Sally had been married for 21 years when her husband died after a long illness. She had 3 children aged 12, 17 and 19 who were all in full-time education, had not worked for 14 years, and had an outstanding mortgage on her house of £55,000. Fortunately, Sally's late husband Tom had always looked after the finances and been diligent about protection and savings.

The mortgage protection policy paid the outstanding loan which was a great relief for Sally. Tom's company pension package included three times salary life cover with a widow's pension, and he had taken out additional life insurance.

This capital provided much needed security for Sally and her children who were trying to come to terms with losing a loving husband and good father.

Sally was advised to set aside a 'cash float' to deal with immediate expenditure, the remaining capital - after a much needed family holiday -was invested in an ISA, guaranteed income bond, and with-profits bonds, providing a combination of income and capital growth, in a low-risk portfolio.

Sally has enrolled on a computer course and is looking forward to working in the buying department of a friend's wholesale fashion business on a part-time basis