Royal London was named Company of the year at last night’s FTAdviser Online Innovation and Service Awards for the second year in a row.
Hundreds of FTAdviser’s intermediary readers rated Royal London as the company of the year and a five star investment, life and pensions provider when it comes to service.
The provider picked up the top award of the night at a glittering ceremony hosted by comedian Phil Wang, fresh from his appearance on BBC1’s Have I Got News For You.
Old Mutual Wealth scooped the outstanding achievement award at the ceremony at the Oxo Tower in London last night (29 June) as well as a five star service award for investment, life and pensions.
The consistent service excellence award went to Prudential, which was named company of the year at the FTAdviser Online Innovation and Service Awards back in 2015.
Providers were rated for the overall functionality and design of their technology, plus how well they process business.
The overall winner in the online mortgage service provider category was More 2 Life, with BM Solutions, Legal & General Home Finance, Bank of Ireland, Natwest Intermediary Solutions, Principality Building Society, Coventry Building Society, Precise, Skipton Intermediaries, RBS Intermediary, Nationwide Building Society and The Mortgage Works also being awarded five-stars.
Natwest Imtermediary Solutions was named the most improved mortgages company and also picked up an innovation award.
More 2 Life and Legal & General Home Finance also picked up innovation trophies.
In the investment online service awards category, the overall winner was Royal London Asset Management, with Transact, Paremenion, Old Mutual Wealth, Octopus, MetLife, Prudential, Rathbone, Seven Investment Management, Quilter Cheviot and Ascentric also picking up five stars.
Ascentric was named the most improved investment company while Seven Investment Management, Old Mutual Wealth and Transact were deemed to the most innovative providers.
Life and pensions companies that were praised for their online service by advisers were Royal London Protection, Payment Shield, Old Mutual Wealth, Retirement Advantage, Zurich Life, Prudential, B&CE, Exeter Family Friendly and Just Partnership and the top ranked in the five star category was Royal London Pensions.
Old Mutual Wealth was named the most improved life and pensions company.
At the eleventh year of these awards, FTAdviser also chose to celebrate the sales achievements of life and pensions financial advisers.
The group pensions adviser of the year was Suzanne McGowan, protection adviser of the year was David Mead, newly qualified financial adviser of the year was Elliot Cloy, Sipp/individual pension adviser was Alistair Cunningham and life and pensions adviser firm of the year went to Rose & North.
emma.hughes@ft.com
