Getting to know us better - September 2022 recap

As the Cura kids have gone back to school and people are back from their summer holidays, our working environment is thriving with more people back in the office, and it’s great to hear how people’s holidays have gone too. We have had another little shuffle around, with an existing member of the team moving over to our customer service department to help grow it even further.

We were also shortlisted for 5 awards for the Cover Excellence Awards this year, a key event that highlights the tremendous work being done across our sector to improve the protection insurance industry. We are shortlisted for

• Alan Knowles, Intermediary of the Year (Individual Achievement)
• Kathryn Knowles, Intermediary of the Year (Individual Achievement)
• Leanne Stancliffe, Rising Stars – Intermediaries
• Outstanding Specialist Intermediary
• Small Intermediary of the Year
  
  

We are so proud of our team and what they do and we truly believe that every member of our company has contributed to this success. We are all in this together!

Our MD Alan Knowles is currently travelling around the country speaking at events to help show advisers exactly what we can do when it comes to protection. Not all advisers know about or advise on protection, just like we don’t advise on pensions and investments, and it’s really important that we keep shouting up about the value of protection insurance. He has a banner, a stand, and a box of chocolates so at the very least people will be walking away with some sweet treats in hand.

We had some great feedback too, check it out:

‘Highly recommend.

The team I dealt with were fantastic from start to finish. Communication was great, they kept me updated throughout the process and were lovely to speak to, and always on hand if I had a query. Plus, they managed to get me life insurance when I had been refused several times before. I would highly recommend!’ Jenny, September 2022

In September, Cura donated towards the British Heart Foundation as a well done to our Adviser Leanne Stancliffe for recently donating blood. We have also supported our Finance Executive, Rheanna Haley, walking the sunrise walk for Saint Catherine’s Hospice.

Meet the team

Kathryn Knowles – Managing Director

After completing my PhD in Business Management I joined the insurance industry in 2010. I do quite a few things including advising people on their insurance needs, training advisers in protection insurance and I do a podcast to help anyone that wants to know more about how insurance and their circumstances mix. 

I have three children who are my absolute world and I love to zumba in my spare time. I really want to get back into doing some art work and have recently had a treat of some new brushes and oils.

Full English or Continental?

I want to say continental but I’m dairy free! I’m very picky with food.

What’s one thing you’re really good at and one thing you’re really bad at?

I’m very good at visual recall, I am really bad at catching and throwing, basically I can’t do any sport but dancing.

What’s your favourite memory?

At the moment it has to be the beginning of this summer when my family, my parents and my sister and her family stayed at Centre Parcs. It was the first time we had been able to be together in 3 years.

What’s something you’ve done, but will never do again?

Waltzers.

Do you have a favourite charity you wish more people knew about?

There are far too many that I wish people knew more about. The HMSA is close to my heart as they helped me when I was younger.

What is your favourite thing to do when you’re not working?

Being snuggled up on the sofa or bed, hot water bottle, cuppa tea, biscuits!

Case study

We are incredibly proud of the work that we do, to help people to get valuable insurances in place. Recently we helped a couple that asked for our support. Speaking with the couple we were able to establish that one had previously experienced aplastic anaemia and the other had been diagnosed with an ovarian tumour in her teenage years. As well as these details, they both had what insurers consider to be higher BMIs, with both having readings a bit over 35.

In their early 20s, they both knew how important insurance can be and followed the recommendation of our adviser to have life insurance and income protection. The life insurance we arranged is designed to help either of them repay their mortgage, if one of them passes away. The income protection policies will provide them with financial support if they are ill and unable to work due to their ill health.

• Decreasing life insurance of £128,500 over 30 years, for a monthly premium of close to £16.50 per month.
  
  
• An income protection policy was arranged for one member of the couple that provides a little over £1,200 per month, to age 68, after a period of 13 weeks of being unable to work due to ill health. Each successful claim can pay for a maximum 2 years. The price was close to £13 per month.
  
  
• Another income replacement policy has been arranged for the other person, providing close to £1,100 per month protection, that would provide financial support after 60 days of being unable to work due to ill health. Each successful claim can pay for a maximum 1 year. The price for this was close to £10 per month.
  
  

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Getting to know us better – August 2022 recap

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