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Life Insurance for Family Businesses UK

Life Insurance for Family Businesses UK 2025

Family businesses are the bedrock of the UK economy. They are not just commercial enterprises; they are legacies, built over generations through passion, sacrifice, and a deep sense of shared purpose. According to the Institute for Family Business Research Foundation, family-owned businesses employ over 13.9 million people in the UK and contribute a staggering £637 billion to the nation's GDP.

Yet, for all their economic might, they face a unique and deeply personal challenge: succession. The transition of leadership and ownership from one generation to the next is a critical moment fraught with financial and emotional complexity. Without a robust plan, the very legacy you've worked so hard to build can be jeopardised by unexpected illness, disability, or death.

This is where strategic financial planning, specifically life insurance, becomes not just a prudent measure, but an essential tool for survival and continuity. This guide will explore how life insurance provides the financial foundation for a smooth and fair succession, protecting both your business and your loved ones.

How life insurance supports succession planning

At its core, succession planning is about ensuring a seamless transfer of control and ownership of your business. For a family business, this process is often complicated by the desire to be fair to all family members, whether they are active in the company or not.

Imagine the sudden death of a majority shareholder. Their shares, a significant business asset, now form part of their personal estate. This creates several immediate and critical problems:

  • Liquidity Crisis: The surviving business owners may not have the ready cash to buy these shares from the deceased's estate.
  • Inheritance Dilemmas: The deceased's will might divide the shares amongst several heirs, including family members with no interest or experience in running the business. This can lead to conflict and decision-making paralysis.
  • External Threats: If the family cannot afford to buy the shares, they may be forced to sell them to an outside party, relinquishing family control. In a worst-case scenario, the entire business may need to be sold to settle the estate and pay potential Inheritance Tax (IHT).

Life insurance provides the definitive solution to this liquidity problem. A correctly structured business life insurance policy provides a tax-free lump sum on the death of a shareholder. This cash injection is specifically earmarked for the surviving owners to purchase the deceased's shares from their estate.

This simple mechanism achieves several crucial objectives:

  1. Ensures Business Continuity: The surviving partners retain control, ensuring the business continues to operate without disruption.
  2. Provides Fair Value to Heirs: The deceased's family receives a fair cash value for their inherited shares, allowing them to pursue their own paths without being unwillingly tied to the business.
  3. Prevents Forced Sales: It removes the pressure to sell the business or its assets to find the necessary funds.
  4. Promotes Family Harmony: By creating a clear, pre-agreed financial path, it minimises the potential for disputes over control and inheritance.

In essence, life insurance converts an illiquid business asset (shares) into liquid cash precisely when it is needed most, funding the succession plan and securing the family's legacy.

The Unique Challenges of Family Business Succession

While all businesses need a succession plan, family firms navigate a special set of obstacles where the lines between boardroom and dining room are blurred.

Balancing Fairness and Practicality

A common challenge is treating children fairly. A founder may have one child who has dedicated their life to the business and another who has built a career elsewhere. Leaving the business equally to both may seem fair, but it can be a recipe for disaster. The non-involved child becomes a reluctant shareholder, potentially hindering business decisions or demanding dividends the company cannot afford.

The Liquidity Gap

As mentioned, few businesses hold vast cash reserves specifically for buying out a deceased owner's shares. This "liquidity gap" is one of the single biggest threats to a family business's survival post-succession. Without funding, the only options are often debt or a forced sale.

The Risk of Inheritance Tax (IHT)

While many family business shares may qualify for Business Property Relief (BPR), which can provide up to 100% relief from IHT, this is not guaranteed. Changes in legislation, the nature of the business's assets (e.g., too much 'investment' activity), or how the shares are held can lead to a surprise IHT bill. With IHT charged at 40% on assets above the nil-rate band, a sudden tax liability can be crippling.

The Emotional Toll

The death of a family member is emotionally devastating. Layering on top of this grief the stress of business uncertainty, financial worries, and potential family disagreements can be overwhelming. A pre-defined plan, funded by insurance, removes the financial uncertainty, allowing the family to focus on grieving and supporting one another.

Lack of Formal Agreements

Many family businesses operate on trust and informal understandings. While admirable, this can be dangerous. The absence of a formal shareholder or partnership agreement that outlines what happens upon death, disability, or retirement leaves the business exposed.

