Do financial planners get good life insurance rates?
Usually yes. Financial planning is treated as a lower-risk professional occupation, and office-based, non-physical work tends to mean competitive premiums. You probably know this already, but comparing across insurers still matters, because they do not all price the role the same way.
I advise on insurance. Do I need a broker?
Many planners who advise clients on insurance still use a broker for their own cover. It saves time, lets you compare across the panel, and means someone else does the legwork. We compare across 9 panel insurers so you can see what each one offers for your situation.
The regulatory pressure is intense and I have had anxiety. Do I disclose?
Yes. If you have sought treatment for anxiety, stress, or any mental health condition, it must be disclosed when asked. Sustained regulatory change, compliance obligations, and the weight of client responsibility create genuine pressure, and insurers understand professional stress. Being upfront helps avoid problems at claim time.
I have a practice with a recurring revenue book. What should I consider?
Your practice and client book have real value. If something happened to you, the business would need to keep running or be sold in an orderly way. Life cover protects your family, key person cover protects the business, and a funded buy-sell agreement (if you have partners) supports a clean transition. Many planners hold all three.
What about income protection? Is it worth it for a financial planner?
You probably know the answer, but yes, especially if your income would stop or drop sharply if you could not work. Even with recurring revenue, someone still has to service the clients. Income protection pays a portion of your income while you recover from illness or injury, and we can quote it alongside life cover.
Do financial planners get the same insurance rating as CPA or CA accountants?
Not quite. On several insurers, planners sit one tier below CPA or CA-qualified accountants, because the planner role is treated as not quite purely desk-based while accountants reach the top white-collar tier with their qualification. Some insurers do lift tertiary-qualified planners earning above a set income into their highest tier, while other planners sit a step down. Because the tier, and therefore the price, varies, comparing across the panel matters for this occupation.
I work as an authorised representative under a licensee. Does that affect placement?
Insurers generally ask about your day-to-day duties and your qualifications rather than your licensee or AFSL structure. What matters at application time is whether you hold a relevant degree or professional designation, your average income over recent years, how much of your time is office-based versus client-facing, and any travel involved. The licensing arrangement itself is usually not the deciding factor.
Does my income level change the underwriting outcome?
It can. Some insurers run an explicit income split for this occupation, lifting tertiary-qualified planners who earn above a set income into their top professional tier, while other planners sit a step down. Reaching the top tier can come with higher financial-evidence requirements when you apply for larger amounts of cover. Because insurers handle this split differently, it is worth comparing how each one would treat your income and qualifications.
I am a stockbroker, financial market dealer, or invest professionally. Is the rating different?
Yes, it can be. Some insurers look at stockbrokers and financial market dealers individually for income protection, while still offering life and disability cover on more standard terms. Investment advisers and managers are commonly treated as a solid white-collar role. Several insurers also split stockbrokers by qualification or income, so the terms can differ depending on your degree status and earnings. Comparing across the panel is the practical way to see your options.
I have sought support for stress, anxiety, or burnout. Do I disclose?
Yes. Any consultation with a doctor, psychologist, counsellor, or psychiatrist for stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, or alcohol-related issues should be disclosed honestly when asked. The advice profession has been through sustained regulatory change, and insurers see these disclosures from planners regularly. Each insurer assesses mental health history differently: some are more accommodating of older, resolved episodes, while others may apply a loading or a temporary exclusion for a recent acute episode.
I am a practice owner with a recurring-revenue book. How should I think about cover sizing?
Many practice owners carry obligations beyond personal commitments: licensee buy-in or capital contributions, recurring-revenue book purchase loans, partnership buy-sell agreements, an office lease, staff wages, and software or platform agreements. Life cover is commonly sized to help settle these. Trauma cover is often considered as a household income cushion during a long recovery. Key person cover and buy-sell-funded policies are separate structures from personal cover, and many planners hold both.
General Advice Warning: The information on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making any decisions, consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
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