Estate planner, Octopus Legacy, has partnered with Shepherds Friendly to develop a new life insurance offering that aims to address a "widespread lack of estate planning among the British public".
According to data obtained from Octopus Legacy, part of the Octopus Group, more than half of UK adults (54%) have no life insurance in place, including 43% of people who have both children and a property. Among under-35s, that figure rises to more than two-thirds (68%).
To address this gap in planning, Shepherds Friendly worked with Octopus Legacy to develop a new life insurance product, one that is aimed at making arranging cover simpler and faster – policies take just 15 minutes to complete, on average.
Drawing on behavioural science and consumer research, Octopus Legacy and Shepherds Friendly also designed the sign-up experience to encourage honesty and reduce anxiety, in part through clear questions and conversational phrasing. In focusing heavily on transparency in disclosure, the companies hope to ensure any resulting claims are paid out efficiently.
Those signing up for Octopus Legacy’s life insurance can choose to add on 'Life Insurance Plus' to receive access to the company’s wider estate planning services - including wills and lasting powers of attorney - along with a bereavement concierge. The latter provides one-to-one support to assist with practical and personal challenges after loss - from researching local funeral directors to organising flowers for the funeral and even the weekly food shop.
Daniel Simpson, chief innovation officer at Shepherds Friendly, commented: “Partnering with Octopus Legacy to develop its new life insurance proposition has been a genuinely rewarding experience. We’re proud to support a brand that’s redefining legacy planning, removing jargon, easing emotional burdens and helping families feel confident about the future. This partnership reflects our joint commitment to purposeful innovation, and we’re excited to see it brought to life by a team that truly puts people first.”
Sam Grice, CEO at Octopus Legacy, said: “For many people, life insurance feels complex or distant, so we wanted to make it quick, simple and human. With its member-first approach, Shepherds Friendly turned out to be the ideal partner to help us design something centred on customers’ needs. Together, we’ve built something we’re really proud of - policies can be set up online in minutes, giving people immediate peace of mind their families will be provided for, and access to our bereavement concierge service through our Life Insurance Plus offering means that customers can support their families not just financially but practically and emotionally too.”
