Drawdown

Scottish Life has launched an annual review of Income Release options to help IFAs advise clients nearing retirement.

A flood of income drawdown investors have requested annuity quotations as a result of the banking bail-out, according to Living Time.

The value of new equity release business has fallen nearly 7% over the past twelve months, but is faring considerably better than the mainstream mortgage market.

The number of equity release plans sold this year has fallen by 16% compared with 2007, according to research from Key Retirement Solutions (KRS).

MetLife Europe will host a series of webchats and presentations for advisers, building on the launch of its Retirement Portfolio.

Just Retirement is suspending upfront fees on its equity release mortgage range until the end of 2008.

Advisers are reporting an upturn in equity release enquiries during the last three months, according to research from Hodge Equity Release.

Defaqto has upgraded its IFA research tools to provide improved functionality for post-retirement product queries.

The equity release industry has bucked market trends to record a rise in business volumes during the second quarter of 2008.

Just Retirement says more advisers need to offer equity release products and says it will continue efforts to assist those wishing to enter the market.