Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) has taken a 'strategic decision' to accept all advisers who achieve the Later Life Adviser Accreditation [LLAA] as members.
In order to increase consumer choice, membership will be available to both independent and restricted advisers.
The Society will make clear the regulatory status of each member so that consumers will then be able to determine which advice offering best suits their needs.
Founder and joint chair Tish Hanifan said "The RDR presented some important considerations for SOLLA. The organisation has taken time to objectively reflect upon how the industry and consumers responded to these changes before we established a firm public position. Our prime focus is to ensure that consumer and their families get access to an accredited later life specialist advise.r"
The organisation is also drawing attention to the need for later life planning in light of the Health and Social Care Bill.
In July, an amendment to the bill calling for those needing care to be explicitly referred to independent financial advisers by councils had been rejected in the House of Lords.
However, it had been recently announced, that the proposal is to be re-submitted in revised form for consideration by MPs.
Joint Chair Jane Finnerty said it was apparent that thousands of consumers were not getting access to the advice they need.
She added:"We have given this decision much thought, and we know that our membership criteria are now well established and based very much on the quality of the adviser and not the products they sell.
"Thousands of consumers are not getting access to the advice they need in the areas of pensions and income in their later years, nor about the ways to pay for their care. By ensuring that access to quality specialist advice which can make such a difference is SOLLA's key influence in determining its way forward."
