User Guides for Smartr/Concert. These comprehensive guides are designed to walk you through the step-by-step process of submitting a protection case. An email with the guide has already been sent, and you can also find it available on the shared drive. A special thanks to Catherine Tomlinson for her hard work in putting these guides together.
For those who missed the webinar walkthrough, Catherine has also created a detailed Q&A document that covers all the questions and answers from the session. Additionally, work is underway to develop more guides that will assist with nonstandard protection case submissions, ensuring you have the support you need for every scenario.
These resources are designed to streamline your protection case submissions and provide clarity on any challenges you may encounter. Stay tuned for more updates and further guides.
Links to guides:
NEW LENDER AL
Teachers Building So
You might not be aware that we have an agreement to be able to use Teachers Building Society!
This is quite unique and they won’t come up on sourcing but as a lender they have lots of useful USPs.
Here is a synopsis from Diane Lloyd-Andrew, Intermediary Relationship Manager:
“We’ve always done things differently. Teachers Building Society was founded in 1966 to solve a problem - lending to professionals (teachers) whose (relatively) low income and small deposits meant they weren't considered attractive lending prospects by high street lenders.
From these roots, TFI now provides mortgages to teachers and other professionals, for residential, buy to let and holiday let, new build & complex lending purposes.
But, just as in the 60s, we don't ask borrowers to tick boxes. We know there are a whole host of obstacles that can make getting a mortgage difficult and will try to find solutions in for these cases.”
There are lots of great criteria points such as:
-FTB and First Time Mover – Teachers can lend up to x 5 income multiple at 95%
-5% builders incentive.
-NHS & Police – Allowances and overtime treated as primary income.
-Holiday lets: Air BNB is acceptable.
-Solutions for new teachers; can complete 2 months ahead of salary increase.
For more information, check out Teachers building society here:
Join us for an insightful webinar with Jon Braddick, Business Development Manager, as he provides an in-depth update on the evolving buy-to-let (BTL) market. This session will explore the key changes in the housing sector and delve into why limited companies have become a hot topic for investors. Over recent years, shifts in tax regulations, mortgage rates, and economic factors have reshaped the landscape of property investment, making limited company structures increasingly attractive for buy-to-let landlords.
Jon will explain how changes in the housing sector have led to the rise in limited company lending, highlighting the advantages for property investors, such as tax efficiency and greater flexibility in managing property portfolios. He will also cover potential challenges, market trends, and provide expert advice on how these changes might impact future investment strategies.
Whether you are a seasoned investor or just entering the buy-to-let market, this webinar will provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from an industry expert and gain the knowledge you need to navigate the current market landscape.
Presenter: Jon Braddick – Business Development Manager Date: 8 or 15 May th th
Register now to secure your spot using this link: https://forms.monday.com/forms/90bc81fc018c249b3b2e6 ed0a0cfea0f?r=use1
JUST WEALTH
The insider newsletter
We’re thrilled to announce the release of the very first issue of our Just Wealth Insider newsletter! Packed with exciting content and great news, this issue brings you uplifting stories of clients discovering long-forgotten pension pots and investments under management seeing remarkable growth—one even up 23%! These success stories highlight the value of regular pension reviews and how they can significantly impact your clients' financial futures.
The newsletter also shines a spotlight on the immediate benefits for brokers, with substantial referral commissions being paid out. The biggest commission payout to date? An impressive £4,000! It’s simple: all you need to do is identify a potential need and make a referral. This could lead to extra income for you, while also offering a valuable service to your clients.
Let’s face it, many of us have pension pots we’ve forgotten about, and reviewing them could lead to significant gains.
ZURICH – April Webinars
Good news! There is still time to get involved with Zurich’s final two April webinars. The first two webinars have been fantastic and the remaining webinars cover different topics again! A bit of detail on what is covered and the links are below:
Webinar 3 – 17th April 12:00pm (45 mins) Zurich’s awardwinning optional benefit called Accelerate, provides access to experts from around the world to offer a package of medical care services for cancer, heart and neurological conditions. It gives your customer more choice than standard medical care in the UK, with fast access to consultations, diagnostics, and second medical opinions. It can also help your customer access the latest precision cancer medicine and clinical trials; as well as treatment abroad at some of the leading hospitals in the world. JOIN HERE
Webinar 4 – 24th April 12:00pm (45 mins) The most valuable asset we have is ourselves and our ability to generate an income, so this session will provide you with an introduction to one of our most important products, the Zurich Income Protection policy. We will look at the facts about long-term sickness and the risk vs reality of customers perceptions. We will look at how income protection works and can meet your customers protection needs, through choice, flexibility and support, using our Life Protection Platform. JOIN HERE
Royal London
Join Royal London for a webinar on holistic protection planning on Wednesday 23rd April at 10am to find out how to support good client outcomes and also good outcomes for advisers. Understanding risk based conversations and how they can help clients to understand the value in protection solutions and then how to design a fully holistic solution that provides multiple opportunities to claim for a family. Focus on the areas of the Royal London proposition that are designed to achieve good outcomes for clients, but can also be used by the adviser to demonstrate the power of advice.
Register here
Kensington: Complex le for the changing custom
As the mortgage landscape evolves, so does the definition of a ‘typical’ customer. In its first 2025 webinar, Kensington explored the rise in complex customer circumstances, what it means for brokers in today’s market and how it may change with the next generation of home buyers.
Social media influencer Kia Commodore, founder of Pennies to Pounds, shed light on Gen Z’s attitudes towards homeownership. This digital-savvy generation are approaching the process differently, with high expectations for flexibility, sustainability, and mobile-first experiences. For brokers, there’s a real opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap and offer tailored support to a new wave of buyers.
Kensington’s Head of Lending Operations, Graham Binnie shared how Kensington is continuing to support brokers as they deal with more complex cases on a regular basis, including customers with variable or multiple income streams and those with complex credit history. From flexible product solutions to manual underwriting, Graham uses real life examples to explain how working closely with brokers can deliver impactful results – like helping an NHS worker stay in her family home or consolidating debt into a manageable solution.
Read the full blog
Halifax - Mortgage affordability changes
What’s new? We are making changes to our mortgage affordability calculations meaning many customers will be able to borrow more. Typical customers may see an increase of around 13% in the maximum loan available.
Key changes: From today, 15 April, we have reduced the stress rates used in our standard affordability calculation, plus when we offer enhanced affordability with 5 year+ products and for some like-for-like remortgage applications.
These changes will benefit customers wanting to purchase or refinance their home. For example, a typical household of 2 adults with 2 dependents, a household income of £75,000 and dit it t ld th t th
BM Solutions –Improvements to stress test rates
What’s new? As of Tuesday 15 April BM are making improvements to the way they assess the affordability of mortgage applications. Changes include:
• Reduced minimum stress rate for 2 year fixed like for like remortgage applications
• Reduced minimum stress rate for all 5 year fixed applications Use our online calculator for an accurate borrowing figure.
Stress rates:
Key information: These changes will apply to all new Decisions in Principle (DIP) and Full Applications started on or after Tuesday 15 April. The website and online calculator will be updated to display and calculate the new stress rates. If you have any queries, please refer to your Business Development Manager.
