The Later Life Academy (LLA) has revealed that its development programme for later life advisers has achieved accreditation by the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS).
It is an independent appraisal of the development programme offered by the Academy and recognises its commercial potential with achievement of the accreditation providing an external recognition of the programme measured against a European excellence model.
The Training Programme Accreditation has been developed by the NSAFS to provide an independent assessment of training programmes, by a trusted third party, with expertise in the sector.
It also provides guidance that organisations can use to drive operational improvements – the report to accompany the accreditation provides feedback, recommendations and action points where required in each of the six accreditation categories.
The NSAFS is an independent, employer-led, charitable organisation which is a leading body for training and development in the financial services industry. It supports firms of all sizes within financial services in recruitment, induction and the skill development of an employer’s workforce.
LLA’s development programme allows later life advisers to receive training, development and support to expand and enhance their skills and business streams in the later life market. Attendees must hold a basic level financial services certificate of practice and must be currently advising on equity release and later life lending, pension options, care, annuities or investments, estate planning or funeral planning.
The objective of the programme is to help advisers widen their product variety and be able to provide more solutions to more customers, improving the commercial prosperity of their business. The programme is broken down into seven modules: the LLA induction course; fact finding and client needs; pensions and guidance; equity release and long-term care; marketing; benefits and taxation; and trusts, wills and estate planning.
Stuart Wilson, managing director of the Later Life Academy, said: “This accreditation status from the National Skills Academy for Financial Services puts us exactly where we want to be, as a recognised destination for professionals who aspire to improve their operations in the later life market. This is an independent assessment of our programme against high quality industry benchmarks and we will be working on an ongoing basis with the National Skills Academy to develop our offering.
“Achieving this accreditation positions the Academy as a truly credible, core part of the later life market and is a hugely significant achievement as we move forward into a period of incredible changes for the retirement market.
“Advisers have a myriad of possibilities to explore with their later life clients and by utilising the Academy and our development programme they’ll be able to secure the knowledge and qualifications necessary to achieve excellent results. In areas like later life lending, equity release, pensions, wills, funeral plans, long-term care, those in or reaching retirement are looking for quality advice.
“In that sense, advisers have a real opportunity to develop their offering to meet the needs of a new breed of retired individual. By becoming a member of the Academy they will be able to hit the ground running now in order to seize the opportunity that undoubtedly exists. We would therefore urge all advisers in the ‘retirement space’ to contact the LLA to see how we can help them make the most of this brave new world.”
Trevor Child, head of employer engagement and sales at the National Skills Academy for Financial Services, said: “The NSAFS is delighted to confirm training programme accreditation status to this Later Life programme. The achievement confirms both the quality of the content and delivery. Accreditation status also offers reassurance to learners that the programme is amongst the best in the financial services industry.”
