NS&I has launched a new online service for financial advice firms.
Firms now have secure online access to information on their clients’ NS&I holdings for the first time, via a purpose built portal.
The service has been designed and delivered to meet growing adviser expectations of NS&I.
The online service, available via secure log-in on nsandi-adviser.com, gives advice firms online access to a range of information about clients’ NS&I investments.
The aim is to enable a closer and more effective relationship between advice firms and NS&I.
The new service has been designed and developed in response to feedback from advice firms, and it follows the introduction of an enhanced phone service in February last year.
Once registered, advice firms will be able to do the following via the new online service:
- view a list of their clients with NS&I holdings (subject to a Letter of Authority);
- select a client and view their NS&I portfolio;
- view the transaction history of an account;
- get a valuation of fixed term accounts and see their maturity dates;
- view copies of communications sent to their clients from NS&I;
- view a client’s Premium Bonds prize history.
All staff in an advice firm can be granted access by a ‘super-user’ in the firm, including all financial advisers, planners, paraplanners and other staff.
Further information on the new online service – including how to register – is available on the Adviser Centre (nsandi-adviser.com).
This is only the first version of the new service, with further enhancements planned for later in 2019 including:
- joint account information;
- trust account information.
Andrew Pike, Head of Intermediary Relationships at NS&I, said: “NS&I has spent the last two years working on this initiative, so it is very pleasing to see it go live and to know that many advice firms will be excited to hear this news.
“We are fortunate that most advice firms are supporters of NS&I, but I accept that we have not always made it easy for them to interact with us and this can affect the onward service they give to their clients. This new online service addresses this issue.
“The new portal represents a significant investment by NS&I and is a clear statement of our intent to form closer ties with the advice industry, to the benefit of all parties.”
Peter Osborne, Client Director at Paradigm Norton Financial Planning, added: “This new service from NS&I is a most welcome development, enabling us to easily obtain an up to date consolidated list of client holdings. This saves time, improves efficiency and allows us greater monitoring of a client’s overall financial plan – which is better for everyone”
Phil Billingham, Chartered Financial Planner at Perceptive Planning, commented: “The online service will make it much easier to manage our clients’ NS&I investments. NS&I have created a useful tool that says a lot about their commitment to building a strong relationship with advisers. We are delighted that we were able to work with NS&I in tweaking the process in making it even more Adviser friendly.”
