The Covid pandemic has driven demand for protection advice, says Zurich.

Of 100 advisers asked by the insurer, 29 per cent reported an increase in general demand, with 39 per cent saying that clients wanted to know more about income protection and 36 per cent for critical illness cover.

Meanwhile, 67 per cent said there had been an increase in demand for mortgage advice.

Alongside this, 38 per cent said there had been a dip in people seeking retirement planning advice alongside 34 per cent reporting fewer people looking for wealth management advice.

The survey throws up interesting results regarding adviser and client relationships, too – 32 per cent said that the pandemic had strengthened their relationships with their clients and 52 per cent disagreed.

“This may suggest that general disruption and widespread changes to policies is impacting on service levels alongside the inability to meet clients face to face,” says Zurich.

The insurer adds that 75 per cent of advisers reported an improved relationship with their providers, however.

Zurich UK director of retail protection Louise Colley comments: “What’s clear is that [advisers] are dealing with a whole raft of issues – not least, the pressure from coping with increased demand on their businesses. The upside to this is that protection seems to be very much on people’s radar.”

And Openwork mortgage and protection director Paul Shearman says: “The past 12 months have indeed proved challenging for advisers as our businesses have been impacted directly by disruption in the economy, changes to regulation as well as to the products and services we’re supporting customers with – which in turn drives up enquires.”