In this episode, Matt and Stevie take a deep dive into vocational rehabilitation, a crucial but often overlooked part of the claims journey. This episode forms part of the IPTF’s ‘7 Claims Stories’ series and explores how tailored rehab support can transform a person’s recovery after illness or injury. They’re joined by Phil Deacon, who leads the project, alongside vocational rehab consultant Monica Garcia and protection adviser Charlotte Rogers, who each bring a unique perspective on helping people get back to work with confidence and care.

Vocational rehabilitation plays a transformative role in people's lives by supporting individuals with health conditions and disabilities to stay in work, return to work and sustain employment. This missing link in the recovery journey helps bridge the gap between medical treatment and a person's ability to perform their specific job functions.

Listen now to learn more about:

• How vocational rehabilitation consultants assess both physical and cognitive demands of roles to create bespoke return-to-work plans
• Common mental health conditions, musculoskeletal problems and cancer are the top three reasons for income protection claims
• How only 45% of the working population has access to occupational health support
• Why proportional benefit allows claimants to gradually increase working hours while maintaining some financial support
• How self-employed individuals are particularly vulnerable without workplace support structures
• Why the biopsychosocial model helps identify who needs additional support to return to work
• How early intervention significantly increases the chances of a successful return to work
• Why a 12-18 period off work means chances of returning "fall off a cliff"
• How advisers should encourage clients to notify insurers early, even with longer deferred periods
• How claims assessors need better training to identify when vocational rehabilitation could help
• How the industry could learn from countries like the Netherlands, the USA and Australia, where employers play a more active role
• How approximately 300,000 people leave the workplace yearly due to health conditions
• Why over 8.2 million people currently live with work-limiting health conditions in the UK

Links from the episode:

For more information, visit the IPTF website at iptf.co.uk, check the Chartered Institute of Insurers' Guide to Income Protection, or explore the Vocational Rehabilitation Association website.

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

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Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
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Produced and edited by SEA Studios

In this episode, Matt and Stevie get down to business...business protection that is! A very technical episode featuring three interviews based on different levels of expertise in the space with guests Tara Cohen, from The Mortgage Centre Direct and one of the IPTF's new 7 Advisers, Nathaniel Lee from Business Protected and from L&G, Dave Butler.

Business protection represents a massive gap in the UK market, with just 1% of protection sales despite a £1.35 trillion opportunity, because nearly every client you speak to is likely connected to a small or medium-sized enterprise that needs protection.

Listen now to learn more about:

• How business protection covers key person protection, shareholder/partnership protection, and business loan protection
• How employee benefits like executive income protection and relevant life policies offer tax-efficient solutions for businesses
• How new advisers should build confidence by understanding business protection language and leaning on BDMs for support
• How executive IP offers higher benefit levels (80%) than personal IP (60%) to account for tax when paid through payroll
• How business owners need education about protection options, as many are unaware that these solutions exist
• How specialist business protection advisors focus on educating clients first, rather than immediately selling products
• Why understanding tax implications is crucial when recommending business protection products
• Why any advisers unsure about business protection should: "Write it or refer it" - don't let clients miss vital protection

Links from the episode:

Visit the IPTF website to access new advisor tools, including underwriting guides, calculators and a glossary of IP terms.

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

In this month's episode, Matt and Stevie explore 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 by speaking to Andrew Morris, CEO of Cirencester Friendly and Nicola Huxley of Sphere Financial Services

Listen now to learn more about:

• How Mutuals and friendlies are owned by members (policyholders) rather than shareholders
• How these societies often excel at providing cover for clients with niche occupations or pre-existing conditions
• The Labour government's commitment to doubling the size of the mutual finance sector as part of its manifesto
• How Nicola Huxley's insights into focusing on multi-policy rather than multi-benefit sourcing to help identify mutual options
• How mutuals reinvest profits to benefit members
• Mutuals often provide more personalised underwriting and claims experiences
• The legislative challenges the sector faces, but the significant growth opportunities
• How experienced advisers can leverage mutual partnerships for enhanced client retention and business growth

Links from the episode:

• IPTF's 7 Claims Stories - Story 1 with Cirencester Friendly
• Nicola Huxley on Instagram
• Nicola Huxley's "Survive & Thrive" Podcast
• Cirencester Friendly

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

In this month's episode, Matt and Stevie speak to Rose St Louis from Scottish Widows and Joanna Streames from Velvet Mortgage about the notable gender gap in income protection, the latest research done by Scottish Widows on this subject and the challenges women face in securing their financial futures.

