AIA, AMP, BT and TAL have been named among preliminary winners in the first Association of Financial Advisers and Beddoes Institute Consumer Choice Awards.

BT won the most categories, taking out the best claims assessment, best claims management staff, best ongoing claims management and most satisfied claimants awards.

AIA took the best return to health outcomes, best new policyholder experience and best policy material categories.

TAL won the most satisfied policyholders, best policyholder focus and best policyholder advocacy awards.

AMP secured the prize for best ongoing policyholder experience, while Zurich won the most favoured brand award.

The awards are based on ratings from more than 2100 customers across all major life insurance companies.

Beddoes Institute director Rebecca Sheils says being recognised for service is important in the current environment.

“We have developed a quantitative way to evaluate insurers to help give advisers peace of mind when selecting a life insurance provider, based on the experiences of actual customers,” she said. “It’s like asking a couple of thousand neighbours, with experience with those organisations, which ones they rate.”