Insights Hub
Becoming a TERN Equity Release Adviser: Your Step-by-Step Path
Ready to move into later life lending but not sure where to start? Here’s your roadmap - tailored to the TERN way of doing things the right way.
Start with the Core Qualifications
You need a solid foundation in mortgage advice. That typically means achieving:
- CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice) or an equivalent Level 3 mortgage qualification - this forms your entry-level licensing under the FCA.
Once that’s in place, the Equity Release module - either CeRER (via the London Institute of Banking & Finance) or ER1 (via the Chartered Insurance Institute) - is the start of your pathway to advising across all Later Life products.
Complete Targeted Equity Release Training
These courses focus on:
- Product features and market options
- Regulatory and suitability frameworks
- Real-world case studies on client motivation, affordability, and estate outcomes
- Conducting roles plays to ensure all learning has been embedded into the advice process
Look for accredited training you can fit around your schedule - online, blended, or in-person formats are all available.
Get FCA Authorisation — Your Legal Foundation
To legally advise, one of two routes must be followed:
- Direct Authorisation – for firms already regulated for mortgage advice.
- Join a Network (like TERN) – operate as an Appointed Representative (AR) or Registered Individual (RI), with support for compliance, tech, and training built-in.
TERN typically takes you from onboarding to adviser status swiftly - so you can get in front of clients confidently and with the support of your dedicated Quality Control (QC).
Join the Equity Release Council (ERC) — Credibility Made Simple
While membership of the ERC isn’t mandatory, it’s widely seen as a badge of professionalism in the later life lending sector. The Council sets and upholds the industry’s benchmark standards, ensuring clients receive clear information, fair treatment, and essential protections such as the No Negative Equity Guarantee.
Joining the ERC signals to clients, introducers, and professional partners that you’re committed to transparency, ethical practice, and long-term client care. Membership also gives you access to valuable resources, market insight, networking opportunities, and the ability to display the ERC logo - a recognised trust mark in the equity release industry.
Launch Your Career with the TERN Advantage
Once you’re qualified and authorised, the real journey begins - and this is where TERN gives you the competitive edge.
We provide everything you need to hit the ground running:
- An integrated platform built for later life lending – including advisER CRM, advanced research tools, and our intuitive digital factfind, all working together to streamline your advice process from lead capture to completion.
- Proven compliance support and training – via the TERN Academy, blending practical onboarding with ongoing professional development so you can give advice with confidence from day one.
- Lead generation, mentoring, and marketing capabilities – from free, pre-qualified lead opportunities to personalised marketing campaigns and one-to-one business mentoring.
- Access to exclusive products and competitive commercial terms – leveraging our lender relationships to give you market-leading options for your clients and stronger margins for your business.
With TERN, you’re not just starting out - you’re stepping into a network designed to help you grow faster, operate smarter, and build a reputation as a trusted later life lending specialist.
“Joining TERN gave me the freedom to grow my business on my own terms. Their structure supports independence — but never leaves you on your own.”
Partner with a network that grows with you
Ready to scale smartER? Let's talk about what’s possible. Book a call today.
