Stand out from the crowd

Taking the unbiased route

This week we had independent confirmation of what we already knew: unbiased.co.uk is the number one choice for adviser listings by product provider firms. Providers featured in City Wire stated that they would send their customers to unbiased.co.uk if they did not already have a professional, regulated adviser.  In related news, we've seen a 20% upsurge in enquiries for retirement advisers, and we expect an even bigger one come April.  Find out who recommends us, and how the retirement road map is being drawn up here

Not shy about retiring - the ABI Retirement conference 2015

This year's conference was certainly one to remember, featuring influential industry heads - not to mention Chancellor George Osborne and Pensions Minister Steve Webb discussing the future of British retirement.  The hottest topic was of course Pension Wise, the government scheme offering free guidance to help consumers understand their pensions.  With just six weeks before the biggest pension changes in history, the whole conference was on tenterhooks.  Here are some of the highlights we learned:

• CAB have said they have just 40 outlets for Pension Wise across the UK
• The guidance given will be broadly similar with each channel (online, telephone, face-to-face)
• All Pension Wise staff will have to pass CII accredited training before they can offer guidance

What are your thoughts on the up coming changes?  Should the government be worried?  Share your thoughts here.

Green with envy? Then get on the Bluebook

Do you wonder why some advisers are always being quoted in the press? Wonder no more - just join them on the Bluebook, our nationally renowned media directory of professional advisers. For many financial and legal journalists, the Bluebook is their first port of call when they need comments or case studies. By being on their list you can raise your media profile and gain greater exposure for your business. Watch our award winning advisers discuss the benefits of the Bluebook here.  Find out more about the Bluebook here.

Stand out from the crowd

Hard work only takes you so far. To excel, you also have to stand out.  That's what Chris Daems believes, and it's a claim he's ready to back up. The director of Principle IFA has tried and tested many ways to get noticed in a crowded marketplace, a few of which he shares in his article 'Stand out from the crowd'. Of course, one way to get noticed is to do exactly what he's doing here.

 Sponsored placement 

Taking better care of your clients

How can you convince people to keep coming back to you for advice?  Making sure they realise the extra value you can offer is key, so it makes sense to look closely at the added-value services on offer in the protection market.

Most providers include something extra in their plans - not just a claim payout.  For example, helplines, discounts or health programmes.  What might your clients value most?  What we do know is that if they find themselves facing a serious illness for example, a payout can help.  But money's not always the first thing on their mind.

We now offer a second medical opinion as part of our Helping Hand service which your clients can even use without making a claim. Unlike some other second medical opinion services, Helping Hand arranges face-to-face consultations with medical experts from the NHS or private sector in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Caroline Love, a personal nurse adviser, explains the service in more detail on our website