my personal opinion. It depends on ones' priority and objectives.

Looking at the, obviously self created, table above, the term is 5 years. Sum Assured for the plan is RM110,000. Premium per year is RM43,975.

Characteristics of this plan:

1. First to 5th Policy Year, client will be entitled for RM6,500 yearly guaranteed cash payment. 6th to 19th Policy Year, client will be entitled for RM8,500 yearly guaranteed cash payment. Client can choose to withdraw or to keep it in the policy and at the end of Policy Year 20, the total accumulated Guaranteed Cash Payment will be RM249,586.
2. There will be a bonus of RM7,403 at the end of Policy Year 20.
3. There is another Non Guaranteed Bonus (which the agent says return depends on company's performance). If the return is as illustrated and no withdrawal is done, there will be RM51,545 at the end of Policy Year 20.

Therefore, after 20 years, the total payout will be:
RM110,000 + RM249,586 + RM51,545 + RM7,403 = RM418,534.

RM418,534 - (RM43,975 x 5 years) = RM198,659


Let's say we save in Bank FD, at a rate of 3.96%
Bank Rakyat Deposit Account-i

The return from saving in FD (3.96% per annum) is guaranteed at RM443,020.

Other than that, it is more flexible as the FD savings renew every year. Which means, if there is any emergency that requires you to do any withdrawal, there will be no penalty imposed.

Unlike the Insurance Saving Plan, if there is any withdrawal made in between 20 years, there will be penalty imposed (other than withdrawing the Guaranteed Cash Payment).

In my opinion, looks like Insurance Saving Plan is not that good after all.

Better stick with buying Insurance for the purpose of PROTECTION.

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Increase in Medical Fees Acceptable, says MMA

The new increased medical fees following the amendment to the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 are considered acceptable by the Malaysian Medical Association.

Its president Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said that MMA had been waiting for the increase for 12 years as the prices of drugs, laboratory fees and petrol had increased.

"There is a misconception that GPs are raking in lots of profits when they were actually scraping the bottom of the barrel these days," he said in an e-mail reply.

More than 500 stand-alone general practitioner clinics had closed down or had been bought over by large chain-clinics or business corporations in the last few years, he said.

On Monday, an online news portal highlighted that amendment to the 13th Schedule of the Act was published in the Federal Gazette on Dec 16 last year and implemented in a hush-hush manner.

It reported that the new consultation fees for a general practitioner had increased to between RM30 and RM125, as opposed to RM10-RM35 previously, while a visit to a specialist now costs up to RM235 for consultation alone, nearly double the previous cap of RM125.

Fees for medical procedures, however, increased between 14-18%.

Dr Tharmaseelan also said that while the increase did not reflect inflation rates since 2002, fees on newer procedures were not included in the revised schedule as proposed by MMA and would be left unregulated.

He also said that doctors do not get all the fees charged for services - for short surgical procedures, the ratio might be 40:60 of the total bill for specialist and hospital respectively while for more complex procedures and long staying patients, it might be as low 20-25% for specialist, while the rest were hospital charges.

Moreover, third-party administrators such as managed care organisations (MCOs) often negotiate a discount of 10% to 15% on doctors' fees for hospitals without the consent of the doctors.

"There should be more transparency about the charges," he said.

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Jim Loi said that in the past, a general practitioner in a standalone clinic was able to earn a monthly net income of RM40,000 in the Klang Valley, but it had since dropped to RM15,000.

He added it posed a challenge to them as they too had to pay mortgages and send their children to colleges.

He said the more worrying trend was the increase in drug prices - including generic drugs - every few months and doctors had been absorbing the cost.

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So, if the doctors are increasing their charges because they want to cope with the high living cost, what should you do?

Contact us for more info on how you can avoid paying high medical bills with your own money!

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In Business? Get A Buy-Sell Agreement, Fully Funded!

In Business? Get A Buy-Sell Agreement!

If you own all or part of a business—any business—you should know about buy-sell agreements. Unless you plan to be lucky forever, you’d better have one. Without it, a closely held or family business faces a world of financial and tax problems on an owner’s death, incapacitation, divorce, bankruptcy, sale or retirement.

The cost of a buy-sell is tiny compared to its benefits. A buy-sell agreement can ward off infighting by family members, co-owners and spouses, keep the business afloat so its goodwill and customer base remain intact, and avoid liquidity problems that often arise on these major events.

A buy-sell agreement makes sense for any business entity, including corporations, partnerships, Pvt Ltds (Sdn Bhd) and even proprietorships. How much you need a buy-sell depends on how many owners there are and who else might be waiting in the wings with a financial stake in the business.

Example: You and your partner John run a burger stand as 50/50 partners. You might have a written agreement or a mere handshake. John dies. Do you still have a business? Is John’s wife or child your new partner? Do you have the right or the obligation to buy them out? If so, for how much and on what terms? Can you strike out on your own with your own burger stand, or are you stuck with the baggage of the old one? What if you die instead of John?

