The Intermediary – June 2025 - Flipbook - Page 70
B RO K E R B U S I N E S S
Opinion
Charting your
course, mortgage
advice and beyond
T
he journey of a
mortgage adviser oen
begins with a clear,
well-trodden path:
an employed broker,
typically in an estate
agency branch, learning the ropes,
building a client base, and honing
those crucial advisory skills.
For many, the goal is to leverage this
success into self-employment. This
is a commendable and popular route,
offering autonomy and significant
earning potential.
But what if that isn’t the only hill
to climb? For ambitious advisers, the
landscape of career progression is
broadening, offering diverse avenues
that build upon their foundational
experience in exciting new ways.
The modern brokerage or
network isn’t just a launchpad for
independent businesses; it can be a
multifaceted ecosystem for continuous
professional growth.
Expanding horizons
One increasingly appealing option
is the transition from mortgage and
protection advice into wider financial
planning. Advisers who have built
trust and rapport with clients are
uniquely positioned to discuss their
broader financial goals. This can
involve moving into areas such as
pensions, investments, wills, and
estate planning.
Recently, we marked an important
milestone, as one of our advisers made
the transition from offering mortgage
advice to a broader financial advisory
role within our financial services
arm, Just Wealth. This move allows
advisers to offer a holistic service,
deepening client relationships and
expanding their professional horizons.
It’s testament to the diverse talent and
ambition within our network.
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The Intermediary | June 2025
Not only does this evolution
enhance the service we provide,
but it also enriches each adviser’s
skill-set and opens new avenues for
career growth.
Stepping into leadership
For advisers with a flair for motivating
others and a strategic mindset,
management offers a compelling path.
The most direct routes oen involve
roles like a divisional sales director
(DSD), responsible for leading,
developing and recruiting a team of
employed advisers. Alternatively,
within a self-employed structure, an
area director role can be rewarding,
supporting self-employed brokers in
honing their business plans, driving
growth, and facilitating recruitment.
These positions allow experienced
advisers to multiply success across a
wider team.
At Just Mortgages, both our
employed and self-employed
management teams are made up of
former advisers who have a wealth of
experience and expertise to share.
Diversifying skills
The skills honed as a successful
mortgage adviser – aention to
detail, communication, regulatory
understanding and a client-centric
approach – are all highly transferable.
These open doors to vital roles,
offering new opportunities for career
development and personal growth.
Ambitious individuals might find
fulfilling careers in areas such as
compliance, ensuring the business
adheres to ever-evolving regulations.
Others might gravitate toward
learning and development, where they
can help shape the next generation of
advisers by designing and delivering
training programmes and mentoring
new talent.
JOHN PHILLIPS
is chief executive officer
at Spicerhaart
Marketing is another exciting
avenue, where advisers can apply their
understanding of client needs and
market dynamics to influence brand
and outreach. They can also support
self-employed advisers in developing
their own style and strategy.
These roles enable advisers to
apply their expertise in different, yet
equally impactful, ways – offering
fresh perspectives and introducing
new challenges that keep their careers
dynamic and rewarding.
Power of potential
A large, well-resourced brokerage or
network can provide the scale and
infrastructure necessary to offer these
varied opportunities.
For the ambitious adviser, this
means there’s genuinely no ceiling on
their potential. They can grow, pivot
and specialise without necessarily
having to leave the organisation
they’ve come to trust.
For mortgage advisers mapping out
their long-term careers, it’s worth
considering the full spectrum of
possibilities. While the traditional
route to self-employment remains a
strong option, it’s no longer the only
one. It’s important for brokerages and
networks to recognise the immense
potential within their teams and to
provide these avenues for growth.
If these options aren’t readily
available in your current setup,
perhaps it’s a good time to assess
whether your ambitions are
being fully supported. Exploring
opportunities with organisations that
champion diverse career progression
could be the key to unlocking your full
potential in this dynamic industry. ●
