The Policy That Pays You Back for Becoming a Better Investor

Veronique van Rensburg, head of education at EasyEquities, shares why she switched from traditional cover to EasyProtect-and why she hasn't looked back.

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with life cover throughout my life. Depending on my financial circumstances, I’ve had it, lost it, and re-applied when I could afford it. 

When I got divorced and started over in 2018, the thought of leaving my son with 'nothing' if I passed away unexpectedly is what made me finally bite the bullet... for good. Even though I was self-employed and struggling financially at the time, I signed up for whatever cover I could afford with whoever would take me. It wasn’t amazing, but the cover was adequate and the premiums weren’t crazy expensive… yet. 

Honestly? I never really thought about my life cover again after that - it was a grudge-purchase that came off my account monthly, and would simply continue doing so until I passed away, hopefully giving my son a decent pay out in the end.  

Don't fix it if it isn't broken, right? 

Well, I’ve been on a mission over the last five years to learn and do everything I can to try and improve my financial situation - from getting out of debt and understanding my RA and TFSA, to diving into off-shore and crypto investments - and it was only when I turned that same spotlight onto my life cover that I realised just how broken it actually was. The deeper I dug, the wider my eyes got… 

I started comparing policies in earnest - not just premiums and payouts, but the philosophy behind them. 

This article got me thinking: “I’ve been thinking about creating an inheritance all wrong.” 

For the first time, I began questioning the way I was approaching life cover, not just in terms of cost, but in terms of purpose. Was I planning to leave a legacy… or just a lump sum for my son? 

Having consolidated my RA and other investments onto EasyEquities and actively investing monthly, for the first time, I could see my portfolio in its entirety: not huge, but solid, and growing. There was momentum. Possibility. 

And when I heard that EasyProtect could offer me cover that actually rewarded investors like me - not just protected me -  I paused. 

As I started comparing the fine print, here’s what hit me: 

• My old cover would just keep getting more expensive -  it was age-rated, meaning my premiums would increase every year. (Eye-wateringly so in my twilight years!) 

• My payout was actually flat - having not looked at my policy in years, I hadn't realised it stayed fixed year after year, quietly shrinking in real value as inflation crept up. 

• There was no link to my actual financial behaviour or portfolio - no matter how well I managed or grew my money, I would get no reward, no break, no shift in value. 

Comparing that with EasyProtect's quote, suddenly the cracks in my existing policy were impossible to ignore. 

The product that finally got me to lean in wasn’t a “cheap deal.” It was a reframe, and I couldn't help but ask: 

Life cover is generally wanted/needed if one doesn't yet have enough assets, right? Well, investments are assets, so as your portfolio (and your assets) grow and the gap between what you have and what you need shrinks, shouldn't one's premium also shrink? 

EasyProtect's answer to this question was a resounding "Yes!" Not only that, but they'd actually sweep that difference into my EasyEquities account so I could use it to invest more. 

Now THAT stopped me in my tracks. 

This insurance wasn't punishing me for ageing. 
This was life cover that was encouraging me to live. To invest. To grow. 

It was the first time I’d seen insurance and investing in sync, and it was the missing piece I didn't know I needed to super-charge my already budding investing habit. 

Here’s an example of how this could look (based on my personal situation): 

Let's say I want R4m in life cover, and my portfolio is currently sitting at R400k. If I applied today, I would need an additional R3.6M in cover. (And I'd choose a flat premium, meaning it would remain the same for the whole of my policy term.) 

After signing up, EasyProtect would check my portfolio in six months’ time, and if it's grown to (for an easy example) say R450k, I'd then technically only need cover for R3.55M, as I've chipped away another R50k.  

The amount needed to fill the gap to R4M cover decreases, and, while my monthly payment to EasyProtect wouldn't change, I'd get the monthly savings back as cash in my EasyEquities account. Which - for my personal strategy - I would simply use to grow my portfolio even faster... 

It literally pays to try and do better with your money. 

And unlike traditional insurers, there’s no complicated cashback clause or hoops to jump through. Just the toggle of a button on your EasyProtect dashboard. 

Crunching the Numbers: Looking to the Future to See How Things Truly Stacked Up 

Over the full term of my life from now (44) until I'm 65 is when the numbers really started compounding. I was able to do a detailed comparison before signing anything, and it cost me nothing but a few minutes of my time to get a quote.  

As a disclaimer, I am not a financial advisor, and these insights are unique to me. In my personal situation, they certainly made this an even easier choice for me to make: 

• Yes, I'd be paying a bit more upfront now, but compared to the rising premiums I was currently paying, I would break-even in just over 3 years. 

• After that, I projected that I'd save just over 35% over the full policy term. 

• And because I invest regularly anyway, this cover had the potential to turn an already blossoming habit into a flywheel for growth. The more I grow my portfolio → the less life cover I'd need →  the more I'd get back →  the more I could invest and work at growing my portfolio... 

• Considering my existing cover payout was fixed, I was curious to compare total premiums paid vs total payout. What I uncovered was sobering: by 65, the value I’d paid in came dangerously close to equalling what I’d get out. 

I didn’t realise how far traditional life cover was from my true needs, until I saw what it could be instead. 
Not a grudge spend. 
But something that could grow with me. 

It’s funny. I came into this thinking I was just changing insurers. 

What I didn’t expect was how much it would change me. 

It’s been a massive confidence boost to realise I had the tools to interrogate my own financial setup, and come out of it feeling more in control than ever. 

These days, I check my investments more often. 
I’m thinking longer-term. 
And, for the first time, I feel like I’m playing offence - not just defence - with my money. 

Emailing my old insurer to cancel wasn’t easy - it felt big (and so grown up). But I did it with clarity.  
I know there are no guarantees in life... but this felt right. And sometimes, that’s what matters most. 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard debit order... just know this: 

There are ways to protect yourself while you grow. 

And sometimes, the smartest financial decision isn’t always the one that costs less… it’s the one that helps you feel like you’re becoming more. 

Important Disclaimer:
This blog reflects Veronique's personal journey and experience only, and does not constitute financial advice. Life cover and investments have different objectives and risks – always consider your unique financial situation and speak to a licensed financial advisor or insurance specialist before making any decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and capital is at risk.

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