Justanupdate
Monday9thJune.Thisweek'sheadlines:
Smartr365 Selective Fact Find -
Competition!
Within Smartr365 you are able to invite your client to the client portal, and save a significant amount of time pre appointment, by getting your client to complete a fact find. Best of all, the power is in your hands as to how much of this your client completes using Smartr365’s “selective factfind” feature.
To encourage as much take up of this powerful feature as possible – here is your chance to WIN!
Every month during June, July & August our top 3 Advisers by volume of factfinds sent in the portal will win a Prezzee Gift Card (100’s of retailers to choose from!)
First prize £150 Vouchers
Second prize £100 Vouchers
Third prize £50 Vouchers
We will issue weekly updates, but you can track your progress daily by visiting: Smartr365 Performance Dashboard - Access Password is: Smartr365JMD!
June’s competition is already underway (ends 3 July) Well done to Joe Lambert for taking an early lead! rd
If you are yet to use this powerful feature, here are just a few reasons to use it
Time saving – anything from 15-60 minutes saved (depending on how much of the factfind the client is asked to complete)
NO mandatory fields – if a client is unsure of a question then can leave it blank
Opportunity for you to review all data once completed (no locking out of fields)
Clients can also opt to upload payslips/bank statements within the portal which come straight into your Smartr365 system.
Get better client engagement. Studies show1 that when firms proactively engage customers before a transaction, it encourages behaviours that go beyond the initial sale, leading to more meaningful and lasting business relationships.
1 – University of Strathclyde Study 2023
If you haven’t yet used this feature, click HERE to find a handy guide
The Ripple Effect: Why Supporting Families Matters – and How the
Wellbeing Assistance Programme Helps
When one person in a family is struggling, the effects ripple outward. Whether it’s a partner navigating grief, a parent facing financial pressure, or a teenager struggling with anxiety, the emotional load rarely stays isolated. That’s why the Wellbeing Assistance Programme doesn’t just support advisers—it supports the people around them too.
According to a study by Mind, 71% of people said their mental health challenges had a significant impact on their family relationships. When you’re going through something difficult, your loved ones often carry invisible weight: the worry, the emotional labour, and the fear of saying the wrong thing. At the same time, families can be the greatest source of comfort and resilience—if they’re supported too.
That’s where the Wellbeing Assistance Programme steps in. As a self-employed adviser, you might not have access to the traditional employee benefits— but this programme is designed specifically with you and your family in mind.
The hidden cost of unsupported families:
When families aren't supported, the consequences multiply:
· Difficulty focusing on clients or workload due to emotional strain
· Feeling isolated in your role when balancing personal challenges
· Strained relationships and reduced wellbeing at home
· Higher stress and burnout, which directly impact performance and decision-making
In contrast, advisers who know their families have support in place often feel more focused, more confident, and more resilient—both professionally and personally.
What the Wellbeing Assistance Programme offers to families:
Free, confidential counselling for you and your immediate family
Support for teenagers facing anxiety, school issues, or emotional stress
Practical advice lines on legal, financial, and relationship matters
Parenting and life support to help with everything from toddler tantrums to teenage transitions
24/7 helplines for urgent mental health concerns, bereavement, domestic issues, and more
Whether your partner needs someone to talk to, your teenager is struggling with anxiety, or you just need a confidential conversation at 2 a.m.—help is there.
Because when families are supported, advisers thrive too.
Our Wellbeing Programme is provided by Health Assured, support for you and your immediate family members*, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling 0800 917 6470
*Health Assured define immediate family members as spouse/partners and children aged 16 to 24 in full-time education, living in the same household.
Paymentshield
reintroduces Unemployment cover
The underwriter for Paymentshield’s Mortgage Protection (MPPI) and Income Protection (STIP) products moved on 2 June 2025 from Covea to AmTrust Specialty Limited (with claims administered by URIS Group Limited). With this change, we are thrilled to announce for the Mortgage Protection product (MPPI) Paymentshield have re-introduced Unemployment cover for new business.
Mortgage Protection Overview: Mortgage Protection is designed to cover a customer's mortgage commitments in case of accident, sickness, or involuntary unemployment. The product also includes carer cover for immediate family members.
