Sesame Index puts Just Retirement in first place
The service offered by providers to advisers is improving, according to the latest Sesame Provider Service Index. Taking into account the positive and negative movements in index scores, there was an overall net increase in service levels with more companies improving their scores than not.
Top of the annual Sesame league table, compiled with input from 511 appointed representatives and directly authorised advisers, was Just Retirement, taking the title for the third year running.
The findings also show Just Retirement has comfortably retained the top spot for the third index running. Legal & General moved up one place to second position, and Standard Life - up two places to third. Skandia dropped from second to fourth and Norwich Union moved into fifth position from eighth.
At the bottom of the table Scottish Provident dropped two spots to 21st place, while Axa climbed one place to come in 20th.
Stephen Young, sales and marketing director at Sesame, said: "Progress is being made, but we need to be mindful of changing trends - such as industry consolidation - which could potentially damage service levels for advisers and their clients in the future. Provider service remains one of the key challenges for advisers on a day-to-day basis."