Key Retirement Group (KR Group) is supporting advisers aiming to develop their businesses in later life lending and equity release by extending its backing of Financial Services Expo.

Today’s Manchester FSE at the Emirates Old Trafford will feature later life lending as part of its biggest ever programme of seminars.

Key Partnerships, the group’s equity release referral service, has already supported FSE Glasgow this year as well as backing roadshows with the Society of Mortgage Professionals in 2017 as it increases its support for advisers to meet a rising demand for referral services.

The company is also planning further events across the UK.

Key Partnerships has seen a 46% increase in adviser enquiries in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

Dean Mirfin (pictured), chief product officer at Key Retirement Group, will be part of the first panel session of the day on later life lending, analysing the trends driving growth in the rapidly expanding equity release market and exploring the opportunities and pitfalls of advising in this industry. The panel will be chaired by David Burrowes from the Equity Release Council.

Jason Ruse, head of Key Partnerships, said: “Opportunities in the equity release market are growing rapidly and should be a major part of business development for advisers and intermediaries. We are growing our support for these industry events to meet the rising demand from advisers for expert independent referral services.

”We have seen a 46% year on year increase in the number of advisers who have approached us for support with equity release referrals and are keen to hear from other firms who are also interested in offering these products to their clients.”