Call Us Today
info@jvfs.co.nz
Tauranga, Bay of PlentyPeople think insurance is about policies and premiums. It isn’t.
It’s about the birthdays still waiting to be celebrated. The children who get to stay in their own home. The husband who can focus on getting better instead of the mortgage. The wife who can finally sleep, knowing tomorrow is still possible.
Over the years I’ve sat with families on the hardest days of their lives. These are a few of their stories — shared so you can picture what really matters, long before you ever need to.
— Jan Viljoen, JV Financial Services
$400,000+ paid · Mortgage clearedThe phone call that changed everything
It was just after eight in the morning when my phone rang. The voice on the other end was shaking. “Jan… I don’t know where to start.” Her husband, only in his early forties, had suffered a major stroke. Two young children. A mortgage. And one income that had just vanished overnight.
She wasn’t asking which policy they had. She asked the only question that mattered: “What do we do now?” I told her the thing I wish every family in New Zealand could hear: “You don’t have to worry about the money. We’ve got this.”
We handled the paperwork, dealt with the insurer, and kept them in the loop. When the claim was approved, more than $400,000 was paid. The mortgage was gone. The medical bills were covered. And his wife could care for him without lying awake wondering how the next payment would be made.
“Jan, you didn’t just arrange insurance. You gave us time. You gave us choices. You gave us our future back.”
$60,000 + $4,500/month paidWhy I believe in insurance — because I had to claim it
People often ask why I’m so passionate about protecting Kiwi families. The honest answer is simple: I’ve lived it. Back in 2017 I had no history of heart problems. Then came the diagnosis — coronary artery disease, and I needed five coronary artery bypass grafts. Five.
Lying in that hospital bed before open-heart surgery, I wasn’t thinking about work. I was thinking about my family, and what would happen if I couldn’t earn. Fortunately, two years earlier, I’d taken my own advice and put Trauma Cover and Income Protection in place.
My Trauma Cover paid out around $60,000, lifting the pressure straight away. And because I couldn’t work for six months, my Income Protection paid me roughly $4,500 every month. That gave me the one thing every recovering person truly needs — time to heal, without the constant worry about money.
“I’ve been the one in the hospital bed. I’ve waited for a claim to be approved. I’ve felt the relief of hearing the words: your claim has been accepted.”
$850,000+ paid · A first home of their ownThe home he never got to come home to
He was 41, a farmer — early starts, long days, a lifetime of physical work. Then, without any warning, a devastating stroke left him permanently disabled. He would never work again, and in time it became clear he’d need full-time care.
For his wife, the weight was almost unimaginable — watching her husband fight for his life while quietly wondering how she’d keep a roof over their heads. But years earlier, they’d made one quiet, important decision. They’d protected their future.
We went to work with the insurers straight away so the family could focus on what mattered. His Trauma Cover paid. His Permanent Disability Cover paid. Together the family received more than $850,000 — and for the first time, after years of renting, they were able to buy a home of their own. The children finally had stability.
“We couldn’t save him from the stroke… but you helped save our future.”
$75,000 paid · She survivedThe young mum who got her future back
She was only 28. Young, busy, full of plans — at the stage of life where cancer is the very last thing on your mind. Then came the words no one ever wants to hear: breast cancer. In a single appointment, her whole world tilted.
Thankfully, a few years earlier, she’d made one very important decision — she’d taken out Trauma Cover. When the claim was accepted, she received $75,000. It didn’t take the cancer away, but it gave her breathing space: time to rest when her body needed it, and the freedom to focus on getting well instead of worrying about money.
And then came the best part of the story. She survived. She got through the treatment, got her strength back, and got her future back. Sometimes a claim isn’t about death at all — it’s about survival, dignity, and the support to live again.
$20,000 paid · Back on his feetOne ride changed everything
He’d been riding motorbikes for decades — experienced, careful, confident. He never imagined a routine ride would end with an ambulance. A split-second loss of control left him with multiple broken bones, surgery, and months of recovery.
When we first arranged his insurance, we’d included an Accidental Injury Benefit — a kind of cover a lot of people don’t even realise exists. After the accident, we walked him through the claim, and his policy paid out around $20,000, helping with the unexpected costs while he healed.
Not every claim is measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes it’s simply about getting someone through an unexpected chapter without piling financial strain on top of everything else.
“I never thought I’d actually need it. I’m certainly glad I had it.”
Common questions about claims
Does trauma cover pay out for cancer?
Yes. Trauma cover (also called critical illness cover) pays a tax-free lump sum when you’re diagnosed with a covered condition — such as cancer, a stroke or a heart attack. In one of the stories above, a 28-year-old mum diagnosed with breast cancer received $75,000, which gave her the freedom to stop work and focus on recovery.
What happens to my income if I can’t work?
Income Protection replaces a portion of your income — usually paid monthly — if illness or injury stops you working. When Jan couldn’t work for six months after heart surgery, his Income Protection paid roughly $4,500 every month, so the mortgage and bills were still covered while he healed.
Do you handle the claim paperwork for me?
Yes. When something happens, you call us — not a call centre. We deal with the insurer, gather the medical evidence, complete the paperwork and manage the whole process, so your family can focus on what actually matters. You never have to fight the system on your own.
Are these real claims?
Yes. Every story on this page is a real claim handled by JV Financial Services. Some names and details have been changed, and the photography is illustrative, to protect each family’s privacy.
How much cover do I actually need?
It depends on your mortgage, your income and the people who rely on you — and the goal is always maximum protection for minimum cost. The simplest way to find out is a free, no-obligation review with Jan, who will give you an honest, jargon-free answer.
If any of these stories sound like your family, let’s have a chat
A free, no-obligation review with Jan — no pressure, no jargon. Just an honest look at whether you and the people you love are properly covered, before life ever asks the question.
Photography on this page is for illustration only and does not depict actual clients. Some names and details have been changed to protect each family’s privacy. These are real claim experiences shared as general information, not personalised financial advice. JV Financial Services — Tauranga, New Zealand.