The sweet smell of success #FIAAwards2018

Excitement is at fever pitch as the insurance industry gears up for the annual Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA) awards.

This year the theme of the awards function is ‘senses’ and invitees can expect to have sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing ‘activated’ on the night. 

The FIA Awards are acknowledged as a leading measure of product supplier excellence based on an independent survey of practicing finance and risk advisers who are all members of the FIA.

A voice heard

The FIA once again partnered with Ask Afrika, an independent research company to conduct the FIA Awards survey.

The telephonic survey, according to the FIA, covered the diagnostic component which gives insight into where our suppliers are doing well, but also identifies areas of concern that can be addressed to improve outcomes for intermediaries and consumers. 

The awards survey process is an opportunity for intermediaries to rate the insurers, underwriters and investment companies they interact with as they provide advice and ongoing service to their clients. It is also an opportunity for financial services firms that favour the intermediated distribution model to rate their performance against that of their peers.

The survey gave FIA members the opportunity to express their views, opinions and experiences of the industry product suppliers they work with in terms of product quality, service quality, relationship quality, overall satisfaction etc.

Finalists revealed

Although product suppliers walk away with the accolades on the night, the Awards are also a celebration of the value that financial advisers, brokers and other professionals bring to the industry. 

After months of speculation, much input by members and a robust survey by AskAfrika, the finalists for this year's awards were officially announced and they are:

1. Short Term Insurer of the Year – Personal Lines
   Santam, Hollard, Momentum and Renasa 

2. Short Term Insurer of the Year – Commercial
   Hollard, Renasa, Santam and Western National 

3. Short Term Insurer of the Year – Corporate
   Old Mutual Insure, Hollard and Santam 

4. Underwriting Manager of the Year
   MUA Insurance Acceptances, Mirabilis Engineering Underwriting Managers, iTOO Special Risks and Stalker Hutchison & Associates 

5. Long Term Insurer of the Year – Risk
   Old Mutual, Discovery Life, Liberty Group and Sanlam 

6. Product Supplier of the Year – Investment Product Lump Sum
   Allan Gray, Investec, PSG Wealth and Sanlam Glacier 

7. Product Supplier of the Year – Investment Product Savings
   Allan Gray, Liberty Group, Momentum Wealth and Sanlam Glacier 

8. Product Supplier of the Year – Employee Benefits
   Liberty Corporate, Momentum EB, Sanlam EB and Old Mutual 

9. Product Supplier of the Year – Healthcare
   Discovery Health, Bonitas and Momentum Health 

Congratulations to all 

With the announcement of the finalists FIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lizelle van der Merwe said, “Our congratulations to all and appreciation to our members for sharing their views and experiences. These awards demonstrate how product providers enable our members to serve their clients. Each year the product providers get useful information to assist them in further improving their products and services. The FIA is looking forward to our celebration.”

Editor’s thoughts:
The FIA Awards promises to live up to expectations as industry excellence is recognised. FAnews will announce the results as soon as they are received. With the competitive landscape to acknowledge the product providers, do you think this contributes to an improved industry standard? Please comment below, interact with us on Twitter at @fanews_online or email me your thoughts myra@fanews.co.za.