Testimonials

What people say about our insurance advice...

Dear Robert

Thank you so much for putting together the Trauma Insurance package for me in the last couple of months.

I sincerely appreciate the care and consideration you took in presenting me with all my options and creating the most affordable strategy that will provide a financial foundation for me and my boys should the unthinkable happen.

You really challenged me to think about what is important in my life. Of course it is my children. I realised how little value I had been putting on my worth as the provider for my little family. If I am honest, during the last 15 years of raising kids while balancing a full and complicated family life with a busy career, it was easier to put off planning for my financial security. I told myself it was an expense I could do without and could ill afford. I now realise just how myopic that attitude is. As a single mum I really cannot afford not to do this. If anything should happen to me, I would be financially lost.

Thank you also for the work you put in on my behalf researching my superannuation fund, Media Super, an fund you were not familiar with. You put in an effort above and beyond what I expected. I have been a contributing member to that super fund for well over 15 years, and tough they try to make it accessible there was so much I didn’t understand. For the first time ever I got some specific and expert advice about how to maximise my Income Protection insurance and Life Insurance thorough my Media Super fund. They you went ahead and organised it for me! All I did was sign the form. This gives me an increased income protection at no further cost to me.

Our conversations have also led me to review my Health Insurance and I am now in a plan with a different provider which specifically supports my current needs. So I can more regularly afford the health practices I need for my damaged back – like yoga, osteopathy, naturopathy and massage.

So my journey with EFS has led me to review and reorganise my affairs which isn’t costing me very much but is already having a major and positive impact on my life and future.

I have always suspected that you, Robert, are not actually in the business of selling Income Protection or Trauma Insurance, You are and educator challenging people to value their self worth and to respect their true value to the people who love them most.

The day I paid my first premium I confess I felt a small thrill of pride. I have acknowledged that my life and my income are worth insuring, for my children’s sake.

Al I really, truly did experience… peace of mind.

Amazing.

Yours sincerely

Glenda L

Recently due to injury we lodged a claim with

Essential Financial Services(Robert Bonifacio) on our AVIVA Income Protection Policy.

From the first call of distress nearly 12 months ago, Robert attended to all the matters concerned to ensure the initial application process through to following up on funds being received, with utmost professionalism and accuracy. So many calls of uncertainty were answered anytime of the day with the reassurance that he would find the answer to our request if he didn’t already have it.

Our income protection policy enabled the family to continue to function, without the added burden of no income. As we like many always think we will never need it! But the bills keep coming in.

The funds assisted us with family living expenses and also the opportunity to employ the extra help so the business could still continue and no jobs would be lost.

For Mary the policy cover created a sense of comfort as injury whilst physical can physiologically impact your life and the family around you.

Whilst recovery is happening the long duration can at times leave you feeling inadequate and unable to help. So reducing financial worries just enabled us to keep focused on recovery and supporting each other.

Many thanks to EFS Robert & Racheal Bonifacio and the support and service of staff at

AVIVA Claims Dept.

Yours truly

Mick T

Hi Robert

Just a short email to thank you for all the help that you have given Andrew and I. Your service to us whilst Andrew was recovering from his heart attack help us a great deal. You certainly made every thing stress free for both of us our claim was settled efficiently and without drama. You often think why should we go to all that expense of having life and trauma cover but as we have just learnt it doesn't matter what age you are you never now what’s around the corner and we certainly didn't think Andrew would have a heart attack at the age of 43, all I can say is thank god we had the common sense to have a trauma policy. The trauma cover almost paid our house off and has given Andrew the choice of how hard he wants to work now he can take it easy without that finance pressure....Once again Robert our deepest thank to you ,your Customer service is of the highest standard

Kind regards

Cindy & Andrew C

"When Robert co-ordinated my life cover requirements, he left no stone unturned in respect of the needs of my wife and dependent children, should the unthinkable happen.

