This collection of industry reports brings together expert insight, emerging trends and in-depth analysis on Income Protection, ASU and the wider protection market. Produced by iptf members, the reports give advisers and industry professionals the knowledge they need to understand the market, with data that also supports wider initiatives to improve financial resilience.
Shepherds Friendly – Reaching the unprotected 2026: Understanding the barriers to Income Protection
October 2026
Shepherds Friendly’s 2026 research report finds that awareness of Income Protection is high, but misconceptions about cover and eligibility are preventing engagement. It also explores what consumers want from modern protection and the rising appeal of mutuality among younger people.
LV = – Reaching Resilience, Volume 4
February 2026
In Volume 4 of the LV= Reaching Resilience report, you can find out what working people plan to fall back on if they lost their income, what their worries are for their future and how they currently view protection. LV= also explore how this differs for core client types including self-employed, first-time buyers and parents, and re-examined some underserved markets.
Shepherds Friendly – Reaching the unprotected: The opportunity of the Income Protection gap
November 2025
Shepherds Friendly’s report highlights a major gap between awareness and uptake of income protection in the UK, driven by misconceptions and heightened risk among workers with limited sick pay. It identifies a clear opportunity for advisers to educate clients and deliver more relevant, flexible protection solutions, with mutuality positioned as a key force in shaping a fairer future of financial resilience.
IPTF and Iress – Profile of an IP Customer: Evolving The Profile
September 2025
Building on last year’s insights, this report examines the evolving dynamics of Income Protection sales, incorporating new 2024 data and expanding the scope to include policies sold within multi-benefit solutions. It draws on analysis of more than 50,000 applications to explore emerging trends, demographic shifts, and the growing focus on financial resilience.
IPTF and Iress – Profile of an IP Customer: Spotlight on Business Income Protection
May 2025
Business Income Protection is one of the most undersold yet critically important areas in the protection market today. While personal IP has seen encouraging growth, business IP remains a largely untapped opportunity. This report highlights the rising demand, the evolving profile of those purchasing Business IP, and the strategic role it plays in ensuring business continuity, employee wellbeing, and long-term financial resilience.
Scottish Widows – The Income Protection Gender Gap
March 2025
In their Income Protection Gender Gap report, Scottish Widow’s research delves into women’s awareness and attitudes towards income protection, underlining a need for tailored communication and support to boost female uptake.
LV= – Reaching Resilience, Volume 3
January 2025
In Volume 3 of the LV= Reaching Resilience report, you can find out what working people plan to fall back on if they lost their income, what their worries are for their future and how they currently view protection. LV= also explore how this differs for core client types including self-employed, first-time buyers and parents, and re-examined some underserved markets.
IPTF and Iress – Profile of an IP Customer
January 2025
In collaboration with Iress, our Profile of an IP customer report examines how the income protection insurance market has evolved between 2017 and 2023, including rising sales and increased interest from younger customers. We provide an updated profile of today’s IP customer, highlighting where growth is coming from and how policy choices are shifting alongside economic and demographic change.
Cirencester Friendly – Time off work due to illness or injury
November 2024
A new survey from income protection specialist Cirencester Friendly reveals just how common it is for people to have to take time off work due to accidents or ill health. More than a quarter of those surveyed said they had to take a month or more off work. Read the article to find out how you can showcase the importance of income protection.
LV= – Reaching Resilience, Volume 2
February 2024
Reaching Resilience is all about unpacking viewpoints from workers and these core groups to provide actionable insights and help you have more effective conversations about protection.
MetLife – Everyday Risk Report 2026
September 2026
MetLife’s third edition of the Everyday Risk Report explores the scale of accidents and illnesses affecting UK households, and the financial protection gap this leaves behind. Drawing on independent data and proprietary YouGov research, the report finds that 50% of UK adults have no financial protection insurance, including cover through an employer, while 23% report that they or someone in their household had an A&E visit in the past 12 months.
National Friendly – Bruised Britain #2: The Mishap Gap
October 2025
National Friendly’s new Bruised Britain research report reveals how everyday accidents continue to shape the nation’s financial wellbeing. Drawing on insights from 5,000 UK adults, the report explores why many still underestimate accident risk and how new forms of protection are changing the landscape.
National Friendly – Bruised Britain Report
June 2025
National Friendly’s Bruised Britain report explores the physical, financial and mental health impact of everyday accidents on UK adults. The research finds that 22% of adults had at least one accident in the past year, rising to 32% of under-35s, and that 57% of workers had to take unplanned time off as a result, averaging 11.5 days. The report also highlights the financial and mental health strain accidents place on individuals and families, and sets out how National Friendly’s products can support clients affected.
