Royal London has won company of the year for another year running.
Its asset management arm, Royal London Asset Management, topped the investment category with a five-star rating for the fourth year running, while in the life and pensions category its pension and protection divisions also achieved five-star ratings.
Amid ever-growing uncertainty in the markets the company has continued to reassure its adviser clients and invest in the business.
In its pension business it has launched a mobile app for pension customers, to help them check their contributions and monitor their investments, providing an indicative view of the value of their pension at retirement.
In the protection business it has focused on improving both the quality of service to advisers and customers and the profitability of new business.
The improvements to its online service allows advisers to check the status of applications and access their decision documents.
The division has continued to develop this service to make applying for protection quicker and simpler for customers.
In June, Royal London launched a claims system to improve the customer experience and reduce claim time.
In its 2019 half-year report, Royal London said it was “well prepared” for Brexit and remained alert for any development that could cause customer uncertainty; continuing to maintain a robust capital foundation to allow us to invest in future core products and propositions, while also innovating to deliver better outcomes for customers in under-served markets.
Isobel Langton, chief executive of Royal London Intermediary, adds: “The Financial Adviser Service Awards are voted for by advisers and are extremely important to us. We are hugely proud to have been named Company of the Year for the second year in a row and the fourth time in our history. This is a fantastic achievement after what has been a busy year.”
Way to success
• Launched a mobile app for pension customers.
• In its protection business, improved its online business for advisers.
• Worked with advisers to bring offerings, such as a diabetes product, to their clients in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
• Continued revamp of Ascentric platform.
• Remained alert for any development that might cause uncertainty.
• Continued to invest in future core products.
• Innovated to deliver better outcomes for customers in under-served markets.
