Protecting the people who depend on you.
Life cover, critical illness, income protection and home insurance — independent advice on the cover that actually fits your family and your budget, from advisers here in Lancaster.
What would happen if your income stopped?
It’s the question most of us quietly avoid — which is exactly why it’s worth an hour with someone whose job is to answer it calmly.
A mortgage is one of the biggest financial commitments most of us will ever make, and it can last 25 years or more. Keeping it — along with the household bills, the childcare, everything else — depends on income. Few of us stop to consider what would happen to our family if that income reduced, or stopped altogether.
We start with a conversation about your position and a review of any cover you already have, then set out plainly where the shortfalls are. Because we’re independent, with access to a range of providers, the recommendation is tailored to your individual needs and what’s genuinely affordable — never a one-size-fits-all policy.
Life cover
An agreed lump sum — or a yearly income — for your family if you’re no longer around.
Critical illness
Pays out your chosen amount of cover if you suffer a serious illness covered by the policy.
Income protection
Replaces part of your income if accident or illness stops you working — up to retirement if need be.
Home & contents
Buildings cover for the structure and fittings; contents cover for everything that isn’t fixed down.
Your first conversation is free, and there’s no obligation. See how it works
Two kinds of term life cover, doing two different jobs.
The right one depends on what the payout is for — which is the first thing we’ll work out together.
| Level term | Decreasing term | |
|---|---|---|
| The payout | Stays the same for the whole term of the policy | Reduces over the term, broadly in step with a repayment mortgage balance |
| The premiums | Typically higher than decreasing cover for the same starting amount | Typically lower, because the amount insured shrinks over time |
| Usually suits | Family protection where the need doesn’t shrink — ongoing household costs, or an interest-only mortgage | Covering a repayment mortgage, where the amount owed falls year by year |
| At the end of the term | Cover simply ends — there’s no payout or cash value if no claim was made | The same — the policy just stops, ideally alongside a mortgage that’s now paid off |
Neither is better — they answer different needs, and plenty of families end up with a blend of policies rather than one.
How it goes from here
One honest conversation, and the uncomfortable question stops nagging.
A proper chat
Who depends on you, what you already have in place, and what would genuinely need covering.
Research
We weigh up available policies across a range of providers against your needs and your budget.
A clear recommendation
A written recommendation in plain English — what we’d put in place, and exactly why.
Protection questions, answered honestly
What does protection advice cost?
Your first conversation is free and there’s no obligation. We only charge a fee for our services on completion, and we’ll always tell you what it is before you commit to anything.
Do I need life insurance if I have a mortgage?
It isn’t compulsory, but a mortgage is one of the biggest financial commitments most of us ever make, often lasting 25 years or more. If other people rely on your income to keep the roof over their heads, cover is worth a serious look — and we’ll review anything you already have before recommending something new.
What’s the difference between life insurance and critical illness cover?
Life insurance pays out if you die during the term of the policy — usually as an agreed lump sum, though it can be set up as a yearly income instead. Critical illness cover pays out your chosen amount if you suffer a serious illness covered by the policy. The two are often taken together for broader protection.
Is income protection worth having?
It’s possibly the least taken-up insurance in the UK, yet arguably the most important. We readily insure our homes, cars, phones and even our pets, while overlooking the income that pays for all of them. Income protection replaces part of your income if accident or illness stops you working, and can pay out until retirement if need be.
Is buildings insurance compulsory?
Not by law — but it might as well be. Many mortgage lenders make it a condition of lending, and an uninsured home could mean substantial financial loss, or in the worst case nowhere to live. It covers the cost of rebuilding the property — the structure, fitted fixtures and outbuildings — rather than its market value.
What does contents insurance actually cover?
Everything in your home that isn’t fixed or fitted — furniture, electrical goods, carpets, curtains — against theft, loss or damage. It’s optional, but invaluable after a burglary or a flood. Do assess your belongings honestly when you take out a policy: underinsuring them can compromise a claim when you most need it.
I already have some cover. Can you check it’s right?
Yes. We start with a conversation about your financial position and a review of any existing policies, then tell you plainly where the shortfalls are — or confirm you’re already well covered. Any recommendation is based on your individual needs and what’s affordable for you.
Ask the uncomfortable question once, then stop worrying about it.
Tell us roughly what’s on your mind — or just who you’d want looked after — and we’ll come back to you within one working day. No hard sell, no obligation, no jargon.