According to the Safe Home Income Plans industry body, 80% of equity release plans are now sold through advisers – compared to the remaining 20% being sold direct from the lender. Taking a look deeper into this, it is easy to see why.
When you approach independent financial advisers for advice on equity release, they are able to find a plan suitable for you from the many out there, rather than try and match the plans they have to your circumstances. Not only this, certain plans have different characteristics and requirements – such as the minimum age. If you opt to go direct, you may find yourself talking to an adviser with little experience of your situation, shaped by the limited range of plans they can offer. If you talk to an independent financial advisers, particularly equity release specialists like Responsible, you will find that there aren’t many situations that we haven’t come across because of our whole-of-market status.
You may find that the figures turn to 90% soon enough.