Today we want to take part in Breast Cancer Awareness month and the great work the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation is doing. They're offering a free "Step-by-step" guide for everyone diagnosed with breast cancer, to guide them through the difficult process.

Breast cancer affects 2750 women every year in NZ, and early detection is the best protection. As Miranda's story shows, cancer is often not a death sentence, but it does change lives profoundly. (In fact, people are living longer than ever, even with cancer diagnoses). The real challenge is ensuring you keep your options open if it happens. We can help you with that.)

Stay tuned for more stories of more remarkable women over the next few weeks, here online, and also in the June issue of Her Magazine.

Find out more about how to self-check, and contact us to see if your insurance cover is up to date.

It sounds daunting. But it needn't be!!

Having a baby should be one of the most thrilling rides of your life, so in order to help you prepare, we have put together a collection of realities to consider.

Marjan Keirk is not only fitting of this title, but she is also our first female adviser. Dean and I are incredibly excited to introduce her to our clients and business contacts and are already enjoying the wealth of experience she is bringing to the team!

Marjan started with us on the 11th of April and has settled in perfectly. Her sense of humour and gregarious nature has enabled a quick development of rapport with our customers and team alike.

A true ambassador of our values - Marjan is an enthusiastic diver and fisherwoman. Be sure to ask her about hot-spots for either when you get the chance to chat!

We are loving the new dynamic created by having both male and female advisers here at BRAVEday and are sure you will too!

Check out Marjan's profile - and get in touch!!

At BRAVEday, we try to blog about things of interest at least once a week. Something that has come up for us as a company recently is the question of "how do we know what our clients want?"  The simple answer is to ask you - you are a real person to us, and not just a number . . . we want to know what you think!!

We have a range of interesting titles coming up on our blogs:

• Fitness/Health Tips
• Business Growth
• Reducing your Home Loan
• Beat Bank Fees
• Travel Tips
• Intellectual Property
• Social Media and Your Business

Your part in this is simple - are these things you would be interested in reading?  Is there anything else you want someone else to do the hard-yards and research?  Leave us a comment to let us know what you think.

Great to see the Retirement Commission getting people more aware of the need for insurance. But life insurance is just the icing on the cake - you need to use insurance as a life planning tool, something that can help you get where you're going.

This is no mundane, run of the mill office job - ours is a busy workplace where no two days are ever the same. If you know of someone on the lookout for an entry-level administration position, have we got the deal for you!

BRAVEday is currently on the hunt for a new Administration Assistant . . . are you looking for a challenging opportunity with an innovative, values based company that is focused on providing exceptional customer service?

Follow the link to our website - your first step in becoming part of this fun and dynamic team.

7 am Saturday morning I wake up, (sigh) - no sleep in…again. I jump on twitter to get my motor racing fix, find out what is happening in the world.

One post reads "Calling all Johnny McIntyre fans near Albany on Auckland's North Shore! I'll be at the new Repco store in Albany from 10 am."  Three time NZ Champ and his new V8 Supertourer  - I'm there!

I turn up, and John is there, and he makes a beeline over "hi mate I'm Johnny Mac" and so begins ten minutes of talking my favourite thing...Cars!

We chat about the F1 in the weekend - rev limiter hard cuts, torque, peak horsepower, over steer and under steer.  We cover the politics of the sport, using terms that only a car junkie would understand.  I get a good look in the car and what a set up!

John notices that I have bought a sponsors product and asks if I will do a shameless photo with him.   He doesn't have to ask me twice, next thing you know I am on his twitter and facebook pages with his fans liking the picture.

Catching up with John made my day.  Good luck with this season mate!

About five years ago my Mum was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Not long after her initial diagnosis I was sitting with a client whose mum had just passed away, also from cancer.   He gave me the best advice I received throughout that very difficult period of my life…

"Dean, just spend time - because it's all you've got left".

My Mum lived another 16 months before she passed away and I really took that advice to heart, and still hang on to it today.  I have passed that same advice on to many friends and clients that have faced a similar period in their lives - the loss of a very close family member.

That one sentence now forms the basis of the advice I give to clients with regards to insurance and helping people understand where to best spend their money.

Our claims experience here at BRAVEday also tells us you are far more likely to make a claim if you suffer a major health scare and survive e.g. heart attack, stroke or cancer, than claim for anything else - even death.

Receiving a cash lump sum as soon as your health starts to deteriorate enables you to retain the choices in your life - like "spending time" with loved ones.   This is one of the most important factors to consider when deciding where your money is best spent on insurance premiums.

How do you achieve this? -  Trauma Insurance.

Do you have enough to "just spend time"?

The new season kicked off on Sunday, at the home of Rugby, Eden Park.

I must admit it was a strange feeling heading to Eden Park with my family for a Warriors game, but what a terrific day.  You can't beat sitting in the sun on a Sunday afternoon watching the footy!

I had forgotten how many emotions and feelings one goes through when watching the Warriors.  Anticipation, excitement, laughter, groaning, head in hands, high fiving, head shaking, joy, disappointment, screaming,  jumping, tension, frustration, let down = it's got it all!

It's great to have the footy back on and experience all these emotions again, packed into an 80 minute timeframe.  Surely this is what life's about.

Go the Warriors!  We really enjoy the ride!

So what does it actually cost?  Below are indicative costs of some common procedures - while these are available on the public health system, having medical insurance ensures that you get the best possible care without the added pressure of lengthy waiting lists.