On AdviserSoftware.com we began the week with our analysis of AdviceObjects practice management system a relatively new entrant to the market before the next day examining  Voyant’s AdviserGo financial planning tool. 

Synaptic Risk Explorer was the subject of our Wednesday insight and on Thursday it was the turn of Adviser Cloud’s wealth practice management proposition to be under the spotlight. 

Our next Investment Forum meeting will take place on Tuesday 23rd November at 11am.  The discussion will centre around advances in technology being used to deliver investment services: 

  • What are the leading innovations?  
  • What would advisers most like to see? 

Advisers can register for a complimentary ticket to attend the event via this link. 

So the last week was huge for Protection Guru culminating inour inaugural Protection Guru Awards on Friday where around 200 people, including both established industry leaders and some of the most impressive new talent around, got together to celebrate everything that’s good about protection. 

We will write more about each section of the awards and what really made the winners stand out during the coming week, but in the meantime the role of honour is as follows:  

INDIVIDUAL ADVISER AWARDS 

Best Claim Communication or Case Study, Sponsored by Aviva 

Emma Astley, CoverMyBubble 

Best Use of Video Social Media 

Karla Edwards – The Protection Parent 

Best Use of Static Social Media 

Adam Kaplin – Pendragon Protect 

with a Highly Commended going to Lee Thomas from Pangea Life 

Outstanding New Protection Adviser, Sponsored by Scottish widows 

Karen Chambers – Future Proof  

Best Protection Administrator/Support Staff, Sponsored by HSBC Life 

Louise Flanagan – Bespoke Financial Group 

 ADVISER FIRM AWARDS 

Best New Protection Advice Firm, Sponsored by HSBC life 

That’s Life Insurance 

With a Highly commended going to 3 Pillars financial Planning 

Best Protection Advice From a Mortgage Broker, Sponsored by Zürich 

Trusted Financial Advice 

Best Network for Protection Advice 

The Openwork Partnership 

Best Protection Advice from a Wealth Firm, Sponsored by Intelliflo  

Money Honey Financial Planning 

Best Protection Support Group/Compliance Service  

Auxilium Partnership 

Protection Advice Firm of the Year, Sponsored by Guardian 

LifeSearch  

With a Highly commended going to Future Proof  

INSUREAWARDS (voted for solely by the adviser readers of Protection Guru). 

Best Insurer for Protecting a Mortgaged Client, Sponsored by PMS 

Guardian 

Best Insurer for Protecting Clients Living in Rented Accommodation 

Legal & General 

Best Insurer for Protecting Clients with a Family 

Guardian 

Best Insurer for Protecting an Employed Person’s Income 

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Best Insurer for Protecting a Self-Employed Person’s Income 

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Best Preventative Support Service 

AIG 

Best Rehabilitation Support Service 

Royal London  

Best Insurer for Protecting Business Owners 

Legal & General 

Best Insurer for Protecting Company Employees 

Legal & General 

PRESTIGE AWARDS 

Above and Beyond Award, Sponsored by Scottish Widows 

CoverMyBubble 

Outstanding Performance in Claims Handling, Sponsored by Intelliflo 

Vita 

Protection Guru’s Doctors Award, Sponsored by the Tyburn Private Medical Practice 

Impact Based Critical Illness – AIG  

Outstanding Protection Adviser of the Year, Sponsored by Zürich 

Nina Brown – Pam Brown Mortgages 

Dedication to Protection Award, Sponsored by Aviva 

Johnny Timpson 

Congratulations to all of the winners! 

Even with the awards coming, of course we produced our normal content starting on Monday lunchtime with by Rob Harvey’s analysis on how clients can get faster and easier access to a GP through their protection policy  and the third instalment of highlights from last month’s Protection Forum discussions.    

On Tuesday we investigated the impact that family history of breast cancer can have on underwriting outcomes.  

Legal & General’s decision to include dividends in the Exec IP pension contribution limit was analysed on Wednesday insight.   With an additional study looking at the consequences of  Zurich announcing the easing of their COVID-19 underwriting restrictions.  

Thursday’s first insight examined the differences between guaranteed, reviewable and age banded premiums.  We also released the fourth instalment of highlights from our September Protection Forum where the discussion focused around simple products in the protection market.  

We finished the week with a round-up of five things you should read about policy features and benefits that reduce reliance on the NHS. 

Our next Protection Forum meeting will on Tuesday 9th November at 11am. The agenda will focus on: 

  • How should insurers best share information on protection products with consumers and prepare for both the Department for Business Industry and Strategy’s Smart Data initiative and the FCA’s requirements on Open Finance 
  • Recovering from COVID, when can the industry expect to return to pre-COVID new business methods 
  • Which previous processes will return? 
  • Have some things changed permanently? 
  • Are some COVID inspired changes are worth keeping, of so what? 

Advisers can register to attend the event free of chargevia this link.  

On our Benefits Guru site Jason Green investigated which workplace pensions providers are offering debt management support to their memberson Tuesday and on Thursday turned to looking at which pensionproviders are supporting total reward statements.