The arrangement will give Assureweb’s 22,000 registered users access to the FreeBen service with an exclusive discount on annual subscription. Launched in October 2008, FreeBen is an easy-to–use, means-tested benefits calculator, designed specifically to help equity release advisers comply with FSA guidelines.
It enables advisers to give clients over the age of 60 up-to-date information on their eligibility for benefits and how this would be affected by equity release. The FSA requires these factors to be taken into account when selling equity release products and recommends the use of specialist software for this purpose.
Assureweb provides intermediaries with access to online quotations and applications for over 150 well-known products. Under the arrangement, registered users of Assureweb who sign up for a year’s FreeBen subscription will be given an additional three months free of charge, giving them 15 months for the price of 12.
Robert Bowes, product manager at Assureweb, said:
“At Assureweb we pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive and competitive range of services. Entitlement to benefit is an important consideration when advising on equity release products and FreeBen is a convenient and cost-effective way to ensure compliance. We’ve also had excellent feedback on the product from users.”
Maxine Harrison from Harwil Associates, developer of FreeBen, said:
“We are delighted with this endorsement from such a well-known name within the finance industry. FreeBen is the most cost-effective service of its type on the market today. It fits well with Assureweb’s policy of providing a range of free services as our basic entitlement reports are generated at no cost to FreeBen subscribers.”
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