2025 Workshop Programme

Designed to provide targeted education and networking opportunities, this workshop is perfect for professionals entering or building their expertise in the later life lending sector.

Registration Open - 11:30 - 12:00

Part One: Getting Started in Later Life Lending (12:00 – 13:15)

Location: Harvey Goodwin Suite, Church House

Time
12:00 - 12:05

Welcome and Introduction – John Somerville, Director, Financial Services, Professional Education, LIBF

Time
12:05 - 12:25

Understanding the Later Life Lending Landscape

Led by: Lee Blackwell, Director of Communications and Marketing, Equity Release Council

This session offers a grounding in the later life lending landscape — what it is, why it matters, and where the opportunities lie. Lee Blackwell from the Equity Release Council will walk through the current market outlook, growth potential, and the growing importance of property wealth in financial planning.

Lee will also explore the Council’s role in setting industry standards and offering guidance that helps advisers embed best practice, build stronger businesses, and deliver better outcomes for their clients.

Time
12:25 - 12:45

LIBF – The Knowledge

Led by: John Somerville, Director, Financial Services, Professional Education, LIBF and Gordon Reid, Business Development Manager, LIBF

Just like a London Black Cab driver masters ‘The Knowledge’, later life lending advisers need to navigate a complex and evolving landscape with skill and confidence.

In this session, LIBF will explore:

How to qualify as a later life lending adviser and start your journey
How to keep your skills sharp and your knowledge up to date post-qualification
How to stay competitive in a fast-changing market and deliver real value to client

Time
12:45 - 13:00

Advisers in Action: Why We Chose Later Life Lending

Facilitated by: Tom Brett, Business and Project Manager, Equity Release Council

With: James Sudworth, Right Homes Equity Release, Sandy Ameer-Beg, Acclaimed Mortgage Consultancy and Ryan Mansell, Mortgage Advice Bureau Later Life

In this focused discussion, experienced advisers James, Sandy and Ryan share how they entered the later life lending sector, what’s helped them build successful practices, and what they’ve learned along the way.

The session is facilitated by Tom Brett from the Equity Release Council, who brings his own background as a former adviser to guide the conversation. A valuable opportunity to hear real perspectives on the realities, rewards, and opportunities in this growing market.

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Time
13:00 - 13:15

Time
13:15 - 14:15

Roundtable Discussions

Lunch, networking and exhibition in the Assembly Hall

Part Two: The Later Life Lending Customer Journey (14:15 – 15:50)

Location: Harvey Goodwin Suite, Church House

Time
14:15 - 15:15

Understanding the Customer Journey

The Later Life Lending Advice Process: What Good Looks Like

Led by: Kelly Melville-Kelly & Kate O’Dowd, Equity Release Council

What does great advice look like in the later life lending space—and how can new advisers get it right from day one?

Join Kelly and Kate from the Equity Release Council as they share key findings from the Council’s latest mystery shopping project, revealing what’s working well—and what’s not—across the advice and factfinding process.

Kelly and Kate will explore:

Real-world examples of best practice in action
Common pitfalls to avoid (and how to spot them early)
Practical tips that apply not just to later life lending, but across the broader mortgage advice journey

Whether you're newly CeRER-qualified or transitioning from mainstream mortgage advice, this is your chance to build your confidence and sharpen your approach to delivering clear, compliant, and client-focused recommendations.

The role of the solicitor in later life lending

Led by: Carol Nuttall, Director, Adlington Law

Legal advice is a crucial checkpoint in the later life lending process — helping ensure that clients fully understand their commitments, rights, and options. This session will explore the solicitor’s role in safeguarding outcomes, managing risk, and supporting a smooth journey from application to completion.

You’ll also gain practical insights into working collaboratively with legal partners to improve client confidence and experience.

The Later Life Lending Landscape: Leader Perspectives

Led by: Kay Westgarth, Head of Retirement Distribution, Aviva

With later life lending evolving rapidly, how do today’s products meet the needs of tomorrow’s clients? Aviva’s Kay Westgarth will explore how product innovation, holistic advice, and brand strength are helping advisers deliver more value — and how lenders like Aviva are shaping the future of the market. Expect practical insight into the “so what” of product choice and how it all connects to client outcomes.

Time
15:15 - 15:30

Marketing strategies for success

Led by: Stuart Wilson

In a market where trust and clarity matter more than ever, how do you make your voice heard? Stu Wilson will share practical marketing tips tailored to later life lending — from building referral networks to positioning yourself as a credible, approachable expert for older clients and their families.

Time
15:30 - 15:45

Exploring Support, Sourcing Platforms & Learning Programmes

Led by: Dr Daniel Holden, Head of Academy Learning Programme, Air

Getting started in later life lending is easier with the right tools. In this session, Daniel Holden from Air will introduce the sourcing platforms, support services, and learning resources available to help advisers build confidence, give great advice, and grow their business from day one.

Time
15:45 - 15:50

Wrap and Closing Remarks

From: John Somerville and Lee Blackwell

Time
16:05 - 16:55

Location: Hoare Memorial Hall, Church House -

From Barriers to Business as Usual: Embedding Vulnerability and Consumer Duty in Later Life Lending

What % of later life lending clients are in vulnerable circumstances? What are firms doing about it, and does it work? What lessons have we learned, and how far do we have to go?

As Consumer Duty moves into BAU and following the FCA Review of the Treatment of Customers in Vulnerable Circumstances – this session will provide new insights and guidance to design and deliver good outcomes for all customers. From practical tools to customer case studies, we'll provide insights from the across the sector that you can apply in your own organisations.

This 50-minute session will be split into two parts:

Part One: An opportunity to hear from Simon Pugh, Ombudsman Manager at the Financial Ombudsman Service who specialises in complaints involving mortgages and secured lending. Simon will talk about what is different in a post-consumer duty world, and what the Ombudsman expect in terms of tailoring to vulnerability.

Part Two: Then, Lauren Peel from Inclusive Outcomes will share insights from our market study on vulnerability. Working in partnership with the Council, Lauren has spoken with member firms including advisers, lenders, solicitors and surveyors to understand what is working, and what remains a challenge, when it comes to treatment of customers in vulnerable circumstances. We'll share the key insights, challenges and good practice areas that you can take away for your organisations.

A panel discussion and Q&A will follow.

Chaired by: Kelly Melville-Kelly, Director of Risk, Policy and Compliance, Equity Release Council

Speakers:

Simon Pugh, Ombudsman Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
Lauren Peel, Senior Partner, Inclusive Outcomes
Lisa Edgar, Founder and CEO, The Big Window
Carol Nuttall, Director, Adlington Law

Time
17:00 - 18:00

Location: Bishops Partridge Hall, Church House -

Evening Drinks Reception

Join the Later Life Lending drinks reception for all delegates, speakers and sponsors.

CPD Accredited Programme - The workshop has 3hrs of CPD. If you attend the final plenary in the main Summit programme you will get an additional 1 hour of CPD.

thumbnail_LIBF_Accredited CPD Programme 2025

2025 Workshop Programme

Registration Open - 11:30 - 12:00

Part One: Getting Started in Later Life Lending (12:00 – 13:15)

Location: Harvey Goodwin Suite, Church House

Part Two: The Later Life Lending Customer Journey (14:15 – 15:50)

Location: Harvey Goodwin Suite, Church House

CPD Accredited Programme - The workshop has 3hrs of CPD. If you attend the final plenary in the main Summit programme you will get an additional 1 hour of CPD.

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