Silvan Ridge Wealth

Before you retire, your most important asset is your ability to earn income.

And if the past few years have taught us anything, it's that life is unpredictable.

Income Protection Insurance guards against the unexpected, and pays a portion of your income if you're unable to work.

Get in touch to understand your options.

Wondering where your money's going? You might be surprised at how much is being leaked on subscriptions, especially the ones you'd planned to cancel within the trial period.

Here's your friendly reminder to check your bank statement and do a stocktake of whether you actually need each and every one of these subscriptions.

Even a $39 subscription is $468 over the course of a year, and it makes sense you'd keep this money in your pocket, rather than donate it to someone else.

When deciding what to keep and what to cancel, work out the cost per use to get a good gauge on whether it's worth it.

There's been talk in recent years about the fact Australia will soon face the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history.

Seems a bit morbid, doesn't it? But that might be the problem - no one wants to talk about it.

Over half of us don't have a will, yet hope that our children will invest their inheritance wisely.

Time to get talking to our families about money!

One of the most common misconceptions about income protection is that the tax deductibility makes it 'almost free.' It doesn't – but it does reduce the real cost meaningfully. On a marginal tax rate of 37%, a $3,000 annual premium effectively costs around $1,890 after tax.

Understanding the tax treatment of each policy type helps you structure your cover in the most cost-effective way. Let's talk through what that looks like for you.

Most people pick a life insurance figure based on what feels like 'enough.' Very few have actually done the calculation. The real number is the sum of everything your income currently services – your mortgage, your family's living costs, your children's education – over the time period your family would need it.

For families with young children and a mortgage, that figure is often significantly higher than their current cover.

Ask us to run the numbers with you.

Income protection is one of the most customisable insurance products available – which means the version you have might look very different from the version you need.

A 90 day waiting period sounds manageable until you're three months into a recovery with no income.

A two year benefit period sounds long until you're diagnosed with something that takes longer. The structure of the policy matters as much as having one. Let's review yours.

An insurance review isn't about selling more cover – it's about making sure what you have still fits your life.

Policies taken out five years ago were designed for the version of you that existed then. Your income has likely changed.

Your debts, your family, your assets – all different. The review is complimentary. What it finds might not be. Book yours today.

Premium structure is one of the most financially significant decisions in a life insurance policy – and one of the least discussed.

Stepped premiums look attractive at 35. By 55, the same policy can cost three to four times more. Level premiums cost more upfront but provide far greater certainty for long-term holders.

If you're planning to hold cover until retirement, the cumulative difference in premiums can be substantial. Worth modelling before you decide.

Non-disclosure doesn't have to be intentional to void a claim.

If information that was material to the insurer's decision to offer cover wasn't included at application, the policy can be treated as if it never existed.