News: Customer Service/Care
Customer care principles underpin professional development scheme
23 May 2008
Financial advisers who work with older clients will have their customer care skills honed as part of a new training initiative, it has emerged.
Organised with the aim of boosting professional development in the financial services sector, the Later Life Adviser Accreditation Scheme is intended for advisers who already have a high level of competence.
Robert Selman, a training specialist for sponsor Just Retirement, suggested that without the implementation of such a development project, the industry is set for "a significant hiatus" in its ability to meet the needs of an important demographic.
"The Later Life Adviser Accreditation scheme seeks to meet this shortfall, seeking to create a 'talent pool' of those advisers who have demonstrated both technical and soft skill competence in relevant areas of advising older clients," he continued.
As part of the initiative, which is supported by the Financial Services Authority, participants must demonstrate their abilities through work-based assessment and complete an annual professional development programme.
John Blakely, director of brand development at the UK International Coaching Federation, claimed earlier this month that demand for performance improvement training is likely to increase during the credit crunch.