Key Life Insurance Solutions for Family Businesses

Several specialist insurance products are designed to address these challenges. They are the building blocks of a resilient succession plan.

1. Shareholder Protection Insurance

This is the cornerstone of business succession funding.

  • What it is: A life insurance policy taken out on the life of each shareholder (or partner in a partnership). The amount of cover is usually equal to the value of their shareholding.
  • How it works: If a shareholder dies, the policy pays out a lump sum to the surviving shareholders (often via a business trust). This money is then used to buy the deceased's shares from their estate at a pre-agreed price.
  • The Legal Framework: Shareholder protection is not just an insurance policy; it's a legal arrangement. It requires a Cross-Option Agreement to be put in place. This legal document gives the surviving shareholders the 'option' to buy the shares and gives the deceased's estate the 'option' to sell them. This structure is crucial for tax efficiency and legal certainty.

Example: A Tale of Two Scenarios

Let's consider a design agency owned 50/50 by two sisters, Emily and Chloe. The business is valued at £1 million.

ScenarioWithout Shareholder ProtectionWith Shareholder Protection
The EventChloe dies unexpectedly. Her 50% share (£500,000) passes to her husband, who is not involved in the business.Chloe dies. A £500,000 policy on her life pays out to Emily via a trust.
Immediate ProblemEmily needs to run the business with her brother-in-law as a 50% partner, who may want to sell or demand high dividends.Emily has £500,000 in cash.
The OutcomeConflict is likely. Emily may have to borrow heavily to buy him out, or the business could be paralysed.The Cross-Option Agreement is triggered. Emily uses the £500,000 to buy Chloe's shares from her husband.
The ResultBusiness at risk, family relationships strained.Emily now owns 100% of the business. Chloe's husband has £500,000 cash. The business is secure.

2. Key Person Insurance

While Shareholder Protection secures ownership, Key Person Insurance secures the business's operational and financial health.

  • What it is: A policy taken out by the business on the life (and/or critical illness) of a crucial individual whose loss would directly result in a significant financial downturn for the company.
  • Who is a Key Person? This isn't just about founders or directors. A key person could be:
    • A technical genius with unique product knowledge.
    • A salesperson who brings in the majority of the revenue.
    • The director with essential relationships with banks and suppliers.
    • The creative force behind the company's brand.
  • How it works: If the key person dies or suffers a specified critical illness, the policy pays out to the business itself. This cash injection can be used to:
    • Cover the costs of recruiting and training a replacement.
    • Compensate for lost profits or a downturn in sales during the transition period.
    • Repay outstanding loans that the key person may have guaranteed.
    • Reassure creditors, investors, and customers that the business remains financially stable.

Premiums for Key Person Insurance are often an allowable business expense for corporation tax purposes, provided the policy meets certain HMRC criteria.

3. Relevant Life Cover

This is a highly tax-efficient way for a family business to provide death-in-service benefits for its directors and employees (including family members).

  • What it is: A standalone life insurance policy that a business takes out on the life of an employee or director. It pays a lump sum to their family or nominated beneficiaries if they die while employed.
  • The Tax Advantages: Relevant Life Cover is exceptionally attractive for small businesses:
    • For the Business: The premiums are typically treated as an allowable business expense, reducing the company's corporation tax bill.
    • For the Employee/Director: The premiums are not treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind, so there is no extra income tax or National Insurance to pay.
    • For the Beneficiaries: The policy must be written into a discretionary trust from the outset. This ensures the payout goes directly to the beneficiaries without being part of the deceased's estate, meaning it is not normally subject to Inheritance Tax and does not require probate.

Comparison: Relevant Life vs. Personal Life Cover (for a Director)

Let's assume a director wants £500,000 of life cover.

FeaturePersonal Life PolicyRelevant Life Policy
Who Pays?The director, from their post-tax salary/dividends.The business.
Premium Coste.g., £50 per month.e.g., £50 per month.
Tax on PremiumTo pay £50, a 40% taxpayer needs to earn ~£83.33.The £50 premium can be offset against corporation tax.
Benefit in Kind?No.No. Not a P11D benefit.
IHT on Payout?Yes, unless written in trust.No, as it's always written in trust.
Overall CostSignificantly higher true cost to the director.Significantly more tax-efficient for director and company.

