Access Financial Services, a leading mortgage and protection brokerage, has joined the Equity Release Council (the Council).

Access FS mortgage advisers provide advice on a broad range of mainstream and specialist mortgages but over the past year, it has increased its focus on equity release and later life lending, to support this under-served area of the market. This is spearheaded by Adrian Brewer, who was appointed Access FS’ head of later life in November last year.

Access FS has joined the Equity Release Council to help it play a more active role in the development of this market and take part in the ongoing debate around how the sector can best serve its diverse customer base.

Access FS is looking to expand its later life proposition, develop awareness among its many mortgage advisers of the benefits of later life lending, and reach out to help people in later life who may not have had access to the financial options that they need.

Adrian Brewer, head of later life lending at Access FS, said, “Later life lending is such an important part of the lending sphere.  So many older people are left without the support they need because they don’t have access to the right advice. Equity release plays an important part in this advice, but so do all of the later life lending options as one size doesn’t always work for everyone.

“Joining the Equity Release Council means that we can play a more active role in this market, working with the Council and with peers to get the right options to the right people in the right way.”

Jim Boyd, CEO of the Equity Release Council says, “It has never been more important to provide the right financial advice to people of all ages, but particularly those in later life who may not be aware of all their options or be unsure of how to access the value tied up in their home.

“It is therefore vital to have high-quality financial advisers, like Access FS, join the Council to ensure that we can broaden our accessibility to good advice. By becoming a member of the Council, Access FS can also play an active part in building the future direction of this industry, helping to deliver better outcomes for older people.”

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For further media information on Access Financial Services, please contact:

Name: Debbie Staveley, bClear Communications

Telephone: 01275 542511 or 0771 896 8434

Email: [email protected]

About Access Financial Services

Access Financial Services is a mortgage and protection brokerage founded in April 2017 by CEO, Karl Wilkinson. It reached 240 advisers in 2023, just six years after it was founded.

Its mortgage brokers advise on a broad range of mainstream and specialist mortgages including equity release and later life lending as well as commercial lending including bridging, development loans, buy-to-let including specialist and portfolio buy-to-let lending. While its protection advisers offer a whole range of protection and general insurance.

Access FS provides a collaborative environment for advisers to thrive and grow and as a result attracts brokers from a wide range of other institutions. It also runs an academy to bring people into the mortgage and protection industry.

www.accessfs.co.uk

About the product: Equity release allows older people to access the wealth in their homes, without necessarily having to sell or move. Lifetime mortgages make up more than 99% of the market. They enable people to borrow against their homes without making repayments unless they choose to. The loan and interest, or part thereof, is paid when the customer dies or goes into long term care. Since 1991, more than 688,000 homeowners have accessed almost £50bn of property wealth via Council members to support their finances.

About the Council: The Council is the representative trade body for the UK equity release market. Plans that meet the Council’s standards come with five product safeguards: no negative equity guarantee; fixed or capped rates for life; the right to port; the right to make overpayments; and secure tenure for life. These safeguards are underpinned by mandatory independent legal advice which ensures the customer understands the risks and implications of the plan. 

More information: Visit www.equityreleasecouncil.com; call Lee Blackwell, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Equity Release Council on 07950798072; email [email protected]