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Mortgage adviser

  • Hours

    35-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £18,000 + per year

If you want to help people make financial decisions and you can explain complex things clearly and simply, this job could be for you.

As a mortgage adviser, you would help people to find and apply for a suitable mortgage.

In this job you would need to listen carefully to your customers' requirements. You would also need to be motivated to hit your sales targets.

To get into this job you would usually start out as a customer service adviser or a mortgage administrator and work your way up, whilst studying for professional qualifications. You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme.



The work

Your work could include:

  • advising clients on the homebuying process
  • finding out about your client's finances
  • explaining about different types of mortgage
  • offering a number of mortgages for the client to choose from
  • helping the customer complete the mortgage application
  • explaining about repayments and mortgage protection
  • selling related financial products such as buildings insurance
  • meeting sales targets
  • dealing with estate agents, valuers and mortgage lenders
  • keeping up to date with new mortgage products and any changes in the law.

If you worked for an estate agent or mortgage broker, you would offer mortgages from a range of companies. In a bank or building society, you would only sell your own company's mortgage products. You could also be an independent financial adviser (IFA), advising on all types of financial product including mortgages.

You would need to follow strict industry rules and guidelines, which make sure that you act fairly and are qualified to give appropriate financial advice.


Hours

In a full-time job you would work between 35 and 40 hours a week. You might work standard office hours, or shifts including evenings and weekends in a contact centre. Part-time work is possible.

You would usually be office-based, although some independent advisers work from home.


Income

Mortgage advisers working for a company are usually paid a basic salary plus commission. Independent advisers can be paid either by fees or commission.

  • Basic salaries (without commission) are usually around £18,000 to £25,000 a year
  • Salaries including commission (known as 'on target earnings' or OTE) may be advertised as up to £40,000 or £50,000.

A salary package may also include car allowance, insurance and pension benefits.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You would normally start as a customer service adviser in a bank or building society, or as a mortgage administrator or insurance technician in a firm of brokers. You could then progress into giving mortgage advice as you gain experience and industry-approved qualifications.

Employers often consider ‘people skills’ and a background in customer service, sales or financial services to be more important than your formal qualifications.

You may be able to get into the financial services industry through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information, visit the Apprenticeships website.

See the financial adviser job profile for information on how to become an independent financial adviser.


Training and development

You would develop your skills through a mixture of learning on the job, and studying for recognised qualifications in mortgage advice. Some banks and building societies run structured training schemes for new staff.

As a trainee mortgage adviser you must take an industry-recognised qualification that meets regulatory standards, such as:

  • Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Certificate in Mortgage Advice (Cert MA)
  • ifs School of Finance Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP).

You can study for each of these qualifications by distance learning. Employers will usually support your training and pay for exams.

The ifs School of Finance also offers the Advanced Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice, which is suitable for supervisors and advisers with more experience.

With experience, you could take further exams to qualify as a financial adviser. See the CII and ifs School of Finance websites for more details about their qualifications and training for financial advisers.

You should keep up to date with new products and financial regulations throughout your career. CII and ifs School of Finance both offer a range of short courses and formal continuing professional development (CPD) schemes to help you achieve this.


Skills and knowledge

To be a mortgage adviser you should have:

  • good communication and listening skills
  • the ability to explain complex information clearly and simply
  • excellent customer service skills
  • the drive and motivation to meet targets
  • honesty and a trustworthy attitude
  • an interest in legal and financial matters
  • good mathematical and computer skills
  • respect for confidential information.

More information

Financial Skills Partnership (Opens new window)
51 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 0845 257 3772
www.directions.org.uk

Institute of Financial Services (Opens new window)
ifs House
4-9 Burgate Lane
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2XJ
Tel: 01227 818609
www.ifslearning.ac.uk

Chartered Insurance Institute (Opens new window)
42-48 High Road
South Woodford
London
E18 2JP
Tel: 020 8989 8464
www.discoverrisk.co.uk
www.cii.co.uk


Opportunities

You could work for banks, building societies, estate agents, firms of mortgage brokers and insurance brokers in most places in the UK. You could also work as an independent mortgage adviser.

Jobs may be advertised in the local press, on employers’ own websites, in financial services industry magazines, and by specialist financial recruitment agencies.

With experience, you could manage a team of mortgage advisers, or you could choose to become a self-employed independent adviser. You could also take further qualifications to become a financial adviser.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The financial services industry is represented by the Financial Skills Partnership (FSP) which includes the following activities:

  • Banking – for individuals and businesses to manage their money, access loans, buy property, exchange currencies and many other activities. It is organised into three core categories: Retail; Corporate; and Wholesale banking.
  • Investments – managing and growing the wealth of individuals and organisations
  • Insurance – covers a huge variety of risks, from cars and houses to ships, planes and satellites.
  • Financial Advice – about working with people to plan their financial goals, based on their current situation and looking at the best ways they can achieve their financial objectives, such as helping someone to choose a mortgage, invest their savings or plan for their retirement.

