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• Best Equity Release Adviser 2010
  The public has crowned Age Partnership as the winner of What Mortgage magazine's Best Equity Release Adviser 2010.
  27th August 2010
• Equity release needed to top up pension
  An expert has welcomed the pensions plans included in the Queen's Speech, but believes more is needed – possibly through equity release schemes.
  27th May 2010
• Equity release for hometown lovers
  An equity release scheme may be the answer for people who want a bit of extra cash, but don't want to uproot themselves from their home.
  27th May 2010
• Release equity despite annuity confusion
  There is confusion about the government's plans for annuities, but an equity release scheme remains as a straight forward way of getting more cash in retirement.
  26th May 2010
• Equity release as black hole widens
  The private sector pensions black hole is wider than it was last spring, leaving many to consider equity release as a means to making ends meet.
  26th May 2010
• Equity release to maintain standard of living
  Homeowners may want to take out a home reversion plan or lifetime mortgage after it was revealed that the latest inflation increase means that their costs will increase by £800 this year.
  25th May 2010
• Few seeking equity release advice
  More people are seeking help about what colour to dye their hair than are finding out about equity release schemes, new research has shown.
  25th May 2010
• Equity release solutions available online
  The older generation are missing out on financial advice and equity release help by not seeking solutions online.
  24th May 2010
• End of HIPs to help equity release value
  The equity release market could be boosted by the government's decision to immediately suspend the requirement for homeowners to provide Home Information Packs (HIPs).
  24th May 2010
• Equity release market remains healthy
  More people than ever are discovering equity release as a means to get a bit of extra cash during their retirement.
  21st May 2010
• Equity release campaign backed
  SHIP, the equity release scheme trade body, has found support for its campaign to clarify the relationship between equity release and state benefits.
  21st May 2010
• Equity release to ease inflation squeeze
  More people aged between 50 and 64 may well be considering an equity release scheme, as inflation is squeezing their spending power more than any other age group.
  20th May 2010
• More equity advice needed by pre-retirees
  Only one person in five (19 per cent) is seeking professional advice on equity release or other financial issues in the run up to their retirement, new research has shown.
  20th May 2010
• Close pensions gap with equity release
  The government has been urged to encourage larger private pensions, rather than lower public sector ones to close the pensions gap.
  20th May 2010
• Equity release for anxious over-55s
  People over the age of 55 are extremely concerned about future tax rises and the cost of living increasing, meaning many could turn to equity release to ease their financial problems.
  19th May 2010
• Later working boosted by equity release
  Whilst 33 million Britons plan on working past the current default retirement age of 65, they could further improve their standard of living if they release equity from their home.
  19th May 2010
• Housing wealth boost for equity release
  The past 50 years have seen total household wealth grow nine-fold, which means that more money can be extracted via a lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan.
  18th May 2010
• Equity release savings with Age Partnership
  Over 97% of Age Partnership customers saved hundreds or thousands of pounds on their equity release plan in April 2010.
  18th May 2010
• Equity release mortgage boost
  March saw a huge leap in the amount of people taking out a mortgage, which is excellent news for people looking into equity release schemes.
  18th May 2010
• New minister good for equity release
  The appointment of the new pensions minister has been praised by a former government advisor as he has years of experience in the retirement field, which includes equity release.
  17th May 2010
• Retirement planning? Try equity release
  Over one in three (35 per cent) people seeking financial advice are concerned about what to do for their retirement, with equity release being one possible solution.
  17th May 2010
• Equity release to solve pensions crisis
  Experts have welcomed the new coalition government, but have been urging them to solve the pensions crisis sooner rather than later and need to consider equity release as a solution.
  14th May 2010
• House prices rise, good for equity release
  People with home reversion plans or a lifetime mortgage have received a boost as Communities and Local Government confirmed an increase in housing prices.
  14th May 2010
• Release equity for better living standards
  One in six (16 per cent) people expects to have a "significantly" worse standard of living in retirement, something that they could remedy with a home reversion plan or lifetime mortgage.
  13th May 2010
• Equity release boost as buyers increase
  There is good equity release news today as the number of house buyers increased in April, meaning future house price rises are on the cards.
  13th May 2010
• Housing market shows spring bounce
  House prices rose in April, which is great news for the equity release market.
  12th May 2010
• Equity release warning after con man jailed
  People considering an equity release scheme should be careful that they only do business with a recognised supplier, after a con man was jailed for stealing from homeowners.
  12th May 2010
• Providers should boost annuity market
  The amount of people taking an enhanced annuity doubled last year to 18 per cent, but it could be improved even further, according to Just Retirement.
