Demand for protection advice on the up: Zurich By Gary Adams 15 The Covid pandemic has driven demand for protection advice, says Zurich. Of 100 advisers asked by the insurer, 29 per cent reported an increase in general demand, with 39 per cent saying that clients wanted to know more about income protection and 36 per cent for critical illness cover. Meanwhile, 67 per cent said there had been an increase in demand for mortgage advice. Alongside this, 38 per cent said there had been a dip in people seeking retirement planning advice alongside 34 per cent reporting fewer people looking for wealth management advice. The survey throws up interesting results regarding adviser and client relationships, too – 32 per cent said that the pandemic had strengthened their relationships with their clients and 52 per cent disagreed.