The South African Financial Services Intermediaries Association (SAFSIA) last night (1 June) handed out five financial services industry recognition awards at a gala banquet at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Hollard scooped three awards in the Short Term insurance categories of Personal Lines Insurer of the Year, Commercial Insurer of the Year and Corporate Insurer of the Year.
In the Life Assurance category Momentum Group received the Long Term Assurer of the Year Risk Products award.
Allan Gray Unit Trusts was awarded the Investment Product Supplier of the Year award a new award this year.
Says Ben Rossouw, executive director of SAFSIA: We used to give an employee benefits award. However, with few SAFSIA members acting as intermediaries in the placing of employee benefits with insurers, we decided to introduce a new category of award more appropriate to today's long-term financial planning environment.
"There is a substantial amount of business being done by our member companies in the investment arena, not only through the life assurance companies, but also with a range of investment management companies. The new award is recognition of this."
Chris Busschau, outgoing SAFSIA president comments that there are many players in the industry who strive to give their clients outstanding service. These awards are one of the ways in which SAFSIA recognises excellence within the industry.
The gala awards, now in their eighth year, are a highlight on the insurance industry calendar and recognise outstanding service that insurers and assurers as well as investment product manufacturers provide to the intermediary community. The levels of service intermediaries are able to offer their clients are directly related to the service they receive from insurers and assurers.
A research company is commissioned each year to conduct an independent survey among SAFSIA members and this gives credibility to the awards. The research process rates financial service product suppliers in several categories in accordance with the experience intermediaries have had with the different product providers.
The awards reflect recognition for genuine service delivery to our members, concludes Rossouw.
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