Just an update
Monday4thNovember
Thisweek'sheadlines:
Smartr365 Webinars
Following your formal 2 day training, a number of webinars are available to you to learn more about the value added features Smartr365 offer you.
We would strongly recommend (only once you have attended your 2 day training) you attend one each of the following which run every week during October and November.
The two day training is how to use the system, the Webinars show you how Smartr can save you time and help you generate extra income that helps pay for itself!!
If you want to save time and generate extra income its VITAL that you attend these Webinars.
Simply click on the link and book at date that suits you. An email calendar invite will then be sent to you.
Smartr Retain, Client Portal, Introducer portal https://calendly.com/smartr365webinars/jmd-smartr-retainclient-introducer-portal Administration https://calendly.com/smartr365webinars/jmd-admin-session
General Q&A call – drop in https://calendly.com/smartr365webinars/jmd-smartr365-q-a
Further Support
There is a new Smartr folder in My Learning Space where you will see some new resources to support you. These include: video tutorials, navigational user guide, additional & nonstandard process guide, Concert Hub user guide and Sales Quality checklist. More items will be added as they are released.
The Smartr365 platform has an AI supported chat bot which will direct you to specific video tutorials and users guides depending on your enquiry. If the chat bot is unable to assist your enquiry will be sent to the support team.
Over 70% of questions are usually resolved via this chat function.
Smartr have a 1-hour response time if the chat bot function cannot help. If you don’t hear back within 1 working day, please escalate to your Area Director and provide them with the following information:
·Ticket number
·Summary of issue
·Case references (Smartr/Concert Hub) ·and if possible, any screen shots of error.
We will then escalate on your behalf and follow through to resolution for you.
FIRST will be the support line for any Concert Hub related issues. The Openwork Digital Delivery Team have supported L&D with the training roll out and will be supporting FIRST as we go live.
With over 200 Advisers now using Smartr we are finding some common areas and tips that will help improve your experience:
Probably the biggest feedback we have is that majority of Advisers are saying that once they have become familiar with the system and used it several times its easy and saving them time!! So if you haven’t had the opportunity to use it a lot yet, please bear with it, once you have become familiar with the system let us know what you think.
Put as much as possible into Smartr. More time in Smartr equals less time in Concert. One example was an Adviser had to enter 128 pieces of additional information in Concert, when this was looked at it was because they had put very little information into Smartr!!
Additional information for Concert on standard cases should only be circa 18 items.
Another example was an Adviser submitting multiple policies singly. That meant they were filling in additional information several times. This is unnecessary. The process is straightforward to push multiple policies through at the same time. If anyone is struggling with this, please let your Area Director know.
EXETER LIFE
As The Exeter is off panel for insurance, advisers need to create a manual quote, upload to Smartr and add the product code REAL LIFE in Smartr.
Join Co-op for a “drop in” Webinar – 12th
November Have a question about Co-op Legal Services, or want to find out more? Well, here is your chance!
Join Co-op on 12th November 2pm-2:45pm – when it is time click HERE to join
Social Media Posts - Budget Updates
Our wonderful Marketing Department have put together several Social Media posts with Autumn Budget news for you to use.
Shey Wade, our Digital Marketing Manager has this message for you:
“If there are other areas of the Budget you’d like a post made for or you are struggling on what caption would work or need any general marketing help- please reach out to us.
We’re here to support you and your business: no question is too silly, no idea is a bad one and we welcome your ideas for us to collaborate and make your marketing the best it can be!”
Coventry for intermediaries enhances Buy to Let and Residential affordability
Coventry for intermediaries has made it easier for people to borrow more by updating its residential affordability calculator and reducing its buy to let reference rates.
Most residential applicants will be able to borrow more, subject to eligibility, with online affordability calculators able to give the exact amount.
The new buy to let reference rates are now as follows:
·4.5% (previously 4.75%.) for 5 year fixed rates, for purchase and remortgage applications - OR product pay rate (whichever is higher)
·4.5% (previously 5%) for 2 and 3 year fixed and variable rates, for remortgages with no additional borrowing – OR product pay
Jonathan Stinton, Head of intermediary Relationships at Coventry Building Society, said: “These affordability changes will give many people a welcome boost to their borrowing. Our online calculators have now been updated, so brokers can just tap in a few numbers and easily find out how much their clients can borrow.
“We’ve also recently rolled out some great new features on our online system, making placing a case with us easier than ever. The significant investment in this technology and the enhancement to our affordability shows how we’re aiming to make business with us as simple as possible.”
Payments to you over the Christmas & New Year period
2024
Friday 20th December 2024 – final payment run to JMSE advisers for 2024 – this will include all income received up to 18th December from Openwork and broker fees received by this date from the client. Received in accounts on Tuesday 24th
2025
Tuesday 7th January 2025 - Additional payment run for everything received after the 18th December up to and including 31st December 2024. Received in accounts on Thursday 9th January.
Friday 10th January, usual 3 day BACS cycle begins again, for everything received 1st January – 8th January 2025.Received in accounts on Tuesday 14th January.
Please raise any questions you may have with your Area Director in the first instance.