Cover Options: Customers can choose between accident and sickness only, or accident, sickness, and unemployment cover. The unemployment cover includes a 12-month benefit period and carer cover.
Eligibility: Customers must be 18-64 years old, work at least 16 hours a week, live in the UK, and be named on the mortgage agreement. Selfemployed customers can also take out mortgage protection.
Cover Details: The maximum monthly benefit is 75% of the customer's monthly earned income before tax or £3,000, whichever is lower. Joint borrowers can purchase individual policies or a joint policy with a split benefit.
Waiting Periods: Various waiting periods are available, including 30 days back to day 1, 30 days with a 30-day excess, 60 days back to day 1, 60 days with a 30-day excess, and 180 days with a 30day excess.
For more detailed information you can go to Paymentshield | Mortgage Protection Insurance; the Policy Booklet includes information such as what’s required to make a claim under the Unemployment Cover.
To quote go to Paymentshield’s Adviser Hub select Quotes, Start New Quote then Start Quote for Mortgage Protection.
Halifax Announce Income Policy Enhancements
What’s new? With immediate effect Halifax are improving their income policy for some customers who will now receive better affordability outcomes:
• Customers who receive bonuses and have changed employer
• NHS workers undertaking different types of overtime
Key changes:
Previous employer bonuses: To calculate bonus income we use the lower of the bonus received in the latest year or the average of the bonus received in each of the last 2 years. For customers who receive annual bonuses we will now include a bonus from the previous employer received in the previous year when calculating the 2 year average.
NHS overtime: Two income types which are a feature of NHS pay can be included as overtime:
• Waiting List Initiative – a centrally funded form of overtime specifically designed to address the backlog of operations
• Additional Programme Activity – additional programmed activities which basically constitutes pre agreed overtime
Accord | 95% LTV for new build houses, and increased maximum loan amounts
Accord is pleased to confirm that they have made two criteria changes to help you support more clients:
1.95% LTV for new build house purchases
2.Increased maximum loan amounts for purchases, remortgages and additional lending.
You don’t need to do anything differently, just submit your DIP as usual and MSO will do the rest.
95% LTV for new build house purchases:
95% LTV for new build house purchases
There are no changes to the existing scorecard
Current affordability assessments, criteria and LTIs apply
£750,000 maximum loan
Exclusions:
X Flats (max 90% LTV)
X Not available in combination with Cascade Score or Boost LTI.
Increased Maximum loan amounts for other purchases, remortgages & additional lending:
Applicable for houses and flats
The maximum LTV for Additional Lending will remain at 85% LTV
Current affordability assessments, criteria and LTIs appl
The maximum LTV for loans over £2.6 million and up to £5 million is 75%.
Visit their website to find out more about new build. Accord’s maximum loan amounts can be found here
Clydesdale Bank |
Better for Buy to Let
Bigger, better buy-to-let
Clydesdale Bank has improved its buy-to-let affordability assessment – meaning more of your clients can get the loans they need with Clydesdale Bank.
Clydesdale Bank has improved its calculations to boost the amount it could lend to applicants. An affordability assessment that uses personal income could be a great route to help your clients get what they want.
Check out Clydesdale Bank’s improved affordability
Kensington | Money
Myths – What todays
profiles don’t always show
Join Kensington Mortgages next webinar exploring the changing financial profiles they are seeing across the market and what support is available for your clients on their mortgage journey, whether they’re stepping onto the ladder, moving home or reviewing their existing deal.
Register here
‘Metro Bank Talks…’
available on demand
Did you miss the recent ‘Metro Bank Talks… Selfemployed and Complex Income’ session? Good news –it’s now available to watch on demand at a time that suits you.
Watch now.
You can also catch up on two other popular webinars from our Metro Bank Talks series: Limited Company Buy to Let Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor
Whether you’re looking to refresh your knowledge or pick up new tips for supporting your customers, these sessions are designed to provide you with essential information, whenever you’re ready to tune in.
Got a case to discuss?
Get in touch with your local BDM; they would love to hear from you. Find your BDM here. Or call the Broker helpdesk on 020 3427 1019.