"Tragedy really does strike in an instant and it can be debilitating, financially and emotionally," says Andrew Merryweather, the survivor of a brutal assault that rendered him disabled at the age of 24. It is almost a decade since the attack and Merryweather lives with just one regret: he had neither insurance for disability nor income protection. "It has put tremendous pressure on my immediate family, and my journey would have been easier had I had good financial advice," he told delegates at the Financial Planning Institute's recent annual conference. At the time of the assault, Merryweather was working as a restaurant manager in Camps Bay and studying law. En route home from a night out partying with a friend, they stopped to get something to eat at a petrol station, where they ran into some drunken youths. A fight broke out in which Merryweather was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he was being kicked repeatedly in his side, but couldn't feel his legs. "In a...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.