Ms Naidu said: “We introduced our product range in advance of the implementation of the freedoms and supplemented it with our services to make sure that we were in a position to respond to queries as quickly and efficiently as possible. We’ve done this by not only adding to our staff numbers but by given them the best possible training as well.”
In addition, mere weeks following pension freedom day in April, Prudential launched the Prudential Dynamic Growth Funds, a new range of multi-asset funds for customers wanting to make use of the new rules at retirement. The funds are aimed at delivering long-term growth through investing in a diversified range of assets both in the UK and globally.
For Ms Naidu, Prudential’s approach to financial advisers is simple: to ensure that they can do business with them easily.
She said the group actively seeks feedback from advisers to ensure that energies are being spent at targeting services which are most likely to improve their businesses.
The group has won plaudits with its award-winning PruAdviser website, which provides adviser information on its range of products and services, and also features guides on topical areas.
What is more, its Oracle WebEx live programme continues to be a hit with financial planners, according to Ms Naidu. The initiative – which is accredited by the IFP for CPD purposes and presented by Prudential’s product technical and business development teams, as well as other specialists – allows advisers to sign up for monthly webinars as well as view recordings of past topics.
The digital part of the business will remain an area for development and improvement, according to Ms Naidu, who added: “Over the years, we have invested in digital, and advisers have appreciated that. We will continue to invest in digital, telephony, as well as face-to-face support services. We are doing this to ensure that advisers have more than one point of contact in which to get in contact with us.”
Prudential’s long-term commitment to providing exceptional customer service for financial planners through hard work is recognised in its honour of the Company of the Year accolade. The group’s goals for the future include building upon its award-winning propositions, continuing to assist the transition to new business models, and providing support and education, among other ways of making the day-to-day workings of a financial adviser that little bit easier, Ms Naidu said.
She added: “Financial advisers are set to come under an increasing amount of pressure in the next 12 months and are likely to receive more business. We want to be viewed as a leading provider that is committed to helping the adviser market. This would ultimately help advisers deliver a better service to their clients.
