All too often they get broken even before we’ve seen out January! I for one have already managed to break at least one resolution made this year, sad I know, but true.

However, if you have been able to keep up resolutions from past years, read on…

Firstly, as this is the first blog since the beginning of 2010 this is the first opportunity I have to wish you a belated Happy New Year. I am really optimistic about this year as I think we have all had enough of feeling fed up with all the bad news of 2009.

As we all know a country-wide smoking ban was imposed back in the summer of 2007 and since then thousands of people have been giving up smoking as part of their New Year’s resolutions.

If you were good enough to have toughed it out and given up the dreaded weed for more than a year, then you could be in-line to save up to 40% on your life

insurance premiums, for any policies you had taken out whilst a smoker! As long as you’ve not smoked for over one year then these huge savings can be realised, affording a significant saving for anyone in this situation.

I know that it’s all too easy to turn a blind eye to this type of thing but the process of reviewing your circumstances couldn’t be simpler and won’t cost you anything, so what have you got to lose, other than your hard earned cash!

In fact, if you’ve had life cover in place for more than a few years, irrespective of becoming a non-smoker, it’s likely you could save too, as premiums have come down over recent years as a consequence of insurer’s data on life expectancy.

Additionally, it’s quite common that individual’s circumstances change over time and consequently their existing life protection can now have become unsuitable for their needs.

Now is a really good time to see if you can save money on your existing protection policies and reward yourself for keeping up with at least one of your New Year’s resolutions from previous years!

Of course you would!

When we look to the future, the last thing we want is something to threaten our financial security, or our ambitions and desires. The problem is – life doesn’t always go according to plan!

We are often so busy earning an income and getting on with our lives that we often forget to consider the consequences if that income should suddenly reduce or stop.

You will no doubt already insure your house, possessions and car, but what about the most important thing – you? Although we all hope to live a long and healthy life, illness can strike without warning, with devastating effects on your everyday life, so just think for a minute…

…what would happen if you were unable to work due to illness?

Would you be able to pay your mortgage each month?

Would you be able to meet all your monthly commitments?

How long would your savings last?

We live in an uncertain world where maintaining financial security is essential, which is why you need to ensure that you, your home, your family, your income and your lifestyle are

protected if the worst should happen.

Can you put a price on life?

Of course not, no amount of money can ever compensate for the death of a loved one. However, whilst it cannot ease the pain, cash from a life insurance policy can help with financial difficulties that often arise as a result.

Furthermore, it is very important to consider insuring for a critical Illness. This type of cover is designed to provide money for people who suffer an illness that significantly affects their life. Critical illness insurance will cover you and your family against the financial impact of a critical illness and the resulting loss of income through sickness.

Income protection is also a must, because put in the same situation, how will your loved ones pay for the necessities in life – food, birthdays, bills; everyday things that are still needed, when you are no longer there to provide for them?

You may already have some or all of these plans in place, that’s great; however it’s worth reviewing them regularly as circumstances change.  In particular, if you’ve given up smoking in the last 12 months, you will find non-smoker rates are substantially cheaper.  It might be that as a smoker you took out mortgage protection, you’ve now given up; therefore you could be paying substantially more than you should be!

Make the leap to a better PROTECTED life!