The Later Life Academy (LLA) has launched a new ‘Strength in Numbers’ campaign designed to increase the number of advisers within its membership.
The campaign includes a variety of cost-savings and further benefits for members, including a reduction in membership costs down to £25 per month plus, in an exclusive tie-up, those advisers who are also members of the Equity Release Council will pay £20 per month.
Through this arrangement existing members of the LLA will also receive an extension to the first year of their Council membership. The new tie-up with The Council also includes a series of new training events launched in association with the industry trade body.
Later Life Academy’s ‘Strength in Numbers’ campaign introduces a number of further key benefits, including:
- The introduction of a 15% reduction in fees for those paying for an annual membership.
- The removal of all fees for the Academy’s skills webinars.
- An expansion of its Financial Services Skills Council-accredited training programme.
- Enhanced commercial terms for members on marketing support, equity release plans, wills and LPAs. Access to a newly-launched national wills and LPA service at leading rates.
- Further marketing support, an upgraded telephony and online support services function, and access to the Academy’s new charity/rewards scheme, UNITY, which was launched in June this year.
- A large capital investment in the establishment of a consumer-facing website, which will launch at the end of this year.
The Academy has already increased its membership by 16% this year and is seeking to develop its membership offering in order to bring more IFAs and other types of advisers into the later life space.
LLA was launched in 2014 and offers later life advisers, across product areas such as equity release, long-term care, and annuities, access to training and sales support designed to improve knowledge and increase business levels.
Stuart Wilson, managing partner at the Later Life Academy, said: “We are incredibly pleased with our ongoing growth – we have already increased membership by 16% this year – and to celebrate the continued success of the Academy we have launched this new campaign, ‘Strength in numbers’.
“Continued growth allows us to pass on some considerable benefits of scale to all our members; as the fastest growing organisation with an accredited training programme for members dealing with older consumers we want to further expand into broader membership amongst IFAs and other advisers.
“Given UK demographics, in particular an ageing population much more likely to work past traditional State retirement ages, we see the later life market as an incredibly important one for advisers both now and in the future. Currently, many advisers work in ‘silos’ offering advice, for example, just on pensions or just on equity release; our belief is that later life advice needs to cover off as many areas as possible and the whole aim of the Academy is to offer those opportunities to our members.
“We are particularly proud to announce a much closer relationship with the Equity Release Council, whereby existing members of The Council will receive discounted membership to the LLA, allowing advisers to benefit from the resources of both organisations. Plus we will be offering a range of new training events launching in conjunction with The Council. There is plenty on offer to advisers and if you’re dealing with older consumers then we would urge you to consider the benefits and opportunities the Academy offers in order to grow your knowledge and expand your business.”
Nigel Waterson, chairman of the Equity Release Council, added: “Our continued partnership with the LLA will ensure that more financial advisers will receive accredited training – fundamental to supporting advisers in a rapidly growing market and changing retirement landscape. Equity release can play a vital role in helping older people financially plan for retirement and this initiative provides a platform to support best practice among the adviser community.
“The Council’s collaboration with the LLA is testament to our continued support for the equity release sector as it enters a renewed phase of growth – with lending figures and customer numbers at a record high. Driven by our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest standards of financial advice, it is imperative that advisers are equipped with the necessary tools and breadth of knowledge – which the LLA training fosters – in order to provide the best possible service to this growing base of customers.
“As we face notable challenges, including an ageing population and rising social care needs, we also commend the LLA on its innovative approach towards upskilling advisers with an interest in the ‘at retirement’ market.”
