Om met kliente te werk is nie aldag maklik nie, dit vat ‘n spesifieke persoonlikheid en dit is die maatstaf waarop al ons personeel gemeet word. Hulle moet vriendelik, toegewyd, spontaan, selfstandig, vol selfvertroue, simpatiek en nog baie dinge wees. Nie net werk ons met kliente se versekering nie, maar ons word ook deel van die goeie en slegte tye wat hul ondervind. So deel ons ook ons goeie en slegte tye met ons kliente en dit noem ek ‘n “verhouding”.
To work with clients is not always easy, it takes a certain personality and it is the benchmark that all our staff are measured by. They must be kind, dedicated, spontaneous, independent, confident, sympathetic and many other things. Not only do we work with clients’ insurance, but we also become part of the good and bad times they experience. So we also share our good and bad times with our clients and I call this a “relationship”.
Uit Karin se dagboek: Sedert ons vorige “Leer ons ken” plasing het ek weer Ouma geword van klein Melverie en ook van klein Katinka. Net dogtertjies!! Sommer 3 kleinkinders binne ‘n jaar en wat ‘n wonderlike gevoel is dit nie. Tyd staan beslis nie stil nie en met die inperking is dit of ek heeltemal tred verloor het. Daar is net geen beplanning of doen dinge soos reis en kuier by die kinders nie. Memories vanaf die inperking is soos ‘n groot blank en dit is omdat niks gebeur nie. Ons sit by die huis en ja ek werk, maar waar is die lekker onthou dinge….. Wat die werk betref is ons baie besig. Kliente is bekommerd oor premies en hulle finansies noodsaak hulle om terug te sny. Ons het polisse verminder en op premie vakansie gesit, kliente moed ingepraat en oor en oor verseker dat Covid nie onder doodsdekking uitgesluit is nie 😉 Die kort-termyn maatskappye met krediete gegee en was baie hulpvaardig, Ou Mutual het premie vakansies bewerkstellig soos nog nooit tevore gedoen is nie en ek is daarvoor baie dankbaar. Ons was almal saam in dieselfde bootjie en het saam oplossings gekry. Ons is al besig om polisse te herstel en is daar beslis ‘n meer positiewe uitkyk ten opsigte van kliente se finansies wat normaliseer. Ek bly bekommerd oor kliente wat steeds swaar kry en wil almal aanmoedig om te praat oor wat pla en advies te vra. Ons was aanvanklike rustig oor 3 weke inperking, wat later en steeds in frustrerende maande verander het. Ek kon tot ongeveer twee weke gelede nog sê ek ken niemand wat positief getoets het nie, en dit het oornag verander met kliente en vriende wat positief getoets het. Ek wag in spanning om toegelaat te word om Doha toe te vlieg om by my nuutste kleinkind uit te kom. Die idee om Desember met swemklere aan op die strand te lê met ‘n masker aan is vir my nog vreemd 😊 en wonder ek dikwels wat die feestyd reels gaan wees. As daar iets is wat Covid my geleer het, is dit geduld en om te besef dat hoe ek ook daaroor tob en bekommer, ek niks daaraan kan doen nie en tweedens, dat ‘n spaargeldjie in die bank of spaar polis gemoedsrus gee vir onvoorsiene tye. Ek gaan om te spaar bemark soos nooit tevore nie tot my kliente luister.
From Karin’s diary: Since our previous “Get to know us” placement, I have again become Grandma of small Melverie and also of little Katinka. Just girls !! 3 grandchildren within a year and what a wonderful feeling it is. With the isolation situation I am losing track of time. It is middle of the year and the first half is one big blank space…. There is just no planning or doing things like traveling and visiting with the children. We sit at home and yes, I work, but where are the nice things to remember… .. As far as work is concerned we are very busy. Clients are concerned about premiums and their finances require them to cut back. We reduced policies and put them on premium holidays, talked to clients and kept repeating that Covid was not excluded under death cover 😊. We were all in the same boat and found solutions together. We are already restoring policies and there is certainly a more positive outlook on clients’ finances that is normalizing. I remain concerned about clients who are still suffering and want to encourage everyone to talk about what is bothering them and ask for advice. Until about two weeks ago I didn’t know anyone who tested positive for the virus, but that changed overnight with clients and friends who tested positive. I am anxiously waiting to be allowed to fly to Doha to visit my newest grandchild. The idea of wearing beachwear in December with a mask on is still strange to me 😊 and I often wonder what this coming festive season will be like. If there is anything Covid taught me, it is patience and to realize that no matter how much I worry about situations, I can’t do anything about it and secondly, that having some kind of savings in a bank or policy gives peace of mind in uncertain times. I will definitely focus on encouraging clients to save more.
