Life Cover
Independent life cover and protection advice
The right protection means your family, your home and your plans are looked after if the worst happens. We help you choose cover that fits alongside your pension and investment planning.
We're an independent financial planning firm led by a Chartered Financial Planner, so we compare policies from across the market rather than a single insurer. For many of our clients, protection is also a key part of planning for inheritance tax.
Your first meeting is free and there's no obligation to go further.
Protection that fits your plans
Term insurance
Cover for a set period, such as the length of your mortgage or until your children are grown up.
Whole of life cover
Cover that pays out whenever you die, often used to pay an inheritance tax bill.
Inheritance tax cover
Making sure there's money available to pay inheritance tax, so your family doesn't have to sell assets.
Income protection
A monthly income if you can't work because of illness or injury.
Critical illness cover
A lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by the policy.
Writing policies in trust
Setting up your cover in trust so it pays out quickly and outside your estate.
Three simple steps
Free first meeting
We talk about your family, your finances and what you'd want your cover to do.
Compare the market
We work out how much cover you need and compare policies from across the market, explaining the options in writing.
Apply and set up
We help with the application, set the policy up in trust where appropriate and review it as your circumstances change.
Types of cover
Term insurance
Term insurance covers you for a set period. For example, if you have 25 years left on your mortgage, a 25-year policy could pay it off if you died during that time. If you die within the term, the policy pays out the amount chosen at the start. It has no cash value if you cancel it or outlive the term.
Whole of life cover
As the name suggests, whole of life cover lasts for your whole life. As long as you keep paying the premiums, it's guaranteed to pay out when you die. That makes it more expensive than term insurance, but it's often the most effective way to provide money for an inheritance tax bill.
Income protection
Income protection pays you a monthly income if you can't work because of illness or injury. Many employers provide sick pay, but often only for a limited time. Income protection pays until you can go back to work, or until the end of the policy term.
Critical illness cover
Critical illness cover pays a lump sum if you're diagnosed with one of the conditions covered by the policy, such as a heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis or certain cancers. Policies differ in what they cover, so it's important to understand the details before you choose one.
Life cover and inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates above the available allowances. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds will also count towards your estate, which means more families could face a bill. A whole of life policy written in trust can provide money to pay that bill, so your family doesn't have to sell property or investments to do it.
Why trusts matter: writing a life policy in trust usually means the payout isn't part of your estate for inheritance tax, and it can be paid to your family more quickly, without waiting for your estate to be settled. We'll make sure the right type of trust is in place.
Common questions
Should my life cover be written in trust?
In most cases, yes. A policy in trust usually pays out faster and falls outside your estate for inheritance tax. We'll help you choose the right type of trust and complete the paperwork.
How much cover do I need?
It depends on what you want the cover to do, such as clearing a mortgage, replacing income for your family or paying an inheritance tax bill. We'll work it out with you, taking into account any cover you already have through work.
Do you compare the whole market?
Yes. We're independent, so we compare policies from across the market rather than recommending a single insurer.
How are you paid for protection advice?
We'll explain exactly how we're paid before you decide to go ahead, so there are no surprises.
Do I have to meet in person?
No. Meetings are by appointment, either in person at one of our meeting locations in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Livingston or Stirling, at your home, or by video call.
Related services
Estate Planning
Passing on your wealth as you intend, with as little inheritance tax as possible.
Find out more →Access My Pension
Turning your pension into an income that lasts, as tax-efficiently as possible.
Find out more →Savings & Investments
Investing savings or a lump sum with a clear plan built around your goals.
Find out more →Talk to us about protecting your family
Free first meeting, no obligation. Call 0330 223 1653 or book online.
Life insurance and protection policies have no cash value unless a valid claim is made. If you stop paying the premiums, your cover will end. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
