The speed of Aegon Retirement Choices (ARC) growth is something that Aegon UK CEO, Adrian Grace is particularly pleased with: “The innovative ARC platform has gone from a concept to a market-leading platform in the space of three years, which is unprecedented.
“We have reached this milestone figure in just ten months following launch and recent data from Platforum shows that (month on month) we have the fastest growing platform in the market. Our focus on technology, efficiency and meeting the needs of the end customer is clearly paying off.”
Shared financial planning experience
ARC was the first platform in the UK to combine an adviser platform with a work place savings platform. The ability to switch seamlessly from accumulating assets to decumulation is seen as an important development in the market. And the platform’s unique gating functionality, which allows advisers to choose the level of access to give to clients, provides a shared financial planning experience.
ARC’s innovation has not gone unnoticed. This year it has won prestigious awards for best new platform, best use of technology, best innovation and best work place savings platform.
New service launched in 2014
In 2014, Aegon is looking forward to continued new-business growth, and upgrading existing customers onto ARC. “We will be launching a new service alongside our ARC platform. This will allow clients with smaller amounts of investable assets to invest directly, while referring them to the adviser as they accumulate wealth or encounter changes in their financial circumstances or lifestyle,” confirmed Adrian Grace.
The service will be free of charge to advisers and enable them to co-brand the online system. It has been designed with the rapid increase in mobile and tablet usage in mind.
Clear advice points
“Our proposition is based around the needs of our customers, but the advised market is absolutely crucial to our success. We have built our new proposition with a shared experience in mind and with clear advice points, where we believe advice is essential.”
