There are more than two million small businesses in Australia – around half of which have owners aged over 50 – but where a significant number lack appropriate protection for their owners and their employees, states MetLife.
Michael Mulholland, Chief Distribution Officer at the firm, says for many Australian families, their business represents both a source of income and a retirement asset that requires appropriate business insurance and succession planning.
“Small businesses power our economy and are often the cornerstone of a family’s future,” he says. “Advisers play a crucial part in helping businesses build resilience and secure their futures.”
He says business insurance plays a central role in supporting continuity and financial stability when unexpected events occur, adding that key person protection can help manage the risks associated with losing individuals critical to business operations, while debt protection aims to ensure business liabilities do not become a personal burden for owners.
Succession planning support can assist business owners in managing both planned and unforeseen transitions.
Mulholland says MetLife is the only insurer that allows the TPD sum insured to be greater than the death sum insured within the same linked policy, which “can help cover Capital Gains Tax liabilities and supports small businesses that rely on life insurance to manage key person risk”.
Additional services available through MetLife’s 360Health program include mental health support, return-to-work assistance and preventative care for business owners and key employees.
