Using the new tool IFAs can produce and publish a company website within a matter of days, which includes new interactive services that enable them to offer comparative quotations direct to their clients.
The new service offers IFAs a quick and easy way to increase their brand awareness and take advantage of the increase in Internet usage by consumers in the UK. The comparative quotation services and retirement planning service can encourage new or existing clients to seek advice from the IFA once they have done their own research and potentially reduce the time spent with each customer because they are more informed.
The quote services are customised versions of The Exchange’s market leading comparative quotation services and cover term assurance, critical illness, mortgage protection, mortgages and equity release. In addition, the existing fully transactional components for general insurance and mutual funds are still available, giving IFAs the benefit of new revenue streams from their website.
The term assurance service allows IFA clients to not only generate a valid quote, but also allows them to fill in the application before sending it to the adviser for completion. This service is also available to ‘plug-in’ to existing IFA websites, regardless of whether they are an AdviserNet Web Builder customer.
In addition to the comparative quotation services there are a number of additional components IFAs can choose to integrate into their websites. These include:
- Utility Checker is included in the monthly fee and can help IFA’s clients save an average of £140 a year by comparing the prices of gas, water, telephone and electricity suppliers and switching to a new supplier
- Retirement planner is a powerful lead generator for IFAs. It guides clients on the level of retirement income they might receive based on current arrangements and suggests various issues that the IFA can provide advice on
- TEP Exchange is a web-based exchange for Traded Endowment Policies, enabling instant deals between market makers and IFA clients
- Credit card & personal loans checker enables IFA’s clients to compare the best rates in the market and calculate how much they could save by switching providers.
IFAs have a choice of four to six template websites and can then personalise the design of their site, with full control over the content and page structure. There is no limit to the number of pages or space available for text and graphics. The price includes Moneyfacts, an on-line personal finance guide that provides animated explanations of a range of products, newsfeeds, a hit counter, customisable buttons, search engine positioning, and a series of interactive calculators that clearly illustrate mortgage repayments, money purchase pension schemes and lump sum savings.
David Child, managing director at The Exchange, comments:
“Our own independent research shows that around 45% of IFAs do not have a website. By updating our website building service in line with the needs of IFAs we hope we can help address this. Websites are set to be a key sales tool for IFAs in the future especially if we see the introduction of simpler products that can be sold using guided self help.”
For further information on AdviserNet, IFAs should visit Exweb at select ‘build your own website’ from the left hand menu. The service is priced at between £35 and £65 per month, depending on which services the IFA wishes to take advantage of.
