Stonebridge has redesigned the protection sourcing journey within its Revolution adviser platform to support faster and more personalised recommendations.
The mortgage and protection network has invested more than 4,000 hours in designing, developing and testing the improvements over the past six months.
The upgraded platform uses existing customer information to guide sourcing and allows advisers to adjust cover during client conversations using budget-based tools and real-time indicative pricing.
Stonebridge has also revised its protection and general insurance advice standards, including additional guidance for customers who cannot afford or do not want comprehensive cover.
ADVICE TAILORED TO BUDGET
The revised journey enables advisers to compare multiple scenarios and recommend alternative levels of protection based on a customer’s stated priorities and budget.
Information about the risks and benefits of different products is presented more clearly, helping advisers explain available choices and support informed decisions.
Stonebridge said the changes were designed to make conversations feel less rigid while reducing the time required to produce a suitable recommendation.
The development follows feedback from network members and involved Stonebridge’s operations, sales and engineering teams.
COMPLIANCE EVIDENCE STRENGTHENED
The platform also captures additional evidence about the advice process, helping firms demonstrate that recommendations were timely, informed and appropriate.
Stonebridge positioned the changes as a response to the FCA’s Consumer Duty requirements and its work examining the pure protection market.
“We want customers to feel less like a number.”
John Scrivens (main picture, inset), sales director at Stonebridge, said: “We have been laser-focused on helping advisers create an experience for customers that feels natural and bespoke.
“If we want customers to feel less like a number, it’s about showing them that we know them, we understand them and we know what their concerns are.”
He added: “At the same time, we’ve future-proofed the amount of documentary evidence advisers record, supporting them in being able to demonstrate clearly that they’ve given timely, informed and appropriate advice.
“Given the FCA’s focus on the protection gap, we know that these improvements will help our members make major inroads on this industry-wide challenge and set an entirely new standard in customer care.”
