To understand how we can develop the value that the Council offers you we significantly expanded the Member Census which was conducted this February – with a total of 142 members taking part – nearly three times as many as in 2013. Full results will be available shortly to our members.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and congratulations to Anthony Delmont of The Right Equity Release. He was drawn for a £500 Fortnum & Masons hamper, and he had this to say:
Anthony Delmont, The Right Equity Release: ‘I’d like to say thank you very much for the Fortnum & Mason hamper – it was a fantastic surprise to hear I was the prize draw winner. I have donated it to Wakefield Hospice for their annual raffle – they do champion work under constant pressure and I wanted to help them raise some much needed funds.
“I have been an equity release IFA for over six years now and I wanted to say that you do a fantastic job in promoting your members. At The Right Equity Release we pride ourselves on giving every customer first class advice and service and this would not be possible without the continued support of the Council.”
We invited you to share your views on market conditions and recent trends, expectations for the future and views on what Council membership currently delivers and what you would like us to do in the future.
We are delighted that 84% responded that being an Equity Release Council member was essential to their firm as the Council brings credibility and allows us to play an active role in the industry.
Key Findings Member Survey 2019
A few summary responses from the Council’s annual member survey 2019.
Which of the following statements most accurately describes the importance of being an Equity Release Council member for your firm?
- Essential – it brings credibility and allows us to play an active role in the industry (84%)
What do you feel your membership of the Council helps you to do?
- Be part of an organisation actively working to promote equity release to customers (77%)
- Keep up to date with developments in the market (76%)
- Set appropriate standards and consumer safeguards (76%)
- Counteract the poor legacy reputation of the industry (68%)
- Tangible evidence of our commitment to the market and treating customers fairly (67%)
- Use the Equity Release Council badge when doing business (65%)
What would you like your membership to help you do more of?
- Be part of an organisation actively working to promote equity release to customers (50%)
- Counteract the poor legacy reputation of the industry (50%)
- Set appropriate standards and consumer safeguards (44%)
You said the five most important priorities for the Council in 2019 should be:
- Promoting the safeguards/standards to consumers (68%)
- Reinforcing advice safeguards/standards (63%)
- Reinforcing product safeguards/standards (60%)
- Promoting the features/benefits of equity release to consumers (55%)
- Lobbying for greater political support of equity release (41%)
