LV= launches free equity release adviser training course

The adviser development programme will build on a series of ‘boot camp’ road shows introduced by the friendly society last year to provide brokers with more information about equity release.

The free sessions will run over a three month period and involve an introduction to equity release, revision webinars and marketing workshops.

LV= head of equity release Vanessa Owen said: “Once advisers have been through the programme, they will not only understand the market, they will be qualified in the market but they will have deals to attract new customers.”

“When they have got their first case we really will handhold them through that case.”

The first step of the programme provides advisers with face-to-face sessions on equity release products and client suitability.

Advisers who decided to take the ER1 qualification will then be able to participate in five revision webinars. In the final stage, advisers can attend workshops on marketing and business development considerations, as well as sourcing systems and the role solicitors play within the industry.

LV= head of retirement distribution Steve Lewis said the mutual had seen the demand for equity release rise considerably over the past year: "Demand looks set to continue especially as clients, who find their pension pot will not fund the retirement lifestyle they had planned, are becoming more aware of the benefit of equity release.

"Our development programme has been designed to support advisers who want to add equity release to the retirement solutions they advise on, as well as helping them to demonstrate the importance of advice when people are approaching retirement."

Sessions for the first step of the programme will take place at LV= offices in Manchester (5 March), Hertfordshire (6 March), Cardiff (13 March) and London (14 March).