• About

About Calibre Life

We didn’t start this business to be just another advice firm. We started it because we wanted to do things properly.

After years working in the industry, we saw the same pattern over and over again. People were given options, products, and paperwork, but not always clarity. Not always guidance. And not always someone who genuinely had their back.

So we built Calibre Life differently. A place where advice is clear, structured, and actually makes sense. Where clients feel supported, not overwhelmed. And where relationships matter just as much as results.

What We Do

With over two decades of experience in insurance advice, we specialise in creating straightforward, cost-effective strategies that support you across different stages of life.

But what we do goes beyond policies and plans. It’s the combination of experience, analytical thinking, and genuine client advocacy that shapes the advice we give.

We work closely with our clients to understand their situation, then structure solutions that actually fit. Not just now, but over time as life changes.

Because good advice isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about making sure everything works together in a way that makes sense.

How We Work

We keep things simple, accessible, and grounded in real conversations.

Sam plays a big role in making that happen. He has a way of bringing humour into topics that aren’t exactly light, which helps people feel more comfortable talking about things they’d usually avoid.

Behind the scenes, it’s a different story. There’s a lot of detailed work that goes into every recommendation. We review policies, assess options, and match everything carefully to your situation.

We look at the details that actually matter. Your health, your financial position, your long-term plans. And if something doesn’t fit, we don’t force it. We go back and find something that does.

Because the goal isn’t to give you “a solution.” It’s to give you the right one.

Why This Matters to Us

This business was built around two things – family and independence.

We made the decision to step away from stable roles to create something that gave us more control over our time, our work, and how we showed up for our clients and our own families.

That came with challenges. Building a business, raising four kids, navigating industry changes. It wasn’t always easy, but it reinforced what mattered most.

Helping people feel secure. Giving them clarity. Making sure they’re in a better position than they were before.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about finance. It’s about making life a little easier when things don’t go to plan.

What Makes Us Different

We take a dual approach to advice. Every recommendation is shaped by both practical experience and detailed analysis.

That means you’re not getting a one-sided opinion. You’re getting a balanced view that considers both the bigger picture and the finer details.

We don’t overcomplicate things or push unnecessary cover. We focus on what matters most to you and build from there.

And most importantly, we stay involved. Whether it’s reviewing your cover, adjusting your plan, or supporting you through a claim, we’re there when it actually matters.

Your People

Our goal is simple. We want to be the people you call when something important happens.

Whether it’s a major life event, a claim, or just a question you’re not sure how to answer, we’re there to guide you through it.

Not just as advisers, but as part of your support system.

Because when things get difficult, the last thing you want is to figure it out alone.

Meet the People You’ll Actually Be Dealing With

Sam Bendeich

Life Insurance Adviser – Authorised Representative

Sam brings to Calibre Life a unique blend of life insurance technical excellence and a resolute customer focus. As a risk management expert, Sam’s passion in the wealth management industry is to develop a clear understanding of his clients, their dreams (both business and personal) and their family circle dynamic. Distilling this often complex information into a subset of simple life insurance protection mechanisms is Sam’s specialty.

With over 18 years of experience working with leading Australian business owners and their families, Sam has developed a reputation for transparency, accountability and service delivery within the financial service industry. Sam’s singular focus is the efficient delivery of risk management solutions.

Qualifications

  • Diploma of Financial Services (Kaplan)
  • Certificate of Registration (Real Estate Institute of NSW)

Nichole Bendeich

Financial Planner AFP ®

Nicole has been part of the life insurance advice profession since 2004, working across large corporate firms and small to medium businesses. With over a decade in a publicly listed life risk advice practice, she gained hands-on experience in corporate superannuation, group risk account management, paraplanning, claims support, life risk advice, portfolio due diligence and acquisition, risk process and framework reviews, and underwriting.

Today, as a Life Insurance Consultant, Nicole works with AFSLs and business owners—delivering staff education, managing practice life insurance portfolios, remediating client complaints, rectifying implementation errors, and supporting claims. She also partners with client-centric financial planners, accountants, and lawyers at Calibre Life, acting as a specialist life insurance adviser and enhancing their client service offering with specialized guidance.

Nicole’s expertise in negotiation and navigating complex medical and financial underwriting outcomes allows her to exhaust every possible option efficiently, helping clients secure the best possible terms for their cover. She is also focused on bringing more women into the profession and ensuring female clients and primary caregivers, regardless of gender, are equally considered in protection strategies, not just the primary income earner.

For Nicole, being an Adviser is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to contribute positively to society by ensuring businesses, families and individuals have the protection they need. It’s about ensuring that the vision and dreams someone holds for their family can still be fulfilled, even in their absence.

Nicole believes in making insurance advice accessible, practical, understandable, and genuinely valuable. Known for her professionally casual and approachable style, she creates space for all people to feel welcome—free to ask any and every question without judgement. Nicole is committed to building lasting relationships with her clients so that when life throws the unexpected, they know exactly who to turn to.

Claudine Abecilla

Client Services Manager

Claudine is a Licensed Customs Broker with a solid background in global customer service operations. Since transitioning to the financial planning profession in September 2021, she has gained invaluable experience supporting advisers.

In November 2022, Claudine joined Calibre Life as a Client Service Manager, where she provide essential administrative tasks and more recently paraplanning tasks. Claudine’s attention to detail, organisational skills, and proactive approach have significantly ensures workflow efficiency and seamless service.

By streamlining processes and supporting the team, Claudine plays a key role in enhancing the overall client experience and helping Calibre Life deliver tailored solutions more effectively. Claudine will be undertaking study towards an Advance Diploma in Paraplanning.

August Malinay

Client Services Manager

Currently completing a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, August is expanding his expertise to bring even more value to the financial planning space. Since starting his career in November 2021, he has supported various advisers, gaining practical experience in the profession.

In June 2024, August joined Calibre Life as a Client Services Manager, bringing strong organisational skills and goal-oriented approaches to enhance both the team’s efficiency and the client experience. August is dedicated to providing exceptional support, ensuring clients receive timely and seamless service that aligns with their needs and goals