Banking expertise meets tech for seamless mortgage broking
Simon Lees (pictured above) swapped 15 years of banking for mortgage broking in 2019, bringing his experience, adaptability, and a love for tech tools to help clients navigate the world of home loans with ease.
A shift into mortgage broking
Lees transitioned into mortgage broking in November 2019, after spending over 15 years in various roles within the banking industry. The move into mortgage advising felt like a natural next step when a vacancy opened at Youm, the perfect opportunity for Lees to make the leap.
“I had spent over 15 years in the banking industry in a number of roles, and the team here had a vacancy which was a perfect fit for me to make the change,” he says.
Since then, Lees has embraced his new role, leveraging his extensive financial experience to help clients navigate the often-complex mortgage process.
Changing perceptions of mortgage broking
Over the past 10 to 15 years, Lees has noticed a significant shift in how the mortgage broking industry is perceived.
“Initially, I think banks were somewhat reluctant to deal with advisers and clients were unsure of the benefits,” Lees says. “I think this has dramatically changed with time and quality advice being offered.”
This shift is largely due to the improvement in training, compliance, and the quality of advice provided by mortgage brokers. Lees sees these developments as essential to ensuring clients have positive experiences and gain valuable insights into their financial options.
The challenge of finding quality advisers
One of the biggest challenges Lees sees in the industry is attracting and retaining individuals who can become top-quality mortgage advisers. Reflecting on his own journey, Lees acknowledges how fortunate he was to step into a role with an established client base, something that many new brokers do not have.
“The financial implications of becoming an adviser are huge,” he says. “I was also incredibly lucky to walk into an office where there is a huge amount of experience. Training is great, but experience is key.”
To address this challenge, Lees believes there should be a more structured onboarding process for new advisers. Mentorship and provider-specific training could help bridge the knowledge gap and ensure that new brokers can navigate the complexities of the industry with confidence.
“Having someone to talk through new or complicated deals is really important to develop experience and ensure the best outcomes for customers,” he says.
Lessons from the post-COVID rush
Reflecting on one of his most challenging experiences, Lees recalls the surge in workload during the post-COVID period.
“The challenge of trying to balance a healthy workload when it was so frantic was a real challenge for a lot of people,” he says. “Long hours and working weekends is simply not sustainable.”
From this experience, Lees learned the importance of embracing technology to manage workloads more efficiently. One tool, in particular, stood out: MyCRM, which helped Lees and his team streamline processes and ensure a positive client experience.
“MyCRM is a phenomenal tool that helps make things considerably more productive and ensures a great experience for everyone,” he says.
Advice for aspiring mortgage advisers
For anyone looking to enter the mortgage broking industry, Lees stresses the importance of having a strong support network. It’s not just about having a referral network, but also having experienced colleagues to lean on for advice and guidance.
“Every day we’re learning something new, and I’m extremely lucky to have a strong team where we can share our experiences,” he says.
“Who are the support people that have experience that you can talk to when you are learning? Who are the people that can talk through a tough application to try and find the best outcome for a client?”
With the right network and support in place, Lees believes that new mortgage advisers can thrive in the industry and continue learning every day.
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