  11th May 2010
• Pension confusion leads to equity release?
  More people could look into equity release schemes after the election threw up confusion over the future of pensions.
  10th May 2010
• Rise expected in annuity rates
  The hung parliament may lead to a slight increase in annuity rates, but an expert has warned homeowners to consider their options – including equity release – before getting too excited.
  10th May 2010
• House prices up 9%
  There is some very good news for the equity release market as house prices increased by nearly 9 per cent (8.8 per cent) in March and look set to continue rising.
  7th May 2010
• Work out whether to release equity
  Pension firm Aviva has launched a new online calculator which can help people work out how much money they will have to play with when they retire.
  7th May 2010
• Mortgage rise boost for equity release
  Mortgage brokers expect to conduct more business over the next three months, which is good news for those considering an equity release scheme.
  6th May 2010
• Equity release could combat bill rises
  With fears that more people could need to enter equity release schemes to be able to afford rising energy bills, a power firm has come out with some advice.
  6th May 2010
• Britons miss millions in tax relief
  Britons saving for their retirement with a company pension may need to turn to equity release to fund their post-work lifestyle after missing out in millions in tax relief.
  5th May 2010
• Mortgage numbers rise in March
  March saw nearly 50,000 (48,901) mortgages approved, compared to just over 45,000 (46,882) in February, which bodes well for the equity release market.
  5th May 2010
• Equity release numbers rise
  Over 77,000 (77,352) mortgages – including equity release – were approved in March this year, the British Bankers' Association (BBA) has revealed.
  4th May 2010
• House prices rise in April
  Homeowners entering into equity release schemes will get more money from their house as house prices increased again this month.
  30th April 2010
• New rules could lead to more equity release
  People with company pensions may be forced to look into equity release schemes if their firms drag their heels over new pension proposals.
  30th April 2010
• Forced retirement costs UK £3.5bn
  The default retirement age is costing the UK economy £3.5bn every year – and £2bn of that is in the form of lost earnings for employees.
  29th April 2010
• SHIP: look beyond the election
  Politicians should be looking beyond the election and seriously consider how to move forward with the issue of Britain's ageing population, according to SHIP.
  29th April 2010
• NAPF wants to see better pension plans
  The main parties' pension plans could end up being "very damaging" for older people, warns the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).
  28th April 2010
• Annuity confusion means more equity release?
  More than four in ten (42 per cent) Britons have no idea what an annuity is, which could encourage more to consider equity release.
  28th April 2010
• Majority unhappy with pension pledges
  Nearly three quarters (70 per cent) of Britons agree that none of the political parties have done enough to explain their policies on pensions.
  27th April 2010
• Equity release market remains healthy
  Over £210m (£213.4m) was extracted from houses in the form of equity release in the first quarter of 2010, new figures have shown.
  27th April 2010
• Consider equity release when retiring
  Not considering an equity release scheme when planning for retirement is "ridiculous", according to Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP).
  26th April 2010
• Equity release needed to counter pension plans?
  Householders may need to release equity from their house to counter Conservative pension plans, which the GMB union call "catastrophic".
  26th April 2010
• House sales grow steadily
  March saw 72,000 homes sold around the UK, which will be good news for those looking to enter into an equity release scheme.
  23rd April 2010
• Could government default on pensions?
  Britons may be forced to look at equity release schemes in the future, after an expert claimed that any future government may default on pension payments.
  23rd April 2010
• Cross-party consensus on pensions needed
  Parties need to agree on pension policy after the upcoming election, according to a pension advice company.
  22nd April 2010
• Cathedrals give more equity release value
  Homes in cathedral cities have soared over the past decade as the desirability of the locations grew.
  22nd April 2010
• Inflation rise may require equity release
  People in their 50s and early 60s have been hit hardest by the rise in inflation rates, and may want to consider an equity release scheme to make up the difference.
  21st April 2010
• Country houses are equity release gold dust
  Homeowners with a country house could be sitting on a larger equity release goldmine than they may have expected.
  21st April 2010
• New pensions may lead more to release equity
  Millions may need to look towards equity release for extra funds in later life, if they are deterred by the government’s new pension scheme.
  20th April 2010
• House prices continue growth in April
  Sellers are now asking 6 per cent more for their homes than a year ago, which will be seen as a boost for those wanting to enter into an equity release scheme.
  20th April 2010
• Tories lead in house price stakes
  Living in a constituency controlled by the Conservatives means that equity release schemes could put more money in your pocket.
  19th April 2010
• Retirement worries eased by equity release?
  Over a third (36 per cent) of Britons who search for financial advice are looking for help about how to plan for their retirement, new figures show.
