TAL is urging of advisers to add value for their clients not just in terms of serving their financial health but by also adding support in the areas of physical and mental wellbeing.
TAL General Manager of Health Services Dr Priya Chagan, explains in a statement why now, more than ever, preventative health should be a priority for advisers and their clients.
She says that Covid-19 is continuing to have far-reaching consequences for many Australians, spanning physical, mental, and financial health.
“As a financial adviser, the crucial role you play in enabling the financial health of your clients is well documented, but you can also have an important role to play when it comes to promoting physical and mental wellbeing.”
Chagan says that modelling positive behaviours around health prevention “…and ensuring that preventative health is discussed during annual client reviews may encourage clients to make better decisions regarding their health.”
…educating clients on the interconnectedness between physical, mental and financial health will also help them make informed … decisions…
“Educating clients on the interconnectedness between physical, mental and financial health will also help them make informed health and wellbeing decisions.”
She adds that the impact of the pandemic is evident in TAL’s research, which found that 40 percent of Australians delayed visiting their GP due to Covid-19, while 30 percent admitted they have not prioritised their skin health in the past year because of Covid-19 (see: TAL Launches 2021 Skin Safety Report).
“These findings are echoed by a recent Cancer Australia report revealing substantial reductions in procedures for cancer-related investigations and treatment in 2020, with the observed number of therapeutic procedures related to melanoma 14 percent lower than expected nationally,” the statement says.
TAL notes that while it has seen a positive shift, it knows there remains a job to be done to empower and encourage people to be more actively involved in their skin health.
To support advisers with their client conversations around the importance of regular skin checks, the insurer has developed a number of online resources and content around skin safety, which can be accessed here.
