Markets continue to be buoyed by confidence in strong economic fundamentals and improved corporate earnings. The US bull market is now officially the longest ever, i.e. the S&P 500 Index has gone more than 3,453 days without a drop of 20%. After rebounding in the second quarter, global GDP growth is set to remain strong over the rest of this year. Inflation is likely to trend towards 2% in most advanced economies but will do so at different rates. Read our full investment forecast locally and globally here.

Statistics estimate that 15% of adult New Zealanders smoke, or a total amount of around 550,000 people. Smokers in New Zealand have it tough in so many ways, and it's about to get even tougher. Not only are smokers mired in an unhealthy and destructive habit, every year this habit takes more and more out of them financially (a pack of 20s now costs between $24-$30). The good news is, if you manage to quit, your savings on both the price of cigarettes and your insurance premiums can be massive.

In general, we take out insurance to cover ourselves from circumstances which may occur. This thinking is usually based on our current life circumstances at the time we take out the insurance: How much debt you  have, how many family members depend on your income, how much money you are currently earning, the state of your mortgage and much more. Our mortgage reduces, we have children, we take on more debt or reduce it, our income fluctuates. Life changes. Does this mean that our insurance should change with it?

Recently, during the course of one our regular insurance reviews with a client, they informed us that they had recently gone through angioplasty to have stents installed in their arteries. It all went smoothly, and the client thought little of it, until we informed them that they had a current trauma insurance policy in place and they were entitled to a substantial claim that they were completely unaware of. A short time later, the client was $50,000 better off and in a far better space both health-wise and financially.

Spratt Financial Services can now offer you a new and more cost effective option to cover your income in the result of an accident or illness that renders you unable to work. With the new personal accident and illness cover option, income protection insurance is now attainable to even more people who need it. Find out more about the features accident and illness cover provides.

Insurance works best when it is used as the foundation for a plan that will protect a business, family or estate that is confronted by the disablement process. If you already have an insurance package (or you're looking for insurance) and you want to know whether your insurance will really be sufficient to provide for all of your financial needs, this article will show you the questions you should know the answers to.