4. Business Loan Protection

Many family businesses are funded by debt, whether it's a commercial mortgage, a startup loan, or directors' personal loans to the company.

  • What it is: A life (and often critical illness) policy designed to pay off an outstanding business loan if a director or key individual dies.
  • How it works: The policy amount is matched to the outstanding loan balance. On death, the payout clears the debt, removing a significant liability from the company's balance sheet.
  • Why it's vital: If a director who has provided a personal guarantee for a business loan dies, the lender can seek repayment from their personal estate. This puts the deceased's family home and other assets at risk. Business Loan Protection prevents this, protecting both the business from being called upon to repay the debt immediately and the director's family from financial ruin.
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The Crucial Role of Trusts in Business Succession Planning

Simply buying an insurance policy is not enough. How the policy is set up is just as important, and this is where trusts come in. A trust is a simple legal arrangement that allows you to nominate a person or group of people (the 'trustees') to look after assets (like the payout from a life insurance policy) for the benefit of others (the 'beneficiaries').

For business insurance, trusts are non-negotiable for two key reasons:

  1. Speed of Access: When a policy is in a trust, the payout is made directly to the trustees. It does not go into the deceased's estate and therefore completely bypasses the often lengthy and complex probate process. For a business needing immediate funds to buy shares, this speed is critical. A delay of months waiting for probate could be fatal.
  2. Inheritance Tax Efficiency: By placing the policy in trust, the proceeds do not form part of the deceased's legal estate. This means the payout is not typically subject to the 40% Inheritance Tax, ensuring the full amount is available for its intended purpose.

Different trusts are used for different policies. For Shareholder Protection, a specialist Business Trust is used to facilitate the cross-option agreement between the shareholders. For Relevant Life Cover, a Discretionary Trust is mandatory.

Working with an expert broker like WeCovr is essential to ensure the correct trusts are established from the outset. We guide our clients through this process, making sure these vital legal structures are correctly implemented to support the insurance policies.

Calculating the Right Level of Cover

Determining the correct sum assured is a critical step. Under-insuring can leave a funding shortfall, while over-insuring means paying unnecessarily high premiums.

Valuing the Business for Shareholder Protection

Valuing a private limited company is more of an art than a science, but common methods include:

  • Multiple of Profit: A common method is to apply a multiplier to the company's net or pre-tax profits. The multiplier depends on the industry, stability of earnings, and market conditions.
  • Asset-Based Valuation: Suitable for businesses with significant tangible assets (e.g., property, machinery). It is based on the net value of the company's assets.
  • Dividend Yield: Valuing the business based on the dividends it is capable of paying.

The most important step is for all shareholders to agree on a valuation method and document it in their shareholder agreement. This valuation should be reviewed regularly—at least annually or when a significant event occurs—and the insurance cover adjusted accordingly.

Calculating Key Person Cover

This can be calculated based on:

  • Multiple of Salary: A simple method is to insure the person for a multiple (e.g., 5-10 times) of their annual salary.
  • Contribution to Profits: A more accurate method is to estimate the individual's direct contribution to net profit and insure for a multiple of that figure (e.g., 2-5 times) to cover the period it would take to recover from their loss.

Summary of Cover Calculation

Insurance TypeHow to Calculate CoverKey Consideration
Shareholder ProtectionAgreed valuation of the shareholder's shares.Must be reviewed annually. Requires professional advice.
Key Person InsuranceA multiple of salary or contribution to profits.What would be the true financial impact of their loss?
Business Loan ProtectionThe outstanding balance of the specific business loan.Can be a decreasing policy that reduces in line with the loan.
Relevant Life CoverA multiple of the employee's total remuneration.There are limits set by HMRC, typically up to 25x remuneration.

Case Study: The Smith Family Bakery

"Smith's Traditional Bakers" is a successful third-generation family business. It's a limited company owned by founder Robert (70), who holds 60% of the shares. His daughter, Amelia (42), has worked there since she was 16 and is the Managing Director, owning 40%. Robert's son, Tom (38), is a successful architect with no interest in baking. The business is professionally valued at £1.5 million.

