Keyman Insurance or Executive Income Protection?
Which business income insurance do you need? Keyman Insurance protects the business, while Executive Income Protection helps you if you can't work...
Both Keyman Insurance and Relevant Life Cover can provide Life Insurance to key people. They’re also both owned and paid for by a business. However, the two types of policy are distinct and very separate.
Key Person Cover is designed for business continuity purposes, so to help the business deal with the loss of a key person by compensating for lost profits, hiring a replacement etc.
Keyman Insurance can also be used to pay out a small sum to wind up the business in the event of a key individual’s death or to repay a corporate loan.
Relevant Life Insurance, on the other hand, is designed for the insured and their loved ones, paying out a tax-free cash lump sum to help financially at a very difficult time.
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Keyman Insurance is for the benefit of the business, while Relevant Life Insurance is for the benefit of the employee and their family.
It’s important to discuss the tax implications of Key Man Insurance with your accountant to make sure you stay on the right side of HMRC’s Key Man rules.
You cannot include any element of illness protection within a Relevant Life policy, as this falls foul of HMRC’s tax rules in this area.
Keyman Insurance
| Relevant Life Insurance
| Ownership and Premiums |
|---|---|
Owned and paid for by the business | Owned and paid for by the business | What Does It Protect? |
Protects a company by ensuring cash for business continuity purposes should a key person pass away or become critically ill | Protects against the death of an individual by paying out a tax-free cash lump sum to the family of a deceased employee | Why Get Cover? |
Key Person Cover is often taken out to ensure business continuity should a key individual dies or suffer a serious illness. It can often be a stipulation from a lender or investor who wants to protect their stake in the company | Relevant Life Insurance is typically taken out by directors themselves (paid for by the business) for family protection purposes. It can also be used by micro firms to provide a level of personal life insurance to their employees where they do not have enough members to set-up a Death In Service scheme. | Taxation |
When used for business continuity purposes the benefit is paid back into the company and is therefore typically treated almost as taxable trading receipt | Due to the Relevant Life Trust our advisers will help you set up, the benefit will typically be paid to your loved ones tax-free |
Depending on how the policy is set up and its purpose, premiums may be a tax deductible business expense, but check with your accountant and your local tax office | Premiums qualify for corporation tax relief, income tax relief and National Insurance relief when compared with a Life Insurance policy you take out personally | Adding Illness Protection |
Add Critical Illness Cover for a more comprehensive protection that includes cover for a list of critical illnesses / injuries as well as death | Any protection against illness must be paid for separately for tax reasons, perhaps with Directors Income Protection | Level of Cover |
The sums assured with Keyman Insurance will depend on your business metrics and how key a particular individual is to the company | With Relevant Life Cover, the sums assured are typically represented as multiples of your remuneration in the form of salary and dividends |
Keyman Insurance |
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AIGAIG Life is the UK arm of US insurance giant American International Group Inc. The insurer got its foothold in the UK protection market when it acquired Ageas Protect in 2014.
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AvivaAviva was formed out of the Norwich Union-CGU PLC merger in 2000, but the company can trace its roots back to the 17th century. Aviva Key Man Insurance forms part of its Business Life Insurance Options policy.
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Legal & GeneralLegal & General was founded in 1836 and has since grown to become an international provider of insurance, pension and investment products.
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Royal LondonRoyal London began as a friendly society in 1861, later changing to a mutual society in 1908. Today, Royal London is now the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company.
| Relevant Life Cover |
AegonAegon was founded as Scottish Equitable in 1831. Dutch insurer Aegon N.V. bought a 40% stake in Scottish Equitable in 1994 and became a 100% stakeholder in 1998. Maximum Cover:
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Legal & GeneralIn 2015, Legal & General won the ‘Life Insurance Provider of the year’ award from the Personal Touch Awards. Maximum Cover:
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Scottish WidowsScottish Widows is a highly praised provider of pension and insurance products across the UK with nearly 6 million customers. Maximum Cover:
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ZurichZurich owns locations in more than 170 countries and provides insurance products and services on a global scale. Maximum Cover:
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To summarise, Relevant Life Insurance protects an individual employee and their family in an incredibly tax-efficient manner should an individual pass away.
Keyman Insurance is there to provide business continuity or to repay a loan / investor should a key person crucial to the running of the business die or become critically ill.
We started Drewberry™ because we were tired of being treated like a number.
We know that our clients give so much to their businesses. They therefore deserve first class service when it comes protecting that business and their interest in it. Here are just a few reasons why it makes sense to talk to us:
People often confuse Relevant Life Cover and Keyman Insurance, but they’re two very different policies designed with two very different purposes in mind.
If you’re still not sure which is best for you, please do not hesitate to pop us a call on 02084327333.