Guidance library

Straight-talking guides for protection clients.

Browse guidance by topic. Share any of these links with anyone you like — they explain the essentials so decisions are easier to make.

Guidance library disclaimer

The documents, guides, articles and resources contained within this library are provided for informational purposes only and were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the date of publication or upload. Financial services regulation, lender criteria, insurer products and provider documentation can change over time. Whilst My Mortgage & Protection Experts endeavours to maintain current and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that all content will remain up to date indefinitely. Clients should seek personalised advice before making financial decisions based on the information contained within this portal.

Understanding Protection

Start here — what the different types of cover do, why they matter, and the terms you'll come across.

Understanding Life Insurance and Family Protection

Life, critical illness, income protection, family income benefit and whole of life — explained in plain English.

Protecting Your Home and Family

How protection planning supports the mortgage, income, household bills and family needs if life does not go to plan.

Why Protection Matters

Life, critical illness and income protection explained in plain English — and what happens without them.

Why Regular Protection Reviews Matter

Is your cover still fit for purpose? Common gaps, when to review, and why older policies may fall short.

Protecting Your Cover

Missed payments, affordability, arrears and lapse, reinstating a policy — and why reviewing cover can be a better first step than cancelling.

Why Income Protection Matters

Protecting the income that pays for everything — how income protection works and why it's often the most overlooked cover.

Understanding Income Protection Terms

Own, suited and any occupation, deferred and benefit periods, guaranteed vs reviewable premiums and indexation.

Financial Resilience Calculator

How resilient are your household finances? An unexpected illness or injury could stop you working for weeks, months, or even years. See how long employer sick pay and savings could support you, when a shortfall may appear and whether income protection could help.

Income Protection FAQs

Plain-English answers to the most common income protection questions — cover levels, waiting periods, premiums and misconceptions.

Setting Up Your Policy

Trusts, beneficiaries and wishes — how to make sure the right money reaches the right people at the right time.

Writing a Policy in Trust

Speed, control and inheritance tax benefits of putting a policy in trust.

Choosing Your Beneficiaries

Nominating who should receive the proceeds of your policy.

Understanding Expression of Wishes

Private, non-binding guidance that helps your trustees carry out your intentions.

Letter of Wishes Template

An example Letter of Wishes you can adapt as personal guidance for your trustees.

Applying for Cover

What happens between applying and being on cover — underwriting, timescales and the importance of full disclosure.

The Medical Underwriting Process

What insurers look at when they assess your application, and how to prepare.

Understanding Underwriting Timescales

Why it's important not to leave applications until the last minute — outcomes, medical evidence and typical timescales.

Why Disclosure Matters

What counts as non-disclosure and misrepresentation, what insurers check, and how to get your application right first time.

Claims

How a claim works in practice — who to contact, what's needed and what to expect.

Making a Claim

The claims process step by step — notifying the insurer, gathering evidence, assessment and payment.

Insurer Benefits and Extras

Provider-specific added value — the extra health, wellbeing and reward services included with eligible policies.

Aviva DigiCare+

Digital GP, annual health check, mental health, nutrition, second medical opinion, bereavement and legal support — plus a link to Aviva's own guide.

Vitality Rewards Programme Guide

How to earn points, improve your Vitality status and access partner discounts, rewards and wellbeing support — plus a link to the full guide.

Understanding Vitality Serious Illness Cover

Severity-based payouts, the three levels of cover, multiple claims, later-life Dementia and FrailCare Cover and children's cover.

Vitality Optimiser Explained

How the Optimiser pricing option works, the premium cap and who it might suit — plus a link to the full Vitality Optimiser guide.

Zurich Accelerate

Additional medical support and protection flexibility — six specialist services plus the Milestone Benefit for increasing cover after life events.

Business Protection

Cover arranged through a business — protecting directors, employees and the company itself, tax-efficiently.

Relevant Life Assurance

Tax-efficient life cover for directors and employees paid for by the business — written in trust, with Corporation Tax relief and no Benefit-in-Kind charge.

Executive Income Protection

Business-owned income protection for directors and senior professionals — cover through the employer, assessable earnings, deferred and benefit periods, incapacity definitions and tax considerations.