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Aviva, Legal & General and Zurich secure first STAR Gold accreditations for transfer performance

Press Release

Aviva, Legal & General and Zurich secure first STAR Gold accreditations for transfer performance

23 April 2026

STAR, the cross-industry accreditation programme for transfer performance across pensions, savings and investments, has announced its 2026 accreditation results.

First‑time Gold accreditations were awarded to Aviva, Legal & General, and Zurich. They join a group of consistent top performers, including Vanguard, T. Rowe Price, Aegon, Rathbones, Janus Henderson Investors, and J O Hambro Capital Management – each achieving five consecutive Golds since the STAR programme began.

The results come as transfers remain under regulatory and market pressures, with advisers placing increasing weight on service quality and transfer performance. To support this, STAR accreditation ratings are now also visible to advisers through Defaqto’s Engage platform, providing greater transparency on transfer performance when researching providers and platforms.

STAR’s independent accreditation group reviewed 59 submissions from platforms, providers, asset managers, and administrators demonstrating their commitment to improving customer transfer journeys across four product categories: ISA/GIA, Personal Pensions (SIPP & SSAS), Occupational Pensions and Asset Managers.

“Advisers conducting due diligence on pension and investment providers pay close attention to transfer performance. When providers are STAR accredited, it’s a trust signal that they can rely on when reassuring clients during what is often a stressful time.”

Charlotte Hughes, Advice Proposition Lead, Quilter

Aviva recorded its best‑ever performance across all service lines, including a first Gold for Personal Pensions (SIPP & SSAS), reflecting two years of sustained work on data collection and process improvement.

“I am delighted that the improvements in Aviva’s transfer experience for advisers have been recognised, by the award of our first Gold accreditation under STAR. It’s a reflection of dedicated work across the team, to strengthen our transfer processes, improve MI transparency and ultimately deliver a better experience for advisers’ clients.”

Lorna Whalley, Director of Aviva Advised Platform

“We congratulate all the organisations that have achieved STAR accreditation for pension and investment transfers this year. Their commitment to transparency, speed and consistency in transfer processes is a clear demonstration of how our industry is working to deliver better outcomes for consumers. We were delighted to help set up STAR, which plays a vital role in setting recognised, industry-wide standards that build trust across long-term savings and investments. All market players depend on each other for efficient transfers, and that’s why we encourage all firms to take part, showing their commitment to fairer, faster and more reliable transfer experiences.”

Rob Yuille, Assistant Director, Head of Long-Term Savings Policy

“It’s hugely encouraging to see a broad mix of organisations putting themselves forward this year. Many supply full Management Information for independent assessment, and we congratulate them on their submissions and continued commitment. STAR accreditations recognise real, measurable progress in transfer efficiency - not just intent. They reflect how seriously each organisation is taking transparency and accountability under Consumer Duty.”

Andrew Marker, Head of Offer Change and Governance, Vanguard, and STAR Chair

Full details of the accreditations are available here.

Notes

STAR Contact
Justine Pattullo | justine@justinepattullo.com | 07765033689

About STAR

STAR raises the standard for transfer performance across the financial services industry through independent accreditation for organisations committed to improving customer transfer journeys.

It unites platforms, providers, master trusts, administrators, asset managers, technology suppliers and transfer specialists around industry-approved performance standards for pension, ISAs and investment transfers across electronic and paper-based journeys.

Through regular, consistent data submissions, STAR measures true end-to-end transfer journey times and accredits participating organisations annually at Bronze, Silver or Gold.

STAR’s industry-level insight identifies friction points, strengthens operational governance and drives improvement, helping organisations meet Consumer Duty obligations by evidencing transfer capability and delivering better outcomes for customers.

STAR is managed by Criterion and TeX.

Follow STAR on LinkedIn.

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SERVICING AGREEMENT

1. APPLICANT COVERED BY THIS REGISTRATION.
Please note this registration will not be processed if Step 1 has not been completed.
If your organisation is acting only as an affiliate, you do not need to complete Step 2.
2a. CHOOSE YOUR BRAND
STAR manages the administration of third-party access to the portal, rather than the member firm. This allows for a smoother transition for the member firm and allowing immediate access to the supplier to submit MI on their behalf. STAR will hold an approved list of users per supplier, which will be allocated to your account at the point of registration. This ensures each ‘external’ user has the same access across all their client accounts. Supplier access is restricted and they do not have any ability to see any company information for any client other than what they submit on your behalf. You as the member control access for any other users within your organisation. We will include a more detailed description about the user access on your welcome email and it is clearly defined as part of the User Guide.
STAR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER FOR FIRST BRAND
This person will be the main contact for all notices and other formal communications under this agreement and will be responsible for the administration of the members portal access (including without limitation the providing, updating and removing of authorised User access to the portal during the Term).
2b.
STAR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER FOR THE SECOND BRAND
This person will be the main contact for all notices and other formal communications under this agreement and will be responsible for the administration of the members portal access (including without limitation the providing, updating and removing of authorised User access to the portal during the Term).
2c.
STAR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER FOR THE THIRD BRAND
This person will be the main contact for all notices and other formal communications under this agreement and will be responsible for the administration of the members portal access (including without limitation the providing, updating and removing of authorised User access to the portal during the Term).
2d.
STAR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER FOR THE FOURTH BRAND
This person will be the main contact for all notices and other formal communications under this agreement and will be responsible for the administration of the members portal access (including without limitation the providing, updating and removing of authorised User access to the portal during the Term).
3. INVOICE INFORMATION
Invoices are sent by email as standard, if a printed invoice is required please note the address and your requirements in the additional information section.
4. DECLARATION
Before we can process your Brand Registration a STAR Servicing Agreement needs to be signed. Your signatory must be duly authorised for and on behalf of the organisation named in this application.
We only require one signed STAR Servicing Agreement which will cover all brands that you wish to register. Upon completion of this form we will check our records to ensure an agreement hasn't already been signed, if so a new contract will not be sent to your signatory.
STAR will email the servicing contract to the signatory email address (provided below) through our electronic platform Yoti. This declaration must be signed in order for your application to complete, once we receive the signed agreement we will instruct our finance department to issue your invoice.