  19th April 2010
• Housing report bodes well for equity release
  The housing market appears to be going in the right direction for those wanting to release equity from their home.
  16th April 2010
• SHIP plan equity release review
  Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP) has launched a survey to investigate the relationship between equity release and state benefits.
  16th April 2010
• Equity release options to proliferate
  Experts in the field of equity release were in agreement last week that the market for unlocking the value built up in your home needs a wider range of options.
  15th April 2010
• Clean-livers need equity release?
  Leading a healthy life could backfire once a person starts enquiring about an annuity, meaning they may need to release equity from their house for extra cash.
  15th April 2010
• Equity release could fill pension black hole
  Taking out a lifetime mortgage could be the solution for those Britons who find that their pension plan is in deficit.
  14th April 2010
• Pension plans cause to release equity?
  Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have all pledged to re-link the basic state pension in line with earnings, rather than prices.
  14th April 2010
• House prices rise again
  March saw house prices rise for the eleventh month in succession, new figures have shown.
  13th April 2010
• Equity release could remedy bad advice
  Many Britons could find themselves needing to find a regular additional income to top up their pension to bridge a gap caused by bad advice.
  13th April 2010
• Millions face far from comfortable retirement
  Almost two thirds (62.9 per cent) of private sector workers are risking their financial freedom in later life by not saving into a pension.
  12th April 2010
• Recession could lead to more equity release
  Pension contributions have dropped due to the recession, which could threaten peoples’ financial freedom in retirement.
  12th April 2010
• Equity release could ease pension tax
  Homeowners may need to release equity from their home to combat new pensions tax rules in the Finance Bill.
  9th April 2010
• Interest rates stay at 0.5%
  The Bank of England has announced that interest rates are to stay at 0.5 per cent until the election at least.
  9th April 2010
• Interest threatens comfortable retirement
  Low interest rates might be welcomed in the mortgage market, but people relying on savings to give them more financial freedom in older age are losing out.
  8th April 2010
• Longer lives challenge financial freedom
  Equity release could be the solution for people who are worried that living a longer life could exhaust their savings.
  8th April 2010
• Majority expect home equity to rise
  Four out of every five people (81 per cent) believe that houses prices will continue to increase over the next six months, a new survey reveals.
  7th April 2010
• Equity release can help the economy
  If you release equity from your house, you could be helping the economy recover from the recession, according to an expert.
  7th April 2010
• Equity release for pension-poor?
  People with private pensions are much less likely to receive as good a deal as those in the public sector, meaning equity release schemes may be a consideration.
  6th April 2010
• Home equity can relieve debt
  Total personal debt in the UK now stands at £1,464 billion after increasing by 0.9 per cent over the last year, according to a report by Credit Action.
  6th April 2010
• Retirement incomes dropping
  People retiring today may need to look to equity release to make up for a shortfall in their pension, new figures show.
  1st April 2010
• NCS: a more comfortable retirement?
  Putting a loved one into a residential care home can be one of the most difficult things a person can do – emotionally and in terms of financial freedom.
  1st April 2010
• Home equity increases during March
  Houses prices increased by 9 per cent in March, boosting the amount of equity homeowners have in bricks and mortar.
  31st March 2010
• Equity release complements Altmann plan
  One finance expert is proposing reforms to the pensions system that could see a growing number of pensioners fall back onto the value of their home equity to fund their retirement.
  30th March 2010
• Inventions promote comfortable retirement
  Paying for residential care often means that older people are forced to give up their homes.
  30th March 2010
• Government should promote equity release
  The government needs to do more to reassure people considering equity release that it is the right plan for them.
  29th March 2010
• Free bus pass age to rise to 65
  From April, the age at which you can claim free bus travel is set to rise, reaching 65 by 2020.
  26th March 2010
• Warnings against early pension access
  A leading think tank has warned the government not to relax rules on when people should be able to access their pensions.
  25th March 2010
• Older people face higher inflation
  Britons aged 50 to 64 are facing an inflation rate that is 50 per cent higher than the official figure, a new survey has shown.
  24th March 2010
• Goodbye
  Thanks for joining us today and see you again tomorrow for the latest equity release update.
  24th March 2010
• Downsizing may not be the answer
  Almost half of people over 50 believe that downsizing will ease the financial burden of retirement, but new research shows they could well be mistaken.
  24th March 2010
• Recession leads to retirement worries
  The recession has forced nearly one in ten people to delay their retirement, a new report has revealed.
  23rd March 2010
• Homeowners building up more equity
  Homeowners are clearing out more and more of their mortgage arrears – and one leading bank is encouraging its customers to take advantage of historically low interest rates to get ahead.
