Personal Protection Advice
The plan for the days you don't plan for, built around your family, your mortgage and your budget.
Most households insure the car, the phone and the cat, then leave the salary that pays for all of it completely unprotected. Personal protection is the umbrella term for the covers that catch you and your family when life goes wrong. That means life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and family income benefit.
The right mix is personal. It depends on your mortgage, who relies on your income, what your employer provides and what you'd need to keep life running through the worst months. My job is to work that out with you, then find suitable cover from a wide range of providers, prioritised to fit your budget.
What working together looks like
Start with the gap, not the product
I map out what would actually happen to your household finances if you died, fell seriously ill or couldn't work, including what your employer and the state would provide. Only then do I talk products to fill the genuine gaps.
The right covers in the right order
Budgets are finite, so I prioritise. That often means income protection before gadget-level extras, and mortgage cover before nice-to-haves, so every pound of premium works hard.
Set up properly, reviewed regularly
Small details matter enormously here, things like policies written in trust, beneficiaries named and cover indexed. I handle the setup details and review it all as your life changes.
The four building blocks
Life insurance
Pays a lump sum if you die during the term. It's most often used to clear the mortgage and leave a cushion for the people who depend on you.
Critical illness cover
Pays a lump sum if you're diagnosed with one of the serious conditions your policy specifies. That's money to recover on your terms, adapt your home or clear debts.
Income protection
Pays a monthly income if illness or injury stops you working. It's arguably the most underrated cover in Britain, and the one working households rely on most.
Family income benefit
Instead of a lump sum, it pays your family a regular income until a set date if you die. Simple to understand, and often surprisingly affordable.
Asked all the time, answered honestly
How much does protection cost?
Less than most people guess. Premiums depend on your age, health, smoker status, the amount of cover and the term. The honest answer is that cover gets more expensive every birthday, which is the practical argument for sorting it sooner.
I have life cover through work. Do I need my own?
Employer 'death in service' cover is a great start but it's typically 2–4× salary, usually less than a mortgage, and it vanishes when you change jobs. Most families treat it as a top-up rather than the plan.
What's the single most important cover to have?
It depends on your situation, but for most working-age people the biggest uninsured risk is losing their income to long-term illness, which is far more common during a working life than dying young. That's why I often start the conversation with income protection.
Will a policy definitely pay out?
Policies pay when a valid claim meets the policy terms, and the key to that is honest, complete answers when you apply. I help you present your health and circumstances accurately so the cover you buy is cover that works. Policies have terms, conditions and exclusions, which I'll walk you through before you commit.
What does 'written in trust' mean and do I need it?
Writing life cover in trust directs the payout to the right people quickly, usually outside your estate and without waiting for probate. It's often sensible, costs nothing to set up with most providers, and is exactly the kind of detail that gets missed without advice.
Let's talk about personal protection
A free, no-obligation chat is the easiest first step. Tell me what you're hoping to do, and I'll tell you honestly how I can help.