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Webline becomes IFAP's first technology sponsor

Webline, the first provider of online comparative quotations to Origo standards, this week became IFA Promotion’s first technology sponsor, affirming its commitment to independent financial advice.  The move is further evidence of growing industry confidence in a strong IFA sector post-depolarisation, following the recent additions of London Mortgage Company, GMAC and Mortgage Express to IFAP’s list of sponsors.

 

Paul Holland, Managing Director of Webline, commented: “We’re delighted to cement our support for the IFA community, now and into the future, by becoming IFA Promotion’s first technology sponsor.  We particularly support IFAP’s efforts to encourage member firms to improve their own websites, since four out of five people turn to the web to find an IFA.  We were the first portal to provide financial advisers with the facility to host online comparative quotations and e-submissions within their own websites and over the past few years we have provided over 30 million quotations to adviser firms.”

 

David Elms, Chief Executive of IFA Promotion, said, “We view this sponsorship as a great fit with IFAP’s activity.  Webline is striving to make end-to-end processing a reality, and IFAP is at the front-end of this process, putting hundreds of thousands of potential new clients in touch online with IFAs every year.  Whilst Webline is helping IFAs to develop their web offerings, IFAP is encouraging IFAs to promote their sites fully through the 45-plus online searches IFAP’s established on partner financial websites.”    

 

In the first half of 2004 more than 1,000 new intermediary users signed up to the Webline platform, giving a total of over 11,000 users, 7,300 firms and 27 adviser networks now active registered users. 16 product providers are live on the Webline platform, providing online quotes for 13 term assurance and critical illness providers, 7 investment bond providers, 4 income protection providers and a specialist medical insurer. 

 

IFAs can find out more about IFAP’s new online marketing opportunity by visiting www.unbiased.co.uk and clicking on ‘New Online Marketing Package Demonstration’ - or by calling 0870 325 9020.  

-ends-

 

For further information, please contact:

David Elms                              or                                 Richard Winder / Liz Willder               

Chief Executive                                                           Lansons Communications  

IFA Promotion                                                             020 7294 3641 / 3677                    

020 7833 3131

 

Paul Holland                             or                                 Nicola Mitchell

Managing Director                                                      Webline PR Consultant

Webline                                                                        Mitchell Moneypenny

01329 508000                                                             0870 241 5982

For views from over 200 media-friendly IFAs, journalists should call IFA Promotion’s Media Services hotline on 020 7294 3682 or search online in ‘Media Services’ at www.unbiased.co.uk

 

1.  Independent Financial Adviser Promotion

 

IFA Promotion was established in 1989 to promote the value and accessibility of independent financial advice to the public.  It represents over 10,000 firms of independent financial advisers across the UK and is sponsored by 27 leading financial institutions. In 2003, over 330,000 consumers and businesses used IFA Promotion to find local independent financial advice.

 

IFA Promotion believes Independent financial advice should be:

 

        Affordable.  The option to take independent financial advice should be available, by right, to all - not just the wealthiest in society.

 

        Convenient.  IFAs should be available in the location of the consumer’s choice, wherever they live in the UK.

 

        Transparent.  It must be clearly transparent to consumers who is able to offer independent financial advice and who is not.

 

2.      Webline

 

Webline is supported by 16 providers:

 

BUPA, Bright Grey, Eagle Star, Friends Provident, Health-on-Line, Legal & General, Liverpool Victoria, NDF, Norwich Union, Prudential, Scottish Equitable, Scottish Provident, Scottish Widows, Sterling, Skandia, Standard Life

 

10 things you never knew about WEBLINE:

1. In Jan 2000, Webline became the first provider of online comparative term assurance quotes to Origo standards
2. Webline is the second-largest provider of online comparative quotes in the UK
3. In 2003, Webline provided over 16% of the total adviser online quotes volume*
4. 13 major term providers are currently live on Webline, 7 investment bond providers, 4 income protection providers and a specialist PMI insurer
5. 1200 IFA firms have Webline quotes integrated on their websites
6. Members of 27 networks regularly use the Webline online quotes service and the exclusive network or group administration services.
7. Webline now complete more than 1.7 million individual quotes every month on behalf of over 11,000 users.
8. Webline is the biggest provider of comparative quotes to clients of financial advisers, with 6000 consumers per month getting quotes via Webline IFAs' websites
9. Webline provides integrated data feeds to a number of third party products, including: Trigold's mortgage souring tool; back office systems from 1st, Quay Software, Plum Software, Crystal Software and Bluecoat Software; e-Moneyfacts and the Synaptic and Defaqto research tools. 
10. Webline costs 10 per month, per firm, regardless of the number of users

* source:  Money Management Electronic New Business Survey, June 2004

 

How to Register: 

 

There is a monthly charge of 10 payable by direct debit. (If you wish to pay by cheque, there is a single annual fee payable of 140). This entitles you to access the following services - term products, investments (IFAs only), income protection, private medical insurance, pensions (IFAs only) and general insurance (available soon). You may add multiple individual users for your firm, at no extra cost. For the standard charge you may request up to 5,000 quotes a month - there is a surcharge for users who exceed this number. Full details are in our Terms & Conditions of Use. Special pricing applies to certain networks and portal users.  Free One Month Trial - register as normal, and phone 01329 508000 or e-mail accounts@webline.co.uk (within the first four weeks) if you do not wish to continue with the service. 

 

3.      Independent Financial Adviser Promotion’s sponsors

 

Abbey	London Mortgage Company
AXA	Mortgage Express
Bright Grey	National Savings & Investments
BUPA	Norwich Union Life
Canada Life	Old Mutual Asset Managers
Children’s Mutual	Prudential
Clerical Medical Investment Group	Scottish Equitable Plc
Eagle Star	Scottish Life
Friends Provident	Scottish Widows Plc
GE Life	Selestia
GMAC Residential Funding	Standard Life Assurance Company
INVESCO Fund Managers Ltd	Skandia UK Group
Legal & General	Webline
	Zurich Life Assurance Company