1. Home
  2. Technical Central
  3. Protection guidance
  4. General and tools

General articles and tools

ABI - Percy the protection calculator

This quick calculator from the ABI can highlight the kind of payments an individual may be entitled to in the worst-case scenario.

Consumer duty support hub

We’re here to help you meet your Consumer Duty requirements now and in the future. Our helpful guidance, tools and resources can support your every step.

Continuing professional development

CPD | Better off dead? The need for critical illness cover

In light of this startling webinar title, we look at the real need to consider critical illness (CI) cover and examine how to start this conversation with clients.

CPD |Budget update and tax year end planning

In this webinar we discuss key changes from the October 2024 Budget, including the increase in employer National Insurance, salary exchange benefits and the proposed Inheritance Tax on pensions from April 2027.

CPD | Considering pensions and protection when a relationship ends

In this webinar we consider the financial implications of relationships, both marriage and cohabitation, coming to an end. From a protection perspective we explore the importance of policy ownership, a solution to protecting maintenance payments, and the role added value support services can play.  From a pensions perspective we look at the main sharing assets options when a relationship ends, including pensions, and explain the key points in the recently updated 'A Guide to the treatment of pensions and divorce' from the Pension advisory group.

CPD | Dispelling myths around trusts

Trusts have a very important role in financial planning and when used with protection policies they can offer significant benefits to clients and their families. When it comes to pensions, we’ll cover off what options are available when someone dies and what tax if any would be payable by the recipients.

CPD | It’s all about income protection

In this session we cover income protection and the important role it plays in helping clients maintain their lifestyle if they’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

CPD | Meaning of Value

Jamie Jenkins, Royal London, and Mike Barrett, The Lang Cat, discuss the latest insights from our second annual research report on ‘The Meaning of Value 2024’ and highlight how we can view value in a new light.

CPD | Planning for later life

From a protection advice perspective, this session will explore how to position and demonstrate value with whole of life policies, the important role of trusts, wills and LPAs as well as a look at the main ways clients can unlock equity from their properties.

From a pension perspective we consider ways to bolster retirement income, legislative changes that could impact this and how pension death benefits operate. We also explore the benefits of moving ISA money into pensions.

CPD | Retirement income advice review

This webinar covers the FCA’s Retirement income advice thematic review – TR24/1. We explore aspects of retirement income advice such as income withdrawal strategies, risk profiling, advice suitability and the use of cashflow modelling tools.

CPD | What’s on advisers' minds?

In this webinar we look at intergenerational pensions tax planning to inheritance tax.

Inheritance tax business relief changes

One of the changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 was to the inheritance tax business relief. This article looks at our understanding of the change and the impact on business owners.

Insurance Distribution Directive

The Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) came into force in October 2018 and introduced a number of obligations that firms involved in the designing and selling of insurance products need to meet.

Protection Plans and means tested benefits

Protection plans give peace of mind to individuals when that unforeseen event happens, helping them continue to pay their bills and maintain their lifestyle. One question we get asked is does the capital or income received from a protection plan affect an individual’s means tested benefits.

Protection plans and HMRC’s Trust Registration Service

From 6 October 2020, The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 introduced a new requirement for certain express trusts to be registered on HMRC’s Trust Registration Service even where the trust does not have a current tax liability. Any trust that has a current tax liability already needs to be registered.

Powers of attorney

Powers of attorney are a valuable tool that helps vulnerable people have their affairs managed before or when they have lost mental capacity.

The following guides help people who work in regulated markets learn about:

  • Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs)
  • Enduring powers of attorney (EPAs)
  • Deputy court orders

There are different laws and processes in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

England and Wales

The following guide only covers powers of attorney registered in England and Wales and court orders issued in England and Wales.

Scotland

For information about powers of attorney in Scotland

Northern Ireland

For information about powers of attorney in Northern Ireland.

Three common income protection myths and how to navigate them

Income protection is arguably the most needed long-term protection product. After all, what do most of us rely on to maintain our lifestyle? A regular income. So, the sudden loss of that regular income is surely one of the biggest risks a client faces.

Tools and support

A range of tools to help you with protection, including more detailed information on business protection, what is the right trust to use in certain situations and a range of support for parents setting up family protection to ensure their children are cared for, should something unfortunate happen.

Understanding the rules of intestacy in the UK

Use our easy-to-follow flowcharts and article to help you explain to clients what would happen if they died without a will.

Unmarried co-habiting couples and their rights

In the UK, more and more couples are choosing cohabitation instead of marriage. In 2023 cohabiting couples accounted for 18% of families, meaning that approximately 7.2 million adults were living as part of a cohabiting couple1.

Understanding the issues that can impact cohabiting couples will ensure that, as an adviser, you can offer your clients that best outcomes.

Unmarried co-habiting couples and their rights

Ask a question

Ask any specific questions you might have about the world of pensions or protection to our technical experts.

Get support