An adviser at an Exeter Financial Planning firm has been welcomed into the prestigious Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) organisation. 

Carolyn Matravers, who works at Old Mill recently gained the accreditation is the second at the firm to gain the accolade.

SOLLA was formed in 2008 as a not for profit society dedicated to helping people and their families find trusted accredited financial advisers who understand the financial needs of later life.

Accreditation is the ‘Gold Standard’ for later life financial advice, and all advisers have to pass a rigorous assessment and attain the required qualifications to it.

All SOLLA advisers are also independently assessed for the quality of advice that they give and listed on the SOLLA website to allow older people and their families to find an accredited adviser near them.

Old Mill also has offices in Wells, Yeovil and Melksham and Ms Matravers will work with clients from all four.

She is the second Old Mill adviser to become accredited after Chris Tweedie, who qualified five years ago.

She said: “The increasingly complex nature of later life finances means that it can be a total minefield for older people and their families, so having expert advice from someone who can take a holistic view of the whole later life market, as well as care funding matters, is absolutely vital.”

She says that often advisers will have knowledge in some areas but not others.

“This means that many older people are either not getting enough help or support for their needs, or are receiving incomplete or inaccurate advice,” she said.

She added: “My role is to provide support, guidance and a listening ear at a most vulnerable time for individuals and their families.

“My 19 years of experience means I can help people navigate the complexities of the care system and provide the information required to make informed financial decisions.”

Ms Matravers covers everything from ensuring that the individual is receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled, to addressing the more complex Financial Planning needs.

She works closely with her clients, their children and grandchildren and alongside accountants, other Financial Planners and solicitors and carries out direct work which includes liaising with the Office of the Public Guardian and acting as a mediator between families and the local authority.