  22nd March 2010
• Minority feel ready for retirement
  Less than one in three Britons aged between 45 and 65 feel fully prepared for their retirement, a new survey has shown.
  22nd March 2010
• Retirement is financial advice priority
  More people seek financial callback.html" target="_self">advice in order to sort out their retirement than for any other reason.
  19th March 2010
• Britons turn to net for financial advice
  Growing numbers of people are consulting the internet, rather than independent financial advisers, for guidance on their options for funding their retirement.
  18th March 2010
• Confidence in housing market at low ebb
  Confidence in the current state of the housing market is at its lowest ebb since December 2008.
  18th March 2010
• Partnership on care costs proposed
  Plans have been put forward which would spare thousands of retired people with modest savings from footing the entire bill for their social care needs.
  17th March 2010
• 40 per cent miss savings goals
  A substantial minority of people are certain that they are not saving enough for their retirements.
  17th March 2010
• Lack of supply keeps house prices up
  Although there have been conflicting signs about house prices in recent weeks, estate agents are seeing more homes changing hands.
  16th March 2010
• Parents delay retirement to help kids
  A growing number of parents are delaying retirement in order to help out their adult children financially.
  16th March 2010
• Women turning blind eye to retirement
  Only around a fifth (21 per cent) of women in the UK are saving for their retirement, according to consultancy firm Defaqto.
  15th March 2010
• Cash holds secret to happy retirement
  Financial security is the number one concern for people when they hit retirement, according to new research of UK workers.
  15th March 2010
• Equity release could combat energy bill debt
  Another energy giant has announced plans to cut its gas prices from the end of March, but personal debt caused by energy prices is on the rise.
  12th March 2010
• Inheritance tax for elderly could fund care
  People in retirement could be faced with choosing between putting off retirement or being lumbered with tax hikes on their inheritance to fund social care.
  12th March 2010
• Equity release gets MP backing
  Equity release plans could be the answer to UK pensioner's retirement funding problems.
  11th March 2010
• Travel to summer hotspots by equity release
  Holidays to Turkey and Egypt will be the most popular summer getaways for 2010, according to new research by an online tour operator.
  11th March 2010
• Homeowners should clear debts before 55
  Mortgage holders should plan their retirement early and aim to pay off their mortgage before they reach retirement, according to an expert.
  10th March 2010
• Equity release could bridge debt gap
  Higher taxes or national spending cuts of £20bn a year are crucial in the next three years according to consultancy firm PWC.
  10th March 2010
• Businesses missing out on women's talents
  The skills women bring to the boardroom are being passed up by nearly two-thirds of businesses, according to new research.
  9th March 2010
• Two-thirds not confident in pension
  Just a third (34 per cent) of workers are sure their pension will be enough to see them through retirement.
  9th March 2010
• NAPF: state should end pension tax plans
  Proposed changes to pension taxations have been called into question by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF).
  8th March 2010
• Cadbury staff face pension deficit
  Cadbury workers could be looking at doubling their pension contributions as the chocolate giant goes through a 90-day consultation period with Kraft foods.
  8th March 2010
• 100,000 workers paying in 'quality' pensions
  Over 100,000 employees are now paying into pension schemes that have the Pension Quality Mark.
  5th March 2010
• Pensioners own billions' worth of property
  Homeowners in their retirement collectively own £765bn worth of property outright according to new research.
  5th March 2010
• Sealing the pensions gender gap
  Women are lagging behind men in the pension stakes according to a report by pension plan provider, Prudential.
  5th March 2010
• Just Retirement to hold retirement seminars
  Retirement solutions provider Just Retirement has announced details of nationwide seminars to help people approaching retirement make the most out of their money.
  5th March 2010
• Most workers put nothing in pension last year
  Just a third (35 per cent) of private sector workers paid into a pension scheme last year according to new research.
  5th March 2010
• Campaigners say ditch retirement law
  There are calls for the default retirement age to be binned as fears that companies are using it as a cost-cutting measure grow.
  5th March 2010
• Women in state pension birthday lottery
  Over 100,000 women could be missing out on thousands of pounds of state pension if they turn 60 before April this year.
  5th March 2010
• Early retirement shoots up
  People seeking retirement has jumped by a fifth, possibly as a result of future changes to the minimum retirement age.
  5th March 2010
• Age Partnership set to rocket to success
  Equity release specialist, Age Partnership, has announced exciting plans for growth throughout the year.
  4th March 2010
• Women at financial risk in retirement
  Women are putting themselves at risk financially during retirement due to relying on their other half, according to new research.
  4th March 2010