The Problem: Robert wants to retire soon. His wish is for Amelia to take over the business completely, but he also wants to ensure Tom receives a fair inheritance. Robert's shares are worth £900,000 (£1.5m x 60%). Amelia does not have the personal funds to buy him out. If Robert were to die, his shares would likely be split between Amelia and Tom in his will, creating a difficult ownership situation and potentially forcing Amelia to buy Tom out under pressure.

The Solution:

After seeking advice, the Smiths implement a multi-faceted plan:

  1. Shareholder Protection: Amelia takes out a life insurance policy on Robert for £900,000. The business helps her fund the premiums. They put a Cross-Option Agreement in place. If Robert dies, Amelia receives the £900,000 payout via a business trust and uses it to buy the shares from his estate. This guarantees she gains 100% control of the business.
  2. Fairness for Tom: Robert's estate now receives £900,000 in cash instead of illiquid business shares. In his will, Robert can now leave this cash, along with his other personal assets, to Tom. This equalises the inheritance, giving Amelia the business she has worked for and Tom a significant cash sum.
  3. Key Person Cover: The business also takes out a £250,000 Key Person policy on Amelia. As Managing Director, her expertise and relationships are vital. If she were to become critically ill, the cash injection would allow the business to hire a temporary manager and cover any profit shortfall, ensuring stability.

This integrated approach provides certainty, fairness, and continuity. It protects the business legacy, Amelia's future, and family harmony.

Beyond Life Insurance: A Holistic Approach to Succession

Insurance is a financial tool, not the entire plan. A robust succession strategy must include several other elements:

  • A Written Succession Plan: This document should clearly outline the vision for the future, identify successors, and detail the transition timeline and process.
  • Up-to-Date Wills: Every business owner must have a professionally drafted will that works in harmony with their business succession plan.
  • Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA): An LPA for Health & Welfare and another for Property & Financial Affairs allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. For a business owner, this is crucial to prevent the business being frozen if they are incapacitated.
  • Shareholder/Partnership Agreement: This legal document is the rulebook for the owners. It should govern everything from decision-making to what happens on death, retirement, or if an owner wants to sell their shares. It is the framework that the insurance plan is built upon.
  • Open Communication: The most successful transitions happen when families talk openly and honestly about the future, expectations, and aspirations. These can be difficult conversations, but they are essential.

How WeCovr Can Help Your Family Business

Navigating the complexities of business protection requires specialist knowledge. This is not something to be arranged via a simple online form. The stakes are too high.

At WeCovr, we specialise in helping UK family businesses create robust and tax-efficient protection strategies. We understand that your business is more than just an asset; it's your life's work.

Our process involves:

  • A Deep Dive Consultation: We take the time to understand your family dynamics, your business structure, and your long-term goals.
  • Whole-of-Market Access: As independent brokers, we are not tied to any single insurer. We search the entire market, including specialist providers, to find the most suitable policies at the most competitive premiums.
  • Expert Structuring: We work with you to ensure every policy is correctly structured with the appropriate trusts and legal agreements in place, maximising tax efficiency and ensuring the plan works as intended when it's needed.
  • Regular Reviews: A succession plan is not a 'set and forget' exercise. We schedule regular reviews to ensure your cover remains aligned with your business's valuation and your family's changing circumstances.

We believe that protecting your business also means protecting its most important asset: you. That's why, in addition to expert insurance advice, WeCovr provides all our clients with complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero. We go beyond the policy to support your personal health and wellbeing, helping you stay fit and focused on leading your business into the future.

Health and Wellbeing for Business Owners

The resilience of your business is inextricably linked to your own health. The pressures of running a family enterprise can be immense, making proactive self-care a commercial necessity, not a luxury.

  • Manage Stress: Chronic stress is a leading cause of burnout and illness. Identify your stressors and implement coping mechanisms. This could be mindfulness, delegating tasks, or simply scheduling 'offline' time in your diary.
  • Prioritise Sleep: Sleep deprivation impairs judgment, creativity, and decision-making. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. A consistent sleep routine is one of the best investments you can make in your performance.
  • Fuel Your Body and Mind: A balanced diet rich in whole foods provides the sustained energy needed to navigate long days. Regular physical activity is a powerful antidote to stress and has been proven to boost cognitive function.
  • Take Proper Breaks: It's tempting to work 24/7, but productivity declines without rest. Taking regular short breaks throughout the day and scheduling proper holidays are essential for long-term sustainability and fresh thinking.

