Owl Financial, Openwork’s specialist protection advice business, is seeing the benefits of introducing online face-to-face advice with more than 47,000 policies arranged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The specialist business, which is licensed to recommend products from providers including Aviva, Zurich, Legal & General, MetLife and Vitality, has been able to support new and existing customers across the UK thanks to the adoption of the new sales process.
Owl Financial says it has been able to grow its network of advisers during the pandemic, with nearly 300 new starters joining to help support more customers with vital protection.
Openwork: Advisers ‘worried about recruiting the next generation’
Life and critical illness cover, which accounts for nearly half of sales at Owl Financial this year, has been most in demand.
Accident and health has also been popular as customers recognise the value of protection.
That has been demonstrated by nearly 5,200 accident and health claims being paid out in the first half of 2020 while customers who have bought other products have also benefited.
Pat McKenna, sales director at Owl Financial, said: “The expansion at Owl this year underlines the commitment and drive of the team to support customers and their focus on communicating the benefits of protection at a time of huge uncertainty.
“Thanks to the support from the Openwork network, we have come together and delivered a new online solution to support our existing customers and offer advice to those seeking it.”
Owl Financial operates a network of 150 businesses with 1,200 advisers serving more than 350,000 customers who currently have an active policy.
It has been part of the Openwork network for six years.