Cover that keeps the family in the home.
Personal protection that pays out when you need it. Life, critical illness and income cover advised by Ollie Allen.
Personal protection should fit the household, not the lender. We do not bundle a policy with the mortgage by default. We look at who depends on whose income, what illness or injury would cost the family in real terms, and which two or three products carry that weight at the lowest sensible premium. The list below runs in roughly the order most families work through it.
Not sure where to start? Talk to an adviser for 15 minutes, or call 01708 629 983.
The personal protection products that matter
Most families need three or four of these. Pick the closest match and we will model the cover you actually need.
Life insurance
Pays a lump sum if you die during the term. Usually sized to clear the mortgage.
See life insuranceCritical illness cover
Pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious listed illness. Often paired with life cover.
See critical illnessIncome protection
Replaces 60 to 70% of your salary if illness or injury stops you working. Often pays for years.
See income protectionFamily income benefit
Pays a monthly income to dependants if you die. Often the right fit for young families.
See family income benefitMortgage protection
Life cover, often with critical illness, sized to your term and balance so the home is paid off.
See mortgage protectionHome insurance
Buildings and contents cover. Buildings is required by your lender at completion. We arrange it alongside the mortgage.
See home insuranceLevel term life insurance
A fixed lump sum if you die during the term. Right for interest-only mortgages and family financial protection.
Read moreDecreasing term life insurance
Life cover that tracks a repayment mortgage. Usually costs less than level term cover; right for most repayment borrowers.
Read moreWhole of life insurance
Lifetime cover with no end date, continuing while premiums are paid. Used mainly for inheritance tax planning rather than mortgage cover.
Read moreJoint life insurance
One policy on two lives. Cheaper than two singles, pays out once on first death; trade-offs explained at outset.
Read moreBuildings insurance
Lender-required cover for the fabric of your home. We rebuild-cost it properly and check the schedule satisfies your lender.
Read moreContents insurance
Cover for everything inside the home. Standalone or combined with buildings. We list valuables properly so they actually pay out.
Read moreChildren's critical illness cover
A lump sum if a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, usually built into a parent's critical illness policy. We check what yours includes and whether it is enough.
Read moreFuneral plans and funeral costs
Pre-paid plans, over-50s policies, life cover or savings. An honest comparison of the four ways to pay for a funeral in advance.
Read moreLong-term care: planning and funding
How later-life care is funded, what the state covers, and where specialist advice fits. We explain the landscape and refer you properly.
Read moreLandlord rent guarantee insurance
Cover for landlords against non-paying tenants. Rent paid for a defined period, plus legal expenses for evictions.
Read morePersonal protection questions we hear a lot
How much cover do I actually need?
As a baseline, enough life cover to clear the mortgage plus a small buffer. Add critical illness if you want a lump sum on diagnosis, and income protection if losing your salary would break the household. We size the cover to the gap, not to a sales target.
Joint policy or two single policies?
A single joint policy is cheaper but pays out only once, on the first claim. Two single policies cost a little more and pay out twice if both lives are insured and both claim. For most couples with dependants, two single policies are the safer structure. We will quote both.
I already have death-in-service through work. Is that enough?
Death-in-service typically pays two to four times salary if you die while employed. Useful, but it stops the day you leave the job, usually excludes critical illness and disability, may be less than your mortgage balance, and is not something you own. Most clients keep the employer cover and add personal cover to sit on top.
Will my premium change after I take the policy out?
On a guaranteed-rate policy the premium is fixed for the full term. On a reviewable policy the insurer can re-rate at set intervals, often every five years, and the cost can rise sharply later in life. We default to guaranteed rates and only suggest reviewable cover when there is a clear reason.
Why use a mortgage broker for protection?
Insurers price the same risk very differently. Underwriting outcomes for the same medical history can swing two or three insurers between standard rates, a loading and a decline. Comparing a number of insurers lets us place the application with the insurer most likely to accept it on the most suitable terms, rather than the one your bank happens to sell.
What actually happens at claim?
You or your family contact the insurer or, if you prefer, contact us and we open the claim with you. Insurers usually pay valid life claims within a few weeks of receiving the death certificate and trust paperwork. Critical illness and income protection claims take longer because medical evidence is needed. We stay involved through the process.
Related protection guides
Protecting your mortgage and family
The four protection products most families need, and how they fit together around a mortgage.
Read guideCritical illness vs income protection
Two of the most misunderstood products in protection, compared side by side.
Read guideHow much life insurance do I need?
Working out the right cover size, term and structure for your mortgage and family.
Read guideWhat our clients say
Real reviews from clients across Romford and Essex, verified on Google.
Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 92 Google reviews Read the reviews on Google
Book a personal protection review
Quick 15-minute call. We will talk through your current cover, your mortgage, and what the right protection looks like for your family. No pressure, no sales script.
We aim to return your call as quickly as we can. Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm. Weekend appointments available on request.