And, although it was incredibly daunting, I knew I had already ticked off the many obstacles that had to be overcome before I committed to the decision:

• I had climbed to a senior position within a specialist lender and I could climb no further
• I had sold a buy-to-let property to use the equity as a cushion or an immediate replacement for the loss of a good basic salary
• I had the full emotional support and encouragement of my husband and family
• I had an immediate lead source in a successful and local independent estate agent, with a desk, wi-fi and a modern private office that I could use for client meetings
• I had chosen an award-winning mortgage network with an excellent reputation for the quality of its advice and service
• I was suitably qualified to offer mortgage and protection advice.

Over the 25 years-plus (ouch!) of working in financial services, I had always made good friendships with colleagues and managers.

In the early days of my career I had zero confidence. I never liked speaking in group meetings and always thought I was rubbish at the tasks I was carrying out. However, sometime in the late 1990s a manager pulled me aside and offered me a £5,000 pay rise to not leave. I had had no intention of leaving. I was enjoying my current role and was too anxious to put myself through another interview process.

Turning point

This, I believe, was the turning point for me. I felt honoured that a company thought so much of me, and I worked my socks off in a mortgage underwriting position for nine years — the longest that I have been at any company.

I then took a short break when my daughter was born, before returning to work on a part-time basis for about six months. Although I was still enjoying my role, the part-time arrangement didn’t suit my new manager and it was then that I returned a very timely phonecall from a headhunter.

I moved to an identical role with another lender and once again found that I was enjoying my work. This progressed to a sales role and, although I couldn’t believe I was putting myself through the interview process, I loved every minute — I was turning into a salesperson.

With fabulous management support behind me, I climbed further up the ladder — even surviving the credit crunch — albeit with different lenders. In those days, lenders were disappearing fast.

I think it was the number of mortgage brokers I met over the years through my sales roles that made me realise what a wonderful feeling it must be to work for oneself, helping people while earning a decent living.

I had faith in myself, and I did it. So here I am, 14 months in with my own business, trading as the wonderful Mortgage Advice Bureau, and my 18-year-old daughter is working with me.

A good friend who I met in my early career joined me as an adviser and you could say I have not looked back once.

Adaptability

It hasn’t been quite as I had envisaged, however. I am sitting in my garden office with my two dogs while writing this in between Zoom appointments, and I sometimes still sit here at 9pm.

But I feel very lucky. The estate agent leads I receive are of good quality; I am now being contacted by friends and ex-colleagues, and through client referrals, with new business; and I am managing to keep on top of lenders’ ever-changing criteria and products.

I hope I can continue to believe in myself and in this ever-changing world, and I hope that I can meet up soon with my old colleagues for a glass of bubbly. You all know who you are!

Clare Jarvis is a mortgage and protection adviser at Mortgage Advice Bureau