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Launching a new network in today’s regulatory and commercial environment isn’t something you do on a whim. TERN has been built deliberately, carefully, and with a very clear purpose: to create a network structure that genuinely works for advisers in the later life lending market - not just in theory, but in day-to-day reality.

Over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that many advisers feel caught between two extremes.

1. On one side are highly restrictive models that limit flexibility, adviser support, independence and growth.

2. On the other are lighter-touch options that offer freedom, but leave advisers carrying too much operational, regulatory and commercial risk alone.

Advisers don’t need more noise, more jargon or more ‘one size fits all’. They need an environment that helps them deliver great client outcomes, while building a business that is sustainable, scalable, and commercially sound.

TERN exists to bridge that gap.

The idea behind TERN is simple: combine robust regulatory oversight with modern systems, commercial clarity and meaningful support - without unnecessary complexity, hidden constraints or surprise fees. We want advisers to know exactly where they stand from day one: what’s included, what’s optional, how the relationship works, and how success is measured. That transparency matters, not just commercially, but culturally. It creates trust, and trust is the foundation of any long-term partnership – everything that helped me build Equity Release Supermarket (ERS).

Bringing TERN to market has involved far more than building a website or setting a fee structure. It has meant designing an operating model from the ground up – one that stands up to regulatory scrutiny, supports Consumer Duty, and still allows advisers to build profitable, resilient businesses. That means the right governance, the right oversight, the right documentation, and the right controls, but also the right practical support, so advisers can spend their time advising - not firefighting compliance and admin.

A major part of this work has been invested in infrastructure. From technology and data, through to compliance frameworks, onboarding, and operational support, every element has been built with long-term scalability in mind. This isn’t about quick growth or headline numbers; it’s about creating a platform that remains strong as adviser numbers increase and market conditions change.

Technology is a key part of that foundation. Advisers are being asked to operate at a higher standard than ever before - clearer evidence, stronger suitability, better documentation and better client engagement. That’s hard to do consistently if you’re stitching together multiple systems, juggling suppliers, and managing workarounds.

TERN’s approach is different: a joined-up platform mindset, where client-facing tools and adviser systems support the full advice journey, and where processes are designed to reduce admin, improve consistency and strengthen the client experience.

TERN is also shaped by what I’ve learned about networks over my business career. In the early days, Equity Release Supermarket operated under networks, which gave me a front-row view of what works well - and what doesn’t. I’ve also experienced the downside first-hand: my final network, Honister, collapsed and shut its doors, leaving advisers in the lurch without regulatory permissions. Fortunately, we were ahead of the curve with our own FCA application already in progress, but it reinforced a simple point - resilience and continuity have to be designed in, not hoped for.

Too often, advisers are forced to work around systems rather than being supported by them. Too often, growth comes at the expense of control or quality. And too often, commercial structures feel needlessly complicated or opaque.

Our approach is deliberately more practical. TERN is designed to give advisers choice: in how they operate, how they grow, and how much support they want around them. Some advisers simply want equity release leads, a compliant structure and solid foundations. Others want tools, data and marketing support to actively drive their own leads and growth. TERN is built to support both - without forcing everyone into the same operating model.

As we launch, we’ll be sharing more detail on the platform, the support model and the commercial structure behind TERN — and, importantly, why we’ve built it differently. We’re taking a more modern, commercially astute approach that helps advisers grow as well as stay compliant, including lead generation and adviser websites designed for real-world use.

That includes two clear website options: TERN Core - a professional digital presence for modern advisers, and TERN Perform - a lead-generation platform built to grow your advice business.

For now, this first step is about being clear on intent. TERN has been created to support advisers properly, raise standards across later life lending, and build a network that works - not just at launch, but for the long-term benefit of advisers. It’s also personal for me: after more than 20 years in equity release, I want to leave a lasting legacy that strengthens the wider later life lending market for many years to come.

Speak to us about joining TERN - and what ‘supported growth’ looks like in practice. Email Gemma Beetham – gemma@theequityreleasenetwork.com or call 07765 322549.