Protection & Insurance Advice in St Helens
At Allisons Financial, we provide personalised protection advice based on your circumstances, priorities and existing arrangements.
Protect What Matters Most with Tailored Cover
Protection is about putting financial safeguards in place for the people, income and commitments that matter most to you.
At Allisons Financial, we’ll help you understand the different types of cover available and consider which forms of protection may be appropriate for you. From Life Assurance and Income Protection Insurance to Family Income Benefit, Critical Illness Cover and Business Protection, we’ll help you build a protection plan around the risks that matter most to you. Whether you want to provide for your family, protect your income if you’re unable to work or make sure important financial commitments can still be met if life takes an unexpected turn, the right insurance can provide valuable financial reassurance.
What Is Financial Protection?
Financial protection is a broad term for insurance designed to provide financial support when certain unexpected events occur. Depending on the policy, this could include death, diagnosis of a specified serious illness or being unable to work because of illness or injury.
Different types of protection serve different purposes. Life insurance can provide financial support for the people you leave behind, while Income Protection can replace part of your earnings if you’re unable to work because of illness or injury. Critical Illness Cover can provide a lump sum following diagnosis of a condition covered by the policy, while Family Income Benefit can provide regular payments to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term.
Protection isn’t necessarily about preparing for one particular event. It’s about considering the financial consequences that an unexpected change in circumstances could have and deciding which risks you would prefer to insure against.
At Allisons Financial, we’ll help you look at the bigger picture, including the protection you may already have through work, your savings and existing policies, before discussing whether additional cover could be appropriate.
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Whatever happens, we've got you covered
Call 01744 885555 and tell us what you’re looking to achieve. We’ll then identify and research the best solutions for you. There’s no obligation to invest, buy or even proceed with us, so why not talk to us today?
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Types of Protection We Offer
Life
Insurance
Income
Protection
Income protection is designed to replace part of your income if illness or injury prevents you from working and you meet the policy’s definition of incapacity. Policies can differ in the amount of income covered, how long you need to be unable to work before payments begin and how long benefits can continue.
Home
Insurance
Home Insurance can include buildings insurance, contents insurance or a combination of both. Buildings insurance is designed to protect the structure of your home against specified risks, while contents insurance relates to possessions within the property, subject to the individual policy terms.
Critical Illness
Cover
Critical illness cover can provide a lump-sum payment if you’re diagnosed with one of the specified medical conditions covered by your policy and meet the relevant definition.
The money can generally be used however you choose.
Health
Insurance
Private medical insurance can provide access to eligible private medical treatment and services in accordance with the terms of your policy.
The type and extent of treatment covered can vary between policies, so it’s important to consider the level of cover, exclusions, excess and other policy conditions rather than focusing purely on the monthly premium.
Family Income
Benefit
Family income benefit is a form of life cover designed to provide regular payments to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term.
Rather than providing one large lump sum, it can create an ongoing income for the remaining period of the policy.
Why Is Protection Important?
Most households depend on income to cover everyday commitments. Mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, childcare, food, transport and other regular expenses don’t automatically disappear if somebody becomes seriously ill, can no longer work or dies.
Having suitable protection in place can provide financial support when it is needed most.
For a family, this might mean ensuring there is money available to help maintain household finances if one parent dies. For somebody whose household relies heavily on their earnings, it could mean protecting part of that income if illness or injury prevents them from working. For a business owner, protection could help reduce the financial impact of losing a key individual.
The right approach depends entirely on your circumstances. Someone with substantial savings, generous workplace benefits and no financial dependants may have very different protection needs from someone with young children, a mortgage and a household reliant on one main income.
That’s why we start by understanding what you already have and what you most want to protect.
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How Much Protection Do You Need?
There isn’t one level of protection that’s right for everybody.
The amount and type of cover you may need should reflect your financial circumstances and the consequences an unexpected event could have for you or the people who rely on you.
For life protection, that may mean thinking about outstanding mortgage borrowing and other debts, the income your family relies upon, childcare costs and how long financial support might be required.
When considering Income Protection, your regular household expenditure, existing sick pay arrangements and savings can all influence how much cover may be appropriate and how long you could comfortably wait before benefits begin.
