New Retirement Advice Standard launched by SOLLA Enterprises Limited

• A new SOLLA Retirement Advice Standard is being introduced - initially to SOLLA Full Members and will be available to all regulated advisers later in 2015
• Partnership has confirmed its active support in the launch of this important initiative
• SOLLA Enterprises strategic partner, Octopus Investments, also confirms its full support
• Further Standards specific to the Later Life market will be launched in the future

SOLLA Enterprises Ltd - launched in 2014 to help extend the reach of the SOLLA brand - is delighted to announce the launch a Retirement Advice Standard.  This will initially only be available to SOLLA Full Members, with all regulated advisers being able to gain access later this year.

SOLLA Enterprises Co-Chairman and SOLLA founder, Tish Hanifan, said “There is currently no independent consumer facing body working to establish industry standards in this area. With this in mind we believe that this is the right time to extend the current reach of the SOLLA brand to support this sector of the market.”

In May 2015, SOLLA Enterprises announced a strategic marketing partnership with Octopus Investments, and the support provided has been critically important in launching the Standard at this time. SOLLA Enterprises is pleased to confirm today that Partnership has also committed to actively support this initiative, and has expressed full support in efforts to establish a new source of expert help for those consumers making decisions related to later life issues.

Tish Hanifan went on to say “the new Standard will have wide appeal, and emphasises not only technical expertise but also evidencing of working empathetically in the later life sector. Critically all Standard holders will sign up annually to a code of conduct that fully reflects the SOLLA Brand values in this sector”.

Jane Finnerty, also co-chair of SOLLA and co-chair of SOLLA Enterprises Limited, says: “We are particularly excited about this initiative. The changes to the retirement market are profound, and we intend that the word SOLLA will resonate with both consumers requiring either holistic advice in the Later Life market, or those who wish to concentrate purely on Retirement Planning. We are expecting a good take up by our members, and we will offer the opportunity to acquire the Standard to all regulated advisers working in the retirement market later this year. The particular focus will be on those advising clients close to or already in retirement situations.”

The new standard is accompanied by its own website, and full details can be seen on be www.retirementstandard.co.uk

Andrew Megson, Managing Director of Retirement at Partnership, said “We have worked closely with SOLLA, and now SOLLA Enterprises Limited, over a number of years. We are very impressed with the way in which both the Society and the SOLLA Brand has evolved. The deployment of SOLLA Standards in specific later life advice areas is an exciting development, and it will further help consumer confidence when seeking expert advice and guidance.”

SOLLA Enterprises will make further announcements on both the Retirement Advice Standard, and indeed further specialist Standards focussing on the Care Sector, in the coming months.