Smart Choice Insurance | Life, TPD, Trauma & Income Protection Advice

About Hope

The person you will actually be talking to

Over the years, I’ve worked across a variety of industries, but the common thread has always been the same: listening, understanding the situation and helping people find the right solution. I’ve also spent the last few years working in risk insurance, building the knowledge and experience to help people navigate what can often feel like a complicated area.

Through Smart Choice Insurance, I assist people with their Life, Total and Permanent Disability, Trauma and Income Protection Insurance options.

Insurance shouldn’t be about simply ticking boxes or taking out more cover than you need. Your work, your family, your commitments, your income and the things that matter most to you all play a part in determining what protection may be appropriate.

My approach is simple. I listen, I take the time to understand your circumstances, and I explain things in a way that makes sense. I’m compassionate, understanding and genuinely willing to help, whether that means helping you put the right protection in place or simply helping you make sense of what you already have.

I know that talking about what could happen if life takes an unexpected turn isn’t always easy. My role is to make that conversation as comfortable and straightforward as possible, without pressure or judgement.

Ultimately, I want you to feel heard, understood and confident that the decisions you make are right for you and your circumstances. Sometimes, having someone take the time to listen and help you work through your options is just as important as the insurance itself.

Insurance options

Your Insurance Options

Life Insurance

Provides a lump sum payment to your loved ones if you die. It can help with things like paying off debt, covering ongoing living expenses and providing financial security for the people you leave behind.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance

Provides a lump sum if you become totally and permanently disabled and are unable to work or carry out certain activities due to illness or injury. It can help with replacing lost financial security, reducing debt and adapting to your changed circumstances.

Trauma Insurance

Provides a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specified serious medical condition covered by your policy, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. The money can give you financial breathing room while you focus on your recovery.

Income Protection

Provides an ongoing monthly benefit if illness or injury prevents you from working. It is designed to help replace a portion of your income so you can continue meeting your everyday financial commitments while you’re unable to work.

Three simple steps

How it works

Two people going through a document together at a kitchen table

We start with an initial meeting

We start by getting to know you, understanding your circumstances and looking at what you already have in place. I’ll educate you on the different types of cover and explain how they work, so you can understand what may be right for you.
We work out what you want

Once you understand your options, we work through what you actually want to protect and what you’re comfortable spending. From there, I’ll create a quote based on the cover you’ve chosen and we’ll go through it together.
We put it all in place

If you’re happy to proceed, we complete the application together and I guide you through the underwriting process from start to finish. I’ll keep you informed along the way and once your cover is in place, I’m still here if you need me.

Questions and answers

Commonly asked questions

These are the questions I get asked most often. They are general information rather than advice about your situation, so treat them as a starting point and ask me about your own circumstances.

The answers here are general in nature and do not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any of it, please consider whether it is appropriate for you, and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement.

Have a question that is not here? Ask me.

Tax and super

Can I claim my insurance premiums as a tax deduction?

It depends on the type of cover and how the policy is owned. Some insurance premiums may be tax deductible while others are not. Your individual circumstances matter, so it’s important to speak with your accountant or tax adviser about your situation.

Can I use my super to pay for insurance?

Yes, certain types of personal insurance can be paid from your superannuation account. This can make insurance more affordable from a cash-flow perspective, but there are important differences between owning cover personally and through super. We can help you understand the options and what may be appropriate for your circumstances.

What happens to my insurance if I change super funds?

Many super funds automatically include some level of insurance, so you may already have cover without realising it. The amount and type of cover can vary between funds and may not be enough to protect you if something happens. It is worth checking your super statement or contacting your fund to see what you have, how much it costs and what the cover actually provides. If you have more than one super account, you may also have insurance attached to more than one fund. I can help you understand what you currently have and whether it appears to meet your needs.

Cover and claims

What is the difference between the four types of cover?

Life Insurance

Pays a lump sum to the people you nominate if you pass away or are diagnosed with a terminal illness. It can help provide financial security for the people you leave behind.

