Plenty of websites offer calculators, information, and other tools to help consumers seeking equity release products. Yet, these websites work in different ways. For example Saga does not provide equity release schemes. They utilise Just Retirement for equity release products. Saga has built their business on offering annuity products Just Retirement actually creates. To understand the impartiality of the Saga equity release calculator you first have to understand more about the company.
Saga and Just Retirement Partnership
The Financial Service Authority (FSA) recently became the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and with this a new overhaul of annuities has occurred. Saga has a strong business partnership with Just Retirement on the basis of helping the company sell their annuity based equity release schemes to retirees 55 years or older. Saga may have to re-evaluate their partnership due to government changes or wait to see if Just Retirement will make changes to remain in the equity release industry.
Saga is going to be directly affected if sales of annuity based products begin to fall, after all they are selling these products as an intermediary between consumers and Just Retirement. Saga, for their ability to generate business on their site and help Just Retirement is paid fees. These fees are paid by Just Retirement, so the relationship is not truly an independent one, but more of a symbiotic relationship.
Saga also has information regarding interest rates as they apply to more than Just Retirement products. For example the Aviva Flexible Lifetime Mortgage plan is examined by Saga. The plan Saga offers is not considered as competitive as Aviva interest rates, which are found on sites like Equity Release Supermarket and other top equity release intermediaries. Basically Aviva information might be on Saga’s site, but just as a comparison.
Other Details to Know about the Situation
Saga’s partnership with Just Retirement Solutions operates within a tied panel basis. It is independent as other brokers. There is even the option of going off panel when necessary; however, this is not always offered right away. In fact consumers have to understand how the company works before they can request independent information.
How it Ties in
With the Saga equity release calculator values are going to assess Just Retirement plans. The information on the site is going to be about the annuity plans Just Retirement has. Yet, when you consider the differences of another company and what the Aviva equity release calculator may show, you will see different results. Aviva currently offers an APR as low as 5.63%, while Saga equity release schemes are over 6%.
One of the things Saga does to get your interest is to lower costs initially such as the upfront fees to obtain the loan. Remember you are obtaining a lifetime mortgage with an annuity from Just Retirement. There is a potential to save £500 in upfront costs, but this big savings is not always going to translate throughout the rest of the lifetime mortgage.
APR is an interest rate that will add up over the years. It compounds onto the loan and principle balance. Even if you have an annuity that is working to save up money for the eventual repayment is the higher interest rate on the product itself really going to help you save enough?
The answer is not always. Going with a big savings in the beginning or having an annuity structure is not always better than the low interest rate particularly if the rate is fixed at the lower rate.
Using Tools to Discern the Truth
You should not ignore the information you can find with both the Aviva and Saga calculators. Instead, use both tools to get results. By examining the different companies and their products it is possible to make a sound decision. Of course, you want to have more information than just the calculator to base your decision on. The calculator has to be used as an estimator of potentials. It is a guide that provides you information about specific products or if you find an impartial one, a calculator that provides information on several types of equity release.
Due diligence and speaking with an independent broker with no ties to any company is going to help you find the one product that is best suited for you. As you consider using the Saga equity release calculator keep in mind the above information, gain your calculations to use as a guide, and remember to speak with an expert then make a decision.