TMA Club adds Cirencester Friendly to protection panel

11 July 2023

TMA Club has announced the launch of a new partnership with Cirencester Friendly Society, adding its range of protection products to the TMA protection panel.

Established in 1890, Cirencester Friendly is a provider of income protection products, including its ‘My eEarnings pProtected’ and ‘Income Aassured eEnhanced’ products. As part of its ‘My Earnings Protected’ income protection product, the society recently launched a new affordable and flexible short-term benefit option, offering up to two years’ protection per claim, giving offering more clients an affordable way to protect their livelihoods, should they be unable to work due to illness or injury.

Through the partnership, TMA Club’s directly authorised (DA) brokers now have access to the mutual society’s latest benefit, as well as to its standard range of income protection products, including There no premium loading for smoking, occupation, or hazardous pursuits, excluding motor sports and a wide range of deferred periods including split deferred. The friendly society also offers added-value benefits to Members outside of its products including year-round support, not just at point of claim. They have an excellent reputation for customer service and claims management, with a pay out rate of over 95% in 2022.. DA brokers can also access offer its newly enhanced ‘temporary suspension of cover’ option, which allows clients to temporarily defer their protection for up to 12 months for whatever reason, without paying a holding premium or providing any reason.

Additional highlights of the partnership for TMA brokers include:

• Cover for clients up to age 70
• Terminal illness benefit included
• Guaranteed premiums and insurability options
• Benefit payable from 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks including split deferred options
• A maximum benefit of 65% of earnings with a limit of £52,000 a year
• No loading for occupation, smoking or hazardous pursuits, except motor sports
• No penalty when claiming for the same condition twice within 26 weeks
• Added-value benefits including Children’s Critical Illness Support, GP24, YourHalo, Member Perks, the 125 Foundation and Friendly Voice, provided by RedArc
• A range of additional benefits for a small extra cost per month (£5-£11)
• Product support, including access to wide-ranging information, tools and resources

Lisa Martin, Development Director at TMA, commented: “Despite the pandemic highlighting the immediate possibility of unexpected illness or injury, many people are still sacrificing income protection to cut their expenses amid the cost-of-living crisis. Cirencester Friendly’s approach to this, and its wider mission, aligns with our own at TMA Club; we both appreciate the importance of customers having access to the most flexible, cost-effective options, so that they can keep their livelihoods and families fully protected, especially during times of financial instability.

Partnering with Cirencester Friendly is the latest step in our commitment to ensuring our broker Members can support their customers’ wide-ranging protection needs, by further expanding our income protection range. We look forward to seeing the added value that Cirencester Friendly is sure to bring to our protection panel.”

Alan Waddington, Distribution Director at Cirencester Friendly, adds: “TMA Club shares our vision of growing the protection market, sharing expertise, and delivering a personal service for all. By joining TMA Club and giving providing its brokers with access to our unique innovative income protection products, we are advancing our journey of collaboration while simultaneously furthering progress within the broader protection industryensuring both our products and message reaches a wider audience. This is Especiallyespecially at such a crucial juncture for the marketnow, amid increasing complexity and uncertainty., Wewe are pleased to be partnering with a club that works tirelessly to help its directly authorised brokers support their customers’ protection needs.”