GOLD STANDARD AWARDS 2011

The Gold Standard Awards are one of the toughest financial services Awards to achieve, which also makes them highly respected. Now in their ninth year, the Awards are aimed at financial services companies and take into account financial strength and assess attributes such as capability to conduct business, fair value, as well as service standards clients can expect. The Awards are designed to identify companies that not only have strong structures and procedures in place, but are going above and beyond standard business practices to promote trust in the financial services sector. As such, this year's awards will more than ever incorporate the principles of Treating Customers Fairly (TCF).

To highlight the principles of the Awards, this year will soon see the launch of Trust Your Money. The site aims to educate consumers on what to look for when buying financial products and services. It will also give valuable information on what financial service companies are doing to promote trust, highlighting those companies that have already made Gold Standard.

Why You Should Enter

By completing a Gold Standard submission you will be undertaking a worthwhile and confidential audit of how far you are down the road of good customer service and reigniting trust in what you do as a company. While many of the questions relate to standards in TCF and compliance, Gold Standards goes a step further in assessing training, communication and costs. What's more entry is free and confidential. Those who do not make the standard are not publicly revealed and are briefed on areas they can improve on.

To achieve a Gold Standard Award, entrants are required to complete a rigorous questionnaire and supply evidence to assess capability, fair value, service and trust. Third party sources are also used as part of the process. Only those companies that, in the opinion of the judging panel, can clearly demonstrate they go above and beyond standard requirements will be considered for a Gold Standard Award. More information on the criteria and methodology is available here. The Gold Standard Awards are run by Professional Adviser's parent company, Incisive Media. The winners and highly commended entrants will be honoured at a ceremony at the House of Commons on 23rd November.

Categories for this year's awards are:

1 Fund Management
2 Group Pensions
3 Insurance
4 Individual Pensions
5 Independent Financial Advice
6 Protection
7 Portfolio Management

Entries will be open this month. The deadline for completed submissions is 22nd August 2011.