Bridgewater recently conducted research which showed that advisers believe the government and providers must be at the forefront of consumer education, but Bridgewater says advisers in their face-to-face role should also educate consumers.
The Gloucester forum will take place on Wednesday 27th October at the Equilaw Ltd offices, Brunswick House, Gloucester Business Park, Gloucester GL3 4AA. The guest speaker will be Claire Barker, solicitor and head of Equilaw LLP and chairman of the Equity Release Solicitors Alliance (ERSA).
The second forum will take place the following day, Thursday 28th October, at Hilton Dartford Bridge, Masthead Close, Crossways Business Park, Dartford DA2 6QF. The guest speaker will be Kurt Mueller, external affairs manager at Grainger, Bridgewater’s parent company.
Mueller will be looking at the ways that advisers can improve their business through simple communication methods.
Advisers currently involved in the equity release market and those who are considering entering the sector are invited to attend.
Peter Welch, head of sales and distribution at Bridgewater Equity Release, said: “We continue to stress to advisers the importance of educating the wider UK population about the equity release sector because there is still a lack of understanding and, unfortunately, many misconceptions about the products.
“Given that advisers are at the sharp end when it comes to dealing with Joe Public it certainly makes sense for them to be out in their communities presenting the true picture about equity release, rather than relying on, for example, the government to do that job for them.”
