Mortgage and protection brokerage Access Financial Services has joined the Equity Release Council.

Access FS’ advisers provide advice on a range of mainstream and specialist mortgages but over the past year, the firm has increased its focus on equity release and later life lending.

This has been spearheaded by Adrian Brewer, who was appointed as Access FS head of later life in November last year.

The group said it was now joining the Equity Release Council to help it play a “more active role” in the development of the market and to take part in the ongoing debate around how the sector can best serve its customer base.

Brewer said: “Later life lending is such an important part of the lending sphere. So many older people are left without the support they need because they don’t have access to the right advice. Equity release plays an important part in this advice, but so do all of the later life lending options as one size doesn’t always work for everyone.

“Joining the Equity Release Council means that we can play a more active role in this market, working with the Council and with peers to get the right options to the right people in the right way.”

CEO of the Equity Release Council, Jim Boyd, added: “It has never been more important to provide the right financial advice to people of all ages, but particularly those in later life who may not be aware of all their options or be unsure of how to access the value tied up in their home.

“It is therefore vital to have high-quality financial advisers, like Access FS, join the Council to ensure that we can broaden out accessibility to good advice. By becoming a member of the Council, Access FS can also play an active part in building the future direction of this industry, helping to deliver better outcomes for older people.”

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