Your January “Trigger Check”: A Smarter Way to Review Insurance
The January “trigger check”: a different way to review your insurance (without the full overhaul)
Most people don’t avoid reviewing insurance because they don’t care.
They avoid it because the idea of an “annual review” sounds like a whole project: documents, decisions, and the nagging feeling you’ll be told to change everything.
So here’s a different angle for January—one that suits the start-of-year planning mindset and the practical reality of a NZ summer:
Instead of doing a big, once-a-year review, do a quick trigger check.
A trigger check is a short scan for the life changes that actually matter. If none of the triggers are present, you can confidently leave things alone. If one or two are present, you know exactly where to focus—without turning it into a rebuild.
Why triggers beat calendar-based reviews
A calendar-based review assumes life changes neatly once a year.
Real life doesn’t.
Cover becomes “out of date” when something shifts in your world—not when January arrives. January is just a handy moment to look up and notice what’s already changed (or what’s likely to change) now that the year is starting.
Think of it like servicing a car: you don’t replace everything every year. You look for the indicators.
The 15-minute trigger check (use this as your January reset)
You’re looking for signals in four areas. You don’t need perfect numbers—rough is fine.
1) Money triggers
If any of these have changed, it’s worth a closer look:
- Your mortgage or rent has meaningfully increased (or you’ve taken on new debt)
- Your income has changed (up or down), or your household relies more heavily on one income
- Your savings buffer is smaller than it used to be
Why it matters: cover is often set up around assumptions about repayments, lifestyle costs, and how long you could float if income stopped.
2) Work triggers
Work is one of the biggest drivers of risk and resilience.
- You’ve become self-employed, contracted, or changed roles
- Your sick leave situation is different (or you’re not sure what you’d do if you couldn’t work for weeks/months)
- You’re earning more, and it would be harder to “replace” your income quickly
Why it matters: the year ahead often brings workload changes, travel, commuting, and a faster pace. If your income is the engine, protecting it is often the difference between a disruption and a derailment.
3) Health and “access to care” triggers
This is where NZ summer is relevant—without the drama.
Summer tends to increase everyday health and injury scenarios: long days outside, travel, sport, water activities, DIY, and general “more doing”. If you’ve noticed any change in health, recovery, or how quickly you can get appointments, that’s a legitimate trigger.
A trigger here can be as simple as:
- You’ve had a new diagnosis, new meds, or ongoing niggles you’re monitoring
- You’re more aware of wait times or you’ve had trouble getting timely appointments
- You want more certainty about your options if something needs investigation or treatment
Why it matters: a good strategy isn’t just about having cover—it’s about knowing what options you’d want available, and how quickly you could act if needed.
4) Lifestyle triggers
These aren’t “big life events”. They’re the quiet shifts that change what you need:
- You’re travelling more (or doing more road trips)
- You’ve started a new sport or higher-risk hobby
- You’re taking on more responsibility (elder care, helping a partner’s business, supporting extended whānau)
Why it matters: your risk profile often changes slowly. The trigger check helps you notice it before it catches you off guard.
What to do with the results
Here’s the best part: the trigger check doesn’t automatically mean “change your cover”.
It gives you one of three clear outcomes:
- No triggers: leave it alone, and feel good about that decision.
- One trigger: do a small review focused on that area only.
- Two or more triggers: book a proper review so you’re not guessing.
This is how you keep it calm and practical—while still being intentional about the year ahead.
The goal for January: clarity, not perfection
A useful January reset isn’t about turning your insurance into a new hobby.
It’s about starting the year with:
- fewer unknowns
- fewer “I think we’re covered…?” moments
- a clearer plan for access to care and financial stability if something unexpected happens
This is general information only. Insurance needs are personal, so it’s worth getting advice for your situation.