Protecting your health is the first line of defence in protecting your business.

Securing Your Legacy

Your family business represents a lifetime of effort and a legacy for generations to come. Leaving its future to chance is a risk that is simply not worth taking.

Succession planning, supported by a carefully structured life insurance portfolio, is the ultimate act of stewardship. It provides the financial certainty to navigate one of life's most difficult events, ensuring the business you built continues to thrive and your family is treated fairly.

Don't wait for a crisis to force your hand. The best time to put a plan in place is now, while you have the time and clarity to make the right decisions. By taking control of your succession strategy today, you can secure the future of your business and the financial wellbeing of your family for years to come.

What happens if we don't have a shareholder agreement?

Without a shareholder agreement, the company's "articles of association" and the Companies Act 2006 will govern what happens. This often creates a very rigid and unhelpful situation. Upon a shareholder's death, their shares pass to their heirs via their will or intestacy rules. The surviving shareholders have no automatic right to buy these shares, and the heirs have no obligation to sell. This can lead to unknown or unwilling parties becoming co-owners, causing disputes and potentially paralysing the business. A shareholder agreement, which includes a cross-option agreement, prevents this uncertainty.

Is Key Person Insurance tax-deductible?

HMRC has specific rules, often referred to as the 'Anderson' criteria. Generally, for the premiums to be a tax-deductible business expense, the policy must be intended to cover a loss of profits resulting from the loss of the key person. The policy must be a short-term life-only policy (not including critical illness or investment elements), and the key person should not be a major shareholder. If the policy is intended to cover a loan, the tax treatment can differ. It's essential to get professional advice on your specific circumstances to ensure correct tax treatment.

How often should we review our business protection policies?

You should conduct a full review at least once a year. A business's value can change rapidly. Key events that should trigger an immediate review include: a significant change in profitability, taking on or paying off a large loan, a change in shareholdings, a key person joining or leaving, or changes in the personal circumstances of the shareholders (e.g., marriage or divorce). Keeping your cover aligned with your business's current valuation is critical.

What's the difference between Relevant Life Cover and Group Life Insurance?

Relevant Life Cover is a standalone policy for an individual employee or director. It's ideal for small businesses that don't have enough employees to qualify for a Group Life scheme, or for providing a higher level of cover to key directors outside of the main group scheme. Group Life Insurance is a single scheme that covers a whole group of employees, and is typically available to businesses with a larger number of staff (often 10 or more). Both provide tax-efficient death-in-service benefits, but Relevant Life offers more flexibility for individuals in smaller companies.

Can we just use one life insurance policy to cover everything?

No, this is not advisable as different risks require different solutions. Each type of business insurance has a distinct purpose, owner, and beneficiary. For example, Shareholder Protection is owned by the shareholders to buy shares from an estate. Key Person cover is owned by the business to protect its own financial health. Business Loan Protection is owned by the business to repay a debt. Co-mingling these could have disastrous tax consequences and lead to the funds not being available for their intended purpose. A structured portfolio of separate policies is the correct approach.

Why life insurance and how does it work?

What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.

How does it work?

Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.

The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.

With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.

Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.

Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance

Just ask yourself:
👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?

Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.

Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.

Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance

Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.

Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.

If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.

Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.

In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.

Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.

And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?

Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:

  • Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
  • Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.

Types of life insurance policies

Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:
✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs

Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.

Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.

Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.

Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.

Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.

Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.

Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Important Fact!

There is no need to wait until the renewal of your current policy.
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!

Why is it important to get life insurance early?

👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.

👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.

Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.

It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.

You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.

By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:

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Any questions?

Life, income protection, and/or critical illness insurance are safety nets, very important at a difficult time. If anything happened to you before your cover ends, your life or critical illness insurance would pay a lump sum to your family and/or you (if you took a critical illness or income protection cover) to help cover the losses. Being diagnosed with a critical illness can be devastating, and it won't help matters to be also worrying about how you would cope financially. With a life, income protection, or critical illness policy, you can choose how much cover you need, how you want the policy to pay out, and whether you want cover for both you and your partner. Income protection insurance pays you a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire. Also known as permanent health insurance, it is quite important for anyone who relies on a paycheck to cover their living costs, but it's particularly important if you're self-employed or own a small business, where your income might be a bit less stable.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance pay out millions to families every day. Your expert will explain to you that you need to be honest and open when applying for your insurance.

