Retired home owners facing dwindling savings, poorly performing pensions and increased living costs are turning to equity release so that they can enjoy financial freedom in retirement, says Bower Retirement Services. But before they do, they must take independent financial advice to explore all the options available to them.
Equity release is a way of releasing tax free cash from a property to allow a regular income, emergency savings fund or lump sum to spend on anything from home improvements to holidays. It is safe, providing a Safe Home Incomes Plans (SHIP) product is used and professional independent financial advice is taken.
Geoff Charles, Equity Release Specialist and Managing Director of Bower Retirement Services says: “It’s becoming harder to meet basic living costs in retirement, let alone fund home improvements or holidays.”
Financial Options for a Better Standard of Living in Retirement
Recent research by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) shows that almost one third of people will face financial problems when they reach retirement. The job of Bower Retirement Services is to help those that are already there and struggling financially by giving them independent financial advice on the options available that will improve their standard of living. There are a number of these options and all are thoroughly explored before customers make their decision on how to proceed.
Those facing financial worries in retirement could consider moving to a less expensive property, unlocking investments, taking out a traditional mortgage or ensuring they are claiming their full entitlement to means tested benefits; something that is commonly not the case.
Thousands missing out on Benefits
A Department for Works and Pensions survey recently documented that some 10% of pensioners across the UK are not claiming their full benefits entitlement. What’s more, in one of the areas covered by Bower Retirement Services - Barking and Dagenham – it is reckoned that around 3,000 retired people could be missing out on the benefits to which they are entitled.
Benefits entitlement is something that the team of independent financial advisers at Bower Retirement Services fully address when advising their customers, to the extent that they give customers an extensive Means Tested Benefits Entitlement Report on top of a substantial 15-page Financial Planning and Recommendation Report. This way, it is ensured that each and every avenue is explored so that the customer can make a fully informed decision before they proceed. As is often the case, equity release proves to be the best, and sometimes the only option.
