Equity Release

The government has a duty to make the benefits of equity release clearer to encourage more advisers to accept it, according to speakers on IFAonline TV.

The Institute of Financial Services (ifs) and Just Retirement are offering an equity release training and exam package for up to 1,000 financial advisers.

The equity release market has substantially increased in size in the first quarter of 2006, research from Key Retirement Solutions suggests.

IFA Promotion (IFAP) is urging consumers to seek independent financial advice on equity release and has launched a guide to help demystify equity release plans.

Two-thirds of IFAs do not currently advise their clients on equity release products because of concerns over compliance and a lack of training, new research reveals.

Equity release has been removed from the modified Consumer Credit Directive (CCD) Proposal, issued by the European Commission.

A lot has been written about lifetime mortgages and equity release products - some of it positive, some of it not.

Last week we described the profile of a typical candidate for a lifetime mortgage, based on consumer research conducted by Prudential so this week, we show you how best to target the prospects once you've identified them.

Much press comment around pensions focuses on the negative aspects, such as pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet.

None of us can predict what life will throw at us in the next 25 years.