Axa said it is changing the way it offers support to advisers, part of which involves merging the sales team which deals with its ‘specialist products’, which includes onshore bonds, its Retirement Wealth Account and Family Suntrust, with the Axa Wealth International sales team.
A spokesperson for the company said they decided to merge the teams following feedback from advisers which found they wanted one point of contact for all specialist product requirements.
The spokesperson added that, while some roles were “at risk”, there would in fact be more adviser facing roles at the company.
Axa said adviser facing positions within the Axa Wealth and Axa Elevate teams, whether that be face-to-face or telephone support, will rise from 195 to 205. In addition, support staff who fall into the company’s “off-site” category will double from 40 to 80 in the coming months.
The changes are part of a wider strategy from Axa Wealth which introduces three clearly defined types of adviser support: online, on-site and on call. As the names suggest, the different categories of support will be provided either via the internet, face-to-face with advisers or over the phone.
Earlier this year, Axa Wealth International managing director Mike Foy defended the company’s decision to scale back its UK based sales team – click here to read more.