As this example shows, the most basic business can benefit from a buy-sell, even if it’s the only written document the business has. Disputes and confusion can result without one even in a small business, and the stakes go up with larger and more complex businesses. You can have a buy-sell agreement with two owners or with many. Suppose you have 10 owners in a family company and someone tries to transfer their shares to a competitor? Such events are easy to prevent with a buy-sell but very expensive otherwise.

Insurance features prominently in many buy-sell agreements. You don’t have to use insurance, but it can ensure there’s cash available when the time comes. For example, whether you or John dies first, a life insurance policy on each of you can fund the buyout so your burger stand stays afloat and so spouse/heirs are bought out as agreed.

Ideally, buy-sell agreements are fully funded, and life insurance is frequently used for this purpose. After determining the value of the business, you, your advisors, and the other parties to the agreement will determine the best way to fund the transaction, and the triggers appropriate for your business situation.

If you think that a buy-sell agreement might benefit you and your business, click here for a FREE consultation!

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Why Housewives Should Also Take A Life Insurance Cover?

They tell you that life insurance is essential for people with financial dependents. There is no question that the income-earning members of a family must purchase life coverage. After all, their deaths would place the non-earning members in a difficult financial position.

There is no refuting this fact. However, the issue that this article will focus on is insurance for housewives. Increasing numbers of Indian women now pursue careers; yet, a large majority continues to take care of the home, the hearth, the husband and the kids.

Regardless of whether or not their efforts are appreciated, housewives rarely have life insurance. The argument for not spending on life insurance for a housewife is reasonable enough: housewives do not support the family financially, and while their death would be an emotional loss, it would not affect the family financially.

The Financial Impact of Losing the Non-earning Spouse

But think of it in this way. The absence of a housewife can result in numerous additional expenses. For instance, if there is no stay-at-home mom, you may have to hire a nanny to take care of young children, particularly if day care facilities are not available locally. Household chores and cooking will then fall to other members of the family, or a full-time maid may have to be employed.

Providing for such costs can be a strain for middle- or low-income earners. In nuclear families, the husband may have to spend more time at home, which could then reduce his income-earning potential. This is where insurance for the non-working spouse becomes helpful. It provides a backup for such costs.

Life Insurance for the Non-earning Spouse

Let us move on to the question of whether housewives can get life insurance. Yes, they can. The policy should cover the costs associated with household chores, tutoring and nurturing the kids and so on. However, most insurance companies are reluctant to sell life cover to housewives.

This often results in a lack of access to term plans. One reason advanced for this is that term insurance plans are intended to substitute for the loss of income and since homemakers do not contribute to the household income, term insurance is not the ideal option for them. When term plans are provided, they may come with a low coverage limit.

Nevertheless, homemakers can apply for a gamut of other life insurance options including whole life insurance, Investment-Linked plans, endowment plans and so on. Moreover, life insurance continues to be cheaper for women in India, which makes it financially easier for housewives to apply for life coverage.

Finding the Ideal Insurance Plan for Housewives

While term life insurance plans are difficult to come by for unemployed women, some insurers may provide suitable policies. Term insurance is a good idea for stay-at-home moms because the policy can be continued until the kids are grown up or complete their college education. It is advisable to choose a convertible policy so that when the policy matures, you could convert it into a policy more suited to your financial situation at the time.

It may be a good idea to contact insurers who deal in insurance for women. You could find a policy that meets the financial needs of your family and brings you peace of mind in the bargain.

Click here to Contact Me

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Ma Yun on Life Insurance

Ma Yun (Jack Ma) is a famous entrepreneur in China. He is one of the founding members of Alibaba Group.

When asked about his opinion on Life Insurance, he said the following:

There are many people who failed in life and they mainly failed in their views towards new things:

1. They can't see it

2. They look down on it

3. They don't understand it

4. They missed it

He said...

"Insurance is a form of backup. When your life is smooth sailing, you will need to prepare for the unexpected so you can have more options when your life is at a downfall.

When you are wealthy, your money isn't worth that much;

When you are broke, you lose your value.

If you want to be stay valuable, you must portion out part of your earnings, while you are able to earn, to plan for the unexpected and uncertain future.

The money you placed inside the bank and in Insurance both belongs to you, but the difference is:

Your bank account is filled now but emptied later.

Insurance Planning protects your future! 

It transforms you to a more valuable person in the future, this is what Life Insurance can do for you!

The earlier you plan, the earlier you feel secured.

Be one that is happy and has no worries today!"

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Revolutionary Way to Run Life Insurance Business

Few industries outside of the financial services industry offer the potential for relatively inexperienced professionals to make significant income within their first year of employment. Within the financial services industry itself, few careers match the opportunity for as quick and large a paycheck as does being a life insurance agent. In fact, a hard-working insurance agent can easily earn more than $100,000 in his or her first year of sales.

But, success as an insurance agent doesn't come without a cost. Insurance agents hear "no" far more than they hear "yes". It's not uncommon for the "no" to come mixed with a fair amount of obscenities and the proverbial door in the face.

With the Revolutionary Way of running Life Insurance as a Business, Buss Consulting (M) Sdn Bhd has designed and restructure the reward structure to allow hardworking Life Insurance Businessperson to earn more as they progress - with the guidance of a Proven Success System.

Click here to learn more on how you can benefit yourself with our system!

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