As part of our discussions, he recommended trauma insurance in the event of a major illness.  At the time, this additional cost initially seemed unnecessary, but the more I thought about the incidences of cancer, heart disease and so on just among my social circles, I decided to take our trauma insurance.

On August 14 last year I suffered a heart attack out of the blue and was hospitalised for just under a week, had a stent inserted to expand the errant coronary artery, and put on numerous medications, most for life.

I was fortunate: about 46% of heart attacks kill - I survived. I was unable to work for over a month, and have had to revise my working hours and income aspirations. In the short term, my ongoing medical costs in pharmaceuticals alone amount to around $150 per month for ever, plus monthly visits to the GP, blood tests, twice-annual visits to cardiac specialists - significant costs to bear.

So it was with some delight that I received a cheque a couple of months afterwards, compensating me for this coronary event, thanks to trauma insurance.Essential Financial Services handled my claim with great professionalism, attention to detail and no hassles."

Best regards,

Phil H

Dear Robert

In 2003, I took out a Term Life Insurance and Recovery Insurance policy as a fit and healthy 38 year old wife and mother of two young children. I must admit that at the time it was a measure to financially protect my young family in the event of my death. The Recovery insurance policy was not a priority and was really only taken out at the suggestion of my then insurance broker. I must admit that I never imagined that I would be making a claim and receive a payout on this policy 8 years later.

As it happens I was subsequently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis 5 years later. It flared up and hit me very hard and very quickly. Within weeks of the initial symptoms emerging I was virtually incapacitated with joints so inflamed that I couldn’t raise my arms and hands to wash my hair or put on make-up and with knees so swollen I could barely negotiate the tree small steps to our front door. Strong medications have seen my quality of life dramatically improved and although I have returned to the workforce now, it was an unlikely prospect in the first 2 years after diagnosis.

When I asked you and Essential Financial Services to reassess my insurance needs I was surprised when you alerted me to the fact that I may have a potential claim against my Recovery Insurance policy . It had never occurred to me that I may be eligible. I really only imagined it might be used in the event of a heart attack or cancer. I am extremely grateful to you for your knowledge and expertise in this area. It has emphasized to me the importance of regularly reviewing my insurance arrangements.

Essential Financial Services were thorough, diligent and prompt in their work in initiating the claim process with Asteron Insurance and guided me carefully and smoothly through the paperwork, which was surprisingly straight forward. In addition, I found Asteron Insurance claims department staff to be personable and thorough in their approach.

I am thrilled to have received a full payout to the value of my policy at the time of diagnosis which was deposited to my account within 24 hours of notification by Asteron Insurance.

The insurance payment has given my family and me enormous financial flexibility. Obviously my condition can only deteriorate and the future cost of treatment will be considerable. In addition my capacity to continue to work may well decline and these funds have relieved financial pressures and have given me substantial financial security going forward.

Thank you so much Robert for all that Essential Financial Services have done for me in this regard. This outcome is entirely down to you and your team for which I am extremely grateful. I cannot recommend Essential Financial Services highly enough to anyone seeking insurance services.

Kind Regards

Robyn F

Robert Bonafacio has been our insurance advisor for many years now and although we were involved in the selection of insurance services we took out, we mainly relied on Robert to advise us on what was necessary and what wasn't.

Like most people, we felt we probably wouldn't need, and certainly hoped we wouldn't need, the insurances we were paying for. However, a few months ago, my husband, a healthy 49-year old, had a heart attack. It came from out of the blue. It was a very distressing time. However, he has come out of it intact and is recovering but will be on expensive medication for life.

At the hospital, the doctor advised us to ring our insurance company and let them know what had happened. Were it not for that comment, we probably would not have even thought to call them. However, I rang Robert and he was straight on the case, lodging forms and liaising with our insurance company. We weren't even aware that we were covered for something like this.

To cut a long story short, within a few weeks, we were given a generous payout and feel very fortunate that we are the recipients of this. Without Robert's help and advice, we would probably never have taken the policy in the first place and I doubt, without his experience, we would have been the recipient of it as there are so many clauses and exclusions.

