However, only 7% involved their children in meetings with financial advisers, and 93% did not involve anybody else in the final financial planning process.
Nine in 10 (90%) customers did not involve anyone else in the meetings with their regulated financial adviser, but only 22% said they had not discussed the possibility of equity release with anybody else.
Simon Gray, managing director of HUB Financial Solutions, said: “Lifetime mortgages can be an important way of enjoying a more comfortable retirement by unlocking wealth tied up in bricks and mortar, or passing living inheritances to children while still alive.
“However, it is important that people considering taking out a lifetime mortgage should be as transparent as possible with their children about their reasoning and intentions in order to avoid misunderstandings later in life.
“Involving children in the planning process can re-assure them that their parents are making a suitable financial decision to meet their needs and aims.
“It also gives children the chance to intervene if they are in a position to help financially and would like to do so if asked.
“It could even open up more tailored equity release solutions like servicing the interest on the loan.
“Doing so would allow children who have income to service all or part of the interest on their parents’ lifetime mortgage, leaving more equity in the property to maximise the inheritance left behind.
“It is not just children who may be involved in discussions around equity release.
“Siblings, partners, grandchildren or even close friends could all be included in the process depending on the customer’s circumstances.
“While advisers found that the majority of customers say they are involving these people in their initial discussions it is evident that most are going it alone at financial planning meetings.
“During the pandemic people may have been reluctant to join meetings with their parents in person, but we’ve offered multiway calls to help overcome this.
“It’s important that whatever a customer decides to do our advisers make sure they feel comfortable with the process, that they don’t feel rushed and have every opportunity to involve friends and family if they wish.
“These are important meetings with the detailed fact-find designed to uncover where people could be missing out on additional income from unclaimed State Benefits or other financial assets which are more appropriate to tap into before they choose equity release.
“Advisers at HUB Financial Solutions find that for about half of the customers they meet equity release is not the most suitable solution and in those cases the adviser will not proceed with the application.”
