Intermediary software and services providers
Through its role as a leading provider of independent information, both ratings and other assessment and comparative data, AKG regularly appears across trade and national publications. AKG enjoys a particularly high profile with intermediary firms and product providers and other key bodies.
A roundup of appearances is provided here for reference.
In 2016, AKG introduced the Overall Financial Strength Rating Icon, which is a unique illustration to AKG. It highlights in a clear, concise and recognisable manner that a company has been through the AKG assessment process, and allows the communication of the associated AKG Overall Financial Strength Rating.
This instantly recognisable logo shows an adviser and their client how strong we believe a company is. It is designed to be used in the market to communicate that for financial strength, an organisation (or entity within it) is rated specifically by AKG.
AKG rating icons (where they include ratings) are intended to represent the current AKG Financial Strength Rating in respect of a particular company in a particular sector, according to a simple scale.
There are three different designs a company may use:
Why is no report available for a company rating?
Where required by either the rated company itself or directly for market use (primarily driven by intermediary firm use and requests), AKG looks to provide a report. However, where this is not the case, but where AKG still considers that there is some (usually more occasional or peripheral) market use then a rating may still be produced. This will be delivered to the market via the leading third party selection systems, together with its inclusion in the AKG Rating Portal, where it will be accompanied by a presentation of some basic contextual information.
Does the participation approach necessarily lead to a higher company rating than the public information approach?
The financial strength ratings at a product line basis and supporting ratings are only ascribed as a result of the participatory approach.
Products
Reports ordered online are available immediately via our automated download system. Products ordered offline requiring postage delivery will be posted within one working day unless otherwise advised.
He has significant experience in the life insurance industry, working in a wide variety of areas for both insurers and consultancies. This has included key roles within Commercial Union, Mercers and Lincoln. Gary joined AKG in 1998 with a specialist concentration in best advice, financial strength assessment and company rating. He is responsible in particular for profiling and reporting on the majority of UK life companies.
This focus has recently widened to include the assessment of offshore life companies. Gary is also involved in overseeing product assessment, TEP fund valuation and platform providers at AKG.
Following this, Guy moved into AKG’s wider activities, developing and promoting product and company analysis within the UK financial services industry.
In particular this activity includes the development and application of non-financial criteria in company assessment.
Derek graduated with a degree in Mathematics from St John’s College, Cambridge in 1972 and became a trainee actuary with Welfare Assurance, qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1975. Prior to joining AKG in 1995 he held a variety of senior management and board roles within the life company sector.
Derek is the director responsible for AKG’s accounts department and for our IT systems, with particular emphasis on developing our extensive research and report production database systems.
In 1998 Matt joined independent product research company, The Research Department Ltd, which subsequently became Defaqto Ltd. Matt worked at Defaqto for over 15 years in a range of research roles, including Head of Pensions, and his final position was in the role of Wealth Management Consultant.
Matt joined AKG in July 2014 to take on the role of Head of Communications. Matt leads on communication and marketing activities and supports the AKG team with the delivery of their core provider profiling exercises. He will also be involved in the development and delivery of AKG’s consultancy services proposition to product providers and financial advisers.
John Morley ACIB Company Information Analyst
John joined AKG in 2010 as Company Information Analyst, to assist in the development and ongoing provision of ratings in AKG’s expanding universe of entity types; in particular developing a key role in the assessment of specialist investment providers and platform operations.
Rachel McKnight ACMA, CGMA Company Information Analyst
While at the ONS, Rachel worked in turn on the production of GDP and the National Accounts, the RPI, CPI and publications such as Social Trends. After a role as Head of Research for the South East England Development Agency, Rachel then joined the pharmaceutical wholesaler UniChem and started work as Sales and Marketing Analyst, studying for a CIMA qualification. Once qualified, she worked as Commercial Controller, and it was during this period that UniChem merged with Boots to create the FTSE 100 company Alliance Boots plc, which was then the subject of a private equity buy-out.
AKG issues a regular series of Update newsletters in order to provide a flow of information to clients about recently published AKG reports and confirmation of any changes to AKG’s Overall Financial Strength Ratings/Platform Financial Strength Ratings.
The changes consist of improvements to the format of and information contained in these company level financial strength assessment reports.
We are really pleased with the progress that has been made in this short space of time with the new sector. We now cover 15 DFMs and in doing so we have sought to assess those DFMs with an obvious market presence and those who are actively targeting business relationships with retail financial advisers, planners and wealth managers. If you don’t know already, you can
