FCA turns back on equity release qualification overhaul

In a policy statement on examination standards published on 9 May, the FCA concluded that the responses it received from its September consultation "did not demonstrate a market need for a change to the appropriate qualification for equity release".    The regulator had floated the idea of a new qualification last September, saying the way equity release qualifications were currently linked to mortgages meant some advisers were turning their backs on the product. This meant consumer access to equity release was limited, leading to less competition in the market. The regulator had rece...