Almost 1.2 million staff in 34,000 workplaces constitute the UK’s financial services sector, from online car insurers to retail banking giants, and from self‐employed independent financial advisers (IFAs) to global investment banks. Operating under a regulatory framework unique to the UK, the sector facilitates the allocation of capital, promotes confidence and continuity in life and business by managing risk and maintains the transaction systems that the rest of the economy relies on to conduct its business.

Key facts:

  • 47% of firms employ 250 people.
  • Employment is dominated by a handful of large employers, most notably the high street retail banks, e.g. Barclays, HSBC.
  • 29 % of the financial services workforce is employed in administrative or secretarial roles.
  • About a quarter of the workforce is in associate professional and technical roles.
  • Managerial roles, including owners in private companies and the self‐employed, account for 37% of the workforce.
  • Employment growth in UK financial services has been weak when compared with other countries, notably the US
  • Recently, there have been notable declines in employment numbers because of the recession
  • Staff turnover has declined, as fewer vacancies and concerns about the recession may be deterring people from changing jobs

Jobs in the industry range from:

  • Insurance – underwriting, broking, customer services, sales, risk management, compliance, training, actuarial and administrative roles
  • Investments – asset management (sometimes called fund management), product development, product management, investment analysis, relationship management
  • Banking – retail banking (customer services, customer advice, financial advice, foreign exchange and branch management); corporate banking (corporate advice, relationship management, small business management and corporate management); and wholesale banking (mergers and acquisitions, research, sales and trading, and corporate finance)
  • Financial advice – mortgage adviser, independent financial adviser, compliance practitioner, pensions adviser

National and regional data

East Midlands – retail banking dominates financial services employment in the East Midlands. Women make up 53% of the workforce and 51% of workers are aged 35‐59. Full‐time employees account for 73% of the workforce and the average salary is £29,383.

East of England – insurance and insurance broking make up the most important parts of the financial service economy in this region, with Norwich a main centre. The region employs 12% of the country’s financial services workforce, with the majority, 88%, full‐time. Men make up 56% of employees, with 57% of workers aged 35‐59. Average earnings are £34,433.

London – this is the major centre of the UK’s financial services industry, centering on the City and Canary Wharf. Wholesale banking and insurance, investments and exchange markets are all well represented here. Almost of quarter of the workforce; 24% is based in London. Men make up 66% of the workforce and most jobs are full‐time, 94%. The majority of employees; 49% are aged 20‐34 and the average salary is £86,779 although this is heavily skewed by the number of high‐earning posts in the City. For most, the average is much lower.

North East – insurance broking and banking are the most important financial services in the region, with Newcastle the main centre of activity. Around 3% of the UK workforce is based in the region. Women form 66% of the workforce and 63% of workers are full‐time. Employees aged 34‐59 make up the largest share of the workforce at 52%, and the average salary is £27,219.

North West – Manchester is the biggest centre in the region but Chester, Macclesfield and Stockport are important clusters. Banking and general insurance form the bulk of businesses. The region employs 9% of the UK’s financial services workforce, with women making up 56% of employees, and most jobs are full‐time, 80%. Workers aged 34‐59 form the largest section of the workforce at 57%. The average salary in the region is £28,416.

South East – the region is second only to London in size, taking up 15% of the workforce. The gender split between men and women is fairly even at 54% and 46%, respectively, and 60% of all employees are aged 34‐59. Most people are employed full‐time, 84% and the average earnings are £37,298.

South West – The main centres for financial services in this region are Bristol, Bournemouth, Gloucester and Swindon. The sector here makes up 7% of the UK’s sector total. Women form 59% of the workforce and the majority of jobs are full‐time, 75%. People aged 34‐59 form the largest share of the workforce. Average salary for the sector is £34,910.

West Midlands – the region employs around 6% of the UK’s workforce, with the majority centred on Birmingham. Banking, general insurance and credit are the most important sub‐sectors here. Men make up 52% of employees, with 72% of jobs overall being full‐time. Workers aged 34‐59 are in the majority at 52%. The average salary is £29,014.

Yorkshire and the Humber – the emphasis across the region is on retail banking and makes up 7% of the country’s workforce. There are slightly more women than men working in the sector at 51%, and 81% of jobs are full‐time. Once again, the 34‐59 age range is most common among employees, accounting for 51%. Average earnings are £27,481.

Scotland – financial services in Scotland range from retail banking to pensions and car insurance, with centres of activity in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dunfermline. Over 2,100 companies are directly involved in the industry, providing 7% of the UK’s financial services workforce. The most common age range of employees is 34‐59, and most people work full‐time, 81%. The average salary for the sector as a whole is £35,016.


Career paths


Further sources


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