The Insurance Helpline

The Insurance Helpline: independent financial advice in Glasgow

The Insurance Helpline is a family-run independent financial advisory company based in Glasgow. It operates under the company name IHL (Glasgow) Ltd., incorporated in October 2012, and has served a client base of more than 10,000 customers since then. The firm presents itself as directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), without belonging to any intermediary network, and has access to the whole insurance market. Its FCA registration number is 591366 and its Companies House number is SC434486. In addition, it is supported by Compliance First for regulatory compliance and business support services.

Areas of advice

The company's activity covers life insurance, critical illness, income protection, cover for people with pre-existing health conditions, mortgages and remortgages, trusts and inheritance tax, will writing and powers of attorney, home insurance, business insurance, insurance claims, sports injury and fracture cover, and private medical insurance. The company expressly states that it does not advise on car, travel or pet insurance.

• Life Insurance: policies that pay out to your family in the event of death.
• Critical Illness: cover that pays a lump sum if you suffer a named and defined illness.
• Income Protection: weekly or monthly payments if you are unable to work due to an accident or injury.
• Pre-Existing Health Conditions: for people who have or have had health issues that make it difficult to get insurance.
• Mortgages & Remortgages: impartial UK mortgage advice, with fully qualified advisers.
• Trusts & Inheritance Tax: to avoid delays in policy payouts and tax issues.
• Will Writing & POA: in-house wills adviser registered with The Society of Will Writers.
• Home Insurance: recommendation of insurers with the best claims statistics in the UK, according to the company.
• Business Insurance: cover for businesses of all types, from butchers to accountants.
• Insurance Claims: support at every stage of the process.
• Sports Injury & Fracture Cover: MetLife EverydayProtect provides 24/7 financial support worldwide for a range of injuries.
• Private Medical Insurance: covers the cost of diagnosis, tests and treatments.

A focus on medical conditions

The company began with an initial focus on life insurance, based on the realisation that advice in this area requires addressing both the financial and the medical side. According to its account, this interest in the medical aspect was reinforced by the addition of Dr Indira Pole, who joined the team after her retirement as a trusts and wills adviser. The firm maintains that this knowledge has allowed it to help people with serious health problems or who had previously been declined to obtain cover. In its working method, the company starts from the client's needs, reviews medical declarations in detail and, when necessary, submits the application to several providers instead of just one, and even challenges decisions it considers unfair based on medical evidence.

Team

The management and advisory team consists of Fenella Pole (Director and Financial Adviser, BA Hons, LLB), Kieran Pole (Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial & Business Insurance Adviser), Indira Pole (MBBS, FFARCS, Trust, Will & Estate Adviser, member of The Society of Will Writers), Donna MacDonald (Business Operations Manager), Rachel Kitchen (Customer Retentions Officer), Jacqueline Gallagher (Trust & Adviser Administrator), Natalie Childs (Protection Adviser), Jaya MacDonald (Home & Business Insurance Adviser), Anna Cairney (Adviser Administrator), Megan Limmer (Trainee Protection Adviser), Lee Dibble (Trainee Administrator), Keshan Nahar (Business Development Manager) and Rhythm Khokher (Trainee Administrator).

Track record and sponsorships

The company states that it has expanded its activity over time, moving from an initial focus on insurance to supporting clients with moving house, writing wills and powers of attorney, and handling claims. In the sports field, it has sponsored events and teams, with a preference for disciplines practised by its clients or their children; among its sponsorships is Western Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, with the stated aim of promoting squash.

Location and contact

54a Balshagray Drive, Glasgow G11 7DA · Phone: 0141 248 9787 · Email: questions@theinsurancehelpline.org.uk