The property boom of recent years has meant more wealth than ever is tied up in the value of people’s homes. 

As a result equity release has played an increasing part in retirement and later life financial planning because it allows older investors to easily access the wealth accumulated via what is, in many cases, their largest financial asset. That is - their home.

According to the Equity Release Council over £900m lending was secured against residential property during the second quarter of 2016. This exceeded the previous record of £500m in a quarter and set a new record for the highest quarterly lending total.

Equity release is a useful retirement planning tool but its use is needs to be considered carefully. 

This guide will take you through the financial pros and the cons - and the regulatory impact - of using the family home to realise a cash investment.

This guide will help you to assess the different types of equity release, such as home reversion and lifetime mortgage plans, understand the current market for equity release and how to get referrals and to learn about the regulation surrounding equity release.

Contributors to this guide include: Nigel Waterson, chairman of The Equity Release Council; Andrea Rozario, chief corporate officer at equity release specialist Bower Retirement; Roger Marsden, managing director of Aviva Equity Release; Dean Mirfin, technical director at Key Retirement.com;  Joanna Fowler, head of product at Saga Money; Andy Wilson, an equity release specialist adviser and director of Lincoln-based Andy Wilson Financial Services; Just Retirement, Moneyfacts.