Australia's leading life insurer, TAL, is running a panel session through the TAL Risk Academy to support financial advisers in understanding how best to navigate conversations with grieving clients.
TAL Risk Academy's 'Supporting Grieving Clients - A Conversation with Experts' will be delivered this month by TAL Head of Mental Health, Glenn Baird, CEO Corgenius, Amy Florian, Clinical Psychologist Valion Health, Rebecca Van Lloy, and Clinical Director, Feel The Magic, Lucy Archinal-Hudson.
The panel discussion is designed to help advisers understand the basics of the onset of grief, understand the impacts of grief on individuals, and provide some conversation techniques that can be applied to help support grieving clients.
TAL's The Value of Financial Advisers at Claim Time report found that 43% of advisers don't always know what to say when dealing with bereaved clients, while 42% are concerned they might upset clients who are making life insurance claims.
Commenting on the research, Glenn Baird said having conversations with grieving clients can be emotionally demanding and challenging for advisers.
It can be difficult to have conversations around sensitive topics but there are certain skills and tools which can assist. TAL is committed to helping advisers feel confident in their important role of supporting grieving clients. The panel will explore key techniques to help advisers support their clients' mental wellbeing while effectively helping with their claim.
Providing emotional support to clients can take a toll on advisers which is why we want to encourage advisers to engage with the training and support being offered through TAL Risk Academy.
Amy Florian said:
When engaging in conversations with clients experiencing grief, it's important for advisers to consider how to demonstrate empathy, facilitate extraordinary communication, and foster more than transactional relationships.
Prioritising mental health is very important. We hope by providing advisers with access to this best practice mental health discussion, we can deliver confidence in maintaining considered lines of communication with their clients to support their overall wellbeing.
Advisers can remotely attend the live panel session on 26th October from 12-1PM. To enrol in the TAL Risk Academy, advisers can contact their local TAL Sales representative or visit the TAL Adviser Centre.
The panel session augments the existing education on mental wellbeing available through the TAL Risk Academy including the 'Supporting Clients at Claim Time' and 'Mental Wellbeing - Thriving in the Financial Advice Industry'.
