Sudivyo M. Wiradidji (Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Being optimistic is a good attitude, but is it enough to overcome negative experiences and bad luck?
The majority of Indonesians are optimistic about life, but given the inevitable risks to the economic situation, this trait is increasingly questioned.
A young family with two small children will face serious hardships if the family’s breadwinner father loses his job and employers decide to cut staff due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic-induced stagnation. It will be.
This example shows how unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic can pose real risks to a family’s financial situation.
In fact, there are many unforeseen threats to life, such as natural disasters, illness, accidents, unemployment, rising prices due to inflation, multiple births and deaths.
In a recent Zoom interview, Shierly Ge, chief marketing officer of insurance company Sun Life Indonesia, said that all these risks that could affect household finances can be predicted and managed by first transferring them to insurance companies. I pointed out that you can.
Apart from optimism as a hallmark trait, it should also be noted that the majority of Indonesians, especially those in the productive population, tend to procrastinate. This is especially true when preparing for a certain future.
Working couples who start a family have many financial obligations, such as daily necessities, monthly mortgage payments, school fees, and health care.
These more pressing needs explain, in part, why young families delay building long-term financial plans, according to Shierly. Additionally, setting long-term financial goals means that you have to wait a long time before you get the benefits.
“As a result, when the surprise happens, they are in financial trouble. [event] It happens out of the blue,” said Shirley.
To address potential risks, families need to shift their mindset from procrastinating to creating a proactive financial plan now.
“This way they can move on with their lives in peace. That is why we launched #AdaAja. [surprise] campaign,” she said.
“Given the great economic risks, I want to remind people of the importance of taking action because hope is not enough.”
As part of its efforts to raise people’s awareness of insurance, Sun Life Indonesia conducts public education programs such as Sun Bright, which focus on financial literacy and education. The program is supported by the Financial Services Authority (OJK).
The program targets a range of ages, from elementary school students to young mothers, and makes many adults aware of the importance of insurance to anticipate the risks they may face in their lives.
“It is also advisable to be aware that life risk can be transferred to an insurance company in case the unforeseen happens, so as not to affect the family’s financial plans. [event] happens in the family. Families can get on with their lives,” emphasized Shiley.
“By making a financial plan [and] Depending on the purpose, you can save money for your children, such as education or future marriage,” she continued.
“If you have insurance, your financial plan is secure because if the unexpected happens, such as a bad experience that poses a risk, your insurance company will take care of the risk you transferred.”
The main driving force behind the #AdaAja campaign was to encourage “an overall healthy life, including financial planning and financial health.”
“If we are not financially healthy, we cannot be physically healthy,” she added.
“Our aim is to help more Indonesian families achieve overall health, especially economically.”
Shierly shared her own experience and revealed how she started financial planning when starting a family early in her marriage.
“Having a family with young children was a major driver of our decision to anticipate risk in case one of us was unable to work or died,” she explained.
“I just wanted my kids to get a good education,” so she and her husband turned to “passing the risk on to insurance companies” as a solution.
And my husband was also working, so I decided to make an asset building plan.
“By working for an insurance company, I learned that insurance can also be used as a wealth building tool, which I can bequeath to my children as beneficiaries,” Sheary said.
For example, a couple can bequeath assets worth 1 billion rupiah (US$64,000) to their children as beneficiaries, she said.
“A couple pays insurance premiums. For example, for a premium of Rp 1 billion, they pay Rp 10 million (the premium varies according to their age)” Same price.
The 100 million rupiah premium can also be paid on a monthly basis, Shierly added.
Unlike buying a home, where the proof of title is not handed over to the purchaser until the installments have been completed, the insurance policy belongs to the subscriber as soon as the first installment is paid.
“If the couple dies, the children as beneficiaries are entitled to receive the assets, which is one of the advantages of asset accumulation products,” she said.
strong and reliable
Sunlife was founded in Canada 157 years ago.
“The longevity of Sun Life means that despite facing some unforeseen challenges such as economic crises and pandemics, Sun Life is financially strong and reliable and that Sun Life always delivers on its promises. It’s proof that we’re keeping it.”
As a local subsidiary of a global insurance company, Sun Life Indonesia has developed a multi-channel distribution system incorporating marketers, agents, banks and partners so that Sun Life’s products are easily accessible across Indonesia.
In addition, Sun Life Indonesia has developed a mobile application to better serve its customers. Its dedicated application, My Sun Life Indonesia, allows customers to make transactions, access policy information and contact Sun Life directly for all their policy needs.
“In terms of products, we offer a complete range including pure insurance products, health products, pension plans and investments. [products] It’s aligned with the customer’s needs and life stage,” Shierly said.
Shierly added that he hopes more Indonesians will start prudent financial planning as the best solution to lead a healthy life.
getting started
Shierly also shared tips from her personal and professional experience in insurance for discerning consumers of working age.
beginningtries to understand the difference between needs and wants.
“If you can delay it after some thought, [getting] If it’s what you want, this is a desire, not a need,” she advised.
number twowage earners, regardless of whether the income is derived from work or from their own business, should first divide their income in favor of their needs before spending it on shopping, and vice versa. No. When you prioritize shopping, you usually don’t have money left over to cover your expenses and other needs.
number 3, Build productive assets, or assets that provide continuous income, such as rental properties, instead of consumable assets, or assets that are primarily intended for consumption, such as food.
“Insurance is one of the priorities for people who have a good understanding of their needs,” says Shierly.
As the #AdaAja campaign shows, surprise is an inevitable reality we all face at any stage of life, whether it carries negative or positive risks.
Passing these risks on to your insurance company is a solution that gives you peace of mind that you and your loved ones can continue to live healthy lives no matter what life throws at them.
Sun Life also has a wide range of products and is ready to serve your life risk as a reliable and dependable insurance company.
.
