TMA Club has launched a new partnership with Cirencester Friendly, adding its range of protection products to the TMA protection panel.

Cirencester Friendly is a provider of income protection products, including its ‘My Earnings Protected’ and ‘Income Assured Enhanced’ products. As part of its ‘My Earnings Protected’ income protection product, the society recently launched a new affordable and flexible short-term benefit option, offering up to two years’ protection per claim, offering more clients a way to protect their livelihoods, should they be unable to work due to illness or injury.

Through the partnership, TMA Club’s directly authorised (DA) brokers now have access to the society’s latest benefit, as well as its standard range of income protection products, including no premium loading for smoking, occupation, or hazardous pursuits, excluding motor sports and a wide range of deferred periods including split deferred.

The friendly society also offers added-value benefits to members outside of its products including year-round support, not just at point of claim. It has a payout rate of over 95% in 2022. DA brokers can also offer its newly enhanced ‘temporary suspension of cover’ option, which allows clients to defer their protection for up to 12 months for whatever reason, without paying a holding premium.

Lisa Martin, development director at TMA, said: “Despite the pandemic highlighting the immediate possibility of unexpected illness or injury, many people are still sacrificing income protection to cut their expenses amid the cost-of-living crisis. Cirencester Friendly’s approach to this, and its wider mission, aligns with our own at TMA Club; we both appreciate the importance of customers having access to the most flexible, cost-effective options, so that they can keep their livelihoods and families fully protected, especially during times of financial instability.

“Partnering with Cirencester Friendly is the latest step in our commitment to ensuring our broker members can support their customers’ wide-ranging protection needs, by further expanding our income protection range. We look forward to seeing the added value that Cirencester Friendly is sure to bring to our protection panel.”

Alan Waddington (pictured), distribution director at Cirencester Friendly, added: “TMA Club shares our vision of growing the protection market, sharing expertise, and delivering a personal service for all. By joining TMA Club and providing its brokers with access to our innovative income protection products, we are ensuring both our products and message reaches a wider audience. This is especially crucial now, amid increasing complexity and uncertainty. We are pleased to be partnering with a club that works tirelessly to help its directly authorised brokers support their customers’ protection needs.”