Age Partnership s equity release service A guide for introducers Age Partnership R e t i r e m e n t S p e c i a l i s t s
Introduction to Age Partnership s Equity Release Referral Service Thank you for your interest in Age Partnership s equity release referral service. At Age Partnership we believe that people who are at or approaching retirement deserve to get the best out of life and equity release is an ever-increasingly popular method for those aged over 55 to release a tax-free lump sum or additional income from the value of their home. Age Partnership believe that our business partners should be able to offer equity release as an option to their clients, and for those who do not specialise in it themselves, this is where our referral service comes in. As the UK s leading retirement income specialist*, Age Partnership has been specialising in equity release since 2005 and we arrange roughly 1 in 4 plans in the UK. We don t believe that financial services should be complicated, so with the services that we offer we have two simple objectives: to provide the best value and the best service to our customers. With Age Partnership s referral service you can also be sure that you will always be kept informed on your client s case. With direct access to the dedicated adviser handling your client s case and online case tracking through the Partner Portal on our website, you will always be up-to-date with your client s progress. As a business partner you will receive a share in any revenue that we generate from the referrals that you make. But that s not all. You will be giving your clients access to an industry-leading service that will set you apart from your competitors. 1
Why use Age Partnership s referral service? Access to some of the best plans on the market. Many aren t available by going direct, and we often negotiate exclusive and preferential terms for our clients. Age Partnership provides whole of market, independent advice and is not tied to any plan providers. We have high levels of client satisfaction. We are proud to be one of the few companies to be awarded the highest Investor in Customers (IIC) rating of exceptional. Advantages to you Online case tracking. Age Partnership provides Partner Portal access so that you can see the status of any case at any time. We receive some of the highest commissions. We will not cross-sell to your clients. Dual branding or white-labelling of our customer-facing service is possible to provide your clients with continuity of branding throughout their customer journey. We work with hundreds of Financial Advisers. Refer clients in the way that suits you best by phone, web or email. Advantages to your client Multi-award winning service. Age Partnership has recently been named as Best Broker for Equity Release 2014 by Mortgage Strategy and Best Financial Adviser at the Equity Release Awards 2013. Our customer literature has been awarded the Plain English Campaign s Crystal Mark for its clarity. At Age Partnership we are equity release specialists and all our advisers are fully qualified and experienced in equity release. We are also one of the largest equity release advisory services, and were named as one of 2011 s Fast Track 100 companies by the Sunday Times. Our advice can be provided over the phone, or face-to-face for clients who prefer to meet in person. We offer a free, no-obligation recommendation to clients. We are regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the plans we recommend are FCA regulated and follow the guidelines set out by the Equity Release Council (ERC). We have a dedicated administration team who oversee the application process throughout, speeding up the progress and keeping the client informed at every stage. We aim to offer the fastest service available. *UK's leading retirement income specialist based on equity release, annuities, and income drawdown sales via Financial Intermediaries 2013. Source: MyTouchstone. To make a referral please freephone 08080 444 555 2
How to use the Age Partnership equity release referral service Step 1 Identify a client These pages provide more information on who could benefit from equity release and how you can most effectively find these clients. Step 2 Obtain your client s consent Once you have identified a suitable client, make sure that the client is happy for Age Partnership to contact them and simply confirm a time that they would like to be contacted by one of our specialist equity release advisers. Step 3 Send us your referral Simply pass us the client details and their preferred contact time using the referral route that suits you best. Step 4 Receive your referral fee Assuming your client is suitable for equity release and wishes to proceed, it generally takes around 6 weeks from application for an equity release case to complete, at which point you should receive your referral fee. A dedicated adviser will deal with your referral throughout and provide you with regular updates on the case. Online case tracking is available through our Partner Portal and this enables you to keep up-to-date with your referrals at any time. How to identify a potential equity release client A UK homeowner They are over 55 years of age (and their partner if applicable) They have objectives that cannot be met with their own savings Whilst there are no restrictions on what the funds released can be used for, typical clients are likely to be considering one or more of the following: Paying off their mortgage Making home improvements One-off purchases such as a car, caravan or holiday Paying off credit cards or loans Email Complete our pro-forma email with your client s details and send it to introducers@agepartnership.com Web Visit our Partners website to make a referral Phone Call our referral hotline and one of our specialists will take your client s details and make contact 08080 444 555 3
Enjoying a more comfortable retirement Helping out friends or family members We would recommend that clients who fit this profile should speak to Age Partnership to find out if equity release is right for them. We will go into full detail with regards to the client s property type and personal circumstances (including health and lifestyle), whether they qualify, if it is right for them and how much they could raise. We will discuss the impact equity release may have on their entitlement to any means tested benefits they may receive now or in the future, and the effect it can have on their estate and the amount they would be able to pass on to beneficiaries. Of course, our advice is focused entirely on equity release suitability, so our product knowledge is second to none and there is no cross-selling. To make a referral please freephone 08080 444 555 4
Getting the most from your clients We do all the hard work for you. All you need to do is identify the clients who might be suitable for equity release and get your message across to them. The following hints and tips could help you: Send out a letter to those clients who you think might be interested. Look out for Age Partnership s industry updates maybe these will give you some ideas for a hook or a reason to call your clients to discuss their options. Try to collect your client s email address where possible this is a quick and cost-effective way of communicating the opportunities of equity release. Ask us about attending any client-facing seminars that you may have to help educate your clients on equity release. White-labelling and branding capability While most business partners prefer to use one of the standard referral routes mentioned on page 3, Age Partnership are also able to offer innovative, technology- driven integrations and white-label service solutions where appropriate. Examples include: Website Integrations. Include our market-leading equity release calculator on your customer-facing website. Outbound client management solutions. We have experience of managing marketing campaigns on behalf of partners and, in some cases, may be able to offer outbound postal, email or telephone contact to communicate with high volumes of potential customers. White-label service solutions. We can offer to white-label the customer journey to improve brand continuity throughout the process if this is an option you would like to consider. Speak to our Business Development team about providing you and your colleagues with training on equity release opportunities, or please contact the team if you feel that an integrated solution is appropriate for you. For more information contact our Business Development team on 0113 306 6993 or by emailing introducers@agepartnership.com 5
The customer journey Initial Discussion Apply The client speaks with one of our advisers over the telephone and answers a number of questions about their circumstances, health and individual needs. This enables our advisers to make the best possible recommendation that the client will derive the most benefit from. This typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes on the telephone. We provide the pre-completed application form to the client and any necessary authority forms for the client to sign. We can then collect the paperwork from the client s home by a free courier at a time convenient to them. Arrange Recommendation The adviser recommendation is provided in a written report for the client to consider. A follow-up telephone conversation will then take place with the adviser to discuss the recommendation and ensure that the client fully understands the information. We arrange the client s equity release plan on their behalf, handling all the paperwork through until completion. To make a referral please freephone 08080 444 555 6
E S E D To make a referral Email: introducers@agepartnership.com Freephone: 08080 444 555 Web: T A B L I S H 2 0 0 4 Age Partnership Limited, 2200 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB This guide is intended for financial services professionals who are introducers to Age Partnership and is not for use by the general public. Age Partnership is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA registered number 425432. Company registered in England and Wales number 5265969. Age Partnership R e t i r e m e n t S p e c i a l i s t s ERRG2/JUL14