Life insurance and protection in Brentwood
Independent life insurance and protection advice in Brentwood, Essex, and the surrounding area.
Families insure their home and its contents, the car, even the phone, without a second thought. Far fewer have looked at what would happen if the income that pays for all of it stopped. It isn’t a comfortable thing to think about, so it tends not to get thought about at all.
I start by looking at your household as it is today: who relies on your income, what you owe, what you already have through work, and what you’d want to happen if life took an unexpected turn.
By the end, you’ll know what cover you actually need, what it would cost, and what you can leave alone, so you can get on with family life knowing there’s a plan in place.
How much life insurance do I need?
Enough to clear what you owe and replace the income your family would lose, for as long as they’d need it. It can pay out as a lump sum, or as a monthly income until the end of the policy, often set for when the children finish their education. That second option, called family income benefit, is often a cheaper way to cover the years your family relies on you most.
Do I need income protection?
If illness or injury stopped you working, how long would your savings last? Income protection pays a monthly income until you’re well enough to go back. You choose how much of your income it replaces, how soon it starts and how long it runs, so it fits around your commitments and whatever your employer already pays.
What is critical illness cover?
A lump sum if you’re diagnosed with one of the serious illnesses named in the policy. You can put it towards treatment, adapting your home, or simply keeping things running while you recover. Policies differ in what they cover, which is why comparing the whole market matters.
What do I already have through work?
Many employers provide death in service cover and some sick pay. It usually stops when you leave, so I’ll take it into account without relying on it, and you won’t pay for the same cover twice.
Should my policy be written in trust?
Usually, yes. A policy in trust pays out to the people you choose without waiting for probate, and normally sits outside your estate for inheritance tax. It costs nothing extra to set up. More on inheritance tax planning →
What does it cost?
Premiums depend on your age, health, lifestyle and how much cover you choose. I won’t guess a price. We’ll agree a monthly budget, put it towards what matters most, and I’ll get real quotes from across the market. The insurer usually pays me commission, and I’ll show you exactly how much before you go ahead.
I meet clients in and around Brentwood, Shenfield, Billericay, Upminster and Chelmsford, and anywhere else by video call.
You don’t need any paperwork to start. Details of any cover you already have, or your benefits at work, help, but they aren’t essential.
Policies have exclusions and conditions, and what they pay depends on the information you give the insurer. Premiums depend on your age, health and lifestyle. Don’t cancel any existing cover until new cover is in place.