Diens: Ek is by Ou Mutual ‘n Adviseur vir lewens produkte, spaar en aftrede en het Karin Swart Insurance Brokers vir korttermyn versekering vir motor en inhoud, ens dekking. Begin in 1992 by Ou Mutual Persoonlike Finansiële Advies in Virginia, Vrystaat en vandag nog in diens by Ou Mutual. Begin in 2010 my eie Makelary – Karin Swart Insurance Brokers- vir korttermyn (motor, huis inhoud, besigheid, ens) na die behoefte geïdentifiseer is om meer maatskappye beskikbaar te hê as opsies vir kliënte se versekerings behoeftes. Beste besluit ooit en met Genade van Bo gaan ons van krag tot krag. Dikwels word ek gevra of ek nie met ander lewens maatskappye ook werk nie. Wel, ek het dit nog nooit nodig gevind nie. Ek ken Ou Mutual, ek het vertroue in hulle produk en ook die ondervinding daarvan. Mens verander van maatskappy oor ontevredenheid oor iets. Ek is tevrede en daarom bly ek ‘n Mutualiet.
Service: I am an Old Mutual Advisor for life cover products, savings and retirement options and started Karin Swart Insurance Brokers for Short-term Insurance like car, contents, etc cover. I Started in 1992 at Old Mutual Personal Financial Advice in Virginia, Free State. After all this time I am still a loyal Old Mutual Advisor. In 2010 I established Karin Swart Insurance Brokers as I saw the need to be able to offer my clients more Short-term (business, car, content and building) company options. Best decision I ever made!! I am often asked why am I only working with Old Mutual in the life insurance (Death, disability, etc) side and well, I’ve never found it necessary. I know Old Mutual, I have confidence in their product and also their experience.
Jou goeie kwaliteite: Hardwerkend/ Positief/ Innoverend/ Skuif altyd die grense – pak projekte aan/ Vrygewig/ floreer onder druk/ hou nie boek van “ou Koeie” nie. As dit verby is, is dit verby/ altyd oop vir ander idees en opinies
Your good qualities: Hardworking / Positive / Innovative / Always pushing the boundaries – tackling projects / Generous / thriving under pressure / always open to other ideas and opinions
Jou slegte kwaliteite: Impulsief/ hou nie van konflik nie (kan seker ‘n goeie en slegte kwaliteit wees….) / oordink gebeure: My nuwe leuse is “ Observe, don’t Absorb” – ek het op die harde manier geleer dat mense, wat jy sê en doen op heeltemal ‘n ander manier kan opneem as wat jy bedoel het.
Your bad qualities: Impulsive / dislike conflict (is this good or bad?) / contemplate events: My new motto is “Observe, don’t Absorb” – I learned the hard way that what you say and do can be understood as something totally different than how you meant it to be.
Wat maak jou gelukkig: Planne maak – ek wil kan se volgende week doen ek dit, die maand daarna doen ek dat, so en so maand gaan ons soontoe, ens, ens. Sedert die Covid inperking het my prioriteite baie verander. Skielik is my vryheid om te reis en vriende en familie te besoek weggeneem en het kontak met my familie ‘n prioriteit geraak. Skielik is om net om die blok te ry ‘n groot uitstappie… Om videos van my kinders en kleinkinders te kry is spesiaal.
What makes you happy: Planning and to do lists – I want to say next week I am doing this, the month after that I will be doing that, so and so month we go there, etc, etc. Since the Covid restriction, my priorities have changed a lot. Suddenly, my freedom to travel and visit friends and family was taken away and contact with my family became a priority. Also, just being able to drive around in my neighbourhood a big treat…. Getting videos of my children and grandchildren is special.
Wat maak jou hartseer/angstig: Propaganda maak my mismoedig en hartseer. Die snert wat as die waarheid oor sosiale media verkondig word en mense wat dit glo en versprei. Die negatiewe nuus wat bloots gery word en almal in sak en as laat sit wyl daar soveel positiewe dinge is wat gebeur. Alles is nie sleg en negatief en teen jou nie. Dit is elke persoon se keuse om op positiewe dinge of op negatiewe dinge te konsentreer. Deur watter bril kyk jy na die lewe? Dit waarmee jy jou ophou, word jou lewe.
