Zurich has extended its distribution capacity offered through adviser members of network Openwork, in which it holds a minority ownership stake.
Those advisers new to the Openwork network will now be able to recommend products from Zurich mainstream protection range, including life cover and critical illness, under the terms of Zurich’s single tie protection agreement with the organisation.
The “enhanced agreement” will take effect from 1 November, which is the target date for the completion of the adviser transfer.
This follows Openwork recently taking on 930 protection advisers as part of a distribution deal with MetLife.
At that time, Mark Duckworth, managing director of Openwork said the firms have agreed to transfer up to 930 of MetLife’s self-employed advisers and implement a new distribution agreement in respect of MetLife’s Accident Protection product.
Peter Hamilton, head of retail propositions at Zurich UK said: “The protection products we market as an industry can change lives and advisers play a critical role in highlighting the benefits to their clients of taking out some form of cover to protect themselves and their families in the event or serious illness or worse.
“By expanding the terms of our agreement with Openwork to enable more advisers to advise on Zurich’s mainstream protection proposition, we are confident that more people will benefit from suitable cover with the help of their adviser.”
