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Protection

Key person cover

A business can be exposed when one person's absence affects revenue, relationships or operations. I help frame the risk and arrange the appropriate protection discussion.

Quantify the business impact

The need might relate to replacing skills, protecting profit or meeting a lender requirement. Those purposes can require different benefit amounts and policy structures. The insured person, owner and recipient of any claim should be clearly identified.

A review around your existing protection

We establish what you already have, what you want a policy to do and the premium you can maintain. Existing employer benefits and policy conditions should be checked before suggesting changes. Where specialist advice or a referral is needed, that route is explained before you proceed.

What to prepare

  • Key person's role
  • Business accounts and dependencies
  • Existing cover
  • Purpose and proposed period of protection

You do not need every document before saying hello. Start with a short outline; detailed or sensitive records should follow through an agreed secure route.

Before you proceed

A business valuation alone is not a cover recommendation. Tax treatment and claims depend on the arrangement and policy terms.

Your questions, answered

Should I check existing cover before taking out another policy?

Yes. Bring the policy schedule and details of relevant employer benefits so the cover, term, exclusions and purpose can be understood. The review should consider what would happen to those benefits if your employment changed. Avoid cancelling existing cover before any replacement is confirmed and reviewed.

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How do we decide what protection is intended to do?

Start with the people, commitments or business needs you want to protect. Then consider what money would be needed, for how long and what premiums can be maintained. Different policies respond to different events, so the purpose matters as much as the headline benefit.

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Will a quotation confirm that I can claim in future?

No. Acceptance, policy terms and claims depend on the insurer’s requirements and the contract. Accurate answers are essential when applying, and medical information should use the agreed secure process. We discuss relevant limitations and any need for specialist advice before you proceed.

Link to this answer

Further reading: MoneyHelper: insurance. Content updated 17 September 2026. General information; availability depends on the individual case.

Your next step

Let’s talk about your plans.

Interested in key person cover? Tell me what you want to achieve and when; we can work out what needs a closer look.

A useful starting point: Key person's role; Business accounts and dependencies; Existing cover.

A clearer protection decision

Translate one person’s absence into a business problem

A title such as founder or sales director does not quantify the exposure. Start with the work, relationships and financial contribution that would need to be replaced or supported.

The disruption

What could stop or become harder?

  • Identify the clients, contracts and decisions dependent on the person.
  • Consider recruitment and training time.
  • List work that others can already cover.
The financial purpose

What would a payment fund?

  • Separate continuity costs, profit exposure and business debt.
  • Avoid counting the same need under several policies.
  • Record the assumptions behind any proposed amount.
The arrangement

Who needs to receive the money?

  • Confirm the business structure and policy owner.
  • Ask which death or illness event is covered.
  • Have the accountant review the treatment of premiums and proceeds.
Open the questions that matter

Keep the protection plan connected to operations

Illustration: replacing a founder’s responsibilities

A founder holds the main client relationships and signs off technical work. The preparation exercise is to identify temporary cover, recruitment lead time, access to records and the cash needed during the transition. A salary multiple alone does not describe those needs.

When should the business revisit the cover?

A new investor, major contract, acquisition, debt repayment or a key employee leaving can change the purpose. Set a named owner for the review and update the assumptions with the adviser and accountant.

Your next conversation

Bring a short dependency map and current accounts. The first objective is an agreed purpose, owner and review trigger for each proposed policy, before specialist advice on the amount and structure.

Discuss this with Jack → · Compare personal protection types

Sources & further reading

Checked 13 October 2026. The questions and preparation prompts above are Jack’s editorial guidance. The links explain the underlying insurance concepts. Insurer material is an example, not a recommendation or a description of every policy.