ProtectionNov 18 2015

Seven out of 10 advisers find Seven Families useful

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Seven out of 10 advisers find Seven Families useful

According to a poll of advisers 44 per cent of those surveyed believed the Seven Families campaign, led by Disability Rights UK, has had significant value in providing useful information on income protection.

When addressing the need for protection with clients, 70 per cent of advisers said they found Seven Families useful with 37.5 per cent saying they had used Seven Families material directly with clients during their discussions.

The poll of 20 advisory firms last month found the same number have talked about income protection more frequently since the campaign began.

Barry Pappin, director and business protection specialist at Vita, said: “I think the campaign can only have a positive impact, but when it comes to the people that can have the biggest impact on income protection sales, not just awareness, it is us, the advisers.

“The information available through Seven Families, combined with additional ways of getting advisers to talk about IP, such as roadshows like LV’s ‘Wake up to IP’, are a great example of getting on the frontline, and arming advisers with the knowledge, tools and material to sell IP.”

Peter Le Beau, founder of independent consultancy Le Beau Visage and spokesperson for the Seven Families campaign, said: “It is alarming that even though the message is coming loud and clear from the government that the benefits system is being cut back to balance the economy, some have unwavering belief that they will always be looked after if they can’t work.

“This is a dangerous strategy and advisers are best placed to help people see where the gaps are and when people require a financial safety net. Part of the reason the Seven Families campaign exists is to help advisers bring home the financial reality of suffering a long-term illness or disability, and we’re pleased that many have been using the material and the momentum of the campaign to do just this.”

Recent ONS statistics show the number of people out of work due to ill health has risen by 62,000 in the last year, meaning today, two million people in the UK are not seeking employment because of long-term illness.

lucinda.borrell@ft.com