At that point long-term care funding options becomes a steep learning curve due to the number of factors involved.

Most shocking for many is to realise for the first time that they are expected to pick up the bill for their own care where the state deems they can afford to do so and the costs can run into many tens of thousands of pounds each year.

As the population ages – the number of people aged over 85 is expected to double in the next 20 years – and more responsibility is put on individuals to pay for their own care advisers should expect strong growth in the numbers seeking professional care advice.

Advisers must make sure they are equipped with the tools to ensure people understand their options and deploy their assets wisely.

New rules should also accelerate the demand for care funding advice, because they will affect the hundreds of thousands who are already paying for care as well as new entrants to the care market.

Local authorities will need to undertake formal assessments for all those residents who request one and will have a responsibility to point people towards suitable independent advice. Now is the time for advisers to switch on to the possibilities of self-funding care.

This guide explores self-funding requirements for long-term care, the different products that offer to pay for that support in 2014 and regulatory requirements for these deals.

Supporting material was provided by; Roger Marsden, head of strategy for at retirement at Aviva; Janet Davies, managing director of Symponia; Mark Stopard, head of product development at Partnership; and Stephen Lowe, group external affairs and customer insight director at Just Retirement.