He thought he was going to be a dentist…
In life, things do not always go as planned. Ask Ranald Mitchell (pictured), director of Norwich-based mortgage and insurance broker Charwin Private Clients. Everybody, including himself, thought he was going to be a dentist.
Getting into the industry
Three years into his six-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery course at Dundee University, Mitchell dropped out – much to the disappointment of his family. But he realised dental surgery just wasn’t for him.
He returned to the north of Scotland, near Inverness, where he grew up - not an filled with opportunity, according to Mitchell. However, when he got there, life assurance business Abbey Life was advertising for trainee independent financial advisers (IFAs) in the area.
“I was interviewed and got the position, followed by training and FPC (Financial Planning Certificate) exams,” he recounted. “Abbey Life were very much investment led, yet very early on, it was mortgages that most of my clients were asking about.
“Having no clients and starting from scratch, I had to hit the Highlands and Islands phone directory and cold call people to make appointments, a far cry from today. Allied Dunbar eventually bought the Abbey Life sales force, and I was let go.”
At this point, Mitchell decided to move to Norwich, where he got into various mortgage related roles before setting up his own company.
Motivations to continue as a broker
“Mortgages matter to people,” Mitchell stressed. “Helping and educating people on how to get the best from their money is hugely rewarding.
“We have decided as a firm to broaden wider than the mainstream mortgage market and focus on helping credit impaired applicants, an area that is completely underserved. Complimenting this is our secured lending proposition, one of the strongest in the industry.”
Mitchell’s Charwin Private Clients also offer bridging, buy-to-let and commercial finance – all leading to them delivering the vision of holistic finance brokers rather than just mortgage brokers.
“All our 14 advisers are multi-disciplined and continue to work in a dynamic and fast paced environment where a lot is happening,” he said. “It is fun, who needs motivation?”
Looking to the future
Mitchell shared that the business was looking to increase its adviser base in any locations. Getting the right people onboard is key to a successful business, he said.
It actively markets its brand and takes control over volumes of enquiries and activity, but it is certainly not stopping there though.
“Innovation is also key, never stand still,” Mitchell said. “We are in conversation with several companies who are offering gradual non-mortgage home ownership, an exciting and new way to tackle the problems faced by people trying to get on to the housing market.
“We know there is a big market for these products and will continue to work with these firms ahead of launch.”
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