Working in Partnership          
April 2008

Retirement Plus is committed to providing educational aids and market information to help raise the general public’s understanding of the way that equity release can help in retirement planning.

We work hand-in-hand with major retailers, specialist equity release brokers and charities which help older people. We provide clear, factual and essential equity release information to help inform the public and their financial advisers, in order to help them discover which might fit their particular circumstances.

What we’ve accomplished so far…

April 2008: Joint Sponsorship of Equity Release Supplement
Together with equity release broker Key Retirement Solutions; Lifetime Mortgage providers Coventry Building Society and LV=; Retirement Plus is sponsoring a special equity release supplement which will be published by Mortgage Strategy, part of Centaur Media plc. We have commissioned an article about home reversion plans and the part they play in the equity release market from an independent trade journalist for inclusion in the supplement.

The supplement will be inserted and circulated through Mortgage Strategy and sister publication, Lending Strategy to 18,000 brokers - plus an extra 2,000 will be printed and available on the Mortgage Strategy stand at the Manchester Business Expo in May 2008. 

March 2008: Stroud and Berkeley Hospitals and AWD
In line with our objective of bringing the possibilities which equity release can offer to homeowners over 55, to a wider audience, Retirement Plus has signed a new affinity partnership deal with 16 Stroud and Berkeley hospitals and care centres in the Bristol area, through Premier Concepts Ltd.

These hospitals and care centres will now carry leaflets and posters which describe the various equity release products and how they work – giving the public access to information that will help them decide if equity release is right for them.

A big plus for the public is the fact that Retirement Plus has chosen a whole of market equity release specialist broker: AWD Chase de Vere, to handle all enquiries, thus ensuring each individual receives a careful assessment of their particular circumstances together with impartial advice.

January - March 2008: Educational ‘Top-Up’ seminars for IFAs
With the deadline for home reversion exams set for April 2008 by SHIP, Retirement Plus devised and hosted a series of ten, free ‘Top-Up’ seminars around the country for IFAs to use as an aide to passing their exams – with the added incentive that if they did so, we would refund their exam fee.

These seminars, held in Harlow, Maidstone, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Southampton, Glasgow, Washington, Heathrow and Cardiff were a great success and attracted over 290 IFAs who wanted help to pass their home reversion plan equity release exams. The pass rate for the attendees has been spectacular to date, and many more are now proficient in giving whole of market advice to their clients.

January 2008 Launch Nationwide: SPAR Affinity Partnership
To bring the possibilities and advantages of equity release to as wide an audience as possible Retirement Plus has signed a new affinity partnership deal with 1,550 especially chosen SPAR outlets throughout the country, through ABC Group Ltd.

These convenience stores will now carry mini brochures describing the various equity release products and how they work, which the general public can then gen-up on and see which may be right to pursue.

The added benefit for the public is the fact that Retirement Plus has chosen a whole of market equity release specialist broker: Equity Release Solutions, to handle all enquiries, thus ensuring each individual receives impartial and independent advice.

December 2007: Launch the ‘History of Equity Release’ leaflet
To help the public put equity release into context in today’s broad financial markets Retirement Plus commissioned an independent journalist to write a piece about the equity release market and its products from the beginning in 1965.

This is a complete but concise explanation of how the products developed and changed to meet stringent FSA rules, together with why SHIP, the industry body, came into being and how the market has grown since then. It is a fascinating short read, packed with facts and figures – ideal for anyone requiring the background to this fast changing market.

October 2007: Launch the generic “What is equity release?” website
Retirement Plus wrote and developed a ‘user friendly’ equity release website aimed at educating the public about equity release. The website explains the different products available and also the kind of questions to ask IFAs about equity release. It also provides helpful links to solicitors and other professionals who can help with advice and guidance.

We have successfully linked this educational website to the SPAR website: www.sparoffers.com and to the United Co-operatives website: www.co-opoffers.com  for general public use. A graphic button linking to the website is also offered to brokers to add to their own websites, enabling them to have an equity release portal for their clients to view – so far nine brokers have taken up the free offer.

July 2007: Launch equity release website for EAC
Retirement Plus, together with the Elderly Accommodation Counsel has devised and developed a generic equity release portal, www.eacer.co.uk. This is in response to over 8,000 telephone calls to EAC per year by elderly homeowners looking for ways of releasing money from their property.

This new website gives free, impartial information to people looking at equity release as part of their retirement planning. The site is comprehensive and offers a full explanation of all equity release options and a glossary to help decipher the terminology used within the market, together with a list of specialist equity release brokers.

March 2008: We have updated the list of specialist equity release brokers on the website. This update gives browsers even more information about the broker, their experience in equity release and where in the country they operate.

Retirement Plus is also a sponsor of the EAC Over 60s Art Awards that are held annually in the Mall Galleries, London, SW1.

June 2007: Launch microsite on AMI website
Retirement Plus leant their support to the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries by launching a Microsite within www.a-m-i.org.uk.

The Microsite is designed to be a simpler format of the Retirement Plus website, but will still give crucial information to IFAs who are considering equity release as part of retirement planning for their clients.

May 2007 Launch Nationwide: United Co-operatives Affinity Partnership
In June 2007, Retirement Plus launched their first joint venture with a major retailer by becoming the sole equity release affinity partner for the United Co-operatives, promoting equity release through more than 960 outlets in the North of England.

We promote generic equity release to the general public through United’s food stores, pharmacies, travel agencies and car sales, under an agreement reached with United Co-operatives and NHFA, a whole of market adviser specialising in care advice and State Benefit entitlements.

April 2007: Sponsor a new Faculty at the Personal Finance Society
To support the many brokers who are members of the Personal Finance Society, Retirement Plus is a sponsor of a new educational Faculty.

Members can now gain access to a wide range of free material and support services that will enhance their ability to provide high standards of advice to clients. The PFS offers three faculties which provide enhanced membership benefits designed to support professional development.

SHIP
Retirement Plus is a member of Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), a company supported by the leading providers of home income and equity release plans. Retirement Plus supports SHIP’s code of practice and believes this to play an important role in our business.

Continuous Support
Retirement Plus also continues to encourage public and broker knowledge of equity release through joint ventures – we currently support a number of smaller brokers with generic equity release information leaflets.

If you would like any help in your area we’d be delighted to hear from you.


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