Fosters Financial is an Essex- and Suffolk-based brokerage that specialises in securing the best mortgage or short-term finance solution for its customers, no matter their stage of life.

We are a team of professionals who love what we do and are focused on not only helping our clients overcome their financial challenges but also ensuring that they receive the highest-quality service.

What led you to become a broker?

Unlike that of many brokers, my career path has been relatively straightforward.

I started my first Saturday job when I was 16 as a cashier at Lloyds Bank. I enjoyed it so much that, when I left school, I decided to go full time.

With ample opportunities for progression, I was able to work my way up to an account manager and, after many happy years at Lloyds, I left to join the Co-Operative Bank to gain further experience in the sector.

With a passion for sales and working with people, brokering was the next natural step for me, and I was fortunate enough to secure a trainee broker position at Spicerhaart.

I was immediately enrolled on Legal & General’s School of Excellence programme, which provided a solid foundation for me to build my new career and ultimately establish Fosters Financial in 2016.

What plans do you have for the future of your firm?

The goal for Fosters Financial is to be the recommended broker of choice in East Anglia.

To achieve this, we will build key relationships with like-minded, forward-thinking businesses, and open more offices in key locations across the region to bring us closer to our customers.

To continue providing the same high-quality service our clients deserve, we will also look to hire more staff who believe in our ethos and want to be a part of our exciting journey.

What single thing could lenders do to improve brokers’ lives the most?

Providing direct access to underwriters would make brokers’ lives significantly easier.

With an increasing number of people requiring specialist help to obtain a mortgage, more applications are being sent for underwriting. As the review process takes anything from two to seven days, it can prove very problematic if the underwriter then requires additional information or documentation to enable them to reach a decision.

Adopting a model like Halifax’s for its lower-risk cases would not only help brokers to speed up the mortgage application process and help us to provide a better level of service to our customers, but also prevent the lender’s own systems from getting unnecessarily clogged up.

What advice do you have for a broker just starting out?

Embrace the current climate and remain optimistic.

The demand for mortgages following the end of lockdown is like nothing we have seen before and, with the daily product and criteria changes, ensuring consumers receive the right mortgage advice has never been so important.

Buddying up with an experienced adviser and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it will also help you to succeed.

You will make some mistakes along the way, but as long as you learn from them you will be sure to go far.

How can the industry encourage a new intake of brokers?

Investing in a new training academy with nationwide centres would significantly help attract more people to the industry.

The level of support new brokers receive varies greatly, which can have an adverse effect on the advice they then provide to consumers.

In providing a central establishment, we can ensure that all trainees receive the right training and support required to start a career in mortgage advice, which will not only increase consumer trust in brokers and the wider industry but also make us more accessible to the next generation.