To access the quote facility you must be a registered introducer, to register please visit click here.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

While independent mortgage brokers are largely innocent and have always ensured that clients are informed as to what protection they are buying, they too have felt the after effects of those financial institutions that sold policies on the basis that it would help, or was compulsory, with a credit or loan application.

This has had a two-fold effect. Firstly, clients are wary of purchasing PPI cover and secondly, brokers have been put off from offering these products. However, Accident, Sickness and Unemployment (ASU) are vital protection products, and when sold properly provide clients with critical cover that will keep a roof over their heads.

The recent Competition Commission rules change on the sale of ASU products has arguably further compounded the problem. The burden of increased regulation has created a fear of advising on ASU products, when in reality these rules are necessary to prevent the previous miss-selling from happening again. They also set out the steps brokers must take to ensure they can no longer be accused, however falsely, of treating customers unfairly.

So how can you make yourself miss-sale proof? Well, this is not as onerous as it sounds.

Firstly, talk to your clients and find out what they need. What is their income and savings status and how would they pay their mortgage and bills if unable to work? From this foundation you can establish the type of cover they need, i.e. short term accident & sickness protection, long term PHI, cover against unemployment etc.

Find out how much monthly benefit your clients would require, how long they could survive on savings and at what point they would need the policy to start paying out. In addition, information on the terms of the client’s employment contract and any other policies they may already have in place can also be valuable in helping to accurately assess their individual needs.

Secondly, establish their “acceptability”. For an Accident & Sickness policy this involves investigating if they have any pre-existing conditions, have seen a doctor recently or know they will need treatment in the future. For unemployment, are they aware of pending redundancies? Are they self employed, a company director or the owner of a business? Do they work part time or is their job short term or seasonal? And, have they been with their current employer for more than six months. All of this is vital information that can affect a client’s eligibility for cover.

Finally, ensure that you have your own ducks in line. Follow an established and compliant quote process that includes:

• Documenting the client’s personal details

• Researching which products best match the client’s needs

• Providing a quote pack including insurer details, premium information, a demands and
  needs statement and a key facts/policy summary

• Documenting all meetings to demonstrate that the client was fully aware of what they were�
  buying, that it was optional and independent of any credit offer

If you are arranging the mortgage and are subsequently arranging cover within 30 days, you must give the client a 7 day “cooling off” period before closing the sale on the insurance and issuing a “schedule 4eii” document. If you did not arrange the mortgage you can issue a “schedule 4ei” document and the 7 day cooling off period does not apply.

With unemployment figures high, the economy slow and interest rates likely to rise there has never been a better time to talk to your clients about ASU protection. So armour up, make yourself miss-sale proof and help to protect your clients with these vital insurance products whilst also boosting your bottom line.

Still not convinced? Then simply refer to a third party provider such as ourselves, www.baonline.co.uk/products/introduce and allow us to pick up the compliance aspect whilst still earning a generous new and renewal commission.

Going to Mortgage Business Expo in Manchester on 23^rd May 2012? – If so, come and talk to our development team on stand 26. See you there.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

Recent changes, as a result of a Competition Commission Ruling, published by the Office of Fair Trading, have altered the way that MPPI is both sold and administered. Many of the changes required have been in place with Uinsure for some time, including the use of annually reviewable contracts to ensure that the product remains suitable and to avert unexpected premium increases.

The biggest change is the introduction of a point of sale ban for financial advisers wishing to offer their clients PPI products. It has been feared that this will result in advisers ‘shunning’ the product, avoiding selling it due to increased compliance requirements. However, Uinsure is urging both advisers and clients to remember the benefits of such products and understand the difference between a MPPI policy and a potentially mis-sold single premium PPI policy of old.

Recent research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows that an extra 100,000 people will lose their jobs this summer and unemployment is not set to drop for at least 18 months. Similar research from the Office for Budget Responsibility shows that one in seven (700,000) public sector workers will lose their jobs between now and 2015, with many having little or no financial safety net.

Uinsure’s MPPI policy will pay a monthly benefit to cover a mortgage and associated costs for either Accident & Sickness, or Accident, Sickness & Unemployment claims. It offers a choice of excess and waiting periods to allow a product to be tailored to a client’s needs, along with a standalone Bill Protector product for non-mortgage clients.

