The UK pensions landscape has changed significantly in recent years and this has implications for wealth advisors. Standard Life has developed a new programme to help advisors.

UK-listed Standard Life has rolled out a Chartered Insurance Institute-accredited Advisor Hub, providing continuing professional development for advisors. It comes at a time of heightened need for support as new pension rules take force, the firm says.

The Adviser Edge programme offers a set of learning and development channels to help advisors working in the retirement market.

As UK finance minister George Osborne has freed up pension funds from certain restrictions on annuities and changed inheritance tax treatment of pension pots, the wealth management market has had to adapt. (See an articles on the issue here and here.)

“The introduction of pension freedoms has changed how advisor businesses operate. Research by Defaqto shows that 78 per cent of advisors have seen an increase in the demand for at-retirement advice since last April. I have no doubt this demand for advice will continue to grow,” said Noel Butwell, Standard Life distribution director.

A certificate of completion for the CII-accredited Adviser Hub will be awarded on the completion of each module. Areas of study include client segmentation; management of business risk; cost of service delivery; value of advice; fact-finding; and recommending investments, tax plans and withdrawals.