In my werk as Finansiele Adviseur vir omtrent 30 jaar het ek herhaaldelik gesien hoe mense nie vir aftrede wil spaar nie. Dit is net nie vir hulle ‘n prioriteit nie. Nou se motors en lekker lewe laat nie spasie vir spaar nie. Oor en oor sien ek hoe mense wat rojaal gelewe het, as boemelaars moet aftree met skaars 30 % van hul salarisse – wat ‘n hartseer dag en word aftrede iets waaroor gedroom en beplan is, ‘n nagmerrie ondervinding met kinders wat moet ingryp en help. Daai pensioen wat vooraf getrek is om die huis of motor klaar te betaal, is dit nie werd nie. Nooit kan daai geld weer opgemaak word nie, maar ek kan praat oor die gevolge tot ek moeg is……
What makes you sad / anxious: Propaganda makes me feel discouraged and sad. Fake news proclaimed as the truth on social media and people who believe and spread it. Negative news that dominate over all the good and many positive things happening all over the world. Everything is not bad and negative and against you. It is every person’s choice to focus on positive or negative things. What you live becomes your life. Through which glassed do you look at life…negative or positive?
In my job as Financial Advisor for about 30 years, I have repeatedly seen people not wanting to save for retirement. It’s just not a priority for them. Luxury cars, travel and expensive property leave no room for savings. Many times I have seen people who have lived good lives while working, retiring with barely 30% of their salaries – what a sad day when retirement that has been dreamed and planned for years becomes a nightmare experience with children who need to intervene and help. Drawing Pension- or Provident fund long before retirement to pay off the car or house is not worth it. That money can never be accumulated again, it is a trend I will never be able to stop no matter how I explain the consequences.
Wat behels jou werk: Karin Swart Insurance Brokers is my Korttermyn Maatskappy. Hier bied ons aan kliente verskeie maatksappye se kwotasies as opsies vir versekering op motor, huis inhoud, ens. dekking. Ou Mutual is waar ek kliente help met Doodsdekking, Begrafnis, Ongeskiktheid, Gevreesde siekte, Spaarplanne en Beleggings asook Aftree- en Boedel beplanning. Covid het kliente beslis meer bewus gemaak van verganklikheid en het ons baie navrae oor doodsdekking en ongeskiktheid gekry. Kliente besef nie hoe belangrik is ‘n testament nie en die rol wat begunstigdes speel op doodsdekking, Pensioen fondse en Uittredings Annuiteite. Daar is verskillende reels en sal net jou Finansiele Adviseur dit aan jou verduidelik. Na ongeveer 30 jaar by Ou Mutual het ek ‘n redelike klientebasis. Ek moedig my kliente aan om my te kontak vir afsprake om hersiening van polisse en testamente te doen aangesien ek nie altyd self by almal uitkom nie.
What your job entails: Karin Swart Insurance Brokers is my Short Term Company. We offer our clients multiple company quotations as options on motor, content, business, etc. cover. Old Mutual is my go to company for Death cover, Funeral, Disability, Severe Illness, Savings and Investment as well as Retirement- and Estate Planning. Covid made clients more aware of their mortality and I received a lot of queries about death and disability cover. Clients must realize how important it is to have a Will and the roll Beneficiaries play on certain policies. Rules differ on beneficiaries for death cover and Pension savings. A Financial Advisor will be able to explain the very important difference. After almost 30 years with Old Mutual I have a huge client base, I encourage my clients to contact me for an appointment to review existing policies and their Will as I do not always get to contact everyone.
Watter deel van jou werk geniet jy die meeste: Die verhouding/vriendskap wat ek met my kliënte en personeel het/ As die beleggings groei (nogal ‘n moeilike een in ons huidige ekonomiese klimaat)/ Om nuwe produkte of programme baas te raak laat my baie slim voel en het ons sopas ons nuwe lewens produk Old Mutual Insure bekend gestel/ Om bekwaam te wees as ‘n kliënt voor my sit en die nodige advies te kan gee.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most: The relationship I have with my clients and staff / As the investments grow (quite a difficult one in our current economic climate)/ Getting to grips with new products or programs. Our new Life cover product Old Mutual Insure will be launched soon / To be competent if a client sits in front of me and give the necessary advice and guidance/solution
Wat is jou drome vir die toekoms: Ek tob nie baie oor die toekoms nie, maar droom wel oor om te reis (oorsee en plaaslik). Ek wil ‘n Camino gaan stap en ek wil ‘n Bybelse toer beleef. Ek wil saam Etienne oud word en my kinders en kleinkinders geniet en aktief deel daarvan wees. Ek wil ‘n rol speel in ander mense se geluk en voorspoed soos my Vader my lei en geleenthede op my pad sit.
What are your dreams for the future: I don’t worry much about the future, but I do dream about traveling (overseas and locally). I want to do a Camino walk and I want to experience a biblical tour. I want to grow old with Etienne and enjoy my children and grandchildren and play an active part in their lives. I want to play a role in other people’s happiness and prosperity as my Heavenly Father guides me and puts opportunities in my path.