When Robyn's husband died unexpectedly,
life suddenly became very real
Life at our place was always busy. Whether we were
running our four kids around to sporting events, trying
to fulfil orders for my husband’s growing home
business, or running my beauty salon – there was
always plenty going on. And then there was Bruce. If
he wasn’t working hard on building his business, he’d
be off riding his motorbike. A normal family life.
There was knock at the door… they didn’t
come for a leg wax
This particular Friday started off pretty normal. Three kids had gone to school. My oldest off to work. Bruce
had his bike set up and ready to go on a run down to Melbourne via Mt Hotham, with the usual promise
he’d text me when he arrived.
The day in the salon was going along fine. I hadn't heard anything from Bruce saying he’d arrived safely,
but thought nothing more about it.
Later that afternoon, I received a knock at the door from two police officers waiting to see me. That's when
part of me said ‘I don't think they want their legs waxed’. The other part of me went into automatic mode. I
knew what they were going to say before they said it but it was like someone had just slowed that moment
in time right down. Life had suddenly spun out of control. Bruce had been involved in a fatal motor bike
accident.
Life but not as we know it, we were prepared
Life would have been a totally different story if we hadn't set up life insurance. I would have had to sell the
house, move into town and rent. Try and get four kids settled back into school. Sell anything that I could to
get money. Go out and get work. To start again would have been hard.
But my story could have been different
Only months prior, my husband had actually spoken to our financial advisor to reduce or potentially cancel
his life insurance - thinking at the time he could use the money to pay off a loan. I didn't have any insurance
and nor did my children. But since he was the main money earner his insurance was our main concern.
My husband got great advice from Crowe Horwath and decided only to reduce it, not cancel it.
What price can you put on losing the ability to run a normal life or live comfortably without the worry of how
we are going to pay the bills? Money cannot buy you happiness but it really helps.
Especially when you’re at your wits’ end. You’ve just lost your soul mate. Your kids have just lost their Dad.
And all life seems to throw at you is bills and paperwork.
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