Some points to consider prior to releasing equity are:

• It is possible that the funds you release may affect your current or future entitlement to means-tested benefits
• By releasing funds in your lifetime that would otherwise be tied up in your property, equity release will generally reduce the size of your estate over time

Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration.

The value of your home minus any outstanding mortgage can be described as your 'equity'. Equity release is when this is turned into cash, which you can then spend on whatever you like.

Because the equity is already yours, there is usually no tax to pay on the funds you receive, and there are no regular repayments to make. With a lifetime mortgage, which is the most popular form of equity release, you continue to own 100% of your home throughout.

If you are a homeowner, aged 55 or over, you could be eligible to take advantage of releasing equity from your property. This can significantly improve your standard of living - enabling you to benefit from the comfortable retirement that you deserve.

Because the money that is obtained is yours in the first place - you're simply 'releasing' it - there is no tax to pay and the funds are yours to spend on absolutely anything you choose. Whether you wish to treat yourself to the holiday of a lifetime, help your kids onto the property ladder or simply improve your standard of living by clearing your mortgage or paying off personal loans, there are no restrictions.

In simple terms, the additional disposable funds that you can obtain through equity release allow you to enjoy a more comfortable retirement. Furthermore, you can have the opportunity to live out many of the dreams that you longed to fulfill whilst you were working or raising your family.

• You could release money from your home to help you do what you want in your retirement
• You can continue to live in your home until you die or go into long-term care
• As equity release is a lifetime commitment,  experienced advisers will explain all the costs and risks involved such as the effect on inheritance, tax and welfare benefits

• Home improvements
• Clearing your mortgage
• Improving your lifestyle
• Financial security and peace of mind
• Avoiding inheritance tax
• Paying off debt

There are three main categories of equity release, and within each of these are numerous different plans. More details on these plans can be found by following the links below.

• Lifetime Mortgage - allows you to release a lump sum from the value of your property, with the amount released plus any interest accrued repaid out of your estate when you pass away or move into long-term care.
• Drawdown Lifetime Mortgage - similar to a lifetime mortgage, but with added flexibility, as the cash can be released over time, as and when required, which can reduce the amount of interest accrued.
• Home Reversion Plan - you surrender some or all of the ownership of your property in exchange for a lump sum of money and the right to remain living in the house, rent free, for as long as you live.

Of course, in order to get the most benefit from equity release, it is extremely important that you choose the right plan to suit your individual needs and circumstances, which is why advice from specialists such as Age Partnership can make a big difference.

Equity release is for people over 55 who own a home or have a small mortgage and who feel that their pension or current savings are simply not enough for them to lead the life they want. We recommend equity release schemes from leading providers to many people currently in this situation.

• EquityCube can put you in touch with independent equity release providers
• Our partners benefit from getting exclusive big brand rates that you won’t get direct
• You can be speaking to an independent advisor within minutes

To find out how much equity you are entitled to please fill out the form above:

SHIP is an organisation supported by the leading providers of Home Income and Equity Release Plans. It is dedicated to the protection of equity release customers, and ensures providers adhere to a strict code of practise. The idea behind SHIP is to protect the customer and provide certain guarantees, such as the No Negative Equity Guarantee. This binds these companies to provide transparent equity release plans.

As independent equity release specialists, Age Partnership is able to research the entire equity release market to select the most appropriate plan - from the great many available - to suit your individual needs.

Their team of fully qualified advisors understand the intricacies of equity release plans on offer and can maximise the benefit that you gain from releasing the cash tied up in your property.

Age Partnership pledge to make your equity release experience as comfortable and effortless as possible. There is no intrusive home visit required and they can always provide up-to-the-minute advice and are able to process your application in the quickest, most effective manner.

Aviva has helped more than 85,000 people to make the most of their retirement through equity release.

Aviva has offered equity release for over 10 years and has already helped thousands of people release money from their homes. Their fully qualified advisers will go through your individual circumstances to find the option that best suits your needs.

They are also members of Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), which is a company dedicated to the protection of equity release customers, and ensures providers adhere to a strict code of practise.
They offer a range of award-winning equity release products; however minimum ages, property types and values apply. The main types of equity release are:

• Lifetime mortgage
• Home reversion plan

Prudential, also known as the ‘Pru’ has over 21 million customers worldwide.

Prudential are award winning and one of the leading specialists in retirement services. They won Best Equity Release Provider at the Professional Adviser Awards 2009. This award was voted by independent financial advisers for Prudential’s high quality service and performance.

The Increasing Cash Reserve Lifetime Mortgage by Prudential has also received a 5 Star Rating from Defaqto (leading independent provider of financial services research) for the features and benefits of this product.

Prudential adhere to a strict code of practice as set out by SHIP.

A Prudential equity release scheme their option for obtaining cash from the value of your home (without moving out) by borrowing on it or selling all or part of it for a regular income or a lump sum.

In some circumstances a prudential equity release scheme - sometimes referred to as a prudential home equity scheme or plan - can be helpful but they are not suitable for everyone.

If you still have an outstanding mortgage on your property you must pay it off, by using either some of the proceeds from your plan or from other funds, but once that's done, the money you release can be spent as you wish.

There are two main types of prudential equity release scheme – a Prudential lifetime mortgage (sometimes called Prudential equity release mortgage or equity mortgage) and Prudential home reversion.

Saga Group Ltd. specialises in providing services for people aged over 50. They offer a range of services from holidays and insurance to equity release.

The Saga equity release service aims to help customers understand what’s involved in taking out equity. Professional advisers at Saga provide personal face to face or over-the-phone advice.

Saga offer a wide variety of equity release products from leading providers and only advise on plans that offer a no negative equity guarantee.

Liverpool Victoria are one of the UK’s leading financial Services Companies and offer a variety of products and services including life insurance, home and motor insurance asset management, savings banking and financial advice.

As a mutual society the company is owned by its members, therefore there are no shareholders to take a share of the profits. As such they are fully committed to getting the best returns for you!

Liverpool Victoria was voted Best Equity Release Provider (Joint Award) in the 2008/09 Your Mortgage Awards. The Your Mortgage Awards are the longest standing awards in the industry, and a benchmark for excellence in the consumer mortgage market. The scheme recognises and rewards those financial institutions who have excelled in their field for the last 12 months.

Independent financial product research company, Defaqto, has awarded the Liverpool Victoria Flexible Lifetime Mortgage Five Stars for its features and benefits – this is the highest possible rating and puts our Flexible product among the best in the market.

In Retirement Services are highly experienced in providing equity release solutions. Their specialists are knowledgeable and caring and are always on hand to help and advise you.

In Retirement Services offer an Equity Advance Plan which gives you the opportunity to release some of the equity in your home to provide you with a
tax-free cash lump sum, without having to sell up and move.

In Retirement Services is also a member of the Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP) which was set up to safeguard the interests of homeowners.

Key Retirement Solutions are one of the UK's leading firms of independent financial advisers specialising in equity release. To date they have helped thousands of homeowners to make the most of their retirement by safely releasing cash from their home.