CompaniesNov 16 2015

National adviser expands equity release referral service

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by
National adviser expands equity release referral service

Bower Retirement Services is building on equity release growth with the expansion of its referral service, enabling introducers to grow their business with specialist advice.

The national adviser has appointed Clara Curtis as national account manager of Bower Partnerships and updated its website to help build on existing introducer business being referred.

Advisers and introducers using the partnerships arm will get training and marketing help, as well as full compliance support from the independent whole-of-market service.

Bower is investing further into the referral service after being appointed as one of four national equity release specialists on the Legal & General Mortgage Club panel.

Advisers and introducers referring clients can earn introducer fees, while customers can get special deals from lenders, including cashback and free valuations.

Geoff Charles, chief executive at Bower, said this was the logical next step “as we are receiving referrals from a range of introducers who wanted to offer specialist advice to clients but did not have the in-house expertise or experience”.

He pointed out that over-55s are now releasing more than £5m a day, which highlights the demand from clients and the need for introducers to provide advice, while ensuring they do not run the risk and costs of compliance issues.

“The appointment of a national account manager underlines our commitment to growing the business to the benefit of business partners and their clients.”

Ms Curtis has more than 14 years of experience across a range of financial services groups, including equity release specialists Hodge Lifetime, as well as Sun Life Financial, Legal & General and Barclays.

peter.walker@ft.com