Don't trash your lifestyle

If something happens to you or your family will you be able to keep up your lifestyle? Sure, you’ll probably manage to feed and clothe your family – you’re resourceful – but will you be able to pay your mortgage, eat out, pay for music lessons and take holidays?

Your lifestyle defines who you are and the opportunities your family has. And lifestyle is usually the first casualty when the worst happens. This can have devastating consequences.

Based on 2008 statistics, 18 Australian families lose a working age parent every day. Every year, 235,790 working age parents suffer a serious illness or injury and over 17,000 of them are forced to stop working, either permanently or for an extended time. Each year, over one million working-age parents with dependents will be impacted by death, serious accident or illness. 

These figures mean that more than one in five families will be impacted by an insurable event during their working lives. Most of these people will have some level of insurance, usually death cover, within their super. But often their level of cover is not enough.
Income protection is also only offered as an option by a few funds. Again, people who have income protection cover often don’t have enough.

While a concentrated effort by the super industry means this situation is improving, the fact is, most Australian working families do not have enough cover to protect themselves from financial hardship and secure their lifestyle.

Do you have enough of the right insurance? Call us on 1800 222 209 to find out.

What would happen if you couldn't work?

Did you know you're more likely to be unable to work for longer than three months due to disability before the age of 65 than to have your car stolen? I'll bet your car's insured. Is your income?

What would happen if you got sick or had an accident and couldn’t work? Do you have income protection insurance? Total and permanent disability cover? Life insurance? And do you have enough? Call us on 1800 222 209 to work out what cover you have and whether you and your family would be okay if the worst happened.

It’s easy to keep putting off that phone call but consider this: if something unpleasant and unexpected happened and you couldn’t bring home an income, would you rely on your friends and family? Welfare? Would you be willing to sell the family home or other investments regardless of market conditions? Could you handle playing ‘financial catch up’ for the rest of your life? What would this mean for your retirement?

Insurance is probably cheaper than you think and you can often pay your premiums directly from your super account, so they don’t affect your take home pay.

Don’t put it off any longer – you never know what’s around the corner.

Call us on 1800 222 209 today.

The truth about super

If you believe everything you read, super is in the toilet – and if you believe that, pretty soon your confidence will be, too.

The media has been full of hype, hysteria and misinformation. Amid a tough market cycle, these fibs and fictions are damaging members’ confidence in super. And this, in turn is making a fluid situation more unstable.

The truth is, you can be confident about super. Your super savings are secure, your money is getting a return over the long-term, it's working for the whole economy and it's gearing up for your retirement. The reality is, when you look at the big picture, most people in most funds are better off, over time, with their retirement savings in super than, say, putting all their money in a term deposit.

So, rather than being concerned, be positive and focus on super as an important long-term investment. Before you know it, you’ll be retiring comfortably.

Quadrant scores gold again

Woo hoo! Quadrant has been ranked amongst the top super funds in Australia for the seventh consecutive year by taking a proactive approach to remaining independent.

We’re the only Tasmanian-owned industry super fund to have received a gold rating seven years running and our pension product is also gold-rated.

Announcing the results, Quadrant CEO Wayne Davy said the outcome of the national survey conducted by independent super fund researchers, SuperRatingsTM, proves that a small, local company can be a strong competitor in the marketplace.

‘A seventh consecutive gold rating shows we’re getting it right,’ Wayne says.

‘In an age of mergers and takeovers, Quadrant Super is committed to remaining an independent, standalone boutique fund, so its members can continue to deal with local people and receive personal service.

‘We achieve economies of scale through strategic partnerships, so we can deliver competitive products and services to our members while remaining a standalone Tassie fund,’ Wayne says.

‘We take care of our members’ accounts in house. Their calls to us are never directed to an offshore call centre and we always handle their correspondence right here in our Tassie office.’

Want to chat about your super with a local? Call us on 1800 222 209.

4 tips to de-stress in tough economic times

With the unpredictability of the market, it’s easy to feel down about personal finances, the economy and job security.

Here are four tips that will help you shrink your stress levels and survive these tough economic times.

1. Stop keeping up with the Jones’

   Put down those Gucci glasses and step away from the Beamer. The sky will not fall if you don’t have the latest iPhone. Be realistic about what you can and can’t afford. Believe it or not, you’ll feel better if you keep those extra dollars in your pocket.

2. Bargain hunt

   Have you ever noticed how everyday items and necessities seem eat away at your pay? Reduce your grocery bill, clothing expenses, fuel costs and more by looking for sales, specials and discounts. Two dollars doesn’t seem like a lot. But two dollars every day is over $700 in a year.

3. Find free stuff

   When things are tough, we all need a pick-me-up. Most of the pick-me-ups we’re accustomed to cost money, from manicures to mocha lattes. Just because summer in the Mediterranean is off the agenda, doesn’t mean you can’t explore your own backyard. Picnic on the beach, visit the museum or enjoy a free concert in the park.

4. Balance your budget

   I can hear the groan... Budgeting is the last thing you want to do, especially when your financial situation isn’t the greatest. But figuring out exactly where you stand financially is a lot better than hoping and praying that it’s all going to work out. Plus, it will let you make the adjustments you need to survive. (And that might be the best stress relief of all.)