It’s also important to consider protection you already have. Your employer may provide death-in-service benefits, enhanced sick pay or other workplace insurance, while you may already hold policies arranged previously.
At Allisons Financial, we’ll take existing arrangements into account rather than simply recommending additional insurance. The aim is to identify where meaningful financial risks exist and consider appropriate ways of addressing them.
Protection for Your Income
Your ability to earn an income is one of your most valuable financial assets.
If illness or injury prevented you from working for an extended period, household costs would usually continue even if your earnings reduced. How long you could manage would depend on factors such as your savings, employer sick pay, household income and other financial resources.
Income Protection Insurance can help replace part of your lost earnings where you meet the policy’s conditions, providing regular financial support during a period when you’re unable to work.
The details matter. Policies can have different definitions of incapacity, deferred periods, benefit levels and claim periods, so the cheapest policy won’t necessarily provide the most appropriate protection.
Income protection can be particularly important for people who work for themselves. Unlike many employees, self-employed individuals may not have access to employer sick pay or workplace protection benefits. Our dedicated Income Protection for the Self Employed advice can help you consider what would happen to your finances if your ability to work were interrupted.
Protection for Your Family
Family protection is about considering how the people who depend on you financially would manage if your circumstances changed unexpectedly.
If you have a partner, children or other dependants, the loss of an income can affect much more than mortgage repayments. Everyday living expenses, childcare, education costs and longer-term family plans may all depend on money continuing to come into the household.
Life Assurance can provide a lump sum where a valid claim is made, while Family Income Benefit Insurance can provide regular payments during the remaining policy term. Critical Illness Cover may also provide financial support if you’re diagnosed with a specified condition covered by the policy.
These products work differently and aren’t interchangeable. The right combination, if any, will depend on what you’re trying to protect and how you’d want financial support to be provided.
We’ll help you understand those differences clearly so you can make informed choices about protecting your family.
Protection for Homeowners
Buying a home often creates one of the largest financial commitments you’ll ever take on.
While having a mortgage doesn’t automatically determine which insurance policies you need, it’s sensible to consider what would happen to the mortgage and wider household finances if you died, became seriously ill or could no longer work.
Life cover may help provide funds that could be used towards outstanding borrowing following a valid claim. Income Protection may help with ongoing household expenses if illness or injury affects your ability to earn, while Critical Illness Cover could provide a lump sum following diagnosis of a covered condition.
It’s also important to protect the property itself. Buildings insurance may be required by a mortgage lender as a condition of borrowing, while contents cover can protect possessions against insured events.
Protection should therefore be considered alongside your wider mortgage arrangements rather than as an afterthought once the property purchase has completed.
Business Protection
Protection isn’t only important for individuals and families. Unexpected illness or death can also create significant financial challenges for a business.
If a company relies heavily on particular owners, directors or employees, losing one of those individuals can affect revenue, relationships, ownership and the future stability of the business.
Business Protection Insurance can be used to address different risks depending on the structure and needs of the company.
Shareholder Protection Insurance can help provide funds that may enable remaining shareholders to purchase shares following the death or specified serious illness of a shareholder, depending on how the arrangement is structured.
Relevant Life Cover can allow an employer to provide qualifying individual life cover for an employee or director through the business, subject to the applicable rules and policy terms.
Business protection can involve additional legal, tax and ownership considerations, so arrangements should be considered carefully alongside appropriate professional advice where necessary.
How Protection Advice Works
Good protection advice starts with understanding what would happen financially if your circumstances changed.
At Allisons Financial, we’ll begin by discussing your income, family circumstances, financial commitments, existing insurance, savings and any workplace benefits you already receive. We’ll then consider the areas where a significant financial shortfall could arise.
If additional protection may be appropriate, we’ll explain the available options and the differences between them. This includes considering not just the amount of cover but also the policy term, deferred period where relevant, definitions, exclusions and other important conditions.
We’ll make sure you understand what a policy is designed to do before you decide whether to proceed.
Protection isn’t necessarily something you arrange once and forget about. As your life changes, we’ll also be here to help you review whether your existing arrangements continue to reflect your needs.
