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WA UPDATE

From Reon Botha

Welcome to our Autumn edition of NEOS Connect, the quarterly newsletter about all things NEOS.

I hope this email finds you well and that you’re settling into the rhythm of 2025. Our Christmas and New Year was rather low-key, with my wife and I making the most of everything WA has to offer. Looking back, I have to say – our beaches are some of the best in the world, hands down.

Before we knew it, January had come and gone, and we’re already off to a strong start with 2025 showing great promise for another successful year ahead.

I also had the chance the attend the 2025 Riskinfocus event in Perth yesterday, where it was fantastic to connect with so many advisers and industry professionals. The event was a great opportunity to learn and stay up to date with the latest trends and developments.

I’m looking forward to bringing some of these insights back to help make 2025 an even better year for all of us.

To help you hit the ground running, we’ve got a fantastic line up of CPD accredited webinars, so be sure to register for our upcoming sessions here.

This edition of NEOS Connect is jam packed with great articles including some information about a new product we’re working on and further enhancements to the NEOS Platform.

Enjoy the read, and I look forward to working with you again this year.

Exciting enhancements to the NEOS Platform

We’ve kicked off 2025 with more improvements to the NEOS Policy Servicing Portal!

You and your back-office staff can now quote and apply for even more in-force alterations, including:

  • Sum insured increases
  • Shortening the waiting period
  • Lengthening the benefit period
  • Improving definitions (e.g. Any to Own TPD)
  • Updating smoker status or moving to preferred pricing
  • Adding or improving optional benefits

Applying is simple – just enter the new cover values, upload the relevant documentation (such as an Application for Alteration or increase Form), and submit.

More features

These enhancements built on last year’s updates, which include:

  • Quote and apply for an in-force decrease alterations
  • In-force premium projections
  • View and update
    – Client contact details
    – Payment details
    – Beneficiary details
  • Generate certificates of currency
  • Access key documents in the NEOS library

We’re committed to making the Policy Servicing Portal a powerful tool that helps streamline your workflow, saving you time and driving business efficiency.

To learn more about the NEOS Platform and these latest enhancements, join our upcoming accredited webinar [next week].

Register

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the year!

Unlock Vivo for Encompass Protection for you and your clients

Did you know that Vivo is a comprehensive health, wellness, and recovery program designed to provide care and support through life’s journey? Available to you and your support staff, your Encompass Protection clients and their families can access expert guidance from leading health professionals at no additional cost!

Key benefits of Vivo Virtual Care:

  • Expert Medical Opinion: Gain access to in-depth reviews of your medical conditions from leading specialists, providing clarity and confidence in your diagnosis and treatment options.
  • Mental Health Navigator: Connect promptly with Australian psychologists and psychiatrists for assessments, personalised treatment plans, and assistance in finding local clinicians for ongoing care.
  • Fitness Consultation: Collaborate with Exercise Physiologists to develop personalised fitness plans tailored to your abilities, goals, and lifestyle, whether you’re starting a new routine or managing a chronic condition.
  • Nutrition Consultation: Work with accredited Dietitians to create customised nutrition plans aimed at increasing energy, managing weight, and supporting overall health.
  • Grief and Carer Support: Access one-on-one support and resources to navigate the emotional challenges of caring for a loved one or coping with loss.

Vivo is here to make life easier for your clients by providing expert support when it matters most.

Get in touch with your BDM today to learn more.

Earn CPD hours with our accredited webinars

Stay ahead with your CPD points by joining our accredited webinars. Designed to expand your knowledge and help you better support your clients; our webinars cover key industry topics and insights. Over the next month, we’ll be hosting:

  • Vivo for Encompass Protection (0.50 CPD hours)
  • Encompass Protection product deep dive (0.75 CPD hours)
  • NEOS Platform – Tech updates (0.50 CPD hours)

Keep an eye on our events page for more upcoming topics.

Get to know our newest recruit!

With service at the heart of what we do, we’re excited to introduce our newest team member through our take five Q&A series.

Get to know Erzhena as she shares insights into her roles, experiences, and a few fun facts along the way.

  1. What’s your role at NEOS and what are you most looking forward to?
    As a new Service Consultant at NEOS, I’m looking forward to diving into various processes and overseeing the stages of insurance processing – everything from quote requests to plan issuance. My goal is to gain a thorough understanding of all the internal procedures related to insurance and service. I’m also really excited to be part of the vibrant culture here at NEOS and to contribute in meaningful ways.
  2. What were you doing before joining NEOS?
    Before joining NEOS, I worked as an Advisor Associate at Morgan Stanley for three years.
  3. What’s one thing you think advisers will be surprised to learn about you?
    I’m passionate about hiking, and I’ve set myself the goal of completing all 100 of the world’s best hiking trails. So far, I’ve completed ten. My favorite hike has been the iconic Tour Du Mont Blanc, a 165 km trail that crosses through France, Italy, and Switzerland.
  4. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
    Courageous, optimistic, and resilient.
  5. If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
    I would love to have dinner with Ayrton Senna, the legendary F1 driver. He’s an inspiration because of his unmatched dedication, fearlessness, extraordinary driving skills, and sportsmanship. Beyond the track, his resilience and charitable work make him a symbol of excellence, both in his career and in his contributions to others.

Are your clients' BDBNs up to date?

A binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) enables clients to nominate who will receive their insurance benefit in the event of their death. Importantly, these instructions are binding on the trustee regardless of whether the client’s family situation has changed in the meantime.

Given recent case laws around BDBNs, where an ex-spouse has succeeded in obtaining death benefits from superannuation against the wishes of the testator, ensuring these BDBNs are up to date is incredibly important.

Which is why all Protect Super Plan death benefit nominations are lapsing – they must be renewed every three years to remain binding on the trustee. We strongly believe this is in clients’ best interests, so we encourage you to ensure your clients are reviewing and updating their binding nominations regularly.

Updating your clients’ BDBNs is easy

Like all things at NEOS, updating a BDBN is easy. Simply:

  1. Download a BDBN form for NEOS Protection or Encompass Protection
  2. Complete the form, outlining who the client wants to receive the death benefit from super
  3. Sign and witness the form, making sure the two witnesses are aged over 18 and not a beneficiary nominated on the form, or it will be defective and the trustee won’t be bound by their wishes
  4. Email the completed form to customerservice@neoslife.com.au

The BDBN will apply to the super fund and trustees immediately.

As always, if you have any questions speak to your dedicated NEOS service consultant or BDM.

The colouring competition is back!

Just in time for the school holidays, we’re bringing back the NEOS colouring competition.

We’d love for your kids (or even you!) to join in – whether it’s to create a masterpiece or simply to enjoy a little quiet time while the colouring keeps the kids busy.

The competition opens day, date, with winners announced on day, date. You can find the full terms and conditions here.

How to enter:

  1. Choose one of our designs
  2. Get creative and bring it to life with colour
  3. Submit your artwork

Best of luck, and happy colouring!