Or is it???

When it comes to mortgage protection, many advisers don’ t consider income protection as a suitable option. But what’ s behind this reluctance to recommend Income Protection and is there a growing opportunity to meet the changing needs of homeowners?

Many advisers still focus on life insurance and critical illness cover to ensure that mortgage debts are repaid in the event of death or serious illness. However, this approach may not always provide the best advice to clients. Income Protection can offer significant benefits and address different needs, but it is often perceived as complex and time-consuming to advise on. In a challenging mortgage market, where rising interest rates and fluctuating house prices add extra pressure, it can be difficult to prioritise Income Protection.

So, where’ s the opportunity?

While the uptake of Income Protection is increasing, there is still a long way to go to educate customers of its importance. By making protection a part of adviser roles, and communicating its importance through industry channels, mortgage advisers can help to close the gap and ensure that more people are protected against income loss.

The increasing trend in young buyers being forced to take longer mortgages, often which run past pension age means we should be looking at mortgage protection differently.

The Consumer Duty rules emphasise the importance of good outcomes for clients, requiring mortgage advisers to avoid foreseeable harms. This means that when recommending options, advisers need to consider all possible solutions, including Income Protection.

18 | PROTECTION ADVISER | AUTUMN 2025 |