Repay a mortgage (financial liability) in the event of death or critical illness
Repay a mortgage (financial liability) in the event of death or critical illness
Maintain your current standard of living if you were unable to work for a prolonged period of time
Protect your family financially in the event of death (or the death of a partner)
Secure your business against the risk of losing a key member of staff
A life insurance policy can put financial provision in place for your family in the event of your death. When selecting a life insurance policy, you will usually choose between level term, decreasing term, or whole-of-life.
Level and decreasing policies both last for a predetermined length of time and will pay out a lump sum if you pass away within this period. Level term policies offer a lump sum that remains the same throughout the duration of the policy, whereas the lump sum from a decreasing term policy reduces over time.
Whole-of-life policies are different as they run for the remainder of your life, rather than a set number of years. Paying out a lump sum at the time of death, these policies are often considered as a means of insuring against post-death liabilities including funeral costs and inheritance tax.
Critical or serious illness cover are types of insurance that pay a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness or have to undergo certain surgical procedures. Similar to life insurance, this can be on a level or decreasing basis.
Income protection is a long-term policy designed to pay a regular income if you develop an illness or injury that prevents you from working. It will continue to pay out until you are able to return to work, retire, or until the policy ends.
If you own a business, it’s important to consider the risks associated with the death or incapacity of a key member of staff. Speak to your financial adviser to find out more about business protection.
Protecting your assets is an essential aspect of financial planning. It’s important to regularly review your protection products to ensure you have the right type of protection and cover in place based on your situation.