For more information about how the Competition Commission changes will affect you, please contact our sales team on 0844 844 3844 or email us at enquiries@uinsure.co.uk

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

Using the expertise of our CCV Group partner, Ainsbury Insurance, you can now access their extensive Private Medical Insurance schemes.

With a range of products and many years of experience in this market, Ainsbury will provide competitive products and a high class service to your client.

For more details of the product types, commission levels and how you can access this service, click here

This is one of a number of new schemes through Berkeley Alexander that could increase your general insurance earnings.

For more information, contact your Business Development Manager on 0845 3551166 or email us at info@baonline.co.uk

Berkeley Alexander, the true broker service and your general insurance solution.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

• Advise or Introduce your client
• Commission up to 25%
• No minimum business levels

Whatever the property, call us on 0845 355 1166

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

How often does a provider give you chance to have your say in their future plans? Well, Berkeley Alexander, are doing just that.

We want to find out what the most important things are to you when using us and what you feel should be our priorities.

Just 12 more days to go to complete the survey.

For those of you that maybe have yet to use Berkeley Alexander as your general insurance partner, it’s your opportunity to tell us what it is that would convince you to place your clients GI business with us.

Not only can you have your say, you also get the chance to win one of 3 Kindles! Click here to complete our survey.

Don’t miss this opportunity to put your views across, tell us what your expect of your GI provider, and how you would like to see us develop our products and services in 2012 and beyond.

If you have already completed the survey, then many thanks for taking the time to do so.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

With many lenders clamping down on interest only criteria over the last couple of weeks and Santander’s decision to include Christmas and Birthday’s in affordability calculations you may be forgiven for thinking that lenders are making it near impossible for you to obtain mortgages for your clients and there are no options available to you!

The trade bodies claim fears that they could be sued if a borrower’s repayment vehicle fails to pay off their interest only mortgage are behind the lenders recent criteria changes. Abbey claims the new affordability criteria means faster processing. Having more realistic information about a clients spending and more information up front about deposits will enhance their service to brokers and their clients. Let’s hope so!

Click here to view the newsletter.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

We can also provide cover for properties used for commercial purposes including amongst other things, factories, warehouses, shops, offices and blocks of flats.

With 12 insurers, supported by real technical expertise and a desire to find the right product, with the right cover at the right price, you can access what is possibly the most comprehensive service currently available to you.

You can choose how to access our property owners insurance service:

Call us on 0845 355 1166 to obtain a quotation and advise your client – this is our most comprehensive service using 12 insurers, listed below. Commission levels are up to 25% for both new business and renewal.

• Ageas
• Towergate Let Property
• Aviva
• Home & Legacy
• Keelan & Westall
• Linaker Schemes
• LV
• MMA
• NIG
• RSA
• Towergate Commercial Property
• Zurich

Click here to access our online ‘buy to let’ quote facility, provided in conjunction with AUL (Towergate Let Property) Insurance. Commission level of 15% for new and future renewal premium.

Simply introduce to us and let us do the work! Commission level of up to 15% for new and future renewal premium.

If you have a large investor client base and would like direct access to a specialist online quote system that includes a wide range of insurers, for commercial and buy to let property and also various business insurance schemes click here.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

We want to find out what the most important things are to you when using us and what you feel should be our priorities.

For those of you that maybe have yet to use Berkeley Alexander as your general insurance partner, it’s your opportunity to tell us what it is that would convince you to place your clients GI business with us.

Not only can you have your say, you also get the chance to win one of three Kindles! Click here to complete our survey.

Don’t miss this opportunity to put your views across, tell us what you expect of your GI provider, and how you would like to see us develop our products and services in 2012 and beyond.

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here

To ensure that we provide both you and your client with a compliant set of documentation after the regulatory changes are implemented, all Uinsure MPPI and Bill Protector quotations and illustrations will become invalid on Thursday 5th April 2012. Any quotation that is not submitted before this date will need to be requoted.

Uinsure remains committed to clients who have purchased a MPPI or Bill Protector product in the past and will continue to cover these clients under the same terms and conditions.

Uinsure also remain committed to providing this invaluable cover in the future and will continue to offer all of our current product options, (Including New, Existing and Non-Mortgage clients) after the changes on 6th April.

For more information about how the Competition Commission changes will affect you, please contact our sales team on 0844 844 3844 or email us at enquiries@uinsure.co.uk

Mike Raybone
Chartered Marketer and emarketing specialist

Join the Mortgage Brain Linkedin group… click here