Zurich to offer pro bono services

Yasmine Raso

Senior Journalist, Financial Newswire

1 June 2023

Zurich Financial Services Australia has forged a partnership with the Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) to provide professional insurance assistance for the more vulnerable.

Zurich’s life insurance advice arm, Zurich Assure, will offer Australians living with or responding to a personal health issue, illness or disability access to pro bono personal insurance advice and insurance claims support and assistance.

Achieved through working with PFAN, the not-for-profit network of professionals, the partnership seeks to improve the financial wellbeing of these individuals by assisting with evaluating claims eligibility; preparing, reviewing and lodging claims applications; and ongoing claims management.

Sandhya Maini, Head of Zurich Assure, said the partnership arose in the wake of recent research conducted by Zurich that found only around 40 per cent of individuals living with an illness or injury that impacts their primary source of income have “sufficient financial resources” to last them for up to two weeks.

“In addition, one in three people indicated they had no financial backup plan in these circumstances,” she said.

“Seeking and obtaining the right advice at the right time can make a significant and positive difference. For this reason, and consistent with our values as an organisation, Zurich remains committed to helping those most in need.”

“Our mission is to help improve the financial wellbeing of Australian’s living with serious illness or disability, by providing pro bono financial advice, and to inspire others to do the same,” Nicola Beswick, PFAN Chair, said.

“Through our PFAN adviser network, we’re able to connect advisers with people who need financial advice assistance and are experiencing significant financial hardship because of a personal health crisis.

“Having the support from trusted brands like Zurich Assure enables us to service more clients and ultimately extend our services to others that need our assistance. We also hope to inspire the next generation of advisers and increase awareness of the value that we bring to others through our profession.”