Society of Later Life Advisers

Arranging care in later life can be a stressful and confusing time, but seeking help from qualified professionals can make the world of difference. In this recent article from Which?, SOLLA Advisory Board Member Catriona Smith shares her insights on financing later life care. https://lnkd.in/eW7rPUrA From entitlement to state benefits, pension credits and CHC funding to local authority contributions and equity release, Catriona shares some of the options available alongside SOLLA advisers Mel Kenny and Samantha Gibson. Better conversations are so important to provide clients with the support that's needed in such difficult times. And at SOLLA, we support later life advisers in providing a gold standard of advice. That's the SOLLA difference. https://lnkd.in/eWSMaxmN #LaterLifeCare #FinancingCare #LaterLifeAdvice #BetterConversations #theSOLLAdifference

This week is Talk Money Week, encouraging people of all ages to open up and have better conversations about their finances. It shines a spotlight on the importance of understanding and building financial resilience. Getting people talking about money, together. The Money and Pensions Service is asking organisations to Do One Thing that could help improve financial wellbeing, and to inspire others to do the same. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make a positive impact, connecting people with the guidance they need and helping to build their financial resilience. So Do One Thing this week to help spread the message. Promoting better conversations about finances and the importance of planning right through into later life. https://lnkd.in/eyFC92JS At SOLLA, we're here to support, enabling better conversations for a secure financial future. https://lnkd.in/eQbXzMMq #TalkMoney #DoOneThing #TalkMoneyWeek #BetterConversations #LaterLifeAdvice

Our SOLLA Advisory Board Chair Peter Barnett shares his reflections on this week’s new budget: “Ahead of the new ten-year Health plan to be announced next Spring, the NHS will be getting an increase of £22.6bn in day to day spending. However, there was no mention of Social Care for older people, apart from the announcement that the weekly earnings limit for Carer's Allowance will be increased to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage per week, from £151 to £196 per week. The £1.3bn uplift in local government grant funding, £600m of which was for social care, may have a minor impact. But the budget did not include details of any changes in government limits on how much councils can raise council tax and the adult social care precept. These will be announced in the draft local government finance settlement, due later in the year.  Set against the fact that four out of ten adult care providers reduced services in 2023 due to cost pressures, it is also not clear how far councils and social care employers will be compensated for the 1.2% point rise in employers NIC’s next April. What is crystal clear is that SOLLA members will have to continue seeking to give best advice to clients, who seek assistance with care provision and fee funding, against a backdrop of uncertainty and confusion for the foreseeable future.” You can find out more in our Post Budget Tax Update webinar from Nick Edwards on Wednesday 13th November. https://lnkd.in/e5u_2ZUa And in our Quarterly Pensions Update from Nigel Barlow on Tuesday 26th November. https://lnkd.in/eJ8Ghd5U #BudgetUpdate #BudgetReflections #LaterLifeCare #PensionsUpdate #LaterLifeAdvice 

We’re looking forward to exhibiting at the National Care Association’s Winter Conference on Thursday 7th November. All SOLLA members are invited to attend the day of interactive debates, tackling social care issues across the UK. We were lucky enough to have Nadra Ahmed as one of our guest speakers at the SOLLA Later Life Conference earlier this month. Where her insights and expertise were incredibly well received. A truly inspirational speaker! You can find out more here and book your place to be part of the discussions: https://lnkd.in/eqS-XS9w #NationalCareAssocaition #SocialCareDebate #LaterLifeCare #LaterLifeSupport #BetterConversations

At SOLLA, we’re passionate about sharing good news stories and the achievements of our valued members. So we’re delighted to share that SOLLA Adviser Adam Kemp has won the Personal Finance Society's award for Retirement and Later Life Advice Specialist of the Year. Congratulations Adam – an incredible achievement! Here’s what he had to say: “My SOLLA Accreditation played such an important part in the later stages of my application for the PFS award. It’s so important to be a SOLLA adviser to specialise in later life advice, and I’m so proud of this achievement and of my ongoing membership with SOLLA.” The PFS Personal Finance Awards celebrate excellence within the financial planning profession and recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals and firms. And at SOLLA, we support our accredited advisers in providing this gold standard of advice, time and time again. Huge congratulations as well to SOLLA advisers Michael Colyer and Nicola Crosbie who were also winners at the awards! You can find out more here about our SOLLA Later Life Adviser Accreditation for better conversations with your later life clients: https://lnkd.in/eQbXzMMq #PFSAwards #LaterLifeAdvice #SOLLAAccreditation #BetterConversations #theSOLLAdifference

