About Manoj
I come from a diverse background. Born and raised in India, I grew up surrounded by the hustle of trading and property. My first real classroom in finance was at fifteen, helping my father run his trading business. At the same time, I was competing in sport at a national level. That dual passion for finance and discipline led me to study both economics and physical education – but life, as it often does, had other plans.
In 2012, I made New Zealand home. Kiwis often tell me they find it easy to connect with me – and I believe it’s because I’ve walked a similar path. I’ve worked on farms, in maintenance, and spent years in the health sector. That time opened my eyes. I saw first-hand that even the best healthcare system can’t protect families from financial strain. ACC covers accidents – but what about illness? What about disability?
I’ve seen what happens when care is delayed. It doesn’t just prolong pain – it eats away at livelihoods. The tradie off work for a year waiting for surgery loses income, savings, and sometimes even his home. The parent living with chronic pain struggles to function, relationships suffer, and families spiral into debt just to get basic care. And when tragedy strikes – a sudden death, for example – the financial hit only deepens the grief. I’ve watched families of cancer patients stand helpless as urgent scans get delayed while private patients skip the queue.
Then came my time in the funeral industry – where I saw grief up close. Too often, families were overwhelmed, not just emotionally, but financially. Some had to scrape together what they could just to give their loved one a dignified farewell. Others faced debt or heartbreaking compromises – all because no one had shown them how simple protection could have been. No one should have to mourn and worry about money at the same time.
My own family felt that strain. When my mother experienced temporary disability, we were stretched to the limit. We wished we’d had someone to guide us before the storm hit.
That’s why I’m here. At Lifetime, I get to help people protect their lives and livelihoods before crisis hits. I’m passionate about building healthy communities by putting people first – and Lifetime’s values align with my own. We’re known for doing things the right way, and for genuinely caring about Kiwis, through all life’s ups and downs. Because no one should have to choose between a waitlist and their wellbeing.
My Three Golden Rules:
- “Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee
- Actions speak louder than words.
- Let your money rest in fields where even nightmares bear interest.
Neither Lifetime nor I have been subject to a reliability event. A reliability event is something that might influence you in deciding whether to seek advice from either myself or Lifetime. As an example, this would be a serious event such as legal proceedings against me, or bankruptcy in the last four years.