Should firms look again at their commission model?
Today’ s advised businesses operate in a very different environment to ten years ago. Consumer Duty has sharpened the focus on good customer outcomes and policy persistence. Business owners are also thinking further ahead, considering succession planning, acquisitions and the long term value of their firms. Predictable recurring income has become an increasingly valuable asset particularly when compared to short term indemnity commission which pays at a much lower level and limits your choice of insurers.
Businesses with reliable, sustainable revenue are often viewed more favourably by insurers, lenders, investors and potential acquirers because future income is easier to forecast and less dependent on continually replacing new business.
The best of both worlds?
Split commission allows advisers to determine how much commission they receive upfront and how much they receive over time. For example, an adviser might elect to receive 50 % of their commission on an indemnity basis, with the remainder paid monthly throughout the early years of the policy.
This provides valuable upfront income while simultaneously building a recurring revenue stream and reducing clawback exposure. The result is a commission model that can evolve alongside the business itself. A newer advice firm may initially prioritise cashflow, whereas a more mature business may place greater value on recurring income and firm valuation.
Many firms will find that the right answer lies somewhere between the two.
Looking beyond cashflow
The conversation around commission is becoming less about how advisers are paid and more about what kind of businesses they want to build. Flexible remuneration supports:
• stronger financial resilience
• improved forecasting
• reduced exposure to clawback
• greater business value
• sustainable long-term growth.
Rather than asking which commission model is“ best”, many advisers are recognising that having the ability to choose is the real advantage.
At Omni Protect, we believe flexibility should underpin every part of the advice journey, including remuneration. Giving firms the freedom to select the commission structure that best aligns with their commercial objectives, helps create stronger businesses, better customer outcomes and a healthier protection market.
The future of protection advice isn’ t about replacing one commission model with another.
It’ s about giving advisers the flexibility to build businesses that are commercially resilient, regulatorily robust and designed to thrive for decades, not just the next quarter.
Continue the conversation in person
Join the Omni Protect team at our Protection Roadshows and explore the future of protection advice.
August 2026 | 13