At SOLLA, we're here to support wellbeing in later life that goes beyond just the financials. Today is World Stroke Day, raising awareness about stroke prevention and the needs of stroke survivors. 12 million people have a stroke each year and up to 90% of strokes are preventable if people have access to the right information. The World Stroke Organization shares its insights on spotting and treating stroke symptoms as well as providing support for life after a stroke. Encouraging everyone to get involved and to take steps to be #GreaterThan stroke. You can find out more here and help to raise awareness through better conversations about stroke. https://lnkd.in/ep6kBMT And for better conversations with your later life clients, you can find out more about SOLLA here: https://lnkd.in/ePZyhw2c #WorldStrokeDay #GreaterThan #LaterLifeWellbeing #LaterLifeAdvice #BetterConversations

Climate change is something that will impact us all. Life expectancy, global growth, house pricing, home adaptations, future returns, inflation and so much more. In a recent PA Adviser article, our SOLLA Advisory Board member Sebastian Elwell FPFS TEP shared the importance of sustainability in financial planning: https://lnkd.in/eH6cjFZs According to the ONS, 64% of adults in the UK feel worried about climate change. Few may have considered how their financial plan might align with these concerns, but many will be open to discussion. Better conversations with clients are needed and considerations may include investment choices as well as lifestyle adaptations. Home energy solutions or changes to carbon-intensive spending or activities. These are important client decisions that will impact both their own financial future, and their impact on the wider world. Financial sustainability is a crucial part of effective planning for later life and we’re in the process of developing a new SOLLA Green Tick Standard to enable those better conversations: https://lnkd.in/e-erXfxz #ClimateChange #SustainableFinancialPlanning #BetterConversations #SOLLAGreenTick #theSOLLAdifference

The SOLLA Story is built on the incredible team that works hard behind the scenes, and we're so pleased to welcome Olivia Fergusson (known as Liv) as our new Membership Coordinator. Originally from Barbados, Liv moved to the UK in 2020 and lives in Sussex with her family. Alongside her role at SOLLA, she also finds time to create stunning wedding floral designs. Liv takes over from Vanessa as the main contact for all Associate Members - if you're interested in joining SOLLA, she's here on hand to help. Feel free to contact her if you'd like to chat about your membership or to book in your assessment. You can find out more here about SOLLA and our range of membership options: https://lnkd.in/ePZyhw2c #theSOLLAstory #NewTeamMember #FacesBehindTheBusiness #SOLLAMembership #theSOLLAdifference

Musculoskeletal conditions are a common problem across the UK. With a staggering 20 million people affected by conditions including arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis. This week is Bone and Joint Week, with campaigning raising awareness to improve access to osteopathic care, and helping to increase the quality of life as people are living longer. We were lucky enough to hear from David Sinclair from the International Longevity Centre - UK at our SOLLA conference last week. He spoke in depth about the importance of improving our health span as we get older. And it's crucial that we all get the support we need to live long and healthy lives. You can find out more here about Bone and Joint Week and the ways you can get involved. https://lnkd.in/e8E_pmeR #JoinedUpForJoints #BoneAndJointWeek #LaterLifeHealth #LaterLifeSupport #BetterConversations 

Client good news stories are at the heart of what we do at SOLLA. It's not just about sharing the technical knowledge of later life financials. It's about engaging older clients with empathy through better conversations, ensuring that they feel supported and always in safe hands. Catriona Lumiste embodies this ethos in a wonderful review from one of her clients: "I came to see Catriona with my mother who needed advice for care fees planning. This was a very difficult time emotionally for both of us, but Catriona immediately put us at ease. She has great warmth and compassion whilst still retaining professionalism. My mother had never spoken to an adviser before and was very nervous in advance of the meeting. However within a very short period she was totally relaxed. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Catriona for care fees planning. A number of advisers would no doubt be able to help technically. But for an older, vulnerable client, the hand holding approach is of much greater significance than just the technical knowledge. Catriona manages to combine both, which makes her an excellent adviser for the older, vulnerable age group." Well done Catriona for the gold standard of advice that we champion at SOLLA. You can find out more here about SOLLA, and the way to become an accredited adviser: https://lnkd.in/eQbXzMMq #SOLLAAdvisers #ClientReviews #LaterLifeAdvice #BetterConversations #theSOLLAdifference