Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
Cirencester Friendly
More than 50% of employees would be likely to continue to work even if they didn’t need the money
A new survey from income protection specialist Cirencenster Friendly reveals the important role work plays in peoples’ lives beyond providing a regular income. In our survey with more than 2,400 people who are currently working, 51% said they would continue working, even if it wasn’t a financial necessity. Indeed, 7% of respondents said they were already in this position. Only just over a third (36%) said they would unlike to continue to work if they didn’t have to earn money.
Cirencester Friendly: Alan Waddington: Remember when News Corporation bought MySpace…don’t ignore your customers like they did
Remember MySpace? In the mid-2000s, it was considered the ‘cool’ social media platform. At its peak, MySpace had almost 76mn unique users and helped launch the careers of Lily Allen and the Arctic Monkeys.
Cirencester Friendly: A decade of giving back
In 1890, financial safety nets were only for the very rich. If ordinary workers couldn’t do their job because they were ill or had had an accident, the state offered no help and the future was potentially very bleak for them and their families. Cirencester Friendly was created to fill this gap and provide much needed assistance when workers and their families needed it the most.
Cirencester Friendly: Adapting to life after breast cancer
“Life is different now, but I’m thankful to be here and looking to the future.” Beverley Lambert is a Claims Consultant at Cirencester Friendly. Almost four years ago in November 2021, her world was turned upside down when she discovered a lump in her breast. She made an appointment with her GP to get it checked out and from there events moved very quickly. By the end of the month, she’d had a mammogram and ultrasound, which confirmed the lump was cancerous.
Cirencester Friendly: The vicious cycle of illness and social isolation
The latest United Nations World Happiness Report reveals that Finland is the happiest country in the world to live in. They have topped the list for the past eight years. What makes this country with long, cold dark winters such a blissful place to live? Aside from fantastic scenery, plenty of space and relative prosperity, much has been put down to their obsession with saunas. Almost 90% of Finns go at least once a week, meeting friends and family to enjoy this communal experience.
Cirencester Friendly: Building on the Friendly Society legacy
Friendly societies have played a vital role as mutual insurers in supporting people and communities for more than 200 years. They have fostered social cohesion and provided essential financial support when it has been most needed, allowing members to proactively secure the lives they’ve built.
Cirencester Friendly: The vicious cycle of illness and social isolation
The latest United Nations World Happiness Report reveals that Finland is the happiest country in the world to live in. They have topped the list for the past eight years. What makes this country with long, cold dark winters such a blissful place to live? Aside from fantastic scenery, plenty of space and relative prosperity, much has been put down to their obsession with saunas. Almost 90% of Finns go at least once a week, meeting friends and family to enjoy this communal experience.
Cirencester Friendly: Building on the Friendly Society legacy
Friendly societies have played a vital role as mutual insurers in supporting people and communities for more than 200 years. They have fostered social cohesion and provided essential financial support when it has been most needed, allowing members to proactively secure the lives they’ve built.
It's all about Cirencester Friendly's 125 Foundation
Hear from the wonderful Caroline Hume and Sara Carpenter as they explain how the foundation can support your clients, and even help you reach your own fundraising goals!
Cirencester Friendly: Informed choice: Protection is far from a commodity that can be plucked boxed-ready off the shelf
Alan Waddington, distribution director at Cirencester Friendly Society Limited, discusses the importance of articulating the benefits of policies offered by different providers, not just pitching on price.
Cirencester Friendly: LetsTalkIP podcast
This episode explores the unique role of mutual societies and friendly societies in the income protection market, examining their history, customer benefits, and future growth potential under the new Labour government.
Cirencester Friendly: Paradigm Protect Insights
Hear from our Senior Claims Manager Robert Higgins as he chats all things claims with Michael Allison at Paradigm Protect.
Cirencester Friendly: What our Advisers Say
Introducing our Business Development Manager Emily Kate Day and our special guest Tom Fish. Tom chats to Emily about the why he enjoys working with our team, and the benefits his clients continue to experience with Cirencester Friendly.
