Financial services partnership Openwork has announced the launch of a new study programme called ‘Route to Wealth’, which aims to upskill mortgage advisers to become fully qualified wealth advisers.

The scheme is designed to encourage more mortgage advisers to move into the pensions and investment area, which will enable them to provide holistic financial planning.

Firms and advisers will benefit from the expanded knowledge and career development, as well as having an increased ability to service pension and investment needs and embed value in their business with recurring income.

A structured training programme – expected to last just under two years – will be provided for nominated candidates, with all costs reimbursed by Openwork.

“Over the next 15 to 20 years, we are entering an unprecedented period of demand for advice for mortgages and pensions, as customers retire with questions about new pension freedoms and how to manage their housing equity,” said John Cupis, mortgage director at Openwork (pictured above).

“Whether it is planning for inheritance tax, optimising tax-free savings allowances, managing an interest-only mortgage, planning to transfer wealth to children or grandchildren, the decisions regarding how to retire will become increasingly complex requiring high-quality advice.”

Cliff Gray, managing director at Openwork firm Prosperity Financial Services Ltd, added: “Route to Wealth from Openwork is an easy choice for me to help grow my practice and develop my advisers.

“Mortgage customers of today are the wealth customers of tomorrow, so this programme – run by the excellent training team at Openwork – will be fantastic for my business.”