8 August 2007
To help advisers understand their clients’ needs and therefore be in a position to restructure their business model accordingly, Winterthur is making available its popular market research tool, Professional Edge Client Research Service, free to the first 30 advisers who register their interest in using the tool on the new Review of Retail Distribution web service*.
Understanding client needs is an essential part in helping advisers build trust. Part of its range of Professional Edge consultancy services, the Client Research Service is designed to help adviser practices find out more about the services their clients want and value the most.
The service provides adviser practices with essential data taken from customer feedback to help tailor their business offering closer to client needs, and is aimed at firms operating in or seeking to penetrate the wealth market, where clients tend to demand more.
An online client questionnaire is the centrepiece of the service. As part of the service clients will be asked to complete the questionnaire through a unique website link – the site is adviser branded. Once logged on, the simple to use survey will take a client no more than 15 minutes to complete.
No personal data is entered and the service is completely confidential and anonymous to allow open and honest feedback from clients. From the feedback, the Professional Edge team can construct a report of the findings to help adviser practices assess and review their clients’ level of satisfaction. With the FSA’s Treating Customers Fairly work placing certain duties on advisers, the client research service can help advisers measure success and to create a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
David Thompson, Managing Director, Winterthur, says, “Successful adviser practices require satisfied customers. High quality customer service is important for any business but critical in the financial services arena where competition and client expectations are continually evolving. The advisers’ understanding of the requirements of their target market is key. This is highly relevant to the future of independent advice in the new depolarised world.
“The Client Research Service will help advisers identify where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and aid them in building a business that attracts more affluent individuals and evolves to continue to meet their changing needs.”
Interested advisers should email Professional.Edge@winterthur-life.co.uk.
The normal cost of the service is £475. This includes a report of the survey findings; which can also be benchmarked against others participating in the area of services meeting client needs. Additional questions can be bought for £75 per question.
*Winterthur’s new Review of Retail Distribution web service, which is part of the company’s Professional Edge range of adviser support services, can be accessed at www.winterthur-life.co.uk. IFAs can email AskMorrison@Winterthur-life.co.uk with their RDR questions.
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For further information:
Paul Riddell Winterthur Life, Press Office +44 (0)1256 798099
Christine Wood FD +44 (0)20 7269 7253
Notes to Editors
About Professional Edge
Winterthur Life has implemented a range of expert support services to help IFAs with everyday business activities and future planning, offering these advisers the ‘Professional Edge’ over their competitors. The package of services has been designed following research into the business needs of IFAs and currently includes the following services:
- Dedicated Professional Edge consultants with support staff
- Business management and people development, including an HR advisory service and ‘Winterthur Chambers’; a special service designed to help IFAs target professional practices plus ‘Chambers’ study support, recruitment and selection
- Adviser solutions and strategic business planning, particularly in regard to preparations for depolarisation, simplification and moving to fees
- High quality, specialist workshops and study support sessions
- A range of quality technical and educational adviser support material
- A premium Transfer Value Analysis System with a choice of options
About Winterthur Life UK Limited
Winterthur Life UK Limited is part of AXA Group, one of the largest financial institutions in the world.
Winterthur Life UK Limited is a provider of focused investment and retirement solutions and support services predominantly distributed through quality IFAs to their high net worth clients.
The company is recognised as having an innovative approach to financial products and its products feature simple, transparent charging with access to a wide range of carefully selected investment funds and fund managers via its Tailored Selection fund platform. Winterthur is also differentiated in the market through its focus on service excellence.
Winterthur Life UK Limited has a B+ financial strength rating from AKG, which denotes “very good financial strength”. At the end of 2006 Winterthur had assets under management exceeding £10 billion, and grew its new pensions business by 125% to £1.45 billion.
www.winterthur-life.co.uk
AXA
AXA UK is a part of the AXA Group. AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. For full year 2006, IFRS revenues amounted to €79 billion and IFRS underlying earnings amounted to €4,010 million.
The AXA ordinary share is listed and trades under the symbol AXA on the Paris Stock Exchange. The AXA American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA.
Our previous company performance is not a guide to how we may perform in the future.
