Benefits of membership include consumer visibility, checklist of guidance and standards, access to networking opportunities and workshops and input into the society, which has contacts with the government, regulators, media and consumers.
There are around 750 member firms and over 1,800 individual members.
Rockstead was founded in 2008 and is an independent asset, business and process review company. Its services include due diligence, funder reviews, operational and policy reviews, consultancy reviews, staffing services and contact monitoring.
‘A vote of confidence in the market’
Martin Sims, Rockstead director of sales and marketing, said: “We are delighted to formally gain membership at this challenging, yet exciting time.
“We look forward to participating in worthwhile discussion, including at the forthcoming 2023 Summit. We are committed to helping members in the relentless drive to maintain and improve standards, whilst keeping aligned with the demands fast-paced change brings to the financial service sector.”
He continued: “Later life lending is in a very different place today than it was when Rockstead launched in 2008. The Council drive to raise standards in equity release lending to ensure fair value and good consumer outcomes matches our own ambitions.
“We are recognised as the leading provider of due diligence, business review and oversight services in the financial services market and look forward to working further with the ERC and its membership.”
Equity Release Council CEO Jim Boyd said: “Rockstead is a welcome addition to our growing membership community. By joining the Council, the firm is demonstrating that it is committed to high standards of consumer protections, which help drive the market and give consumers confidence that equity release is safe.
“Our membership is becoming increasingly diverse and when firms like Rockstead join, it is a vote of confidence in the market and the Council that is proud to represent it.”
