14 October 2006
RETIREMENT PLUS LAUNCHES INTERMEDIARY SALES AID
Retirement Plus has launched a sales aid for intermediaries as part of a series of equity release seminars.
The idea behind the Sales aid is to give advisers ten top tips on how to grow an equity release business as well as providing some important industry facts and figures.
Chris MacMahon, Senior Relationship Manager at Retirement Plus, presented the tips for marketing an equity release proposition at a recent seminar in Taunton.
- Offering to run a free debt surgery at a local CAB.
- Speaking to local professional advisors and try to set up a referral arrangement.
- Sending articles on equity release and financial advice to a local paper.
- Speaking to local community groups and offer to give a talk explaining the benefits and drawbacks of equity release.
- Researching local care homes.
- Contacting local charities about their referral systems.
- Explaining the benefits of equity release and SHIP membership.
- Talking to developers of sheltered accommodation/ retirement complexes and offering an advice service.
- Talking to the more reputable home improvement companies.
- Running an equity release seminar.
Duncan Young, Managing Director at Retirement Plus, said: "Far too many intermediaries are put off advising on equity release products for reasons that don't really stand up. We are hoping that this sales aid will go some way to allaying advisers' fears and assisting them in growing and developing an equity release business.
"Many of the target market for equity release are well informed and media savvy. The figures speak for themselves, with 5.5 million over 55s now using the internet and 15 million over 65s regularly reading a local paper it is easy to see how advisers could look to grow and expand their equity release business."
The seminar was designed for advisers to be able to learn about the latest developments in the equity release market and to share their own knowledge.