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Why Review Your Protection Regularly?
The protection that suited you five years ago may not necessarily suit your circumstances today.
Moving home, taking on a larger mortgage, having children, getting married, changing jobs, becoming self-employed or experiencing a significant change in income can all alter the financial risks you and your family face.
Your existing protection may also need reviewing if your workplace benefits change or you build enough savings to alter the amount of cover you require.
A regular review gives you the opportunity to check whether policies still provide the type and level of protection you intended. It can also help identify duplicated cover or areas where your circumstances have changed but your insurance hasn’t.
You shouldn’t cancel existing protection simply because you’re considering another policy. Age, health and other factors can affect the terms or cost of replacement cover, so it’s important to understand what would replace an existing policy before making changes.
Why Choose Allisons Financial for Protection Advice?
At Allisons Financial, we believe protection advice should begin with you rather than an insurance product.
We’ll take time to understand the people and financial commitments you want to protect, consider the arrangements you already have and explain where additional cover could potentially help.
Our advisers will talk you through the different types of protection available and explain important policy features in straightforward terms. This helps you understand why a particular recommendation may be appropriate and what the policy is designed to cover.
Because Allisons Financial provides advice across mortgages and wider financial planning as well as protection, we can consider insurance within the context of your broader financial circumstances rather than viewing it entirely in isolation.
Our support can also continue as your circumstances change. Whether you move home, start a family, become self-employed or experience another significant life event, we can help you review your protection and determine whether your existing arrangements still meet your needs.
Speak to a Protection Adviser
The right protection can help provide financial reassurance when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Whether you want to protect your income, provide for your family, safeguard your home or consider protection for your business, Allisons Financial can help you understand your options and make informed decisions.
We’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you, review the protection you already have and help you consider cover designed around your individual circumstances.
Get in touch with Allisons Financial today to speak to a Protection Adviser and start building a protection plan around the things that matter most.
Book your free consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is financial protection?
Financial protection generally refers to insurance designed to provide financial support following specified events such as death, serious illness or being unable to work due to illness or injury. Different products protect against different risks and are subject to their individual policy terms.
What types of protection insurance are available?
Protection can include Life Assurance, Income Protection Insurance, Critical Illness Cover and Family Income Benefit, alongside other forms of insurance designed to protect your health, home or business.
How much protection cover do I need?
The appropriate amount depends on your individual circumstances. Factors can include your income, mortgage or rent, debts, dependants, regular expenditure, savings, existing policies and workplace benefits.
Do I need life assurance if I have a mortgage?
Life assurance isn’t automatically required simply because you have a mortgage, but some homeowners choose it so financial support could be available for their family following a valid claim. The appropriate cover depends on your circumstances.
What's the difference between Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection?
Critical Illness Cover can provide a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified condition covered by the policy. Income Protection is designed to provide regular payments replacing part of your income if illness or injury prevents you from working and you meet the policy’s claim definition.
Can self-employed people get Income Protection?
Yes, Income Protection may be available to self-employed individuals, subject to insurer criteria and underwriting. It can be particularly relevant where there is no employer sick pay available.
When should I review my protection?
It’s sensible to review your arrangements after significant changes such as buying a home, having children, changing employment, becoming self-employed or experiencing a substantial change in income or financial commitments.
Can I have more than one type of protection insurance?
Yes. Different policies are designed to protect against different financial risks, so some people hold more than one type of cover. Whether this is appropriate will depend on your circumstances, existing arrangements and objectives.
Protection Advice in St Helens
Allisons Financial provides personalised protection advice in St Helens and to clients across the surrounding areas.
Whether you’re protecting your family, income, home or business, we’ll help you understand the different insurance options available and consider cover in the context of your individual circumstances.
We support clients across St Helens, Rainford, Prescot, Billinge, Eccleston and surrounding communities, as well as providing advice to clients further afield.
You don’t need to wait until a major life event occurs before reviewing your protection. If you’re unsure what insurance you already have, whether you’re adequately covered or where gaps may exist, speaking to an adviser can help you build a clearer picture of your financial protection.
