Shepherds Friendly

Shepherds Friendly

Shepherds Friendly: Over 50s Life Insurance with Guaranteed Acceptance & Fixed Premiums

If you’re planning ahead and looking for a simple way to leave something behind for your loved ones, over 50s life insurance might be exactly what you need.

Shepherds Friendly is one of the longest-standing providers in the market, offering accessible protection with a focus on supporting you through life’s later stages.

At Kerr & Watson, we specialise in helping you understand how these policies work and whether they’re right for your circumstances. Our goal is to make life insurance feel straightforward rather than overwhelming.

Who Are Shepherds Friendly?

Shepherds Friendly is a mutual society with roots going back to 1826. Rather than being a shareholder-owned company, it’s run for the benefit of its members, which means profits go back into improving products and services.

With a strong focus on community and customer wellbeing, Shepherds Friendly is known for its simple over 50s life insurance offering. It’s designed for people who want guaranteed acceptance without needing medical checks or detailed underwriting.

What Does Shepherds Friendly Offer?

The main protection product offered by Shepherds Friendly is over 50s life insurance, a whole of life policy that pays out a guaranteed lump sum upon your death. This cover is intended to help your loved ones with funeral expenses, unpaid bills, or simply provide a small financial gift.

Key Features

  • Guaranteed Acceptance: If you’re aged between 50 and 80 and live in the UK, you’ll be accepted without any medical questions.
  • Whole of Life Cover: The policy remains active until you pass away, and the payout is guaranteed, no expiry dates or term limits.
  • Fixed Premiums: Your payments stay the same throughout the premium term, offering financial certainty.
  • Minimum and Maximum Premiums: You can pay from £10 to £50 per month, depending on how much cover you’d like designing your premiums and cover accordingly.
  • Optional Funeral Benefit: You can choose to have your payout go directly to Co-op Funeralcare to help manage funeral costs, and this includes a discount off your final bill.

This policy is designed to be as straightforward as possible. If you’re in good health or looking for higher sums assured, there may be alternative routes worth exploring too which is something we will do.

What Are the Benefits?

Shepherds Friendly focuses on delivering value through simplicity and support. Beyond the policy basics, you also get:

  • Bereavement Support: Access to counselling and guidance for your loved ones through the National Bereavement Service.
  • No Medical Required: Ideal if you’ve had medical issues in the past or simply want hassle-free application.
  • Fixed Monthly Cost: Helps you budget without unexpected changes in price.
  • Community-Focused Values: As a mutual society, there’s an emphasis on ethical business practices and member wellbeing.

It’s this member-first approach that makes Shepherds Friendly stand out, particularly for those who want a more human feel to their financial protection.

Who Might This Be Right For?

You may find Shepherds Friendly suitable if you:

  • Are aged between 50 and 80 and want life cover with guaranteed acceptance
  • Prefer not to disclose your medical history
  • Are looking for an affordable way to leave a lump sum for your family or to cover funeral costs
  • Want a policy that’s easy to understand and manage
  • Would benefit from built-in support services for your loved ones

However, if you’re younger than 50, or in excellent health with more complex financial goals, other types of cover may offer better value or flexibility.

Regardless of your situation, we will never assume and we help you look at all the angles before making a decision.

Things to Consider

While the simplicity of over 50s life insurance is appealing, there are a few things worth keeping in mind:

  • Waiting Period: Most policies, including Shepherds Friendly, have a qualifying period (usually 12 or 24 months). If you die within this time (except by accident), the full benefit may not be paid.
  • Value vs. Contributions: Because you’re guaranteed acceptance, the cost of premiums can sometimes add up to more than the payout, particularly if you live for a long time.
  • Limited Payouts: The sum assured is often lower than with medically underwritten life insurance policies.

These are important points to weigh up, which is why getting tailored advice is so valuable. We’ll help you understand how this product compares to others and ensure you’re not paying more than you need to for the level of cover you want.

Why Speak to Kerr & Watson?

At Kerr & Watson, we do more than just quote prices, we listen, advise, and guide you to the most appropriate solution for your goals.

Whether you’re considering Shepherds Friendly or exploring other providers, we’re here to help you find the right cover with the right advice.

Conclusion

Shepherds Friendly offers a trusted approach to over 50s life insurance. With guaranteed acceptance, fixed premiums, and a caring ethos, it’s a reassuring option for those seeking peace of mind later in life.

But while it may be a great fit for some, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, and to compare it with other providers that might offer more flexibility, cover, or value based on your personal situation.

Get in touch with Kerr & Watson today and let us help you explore your life insurance options from the whole market.

Your Insurance In 3 Easy Steps…

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Schedule a call to talk to an adviser about your needs and situation. Alternatively give us a call on 01252 224620 or email us on info@kerrandwatson.co.uk.

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We will take the information gained on the call and carry out some research before sending you a bespoke recommendation.

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Once we have the relevant information, we will complete your insurance application and update you throughout the process.

Testimonials

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charlotte yates
21 July 2026
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Marie Kitchener was extremely helpful with a difficult , quite complex case. Marie responded to our questions with understanding, great knowledge and we trusted her advice. The solicitor she recommended was brilliant too. Highly recommend Kerr & Watson.
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Lauren Murray
30 June 2026
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Marie Kitchen was absolutely fabulous. We had an incredibly complicated case due to living abroad and a few hiccups along the way. Marie was persistent and helped us to resolve these efficiently. Highly recommend.
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Michelle
8 June 2026
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My 2nd time dealing with Kerr & Watson and they didn't disappoint, great service, professional and patient - big shout out to Andreea & Stephen
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Sean Turner profile picture
Sean Turner
2 June 2026
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I had an excellent experience with Kerr and Watson and would happily recommend them. A special mention has to go to James, who provided exceptional service throughout. He was professional, approachable, clear in his communication and always willing to help. His support made a huge difference, and we genuinely couldn’t have done it without him. I would not hesitate in recommending K&W to any family or friends.
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Jackie
15 May 2026
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Brad was quick with getting me the right mortgage insurance prior to a move abroad. Polite and professional. Also liked that he would call to remind me take any actions if I hadn't responded to emails
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Ade Kunle
1 May 2026
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I will always recommend Kerr & Watson to friend and family.
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Minzel 33 profile picture
Minzel 33
23 April 2026
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This is my second product with Matthew, securing a BTL for my LTD with the best rate on the market. Once again great support, guidance and smooth process. Highly recommended, knowledgeable team. Reliable service.
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Freya B
14 April 2026
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The team at Kerr & Watson were brilliant end to end. Daniel explained everything clearly, was always available to answer questions and helped us secure a great mortgage rate. The mortgage broking service they offer is worth every penny and I'd not hesitate to use them again. Thank you!
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Dean Langton
7 April 2026
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Excellent service and very nice people. Would highly recommend using them.
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