Just RetirementRecognition makes it all worthwhile
“Every year competition in the market gets tougher, so we are delighted that advisers have once again acknowledged the strenuous efforts we make to live up to their expectations,” said Just Retirement’s group external affairs and customer insight director Steve Lowe.
He added that recognition from its customers provides welcome motivation to the teams at Just Retirement to strive to find even higher standards in the way it delivers customer service and brings innovation to the market.
He said: “Equity release is a growing area and one that we believe has potential to meet a range of clients’ needs – from delivering extra retirement income to helping with planning for inheritance or care costs in later life.
“As a leading player in the market we want to ensure advisers active in this area have the solutions and back-up they need to grow the market and their share of it.”
With over-65s in the UK having billions tied up in the value of their homes, Just Retirement believes intermediaries are ideally placed to help them safely access this wealth to improve the quality of their lives in retirement.
The provider has been doing its part by adding the Lump Sum Plus Lifetime Mortgage to its stable of equity-release products. Mr Lowe said this new product drew on the specialist underwriting expertise that Just Retirement has accumulated in the individually underwritten annuity market.
NationwideLooking after existing clients a top priority
Nationwide has not simply focused on new customers and has instead reserved the very best deals for existing clients, its managing director has said.
Ian Andrews said Nationwide took a record share of the residential mortgage market last year, but was determined to look out for its loyal customers.
In terms of new initiatives, he said: “We have given additional help to first-time buyers, increasing lending to them by 75 per cent this year, meaning that one in three of the society’s borrowers was a first-time buyer.
“Our Save to Buy scheme, which saw its second anniversary this year with more than 30,000 accounts opened, has been extended to home movers. This means that thousands more potential home buyers are on their way onto, or up, the property ladder.”
Mr Andrews also said Nationwide is an active participant in government schemes aimed at boosting the supply of new properties and access to home finance, including the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, NewBuy and MI New Homes in Scotland.
He added: “Throughout the year the society has acted to offer its customers competitive mortgage deals, including the first sub-2 per cent fixed-rate product.
