Dentons outshines as one provider leaves top service category
The top-rated five-star service category has been reduced from 14 to 13 companies. Departing to the four-star category are PruProtect (now Vitality Life), MGM Advantage and Aviva. Meanwhile, Sipps specialist Dentons has arrived from nowhere and Paymentshield rose from the four-star service category.
Last year’s top office, Scottish Life, slips down one place following its rebranding as Royal London, to be replaced by Dentons. Founded in 1979, the Surrey-based Sipp and small self-administered scheme specialist’s service standards clearly met the needs of advisers who are working hard to cope with the challenging clients’ demands.
Alongside Scottish Life, those retaining their place in the top service category are Axa Wealth International, Axa Wealth, Partnership, Just Retirement, Bright Grey, Metlife Europe, LV=, Prudential, Exeter Family Friendly, and Legal & General.
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Five-star providers: excellent service
Dentons
Royal London (formerly Scottish Life)
Axa Wealth International
Paymentshield
Axa Wealth
Partnership
Just Retirement
Bright Grey
Metlife Europe
LV=
Prudential
Exeter Family Friendly
Legal & General
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Three lose place in top spot
The number of four-star service category winners rose to nine from seven in 2014. Retaining its place in the four-star service category and topping the list is Engage Mutual.
Rising from the three-star service category is Friends Life, but coming down from the five-star service category are Vitality Life (formerly Pruprotect), Retirement Advantage (formerly MGM Advantage), and Aviva.
Those retaining their place in the four-star service category alongside Engage Mutual, are Zurich Life and Standard Life. Ageas Protect remains, but is now part of AIG since its sale in December 2014, and Old Mutual is there by virtue of the rebranding of Skandia Life earlier this year.
Rowanmoor leaves for the three-star service category.
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Four-star providers: good service
Engage Mutual
Vitality Life
Friends Life
Zurich Life
Old Mutual Wealth
Retirement Advantage
AIG
Aviva
Standard Life
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Average takes centre stage
Scottish Provident – which is due to be rebranded as part of Royal London – rises to the top of the three-star service category. At the other end of the list is Rowanmoor, down from the four-star service category. The total number in this category is eight – the same as in 2014.
New to the Life and Pensions table is B&CE, which was founded in 1942 to provide workplace pensions in the construction industry. Its People’s Pension is available more generally.
Friends Life has risen to the four-star category while James Hay Partnership is now in the two-star service category. There was no entry for Holloway Friendly Society or VitalityHealth (formerly PruHealth).
Both Sanlam and Alliance Trust reappear after a one-year departure from the Life and Pensions table. However, Alliance Trust moves up from its two-star service category place in 2013, while Sanlam is down from 2013’s four-star service category.
