Set up by entrepreneur Maxim Cohen and business development expert Lisa Bird, it has been designed to help established advisers who want to take their business to the next level. It’s also for graduates, people looking for a career change, or those who simply want to be their own boss.
A franchise proposition called The UK Adviser has been launched, enabling ambitious individuals to build their own mortgage business with signifiant levels of support.
Set up by entrepreneur Maxim Cohen and business development expert Lisa Bird, it has been designed to help established advisers who want to take their business to the next level. It’s also for graduates, people looking for a career change, or those who simply want to be their own boss.
Cohen, chief executive of The UK Adviser, said: “The message is clear: becoming a UK Adviser provides an exciting opportunity to own your own business as part of a credible and nationally-recognised brand.
“We have launched this business with the intention of disrupting the industry and offering the simplest and most sure-fire way for people to set themselves up as a fully FCA-approved mortgage adviser or grow their existing business.
“We want to provide ambitious individuals with a ‘business in a box’ style framework which will give them everything they need to drive a profitable and successful business, leaving them to focus on what matters most – securing mortgages, generating sales and providing the incredible personal service which will form the foundation of their success.”
The FCA-regulated company – the only adviser model to be fully-backed by the British Franchise Association (BFA) uses a bespoke software solution (The Adviser Suite®) and user-focused support system.
The industry-leading cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) system, together with case managers who will handle all admin and paperwork, will provide mortgage advisers with more time to grow their client portfolio, complete mortgages and ultimately boost their bottom line.
Chief operating officer, Lisa Bird has already invested personally in the business by purchasing the first UK Adviser franchise.
She said: “With over 17 years’ experience in the mortgage market, we recognised a significant decrease in the level of personal service offered to consumers.
“Advancements in digital technology have been hugely beneficial to industry, but they’re no substitute for a strong relationship between a trusted adviser and their client – it’s exactly this personal approach that The UK Adviser is championing and the reason why I made the decision to not only launch the business alongside Maxim, but also personally invest in the franchise, demonstrating my belief in the vision of the company.”
Together with a far-reaching network, core to the newly-launched proposition is The UK Adviser’s training programme, The UK Academy.
Through the academy, training is tailored to each level and funding is available for those new to the industry.
It includes: courses for becoming CeMAP qualified – an industry requirement for mortgage advisers; post-exam training; and ongoing development to help people achieve competent adviser status (CAS), before being awarded an exclusive Certified UK Adviser (Cert-UKA™) accreditation.
Cohen added: “In an industry first, training forms the basis of our framework and will cater for all levels of experience, from those new to the financial services industry to already qualified advisers.
“Our decision to place such a focus on continued development ensures that UK Advisers lead the industry by providing consumers with up-to-date advice of the highest quality.
“Training isn’t only for those new to the industry, it’s just as important for those advisers who are already established.
“The financial services industry is constantly evolving and we believe that the only way to stay ahead of the game and provide clients with a top-class service is through continued professional development (CPD).”
CeMAP-qualified advisers looking to become UK Advisers will be awarded the exclusive Certified UK Adviser (Cert-UKA™) accreditation.
The UK Academy also offers the Certified UK Commercial Finance Adviser (Cert-UKCFA™) accreditation for those looking to build a business or brokers already operating in the commercial property sector.
In addition, The UK Academy offers further qualifications, in areas such as equity release and advanced mortgage advice.
