To support those advisers transitioning their businesses to take advantage of the opportunities the RDR will present, AEGON today announces it is launching its RDR-ready Flexible Pension Plan and Group Personal Pension product on 12th November 2012.
AEGON Ireland's RDR-ready offshore bonds and guaranteed product range will be available mid December 2012. In addition, AEGON is replacing its current income drawdown plan with a new RDR ready proposition based on our market leading ARC platform by the year end.
AEGON's core new business proposition is focussed on the at-retirement and workplace savings markets and therefore AEGON is committed to providing off and on platform propositions to advisers which will be RDR ready.
AEGON will continue to support advisers' clients in its existing range of products. This includes products that can be bought at factory gate prices (i.e. without any loading for commission).
Gordon Greig, Marketing Proposition Director at AEGON UK, said:
"The RDR gives us all the opportunity to do business in a completely different way and our announcement today enables advisers to make this transition positively and profitably with AEGON. Our new income drawdown plan, called "One Retirement", is market leading and built using the same technology as our unique platform proposition, providing advisers and customers with even greater choice on how to help secure their financial future.
"We've communicated our RDR stance regularly throughout the year, and have today provided further clarity to advisers. Doing the right thing for customers is paramount; and our distribution relationships are hugely important to us. We recognise different advisers will continue to operate different remuneration models for the professional advice they provide post-RDR. So we need to be flexible in our approach. We're committed to working closely with all those advisers to help them continue to provide profitable financial advice and be able to recommend quality solution-focussed products and services from AEGON, whilst meeting the new regulatory requirements."
Gordon Greig concluded:
"Not every customer and adviser will agree on the same form of adviser or consultancy charge. So, based on extensive adviser research, we've built a flexible menu of options to ensure they can pay for their advice in the way that suits them, whilst keeping it simple.
"Ensuring efficiency in all aspects of doing business will be key in a post-RDR environment. AEGON is ready for the new RDR world and we're here to help advisers and customers make the most of the opportunities going forward."
