Citywire Service Index: Skandia wins the accolades in the retirement arena

A look at which firms are impressing advisers with their service in the corporate and personal retirement planning arena.

With an increasing number of people out of work and older generations opting for early retirement, the corporate and personal retirement planning categories of the Citywire Service Index are proving to be more useful than ever in determining which providers are giving advisers the best overall service for their clients.

This week we look at the personal and corporate retirement firms that have received enough votes to make it into the league tables.

There has been little change in this round, with Skandia, IPM and Just Retirement continuing to hold first, second and third places respectively in the personal retirement planning (PRP) category.

Skandia, Standard Life and Scottish Widows continue to hold the top three spots in the corporate retirement planning (CRP) category.

Skandia leads the field

Skandia is the clear leader in retirement planning with its relationship management scores boosting its overall rank in the personal retirement ranks and its e-service scores boosting its overall corporate retirement rank.

There was movement in the PRP tables from the SIPP Centre, which rose one place from sixth. Its scores were boosted by its highly rated efficiency and service sections, which were rated higher than almost all firms in that category.

In the CRP category Prudential climbed two places from 11th boosted by its efficiency and service. This had a knock-on effect on Zurich Financial Services, which dropped from ninth to 11th place.

Mixed responses

Zurich’s ongoing training and support is somewhat lacking compared with peers in its category. Clearly advisers are dissatisfied with the after sales care they expect to receive.

However not all panellists were unhappy with Zurich, which received a broad range of scores.