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The real value of a good adviser
“Without our adviser we would have found it hard to see where products overlap. We went through everything several times and we’re very happy with the outcome. ”
David, Asteron Life customer
Why choose an adviser?
They focus on what’s important
Advisers help you zero in on what’s really important to you and your loved ones or your business. They can help you identify situations and issues that you may not have considered.
They do the hard work
Your advisers should have access to a wide range of insurance solutions. They can help to find the best products in the market for your budget and needs. They can also tell you what others may have done in a similar situation.
They are regulated
Advisers are regulated when it comes to providing financial advice. Advisers who sell our products are not Asteron Life employees and they generally sell a range of different insurers’ products.
They’ll stand by you
Life and priorities change. You might have kids, buy a bigger house or change jobs. Your adviser can provide customised advice to help you keep your insurance plans up-to-date to match your changing needs.
What to expect from your adviser
There are lots of great advisers out there. But how do you choose the right one for you? This guide gives you the low-down.
Ensure they're licenced
Under New Zealand’s financial advice regime, anyone who gives regulated financial advice to retail customers must be either licenced as a Financial Advice Provider or be working on behalf of a Financial Advice Provider as a financial adviser or nominated representative.
Financial advisers in New Zealand must also be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register. This is a good thing because there are certain duties that apply to anyone giving regulated financial advice, including meeting competence standards and complying with ethical behaviour, conduct, and client care standards.
Details of licenced Financial Advice Providers and financial advisers, including the types of financial services they can provide, can be found on the online Financial Service Providers Register, which is available to the public.
The first meeting
Your first meeting with an adviser will normally take a bit of time. They'll need to ask you a number of questions about your life so they can provide the best possible advice.
They’ll also want to understand what you’d like to do if something happened to you – such as sickness, disability or death. It sounds gloomy – but it’s not really. Life insurance gives you confidence knowing there are plans in place if needed.
Of course, nobody can predict the future. So it’s not always obvious what you’ll need if ‘it-will-never-happen-to-me’ actually happens. This is where the adviser really steps up, working with you to uncover both the obvious and the less-well known needs, that sometimes crop up.
Get prepped
Be as prepared as you can for your first meeting, it helps to gather information about your income, assets and debts beforehand. You can also use our LifeSnap tool to get a better idea of the types of things you'll need to consider.
The adviser will then use their experience and specialist know-how to recommend a mix of cover types and levels they think will work best for you, within your budget. In most cases the recommendations are sent following the meeting.
Things an adviser will cover
At the start of the meeting your adviser must show you their Disclosure Statement. If they don't, you can ask for it, it's free of charge.
The Disclosure statement will cover things like their qualifications, services they can provide and where to go if you have a problem with the advice you’ve been given.
Think it over
Take the time to reflect on your meeting. Did they understand your personal situation and listen to your needs? Were they knowledgeable and explain things in a way you could understand?
Most importantly, were you comfortable talking to them about your financial needs?
"We weren't really sure about what we were going to get covered, but Nigel, our adviser, talked us through everything."
Simon Evans, Asteron Life customer
Ready to meet with an adviser?
You could talk to your friends and family for a recommendation, do some research online or we can look after the first step for you. We have years of experience working with professional advisers, so we can easily make an introduction.
Be prepared with our online LifeSnap tool
Our online LifeSnap tool has been created to help you tailor your insurance to your current needs and lifestyle.
Don't hesitate to ask your adviser…
- What experience they have
- If they have any client testimonials
- To explain the process to set up life insurance
- What your premium will cost
- How they are remunerated
- To keep within your budget and explain things in a way you’ll understand