Musculoskeletal conditions become the most common reason for Cirencester Friendly claims in 2024
Individual income protection provider Cirencester Friendly maintained their impressive claims payment record in 2024, paying 95.8% of claims, equalling the figure paid out in 2023. The total number of claims considered rose by 15%, with 1,414 income protection claims considered and 1,354 claims paid. The total amount paid to Members also rose to over £10 million.
Cirencester Friendly: Our Guide to Underwriting
This outlines the most common medical conditions, which will give you answers to frequently asked conditions such as BMI, diabetes, abnormal cervical smears, family history and our stance to hazardous hobbies, as well as conditions we unfortunately can't cover.
Cirencenster Friendly: Majority of consumers don't know what they would cut back on first if they couldn’t work through illness or injury
A new survey* from income protection provider Cirencester Friendly reveals that many people simply don’t know what they would cut back on if they couldn’t earn their regular income through illness or injury. More than half (56%) of those surveyed failed to identify anything that they would stop spending on in this scenario.
Medi2data partner with Cirencester Friendly to improve underwriting and claims processes
Medi2data are proud to announce that Cirencester Friendly Society Limited have now gone live with their outsourced medical evidence gathering proposition, allowing for medical records to be obtained for underwriting and claims purposes.
Cirencenster Friendly: More than a quarter of people have taken a month or more off work due to illness or injury
A new survey from income protection specialist Cirencenster Friendly reveals just how common it is for people to have to take time off work due to accidents or ill health. More than a quarter of those surveyed said they had a to take a month or more off work.
Cirencester Friendly: Guide to Underwriting
Need a quick fact checker? We’ve got you covered. Our handy Underwriting Guide acts as an outline of illnesses and aliments we can potentially cover for your client.
Cirencester Friendly: Added-value benefits
Our Members have access to exclusive discounts, offers and experience days through our Member Perks added value benefit. Have a deep dive in to everything Member Perks has to offer.
Cirencester Friendly: Why Gen Z could be the perfect match for protection
Think back to 1997. It was a year of huge optimism and change. Tony Blair’s New Labour won a landslide general election victory ending 18 years of conservative governments. The UK economy was beginning to show signs of recovery following the recession in the early 90s. British music and films were on the rise. “Things will only get better” was the perfect anthem to describe the mood in the country.
Cirencester Friendly: You asked, we delivered!
Caroline Hume talks to Cirencester Friendly's Senior Claims Manager, Robert Higgins Cert CII, about enhancements to their claims process, Added-Value services outside of claims, and what they are doing to provide further support to Advisers and Members.
Cirencester Friendly: Becoming the CEO - with Andy Morris
This week the Toms talk to another brilliant guest. Andy Morris is CEO of Cirencester Friendly Society.
Cirencester Friendly: Consumer Duty: Reflections from the coalface
It’s now been a year since the FCA’s Consumer Duty came into force, setting a new standard in consumer protection across financial services. At Cirencester Friendly we found ourselves both challenged and emboldened by the new directive, recognising the opportunity it gives us to enhance our commitment to our Members.
Cirencester Friendly: Our Guide to Underwriting
This Guide outlines the most common medical conditions which may result in non-standard terms, as well as conditions we unfortunately can't cover.
Cirencester Friendly: Protection industry could do more for mental health awareness
Michelle West-Wiggins, Cirencester Friendly director of customer experience spoke with FT Adviser on Mental Health awareness in the income protection industry.
Cirencester Friendly: Accidents will happen
Accidents are part of everyday life. Of course we can take precautions to prevent them, for example wearing a seat belt or looking both ways before you cross the road, but it’s impossible to eliminate them completely.
Cirencester Friendly: How can you help your clients avoid claims being rejected?
You can support your clients by emphasising the significance of providing complete and accurate details on both their application and claim forms, as well as ensuring that their coverage undergoes regular reviews.
Cirencester Friendly: My Earnings Protected
Our My Earnings Protected product offers a choice of claim period. Your clients can choose Long-term or Short-term cover of 2 years.
Cirencester Friendly: New BMI limits!
Good news, Cirencester Friendly have updated their BMI rates. Going forward, they will be adopting a 3-tier method when rating for BMI – three age groups: under 30, 30 – 49 & 50+. All changes can be found in the Underwriting Guide