If you're single with no dependants then it may be that you don't need life assurance. However, if you were to become seriously ill and unable to work, you may benefit from a critical illness or income protection policy. They can help you keep up to date with your rent, bills, food, and other expenses.

It's free to use WeCovr to find life, income protection, and critical illness insurance - we never charge you for quotes. Critical illness, income protection, and life insurance is an investment that pays many times over for you and/or your loved ones.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance are important financial products that insurance companies take a lot of care and diligence, so speaking to real human beings ensures that they understand your requirements fully so that you can get the right cover.

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The cost of life insurance depends on several factors, including your age, occupation, health status, and the level of coverage you choose. Your life insurance policy is tailored to your needs, and the cost can vary based on the sum assured, policy term, and other factors.

Some life insurance policies offer an option to add critical illness cover as a rider or as a separate policy. This provides a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a critical illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time.

Yes, life insurance is available to self-employed individuals to provide financial protection for their loved ones in the event of their death. It ensures that your family can maintain their standard of living and cover expenses such as mortgage payments, bills, and education costs.

If you outlive your life insurance policy and it expires without a claim, you will not receive any payout. Term life insurance policies are designed to provide coverage for a specific period, and once that period ends, the policy terminates without any residual value. However, you can typically renew or purchase a new policy if you still need coverage.

Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time. It can help cover medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations while you focus on recovery.

Critical illness insurance covers a range of serious illnesses and medical conditions specified in your policy, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, and organ failure. The lump sum payment can be used to cover medical treatment, ongoing care, and living expenses during your recovery.

The cost of critical illness insurance varies depending on factors such as your age, health status, lifestyle, and the level of coverage you choose. Our experts can provide personalised quotes to help you find affordable coverage.

Yes, you can have critical illness insurance alongside your health insurance coverage. Critical illness insurance provides additional financial protection specifically for serious illnesses, complementing your health insurance benefits.

Critical illness insurance policies typically have exclusions for pre-existing conditions and certain medical conditions not covered by the policy. It's essential to review the terms and conditions of your policy to understand what is and isn't covered.

Some critical illness insurance policies may provide coverage for recurring illnesses, while others may not. It's crucial to review the policy terms and understand the specific conditions under which you can make additional claims for recurring illnesses. Your insurer can provide more details on their coverage for recurring critical illnesses.

Yes, you can customise your life insurance policy to suit your individual needs and circumstances. Options may include choosing the sum assured, policy term, premium payment frequency, and additional riders for enhanced coverage.

If you miss a premium payment for your life insurance policy, your coverage may lapse, and your policy could be terminated. However, many insurers offer a grace period during which you can make the payment to keep your policy active. It's essential to contact your insurer to discuss your options if you're unable to make a payment.

Yes, you can typically change the beneficiary of your life insurance policy at any time by completing a beneficiary change form provided by your insurer. It's essential to keep your beneficiary designation up to date to ensure that the proceeds are distributed according to your wishes.

Term life insurance provides cover for a fixed period, such as 10, 20 or 30 years, and pays out a lump sum if you die during that time. It’s often chosen to protect a mortgage or to provide financial support while dependants still rely on your income. Whole-of-life insurance is designed to last for the rest of your life and guarantees a payout whenever you die, as long as premiums are maintained. It’s usually more expensive than term insurance and is sometimes used to help with inheritance tax planning or to leave a guaranteed legacy.

Some term life insurance policies offer the option to convert to a whole life insurance policy without the need for a medical exam or new underwriting. This conversion feature allows you to maintain coverage beyond the term of your policy and provides lifelong protection.

Some life insurance policies offer accelerated death benefits or living benefits that allow you to access a portion of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. This feature provides financial assistance to help cover medical expenses and other costs during your final months.

While having savings can provide a financial cushion during tough times, income protection insurance offers additional security by replacing a portion of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or disability. It ensures that you can maintain your standard of living and cover essential expenses even if your savings are depleted.

