Equity Release Group supports FCA market study as later life lending sector faces critical evolution point

12 May 2026

Equity Release Group (ERG) has confirmed it has been working directly with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as part of the regulator’s newly launched Later Life Mortgages Market Study, contributing practical insight into how the market operates across advice, technology and consumer engagement.

The FCA study will examine whether the later life lending market is functioning effectively and delivering good outcomes for consumers as demands for borrowing in later life continues to present new challenges.

Equity Release Group are the UK’s leading whole-of-market later life lending businesses and have held ongoing discussions with the FCA throughout the process, with Founder & CEO Mark Gregory and Chief Compliance Officer, Graham Evans providing insight based on the group’s experience across consumer advice and technology infrastructure.

The business said its contribution has focused not only on product suitability, but on the wider market ecosystem influencing accessibility and consumer outcomes.

This includes practical feedback around adviser journeys, sourcing systems, operational inefficiencies, data accessibility, consumer understanding and the barriers currently impacting innovation and competition across the market.

Mark Gregory, Founder & CEO of Equity Release Group, commented:

“The FCA’s market study comes at a hugely important moment for the later life lending sector.

“The market has evolved rapidly in recent years, but many of the operational requirements haven’t moved at the same pace. What consumers now need from equity release is changing, and the way firms support advisers and customers must evolve alongside that.

“Our discussions with the FCA have focused on the practical realities of how the market operates day-to-day for advisers, firms and consumers. This goes beyond products themselves and looks at the wider infrastructure, alongside the consumer journey challenges.”

The FCA study follows a period of significant transformation across the equity release and later life lending market, with growing regulatory scrutiny, increasing Consumer Duty expectations and rising demand for more holistic financial planning.

The group said it welcomes the review as an opportunity to explore how the market can evolve while maintaining high standards of consumer protection and advice quality.

The firm are expected to launch their new platform this Spring. TERN - The Equity Release Network is a specialist adviser proposition developed to help firms navigate increasing market complexity, regulatory expectations and operational pressures. The platform combines numerous adviser requirements including compliance oversight, technology, sourcing, training and business consultancy to support adviser firms operating within later life lending.

Mark added: “Advisers now need the right tools, infrastructure and support to deliver in today’s market and keep pace with the changing demands of consumers.

“We believe that the FCA’s study creates an important opportunity for the industry to look at the market more holistically and identify where greater efficiencies can be achieved for both advisers and consumers.”

The group said it welcomes the opportunity to support and explore efforts to ensure the later life lending sector remains innovative and accessible as consumer needs continue to evolve, whilst maintaining high standards.

About the study: https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/market-studies/ms26-1-later-life-mortgages-market-study