"My friend says there's no need for more coverage for me as I do not intend to have children”

Said one of my Orphan Policies aka OP (customers whose servicing agent is no longer with the company). "Anything happens to her (Orphan Policy), just call her parents, they are super rich and we have a plan.” said her friend who turned a few heads 2 tables away with his utterance. I ferociously muted my full arsenal of retorts ... -_-!!!

Its a scorching day and I was grateful that we were seated in an air-conditioned coffee joint in TPY Hub. Her friend was seated beside her that day, bellowing his assurance barely 30cm apart from the next table vis a vis our current social distancing requirements from Covid 19.

Both of them are in their mid-30s and renting together in a nearby condo and working at a nearby MNC after getting their MBAs 10 years ago. I have had heard and handled many objections but to swiftly discharge all responsibilities to parents was the first then...

Her policy listing indicated a thin line consisting of a singular plan; Integrated Shield Plan purchased with the CPF medishield account. No attached rider and nothing else. Normally in a situation like this, I would execute a Ninjitsu style egress to preserve my Zen, but that day I wanted to satisfy my curiosity... I looked onto my OP's eyes and asked, gently. "If I hear it right, anything happens to you, your parents will be called upon to settle the bills and all? Also, I hope this is not "The Plan" you are talking about?" I managed to suppress a scoff with much travail.

OP’s eyes darted off to the line on my list and back to meet mine, something changed which made her called me 2 weeks later asking, "What's my options?" That question helped her to understand that with no Liquidity and poor saving ratio, she had little options with her lifestyle of decadence.

In less than 5 years, her parents lost all their factories and were sued by partners, her then-friend left her, after living off her for more than 7 years. Left her job quoting: "That obnoxious and incompetent fool gave me a ludicrous appraisal score and then moved me out of my dept I built from scratch .”

If that's not bad enough, she was struck by a rare disease that fully paralyzed her. Visiting her countless times both in TTSH community hospital for her physios became part of my routine for months, mainly to encourage her and also to assure the business office that the bills will be taken care of.

Although, the hospital bill was cleared, plus a little more, it does not compensate for the loss of her income. Without this, her standard of living has since crash landed while fix and variable expenses shot up due to outstanding installments/interest and alternative treatment. All this time, nothing heard from her "friend”….

The proverbial "My friend said/I think I dun need" has definitely earned a spot as one of the top objections for many financial consultants. It's also common for people who are young,

and hearty to have a strange sense of entitlement and myopic views on personal health.

You are qualified, certified, and backed by more than 10,000 hours of training, live cases, real experiences with laughter, tears, and sweat. And u wonder in what capacity of knowledge and pertinent experiences do the "friends" have to bluff anyone.....

Dear Class, earn your prospect's trust, do the right thing. 😉

The above was based on real event, inspired by an article I read. That OP has since recovered and currently working hard to discharge from bankruptcy.