Total & Permanent Disability (TPD)

Pays a lump sum if an illness or injury leaves you permanently disabled and unable to work again, subject to the definition of disability on your policy. It can help cover things like debts, medical expenses, rehabilitation or changes you may need to make to your lifestyle.

Trauma Insurance

Pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specified serious medical condition covered by your policy, such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke. The payment is generally made whether or not you are able to continue working.

Income Protection

Instead of paying a lump sum, income protection replaces part of your income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Cover can generally provide up to around 70% of your income, subject to the policy terms.

How can they work together?

Each type of cover is designed to protect you in a different way and they can work together depending on what happens to you and what you need financially. The right combination can provide protection for your income, your lifestyle, your debts and the people who depend on you.

What does it cost, and what makes the price go up or down?

There is no standard price because premiums are based on things such as your age, whether you smoke, your occupation, your health history, how much cover you need and how the policy is structured. Two people of the same age can pay quite different premiums. The structural choices that can have a significant impact include the waiting period and benefit period on income protection and whether you choose stepped or level premiums. I would rather show you real numbers based on your own situation than give you a figure here that may not be relevant to you.

Should I choose stepped or level premiums?

Stepped premiums generally start lower but increase as you get older. Level premiums generally start higher, but your premium does not increase each year simply because you are getting older.

It is important to understand that level does not mean your premium will stay the same. Your premium can still increase if your cover increases through indexation or CPI adjustments, and insurers can also change their premium rates.

The right option isn’t simply about whether you plan to keep your cover for a short or long time. It is about looking at the cost of each option over the period you expect to hold your cover, how your circumstances may change and what you can comfortably afford now and in the future.

Some people may prefer the lower initial cost of stepped premiums, while others may prefer the greater predictability of level premiums. I can show you the difference between the options using your actual premiums, so you can see how they may change over time and make an informed decision about which structure suits you.

Will I need a medical to get cover?

Everyone applying for cover will be asked detailed questions about their health, lifestyle and family medical history. As part of the application process, you will have a Telehealth appointment where your medical history is discussed so the insurer can properly assess your application.

Whether you need any further medical tests or examinations will depend on your individual circumstances, including your medical and family history, your age and the amount and type of cover you are applying for. The insurer may request additional information from your doctor or ask you to have blood tests or other medical examinations.

Having a medical history does not automatically mean you cannot get cover. Depending on the circumstances, an insurer may offer cover at a higher premium, with an exclusion or with other conditions. Different insurers can also assess the same medical history differently, which is why comparing your options can be so valuable.

What actually happens if I need to claim?

Call me first. In fact, if anything happens with your policy, whether you need to make a claim, have a question or receive something from your insurer that you don’t understand, I want you to come to me first. I can act on your behalf and help manage the process with the insurer, including explaining what is needed, helping with forms and medical evidence and communicating with the insurer for you. For income protection claims, there is a waiting period before payments can commence, which is selected when your policy is set up so you know what to expect. If a claim is declined and you disagree with the decision, I can also help you understand the reasons, the complaints process and your options, including making a complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). You shouldn’t have to navigate a claim on your own.

Fees and how we get paid

Do you charge me a fee for your service?

No. I don’t charge you a fee for my insurance service. If you decide to take out a policy, I am generally paid a commission by the insurer. This means there is no separate upfront fee for the work I do with you. I will explain how I am paid and any relevant commissions as part of the process, so you can make an informed decision about your cover.

Does your commission affect the advice I give?

My role is to help you understand your options and choose cover based on your needs and circumstances. I compare available policies and explain the differences so you can make an informed decision. I don’t want you to have insurance you don’t understand or don’t need.

What if I decide not to take out insurance?

That’s completely okay. There is no obligation to proceed. My role is to educate you, answer your questions and help you understand your options so you can decide what is right for you.

Insurance partners

The insurers I work with

I am not tied to any one of them. Each logo takes you to that insurer, where you can read their product disclosure statements and the detail for yourself.