Answers in Retirement, the organisers of the inaugural National Later Life Conference, has announced the addition of Former MP and Minister of State for Pensions, Sir Steve Webb, as its keynote speaker for the event.
Sponsored by the Later Life Academy, the commercial and training organisation for later life advisers, and the Equity Release Council, the industry body for the equity release sector, the National Later Life Adviser Conference will be held on Thursday 21 June at the Gloucester Rugby Club Business Centre at Gloucester’s ground, Kingsholm.
Webb (pictured) is now director of policy & external communications at Royal London Assurance and will be offering delegates his thoughts on how best to tackle the issue of funding for long-term care, and how this should be reviewed not in isolation but as part of the later life financial planning as a whole. He will also provide analysis on his recent paper, ‘Is it time for the care pension?’ and cover a range of related topics.
Other speakers on the day include:
- David Burrows – former MP and current chair of the Equity Release Council.
- Richard Graham – MP for Gloucester, former member of the Work & Pensions Committee and currently member of parliament’s ‘Exiting the European Union’ Committee.
- Tony Miles – director of Miles Associates Ltd and former head of strategic sales operations at Partnership Assurance.
- Jacqueline Berry, director, My Care Consultant.
- Sophie Andrews, CEO, The Silver Line – national charity and helpline for older people.
The Conference has also announced a number of additional breakout sessions that will be taking place throughout the day. These will be hosted by: Simon Washbrook (Popcorn Email Marketing); Ben Lockyer (Lockyer’s Wills and LPAs); Helen Guyan (Perfect Choice Funeral Plans); Matt Taylor (Equilaw Equity Release Legal Services); Ray McCarthy (AIR Sourcing); and Danielle Wilson (Unity Rewards).
The seminars will be chaired by Stuart Wilson, group managing director of Answers in Retirement Group.
Webb said: “The financial issues around later life get more complex with every passing year. Whether it is the costs of funding later life care, the new options provided by pension freedoms, the growing equity release market or changes to taxation, the need for high-quality impartial advice has never been greater.
“This conference will be a valuable opportunity to look across a range of later life issues.”
Wilson added: “We are very fortunate to welcome Steve as our key-note speaker for the Conference, given his expertise and depth of experience in the later life market. Delegates will, I’m sure, be treated to a range of insights across all areas of the later life advice, plus with the addition of our other speakers – all experts in their field – the seminar sessions on their own promise to deliver real value for all attendees.
“Additionally, we have our breakout sessions and the chance to network and converse with both providers and colleagues, so we believe this conference will provide all manner of benefits for either established later life advisers or those seeking to develop new or existing propositions. We’re looking forward to seeing the entire later life advice community in Gloucester in June.”