A different life insurance policy could save you thousands – but make sure you are still protected
News & comments7 May 2024
Choosing the right type of life insurance policy to cover your mortgage could cut the overall cost of premiums by as much as half, but you could risk leaving yourself short-changed on your level of protection, according to RBC Brewin Dolphin.
The wealth manager’s analysis found the cost of different types of life insurance – increasing, level, and decreasing term cover – could vary by as much as 123% over a 25-year period1, costing the policyholder thousands of pounds more over the course of a mortgage.
Life insurance pays out either a lump sum or regular payments if you pass away during the specified term, providing your dependants with financial support. Although it can be purchased at any time, many people buy it while taking out a mortgage so that their loved ones are not burdened with the outstanding debt.
For different circumstances, such as covering an inheritance tax liability, ‘whole of life’ products may be more appropriate as they are guaranteed to pay out and are not fixed to a certain time period.
A homeowner taking out £270,750 of cover might see the cost of their life insurance amount to a total £5,493 over 25 years with the most expensive type of policy, which keeps pace with inflation. However, they could more than halve that cost by buying a policy that provides a decreasing level of cover, more or less in line with their remaining mortgage balance, over time.
Total cost and % difference (lowest to highest) over 25 years at different initial cover levels:
| £163,250 cover | £270,750 cover | £504,280 cover | £950,000 cover | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £3,198 (81%) | £5,493 (123%) | £8,614 (119%) | £14,602 (97%) |
| Level term | £2,097 (18%) | £3,036 (23%) | £5,079 (29%) | £9,885 (34%) |
| Decreasing cover | £1,770 | £2,463 | £3,939 | £7,398 |
The insurance premiums are based on the average loan amount for a UK home2, insurable value of 95% of the average UK home3, the average home in the South East of England4, and a £1 million property. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), there were 20.7 million life insurance policies in force in the UK during 20215 – the latest publicly available data.
Daniel Hough, financial planner at RBC Brewin Dolphin, said: “Many people take out a life insurance policy when they get a mortgage, ensuring that – if the worst was to happen – their loved ones aren’t left with a large debt to repay. But, in the majority of cases they likely do not realise what type of cover they are paying for – it could provide different levels of protection depending on the type of policy.
“Speak to a professional adviser before picking a policy, particularly if you are doing so purely on cost, as the level of cover it affords you will be heavily influenced by the type of policy you have and, therefore, the monthly premiums you pay.”
Cost and cover
An ‘increasing life term’ policy is designed to give you a level of protection that rises in line with inflation. However, the premiums also rise every year to account for that – so, for example, if you begin with a policy that costs £14.29 per month and provides £270,750 of cover, in 25 years’ time you would be paying £23.08 per month for protection worth £437,377.
When most people think about insurance, it is likely a ‘level term’ policy. This is where your cover remains constant at a fixed sum and so do your monthly premiums, for instance paying £10.12 per month for £270,750 at any point during a 25-year period.
While ‘decreasing term cover’ also means you pay the same premium throughout the policy, the payout reduces over time as the amount left on a mortgage declines – usually at around 8% per annum. The advantage is that the monthly premiums are generally cheaper. For the same £270,750 of cover you might pay £8.21 per month, but by year 20 it would only pay out £101,264.
Cost per month and for initial £270,750 of protection over 25 years:
| Cost per month | Cover provided | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £14.29 – £23.08 | £270,750 – £437,377 |
| Level term | £10.12 | £270,750 |
| Decreasing cover | £8.21 | £0-£270,750 |
Daniel Hough said: “When we speak to clients about insurance cover, we typically advise opting for level term at minimum and increasing term if they can afford it. Occasionally, we would recommend a decreasing term policy and if we did, it would likely be on a cost basis.
“Decreasing cover is better than no protection. So, if budget is a big concern then it is an option. But you have to bear in mind that the premiums are going to stay the same, while your potential pay out drops in value. Over a 25-year term, assuming you have paid off the vast majority of your mortgage, it may get to the point where it isn’t worthwhile because the level of cover is so low.
“When we speak with clients, we aim to have a selection of insurance products that will provide the level of protection they need. They may want to consider taking out one policy that would cover the mortgage – that could be, for example, life insurance for the main breadwinner.
“If the policyholder is working, they may also have a death-in-service policy through their employer providing a bit of extra cover. You may want to look at income protection as well, which provides you with a regular income if you can’t work because of sickness or disability, tying together a couple’s combined earnings.
“There isn’t any one insurance product that provides all the protection you need. The only way of making sure you are comprehensively covered is by speaking to a qualified professional who can advise you on the best approach to take, while making sure you are not overpaying.”
1 On the basis of an office worker, aged 35, with a 25 year term product and pre-medical underwriting.
2 Source: Confused.com
3 Source: UK Government
4 Source: Confused.com
5 Source: Forbes
– ENDS –
Insurance costs for different levels of cover:
£163,250 of cover
| Per month | Per year | 5 years | 25 years | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £8.32 – £13.44 | £99.84 | £519.57 | £3,197.91 |
| Level term | £6.99 | £83.88 | £419.40 | £2,097.00 |
| Decreasing cover | £5.90 | £70.80 | £354.00 | £1,770.00 |
£270,750 of cover
| Per month | Per year | 5 years | 25 years | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £14.29-£23.08 | £171.48 | £892.39 | £5,492.56 |
| Level term | £10.12 | £121.44 | £607.20 | £3,036.00 |
| Decreasing cover | £8.21 | £98.52 | £492.60 | £2,463.00 |
£504,280 of cover
| Per month | Per year | 5 years | 25 years | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £22.41- £36.20 | £268.92 | £1,399.47 | £8,613.59 |
| Level term | £16.93 | £203.16 | £1,015.80 | £5,079.00 |
| Decreasing cover | £13.13 | £157.56 | £787.80 | £3,939.00 |
£950,000 of cover
| Per month | Per year | 5 years | 25 years | |
| Increasing @ 2% | £37.99-£61.37 | £455.88 | £2,372.42 | £14,601.97 |
| Level term | £32.95 | £395.40 | £1,977.00 | £9,885.00 |
| Decreasing cover | £24.66 | £295.92 | £1,479.60 | £7,398.00 |
Disclaimers
The value of investments can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Neither simulated nor actual past performance are reliable indicators of future performance. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance.
PRESS INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Peter McFarlane peter.mcfarlane@framecreates.co.uk / 07412 739 093
Sian Robertson sian.robertson@brewin.co.uk / 020 3201 3026
Payal Nair payal.nair@brewin.co.uk / 020 3201 3342.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About RBC Brewin Dolphin
RBC Brewin Dolphin is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading wealth managers and traces its origins back to 1762. With £51.8* billion in assets under management, we offer award-winning, personalised wealth management services from bespoke, discretionary investment management to retirement planning and tax-efficient investing.
Our qualified investment managers and financial planners are based in 33 offices across the UK, Jersey and Republic of Ireland. They are committed to the most exacting standards of client service, with long-term thinking and absolute focus on our clients’ needs at the core.
As part of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), we are now able to draw on the strength of a global financial institution to continue to improve the service we provide to our clients and drive further innovation across our business.
*as at 31st October 2023.
The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested.
RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Financial Services Commission. Registered Office: 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales company number: 2135876. VAT number: GB 690 8994 69.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 94,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
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