Panacea Adviser today announced that income protection specialist, British Friendly has joined its growing list of partner protection firms.

The new partnership will further enhance Panacea’s wide range of tools and resources, providing it’s community access to pure income protection cover on an own occupation throughout basis.

British Friendly’s products consist of BFS Protect which offers a long and short term budget option and Breathing Space which launched in July 2013 and offers non-financially underwritten cover with the option of a 1, 2 or 5 year payment period. 

British Friendly have also recently launched an immediate acceptance route which allows qualifying applications to complete a short series of lifestyle and health questions, which could then offer immediate acceptance without the need for further underwriting.

To qualify for "Immediate Acceptance" applicants need to apply for 1 or 2 year cover. They must be aged 45 years or under and the benefit selected must be £300 per week or less (or £1,300 per month or less).

Derek Bradley, CEO of Panacea Adviser, said:

“We are constantly reviewing our partnerships to ensure that we offer an extensive selection of resources to our community across all areas of advice and are delighted to welcome British Friendly on board with their range of specialist protection products.

“Income protection is a key area of protection advice and with British Friendly’s new online application process and strong claim’s paying track record, we are sure that their policies will be popular amongst our growing community.”

Mark Myers, CEO of British Friendly, added:

“At British Friendly we recognise that advisers’ clients have individual requirements and therefore it is essential that advisers are well equipped with the latest materials in order to deliver this valuable support. As a business, we pride ourselves on our high-calibre and personalised service and are confident that our resources will become a key part of the adviser tool-kit.”