We all make resolutions in the excitement of a New Year, full of vigour and determination. Unfortunately, they can often fade as the demands and responsibilities of another year wears on. This year though, we can help you make some financial resolutions which are achievable, sensible and give you the best chance of making a significant step towards a prosperous financial future.

Staying healthy and in good shape is its own reward, but it comes with additional benefits as well. When it comes to your insurance for instance, staying healthy can mean cheaper premiums, less exclusions and a much better financial situation throughout your life. To aid you reach your weight loss goals, the Spratt Financial team has compiled some info and resources that may be able to help.

How can I save money on my insurance? What does each type of cover provide for? What are the best options for me? What do various terms of insurance jargon/terminology mean? Which medical conditions are covered by trauma insurance? Find answers to these questions and many more here, as our adviser team answers the questions they most frequently hear from people about their insurance.

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.

Perhaps surprisingly, insurance as a concept has been around as long as humankind in some form of fashion. Insurance at its core is about the distribution and management of risk and as thinking animals, man has been doing so for thousands of years. Whether it was hunting in a group to minimise risk of injury or splitting vital goods among different carriers on a dangerous trail through the wild, both things are at their essence about the distribution of risk. They are 'insurance' and they are designed to safeguard against financial loss.

In life we all have our roles to play and our hats to wear, so to speak. Some of us are fathers or mothers, responsible for the care and providing for the family. Some of us are business owners who have employees, debt and cash-flow to look after. The more responsibilities we have, the more important it is that you have the right type of insurance in place to ensure those responsibilities are provided for, no matter what may happen.

If you are the owner of an estate or you manage a business, have you ever thought about what would happen should a tragic and unforeseen deterioration of your health occurs? As insurance professionals, we have seen it happen all too often. In our experience, the number one piece of advice we could give to home or business owners is to put in place a plan using the right insurance to safeguard your lifestyle and your business future. 

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.