We would like to thank Robert for his help and would like to recommend anyone who is considering taking out insurance to contact Robert. He really does have your best interests at heart; he is not recommending policies to line his pocket with no benefit to you. He is a genuine, honest and very decent man who is passionate about what he does - helping people - and he is brilliant at it.

Due to the personal nature of this situation, we have elected not to attach our names to it but if you would like to get a personal reference from us about

Robert's service, we are happy for him to give you our phone number to call us directly.

We never thought we'd have need or cause to have a Trauma policy. Now we can see how valuable it is. You really don't know what is around the next corner.

Yours sincerely,

P&B

As you are aware Gayle's claim for permanent disability has been accepted, and we are most grateful and thankyou sincerely for your assistance.

We have had disability insurance for more than 20 years and at times really wondered whether the amounts paid were worth it. In fact it was re evaluation of our insurance cover in light of retirement planning that caused our paths to cross in the first place. Gayle had developed a physical disability that had rendered her incapable of working and we were looking at reducing our weekly outgoings to meet available income.

Our review with you indicated there was a possibility of success through this insurance, and with your assistance Gayle underwent the claims process, but in all honesty, with no real expectations of a successful outcome. I guess we were sceptical that the Insurer would find some reason or policy wording that would make a successful claim problematic, despite the fact that Gayle would never work again and will have ongoing medical and related costs.

I would like to make two points:

• The insurer AXA have been exemplary with regards the claim. They have been most helpful and supportive during this process. They have kept both Gayle and I up to date, they have been objective and accepting of the medical information in their determinations with no ~dod9in9 and weaving" nor Nputting Gayle through endless medical assessmentsN to come to their decisions. We sincerely thank and recommend AXA as a very good company to deal with .
• Our policies, as I said, were in place many years before we met you. Not knowing the insurance systems very well, the policies were still in the names of insurance agents from 20 years ago. Despite not receiving any financial benefits from this policy, you undertook work for us to achieve this outcome which will enable Gayle to have the treatment and facilities needed for her long term future. This is a fantastic service to us and reflects the very depth of concern you and Essential Financial Services have for your customers.

We have the greatest confidence and respect for your consultancy and look forward to many years of partnership.

Regards

Gayle & Haydn S

Robert is an honest and upfront individual with an excellent knowledge of risk insurance products. He has developed a thorough process for reviewing the needs of clients and educating them as to the best solution for their situation.

I have reviewed Robert’s systems for matching the needs of clients to the products that are best suited to their needs, in all instances Robert puts the client’s needs as his only priority and invests considerable effort in tailoring the financial service to the unique requirements of each client. I have no hesitation in recommending Robert Bonifacio as a highly competent and professional financial adviser.

Mark L

At R Finance Pty Ltd we have a diversified range of clients and were looking for a business partner that would satisfy all their superannuation and insurance needs. With this in mind we began a relationship with Robert Bonifacio of Essential Financial Services in March 2004.\

From the moment we engaged Robert’s services we have not only been thoroughly impressed with his professional and efficient approach but gratified that our client’s have confirmed with their positive feedback that we have chosen the correct partner.

We have no hesitation recommending Robert to our client’s and our business associates.

Michael S

Just a quick note to thank you for sorting out and advising Sharon and I on our insurance and super.

We appreciate the time and effort you put in to structure the correct policies for our family and business.

We particularly appreciate your quick follow up and non-complicated advice that allowed us to make well informed decisions.

Brendan H

Over a considerable period of time our firm has been in contact with many clients that our firm and Robert Bonifacio share.

Robert has an excellent reputation as a Financial Planner who takes a great deal of care with his clients to explain to them, in an understandable way, what is necessary to provide for their loved ones.

The clients tell us that they are given all the different options for their consideration.

Based upon what our clients tell us, and our day to day contact with Robert, we would have no hesitation but to recommend him to anyone considering any type of Life Insurance or Financial Planning.

Yours truly

Sarina L

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