Protection
Financial products are sometimes at their most useful when they are protecting our families, our incomes or our property.
Whilst insuring ourselves against an undesirable event such as sickness or death, may not be a pleasant thing to think about, the benefit of being able to set financial issues aside at emotionally difficult times cannot be overlooked.
There are various ways in which a family can protect itself, and because of the large range of products available, there is usually an appropriate policy for most circumstances, and most budgets.
We can help with many ways to protect your family and your standard of living when you need it most. Click on the different protection options on the main menu to learn more about these.
Life Protection Options
There are several ways in which you can protect yourself and your family in the event of an untimely death.
Most people take out life assurance to provide for their families and alleviate any financial worries at a difficult time.
Level Term Assurance pays a lump sum in the event of death during the term of the policy. There is no investment element within a term assurance contract, so at the end of the term there is no maturity value and life cover ends. The benefit is paid tax-free. Premiums are usually monthly and fixed throughout the term. As the term and benefit are known from the outset, Level Term Assurance can be a cost-effective method of protection.
Decreasing Term Assurance works in a similar way to Level Term Assurance, but the benefit is set at the outset and gradually decreases over the term of the policy. These policies can be used as cover for a repayment mortgage, or other loans where the amount of capital outstanding also decreases over time. As the benefit reduces over time, the premiums are usually lower than for Level Term Assurance.
Family Income Benefit is a Term Assurance policy which pays a regular monthly/annual tax-free income in the event of death, instead of a lump sum, to your dependants up until the end of the term of the policy.
Critical Illness Insurance is usually available as an addition to all term assurance plans but can be bought on a standalone basis. Critical illness provides a lump sum benefit / income in the event of diagnosis of certain critical illnesses, such as heart attack, stroke, transplant, blindness, total and permanent disability. The illnesses covered will be specified in the policy along with any exclusions and limitations – these differ between insurers.
Income Protection Options
Income Protection
This policy is designed to provide an income in the event the insured individual is unable to work due to ill health. The level of premium will depend upon the amount of benefit and term selected. Most policies cease to pay the benefit once the insured is able to return to work. Income protection policies are usually written to retirement age or 60 if earlier.
Accident, Sickness & Unemployment (ASU)
ASU policies were traditionally sold to accompany mortgages, allowing for a regular income to be paid to the insured should they be unable to work due to ill health, an accident or lose their job. The product can be split down, and unemployment cover is usually the optional extra available for an additional premium. Benefits are only usually paid for a specified period, for example 12 months. It is important to compare ASU and Income Protection closely as one may be more suitable than another. It may also be beneficial to use the two products to work in tandem with each other.
Business Protection
A business may want to protect the key employees within their firm – perhaps the key salesperson, or the IT manager, without whom the business would not function properly.
Keyperson / shareholder / partnership protection can provide a fixed sum should the individual be unable to work, or even die. The benefit will be designed to cover the firm’s expenses in meeting any emergency costs, recruiting a replacement employee and protecting the future of the business.
If a shareholder were to pass away, the firms remaining shareholders or directors may want to purchase the deceased’s shares from their estate promptly to maintain control of their business. The same scenario also applies to partners in a firm.
What next?
Contact us for a free chat with one of our advisers.
We can help answer your financial questions and help you achieve your objectives!