Listen now to learn more about:

• The importance of understanding the gender gap in income protection
• Insights from Rose St Louis on the findings and implications of recent research
• Joanna Streams shares the advisor's perspective on protecting women's incomes
• Real-life examples that illustrate the impact on families
• Building trust and communication with female clients
• Actionable takeaways for advisors at different experience levels
• Strategies for closing the income protection gap for women
• The need for ongoing education about income protection benefits
• Discussing the future of income protection tailored to women

View the IPTF Profile of an IP customer in association with Iress report here - https://iptf.co.uk/profile-of-an-ip-customer/

View the Scottish Widows Research "The Income Protection Gender Gap" - https://adviser.scottishwidows.co.uk/assets/literature/docs/38794.pdf

Do you have an idea on how to reduce this gap? Let us know! Drop us a message on the links below or tag us on LinkedIn (@IPTF) with your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe for more expert insights!

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

Let's Talk Income Protection is back for Season 2 and we're bigger and better than ever. Bigger episodes, bigger insight and even more Matt Chapman plus a new co-host, Stevie Arnoldi from SEA Studios, the new Content Associate for the IPTF.

In this month's episode, we focus on Mindset and Time to Talk Day, the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for friends, families, communities and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives which is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

Do you ever catch yourself assuming clients will say no before you’ve even had the conversation? Your mindset could be the biggest factor holding you back from success in Income Protection. In this episode, we break down the biggest mindset traps advisers fall into and how to reframe them for better results.

We're also joined by an expert guest, Anish Patel from Aniche Mortgages to discuss his mindset journey from an "ok" to a "confident and assured" adviser before answering your questions and providing you with actionable advice to improve your mindset and skills.

So if you want to:

• Improve your mindset in financial advice
• Overcome objections when advising on insurance
• Improve your Income protection advice strategies

This is the podcast for you!

Got a mindset trap you’ve struggled with? Let us know! Drop us a message on the links below or tag us on LinkedIn (@IPTF) with your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe for more expert insights!

Links from the episode:

Anish Patel Mortgages on Instagram

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

Hey everyone! Let’s Talk IP is back, and this time, we’re taking things up a notch. That’s right—Season 2 is here, and we’ve got some BIG changes coming your way!

We’ve refined the format, we’re diving deep into real conversations that matter. We’re still bringing your expert insights on Income Protection, but now we’re exploring one key topic per episode. We’re breaking it down, challenging the norms, and making sure you leave every episode with actionable advice.

For Season 2, we’re making it easier to send us your thoughts and questions, head on over to SpeakPipe.com/letstalkIPPodcast to send your voice notes or email us at info@IPTF.co.uk

So start sending us your thoughts and questions. It takes seconds, and you could be featured in an upcoming episode!

Let’s Talk IP is now longer and more in-depth! We’re going monthly, with episodes running between 45 to 55 minutes. You can expect a new episode every first Thursday of the month for the rest of the year—so mark your calendars!

So, subscribe now and get ready—Season 2 of Let’s Talk IP kicks off on Thursday, February 6th

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

In this special mid-season bonus episode, guest host producer Stevie is here to showcase Matt's Top Tips from Season 1, episodes 5 to 8. These episodes are jam-packed with excellent advice from regular hosts and "The Protection Coach" Matthew Chapman, so get stuck in and caught up ahead of Season 2.

We are also asking for your thoughts for season 2 as well, as we want to make the podcast the best it can be for season 2, please fill out this survey to support us, it all helps!

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios

In this special mid-season bonus episode, guest host producer Stevie is here to showcase Matt's Top Tips from Season 1, episodes 1 to 4 which are jam-packed with excellent advice from regular host and "The Protection Coach" Matthew Chapman.

We are also asking for your thoughts for season 2 as well, as we want to make the podcast the best it can be for season 2, please fill out this survey to support us, it all helps!

📣 Send the podcast your questions, thoughts or advice to feature on a future episode via:

Voice notes via SpeakPipe
Or email Info@IPTF.co.uk

📣 For More Education, Collaboration and Insight:

IPTF Website
IPTF on LinkedIn
IPTF on YouTube
IP Task Force on Instagram

Produced and edited by SEA Studios