Yes, self-employed individuals can claim income protection insurance if they're unable to work due to illness or disability. Income protection provides a regular income stream to replace lost earnings, helping self-employed individuals cover their living expenses and business costs during periods of incapacity.

The waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the length of time you must wait after becoming unable to work due to illness or disability before you can start receiving benefits from your income protection insurance policy. Waiting periods typically range from 30 to 90 days, but longer waiting periods may result in lower premiums.

Income protection insurance is designed to provide financial support if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, not for redundancy. However, some policies may offer optional redundancy cover or unemployment cover as an additional benefit, providing a lump sum or monthly payments if you're made redundant.

The tax treatment of income protection insurance benefits depends on whether the premiums were paid with pre-tax or after-tax dollars. Benefits from policies funded with after-tax dollars are typically tax-free, while benefits from policies funded with pre-tax dollars may be subject to income tax. It's essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the tax implications of your income protection insurance benefits.

Income protection insurance provides a regular income stream if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, while critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Critical illness insurance offers financial support to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other obligations during your recovery.

Income protection insurance policies typically have a waiting period (also known as an elimination period) during which you do not receive benefits. If you become unable to work before this waiting period ends, you will not receive any income protection benefits until the waiting period has elapsed. It's important to have sufficient savings or other financial resources to cover your expenses during this initial period.

Many income protection insurance policies allow you to increase your coverage amount if your income rises, without the need for additional underwriting or medical examinations. This feature, sometimes called a 'guaranteed insurability option,' ensures that your coverage keeps pace with your increasing income and financial obligations.

The maximum age to purchase critical illness insurance varies depending on the insurer and the specific policy. While some insurers may offer critical illness insurance up to age 70 or beyond, others may have lower age limits. It's essential to check with insurers to determine their age eligibility criteria for purchasing critical illness insurance.

Whether you can get critical illness insurance if you have pre-existing conditions depends on the insurer's underwriting guidelines and the specific medical conditions. Some insurers may offer coverage with exclusions for pre-existing conditions, while others may decline coverage altogether. It's essential to disclose any pre-existing conditions when applying for critical illness insurance and discuss your options with insurers.

While health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses, critical illness insurance offers financial protection for broader expenses associated with a serious illness, such as lost income, household bills, and lifestyle changes. Critical illness insurance complements health insurance by providing additional financial support during a challenging time, ensuring that you can focus on recovery without worrying about financial burdens.

If you don't make a claim on your critical illness insurance during the policy term, you won't receive a benefit payout. However, having critical illness insurance provides peace of mind knowing that you're financially protected if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness during the policy term. It's a form of financial preparation for unexpected events and offers valuable protection for you and your family.

If you outlive your critical illness insurance policy and don't make a claim for a covered critical illness during the policy term, the coverage will expire, and you won't receive a benefit payout. Critical illness insurance provides financial protection for a specific period, typically until a specified age or policy term, and offers peace of mind knowing that you're prepared for the unexpected.

Yes, many insurers offer optional riders or add-ons that you can add to your critical illness insurance policy for enhanced coverage. Common riders may include waiver of premium, which waives future premium payments if you become disabled, or return of premium, which refunds a portion of your premiums if you don't make a claim during the policy term. It's essential to review available riders with insurers to customise your coverage to meet your specific needs.

To make a claim on your critical illness insurance policy, you'll need to notify your insurer of your diagnosis and submit a claim form along with any required medical documentation, such as medical reports, test results, and physician statements. Once your claim is reviewed and approved by the insurer, you'll receive the lump sum benefit payment, which you can use to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other financial needs during your recovery.

As we age, the likelihood of encountering health complications increases for us all. In the event that you develop a severe medical condition, critical illness protection can assist with the expenses of crucial bills – enabling you to concentrate on recuperation or adjusting to your new health circumstance.

The typical expense of a Critical Illness protection policy will fluctuate based on aspects such as your age and medical background. As per our investigation, you can secure a policy starting from as low as £8 (for a non-smoking 21-year-old individual).

The most prevalent critical illnesses in the UK are cancer, cardiac arrest, and cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Cancer is one of the primary causes for critical illness insurance claims in the UK. Cancer constitutes over 80% of critical illness cover claims for females and about 45% of critical illness claims for males.


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