MAM
Visa launches Olympic Mentors scheme
LONDON: Visa EU, a subsidiary of Visa International, has announced the launch of ‘Team Visa’, an integrated sponsorship programme across a number of European markets that combines the popularity and appeal of famous Olympic greats (‘Olympic Mentors’) with the positive influence they will have on the up and coming Olympic and Paralympic stars (Olympic ‘Hopefuls’).
Visa International is a worldwide Olympic partner and the exclusive payment card of next year’s Olympic games in Greece. An official release informs that this is an expansion of Visa’s commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic Committees and national teams, which has been an important factor in ensuring the continuance and success of the Olympic Games.
Across Europe, Visa, in partnership with its member banks, will be supporting a large group of Olympic ‘Hopefuls’. This refers to athletes with potential to get into their national teams for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games or Paralympic Games – through direct financial contributions. These can be used by the athletes to pay for their training and travelling expenses, as well as on-going advise and support from the Team Visa ‘Mentors’.
Visa EU’s executive VP relationship management and marketing Steve Perry said, “We are supporting Team Visa across Europe because the Olympics are all about having pride in your national team, about celebrating national differences and backing local heroes.
Some of the athletes in Team Visa in the UK are 400m Sprinter Daniel Caines who is ranked No.1 in Great Britain, Leanda Cave who became the first ever British female triathlete to win the World Triathlon title in 2002.
The release states that there is a perfect synergy between Visa EU’s brand strategy of ‘The Future Takes Visa’ and supporting the Olympic Hopefuls through Team Visa – the up and coming athletes of the future. The Olympic Hopefuls are critical to the integration of the Olympics within ‘The Future Takes Visa’ as they provide the perfect link between the brand strategy and Olympic values.
If you are actively investing to grow your money month after month, you already understand the value of planning ahead. SIPs, long-term portfolios, retirement planning and goal-based investing all point to one thing. You are building a future with intent.
What often gets missed in this process is one foundational question. How well is the income that funds all these plans protected?
Term life insurance fits naturally into this stage of financial planning. It does not compete with investments. It supports them by protecting the income that makes long-term growth possible.
Why Income Protection Is a Core Part of Financial Planning
Every financial plan begins with income. Before money is invested or saved, it is earned.
Over time, this income is allocated across multiple needs:
● monthly household expenses
● EMIs and long-term loans
● savings and emergency funds
● investments aimed at future goals
As responsibilities increase, financial planning becomes layered. Each layer assumes income continuity. Term life insurance exists to ensure that this structure does not become fragile due to overdependence on a single income source.
It adds stability to plans already in motion rather than introducing a new objective.
What does term life insurance do?
Term life insurance provides a fixed payout to your nominee if you pass away during the policy term. The purpose of this payout is practical and clearly defined.
It is intended to:
● replace lost income for a defined period
● help manage outstanding liabilities
● support ongoing household and goal-based expenses
There is no investment or savings component. This keeps the product focused and cost-efficient, allowing individuals to opt for meaningful coverage without diverting funds meant for growth-oriented investments.
Why Term Life Insurance Complements Investing?
Investments and insurance play different roles in a financial plan.
Investments are designed to:
● grow wealth over time
● compound with consistency
● be adjusted as goals and risk appetite change
Term life insurance is designed to:
● provide financial continuity
● protect existing plans from disruption
● remain stable once put in place
Keeping these roles separate improves clarity. Investments are allowed to perform without being forced to double up as protection, while insurance quietly supports the overall structure.
Who Should Consider Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance becomes relevant when financial planning extends beyond individual needs. This typically includes:
a) Working professionals
When income supports shared expenses or long-term plans, protection becomes essential.
b) Individuals with long-term liabilities
Home loans, education loans and other EMIs often extend over decades. Term insurance ensures these obligations remain manageable.
c) Parents planning future milestones
Education, healthcare and lifestyle goals require continuity over many years.
d) Early planners with rising incomes
Starting earlier allows coverage to align smoothly with career progression and evolving responsibilities.
How Much Coverage Should Be Considered?
Coverage should be guided by financial reality rather than affordability alone.
A well-rounded evaluation typically considers:
● number of years income needs to be replaced
● existing and future liabilities
● long-term goals already planned
● inflation and rising living costs
Many insurance companies offer options starting from 50 lakhs, 1 crore term insurance and higher. It allows individuals to choose coverage based on their income, liabilities and future plans.
How Term Life Insurance Fits Into a Long-Term Plan
Once set up, term life insurance does not demand frequent attention.
It does not require active monitoring, market tracking or performance reviews. Its role is structural rather than dynamic.
By ensuring financial continuity, it allows families to:
● stay aligned with long-term plans
● avoid rushed financial decisions
● focus on execution rather than damage control
When aligned correctly, term insurance strengthens the foundation on which investments, savings and retirement plans are built.
Choose the Right Insurance Partner
Once the need, coverage amount and role of term life insurance are clear, the final and most important step is choosing the right partner.
This decision should be based on:
● clarity and transparency in policy terms
● a strong claim settlement track record
● consistency in servicing and communication
● the ability to support long-term financial planning rather than just selling a product
Term life insurance is a long-term commitment. The partner you choose today will be the one your family relies on years down the line.
When protection is aligned with purpose and backed by a dependable insurer, term life insurance becomes a quiet but powerful part of a well-built financial plan.
