Broker in Focus: Bob Singh, Chess Mortgages

My first real job was with an estate agency chain in Ealing and other branches in West London, where I gained my first experience before moving to John Charcol as an independent mortgage financial advisor a few years later.

What do you think has been the most positive development in the brokerage business?

The mortgage world has certainly changed during my time. Technology has played a crucial role for lenders and brokers and further progress has not yet been made to streamline not only the mortgage process but also the conveyancing process. Lenders will all eventually use CRMs, further improving the application journey, with sourcing systems also playing an important role.

What challenges do you currently see the industry facing and what solutions would you suggest?

The challenges are diverse. The ever-changing FCA rules, compliance, social media, new regulations and laws, and new government tax and ownership laws will keep us on our toes. In order to deliver the right results to our customers, it is important to keep your knowledge up to date.

COVID-19 has changed the way many people work and taught us to adapt. The evolution of our industry will continue for many years to come as AI continues to evolve and may one day replace some aspects of our work.

Can you share with us a memorable or challenging experience from your brokerage career and the lessons you learned from it?

Getting new customers is always the hardest thing. With so much competition from all sides, it's easy to lose track. Sometimes it can seem like every man and his dog are vying for the same mortgage deal.