Working to Wellbeing – Impact Report 2026
July 2026
The Vocational Rehabilitation in Action Impact Report 2026 demonstrates how specialist, work-focused support can help people manage health challenges, remain in employment and achieve sustainable returns to work. Explore the outcomes, experiences and insights behind Working To Wellbeing’s approach to vocational rehabilitation, including the positive impact it delivers for individuals, employers, insurers and referral partners.
AFM – Closing the Gaps: Building Financial Resilience
July 2026
The Association of Financial Mutuals sets out proposals to grow the financial mutuals sector, identifying the protection gap as one of three key resilience gaps facing UK consumers. With four in ten adults unable to cover living expenses for three months or more if they lost their income, the report calls for government partnership on Income Protection auto-enrolment and closer collaboration with the mutual sector to widen access and awareness.
LifeSearch – Distribution Redefined
June 2026
Based on consumer research of 2,000 UK adults and real-world experience, this report looks at how people engage with protection when it’s offered through banks, building societies and retailers, and where current models fall short. This is report is for anyone designing, distributing, or regulating protection – particularly those looking to improve access, choice, and customer outcomes beyond single‑tie approaches.
CIExpert – Critical Thinking Report
March 2026
CIExpert’s latest report features valuable in-depth insights collected from 10,000 consumers. With 70% not having seen or heard anything about Critical Illness or Income Protection, it’s easy to understand there’s not only a protection gap but more worryingly, a knowledge gap. The report identifies the opportunities to improve consumer understanding and awareness through effective education, collaboration and innovation in advice while highlighting the key areas that resonate most with them.
Protection Distributors Group – Protection Insights Report
February 2026
The Protection Insights Report is a new report from the Protection Distributors Group, working with consultancy Space, surveying and analysing advisers’ views on the protection market and market practice. It has striking results on underwriting, the importance of annual statements, signposting, predictions for the future of IP, and a broadly positive view on Consumer Duty, with 322 protection advice professionals taking part.
Iress – Financial Readiness Index
February 2026
To better understand the financial preparedness of people in the UK, financial technology company, Iress, commissioned the Financial Readiness Index (FRI) to give advisers a clear, data-led view of how consumers are feeling about their finances, how they’re actually behaving and how ready they are for what lies ahead. The nationally representative online survey was carried out by YouGov among 2,103 UK adults, with additional analysis and benchmarking independently carried out by The Lang Cat.
Vitality – 10 years of Britain’s Healthiest Workplace: The changing face of the UK at work
January 2026
Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace is one of the UK’s largest surveys of employee wellbeing. Based on a decade of data, the report examines how workforce health trends have evolved and their impact on productivity.
Health & Protection – House of Lords Roundtable Report
January 2026
Health & Protection rounded out a busy 2025 for the protection market with their Individual and Business Protection Report House of Lords roundtable. With input from the IPTF’s Vicky Churcher, the discussion explored the state of the individual protection sector, emerging opportunities and the challenges looming overhead.
Cirencester Friendly – The Role of Work on Health and Wellbeing
November 2025
Cirencester Friendly’s recent article focuses on a survey about workers’ views on the impact of work on health and wellbeing. It reports on attitudes toward the role of work in personal wellbeing rather than the specific statistics themselves.
Cirencester Friendly – The Role of Work Beyond Regular Income
October 2025
Cirencester Friendly’s recent survey examined attitudes to work beyond financial necessity. The article explores why work matters to people, focusing on purpose, identity, and motivation rather than pay alone.
LV= – Wealth and Wellbeing Report
June 2025
LV=’s research gives a unique view of the UK’s financial and emotional health. This edition highlights the need for uncomfortable conversations, retirement hopes and fears, and the value of financial advice.
The Protection Platform – Protection Platform Pulse Report
May 2025
The Protection Platform Pulse is The Protection Platforms first ever annual report, which aims to offer a unique snapshot of the life and protection insurance activity across the Protection Platform in 2024.
Pacific Life Re – Beneath the Surface Report
May 2024
Beneath The Surface is an annual report produced by Pacific Life Re using in-depth consumer research and market expertise to explore important questions facing the protection market in the UK and Ireland.
The Exeter – Health and Financial Fears Report
June 2023
The Exeter’s report shows that while UK workers continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, many are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to the rising cost of living, longer waits for healthcare, and growing mental health pressures. It highlights the need for the protection and health insurance industry to better inform, support, and collaborate.
