“My savings saved my heart – and my life”

Last updated on 12th December, 2018 at 09:12 am

Father of four and grandfather of two, Bruce Michale Dakers, 58 shares how his savings saved his life – and gave him a chance to spend more time with his family. 

“Like any other person looking to accumulate wealth, I always knew that saving is the key to ensuring my finances are in healthy shape. I started a savings plan with Sanlam more than a decade ago, and this was primarily for emergencies and to ensure that my children had an education fund and their future was secure.

“Over the past decade, my financial advisor taught me more about my finances and the importance of having risk management as a key element of my portfolio. What started out as a casual savings journey, turned out be a saving grace when life’s challenges hit.

“I’m glad I took my broker’s advice”

“In 2015 I had to undergo a heart bypass surgery. It was a stressful time for my family because like any operation, it’s hard to predict the outcome. We take life for granted and forget that one day we could be sharing a meal with family and enjoying quality time, and the next we could be gone.

“While medical aid plays a role in providing the security we need, sometimes it’s not enough – especially for expensive treatments like heart surgery. I’m glad I took my broker’s advice to add risk management to my portfolio. Within days Sanlam paid out R1.2-million, guaranteeing that my medical expenses were covered and easing the stress on me and my family.

“Savings bought me more time with my family”

“We’re never fully prepared for life’s uncertainties; we plan our savings with specific goals in mind and very rarely do we plan for the health-related issues which pose a risk to our lives and that of our family. Going through this process taught me that it’s important to have professional help when it comes to handling your finances and lead you in the right direction.

“Not only did saving save my life, it also bought me more time to spend with my family. It was also a reminder life is too short and it’s important to maintain and keep our health a top priority. Your financial health plays a vital role to your overall health – make sure that both are in good condition.”

Ready to secure your financial future? Speak to a qualified financial planner to find the best options to suit you – request a meeting here. And remember: as a Sanlam Reality member, you can get up to 100% off primary asset management fees with Sanlam Investment’s flagship funds. Find out more, here.