If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that things can change quickly.

The cost of living continues to affect household finances. Government and policies change, energy costs move up and up, and businesses have their own economic and regulatory pressures to navigate.

And with the Autumn Budget ahead of us, there may be further changes to come. Some could make life a little easier for families and businesses, while others may bring new challenges.

The truth is, none of us knows exactly what will change next. What we do know is that change is inevitable. And while we can’t predict everything that might happen, we can prepare for some of the financial consequences if the unexpected happens.

Protecting the people who depend on you

For families, financial commitments don't simply disappear when life takes an unexpected turn.

The mortgage or rent still needs paying. There are household bills, childcare costs and everyday expenses to meet. And if illness prevents someone from working, or a family loses an income altogether, those commitments can suddenly become much harder to manage.

That’s where protection insurance can help.

Depending on the type of policy, life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection can provide financial support if you die, become seriously ill or are unable to work because of illness or injury.

If you already have protection in place, you’ve taken an important step towards protecting your financial future and the people who depend on you.

What if people depend on your business too?

For business owners, the principle is much the same. Your most important assets aren't necessarily your premises, equipment or stock. They're often your people.

What would happen if an owner, shareholder, director or key employee suddenly wasn't there?

The financial consequences could include lost revenue, difficulty repaying borrowing, the cost of recruiting a replacement or uncertainty over the future ownership of the business.

Business protection can help provide a financial safety net against some of these risks. Key Person, Shareholder or Partnership and Business Loan Protection are designed to address different needs, while Relevant Life Insurance can provide employer-funded life cover for directors and employees.

Our Business Protection Guide explains the different types of cover and the risks they are designed to protect against.

And if you're a limited company director, our Relevant Life Insurance Guide explains how Relevant Life Cover works and why it may be worth considering.

 Life changes. Your protection needs can change too.

Having protection in place is important — but life rarely stands still. A house move, bigger mortgage, new child, change in income or new financial commitments can all mean that cover arranged several years ago may no longer reflect what you need today.

Businesses evolve too. Turnover can grow, borrowing can increase, shareholders can change and people who weren't previously critical to the business can become key to its future.

That's why it makes sense to take another look at your protection when circumstances change.

The important question isn't simply whether you have insurance. It's whether the protection you have today still reflects the people, income, commitments or business you want to protect.

Whatever changes next, we're here to help

You can't control everything that happens to the economy, the cost of living, Government policy — or life itself. But you can take steps to protect against some of the financial consequences.

Whether you already have cover and would like us to take a fresh look to make sure it still reflects your needs today, or you or someone you care about is looking to put protection in place for the first time, we're here to help.

Call 0800 612 8005 or request a call-back to speak to one of our advisors.

You can also explore our Essential Information – Useful Guides for straightforward information about personal and business protection.