Equity Release

Independent Equity Release Advisor Alliance

Debra Tricker and Geoff Morrey-Jones of Professional Financial Centre are delighted to announce the launch of the Independent Equity Release Adviser Alliance (IERAA).

This Alliance has been set up and funded exclusively by advisers.  It aims to promote the use of highly qualified and experienced advisers within the specialist area of Equity Release, which includes Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Schemes.

This is an area of advice that has significant impact on potential clients and their families, with emotions playing a significant part in the decisions being made, therefore it is essential that applicants and those considering using Equity Release do so from a position of real knowledge and with the benefit of excellent, impartial advice.  This advice is best sought from advisers who are totally independent of the lenders, who have significant experience on the subject and adhere to the highest standards.

The Alliance has been set up to provide a body of advisers that all have the same aims and ideals - to provide the level of quality and service that the subject demands and to ensure that, when in doubt, both clients and their other professional advisers know where to turn to for the highest standards of advice.  All IERAA advisers will work to an agreed code of conduct and offer a common charging structure to ensure reasonable fees.

Both Debra Tricker and Geoff Morrey-Jones are Directors and founding members of IERAA and are part of the management team of IERAA.

Equity Release enables you to benefit from the value of your property with the right to remain in your home for as long as you wish - if you are married, until the death of the second partner.

The two main types of equity release are Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.

Lifetime Mortgages

Lifetime mortgages are loans secured against the value of your home.  The main types are roll up, interest only, fixed repayment and home income plans.

Home Reversion Plans

You sell part or all of the financial interest in your home.  The amount you receive will be less than the current market value and will also be dependent on your age and gender.  You know what proportion of your property has been sold and what proportion you have left to raise further money on, or leave as an inheritance.  When you die the house is sold and the home reversion provider receives the sale proceeds for the share you have sold.

The new Financial Services Authority consumer protections for Reversion Plans brings their regulation into line with lifetime mortgages, which should boost consumer confidence for potential customers.

In addition an organisation called SHIP - Safe Home Income Plans was established in 1991.  SHIP provides extra re-assurance for customers through a code of practice that all member providers must observe. 

We only recommend SHIP approved schemes.

We are fully qualified to offer advice in this area under the new Financial Services Authority Regulations and examinations.

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. FSA registration number 209086.  The value of your investments can go down as well as up, as can the income derived from them.  You should remember that past performance does not guarantee future growth or income and you may not get back the full amount invested.

Your home is at risk if you do not keep up your mortgage payments.