R07 : Advanced mortgage advice Qualification Success Story
I have been working within the mortgage industry since 2008 and have worked in many different roles within the industry. I started my career as an administrator, then became a mortgage advisor and then progressed further to become a mortgage manager with a large national estate agency. This gave me the experience to manage and develop teams of advisors, so I was able to share my knowledge and experience.
During my time as a mortgage manager, I had the opportunity to take on additional qualifications, so I chose R06 – Financial Planning Practice and R07 – Advanced Mortgage Advice. As I had no previous financial services experience, I decided that it was best to work through the qualification in order from level 6 up to level 7. The syllabus was completely new to me, and following my studies, I felt like I had gained a wealth of information that would certainly benefit me in my career.
I passed both exams first time around and felt extremely confident moving forward into my next role. My knowledge of mortgages changed dramatically; I could now advise customers on all aspects of their finances including mortgages, protection insurance, investments and pensions. The support given by Mentor throughout the course was outstanding; they were always available via email or telephone if you My name is Michael and I am a financial adviser. I have been in the industry for 11 years, working for various companies such as Fidelity International, HSBC and Santander.
I am currently employed by a small independent firm of financial advisers in Bristol, where I provide whole-of-market advice on mortgages and protection products to clients. I have recently completed my R07 : Advanced mortgage advice Qualification with the Open University and would like to share my experience with other students who are considering enrolling on this course. The most challenging aspect of the qualification was learning how to use the different tools that are available to calculate loan sizes on interest only mortgages and how those calculations can be affected by different rates of inflation. There are so many variables that need to be considered, but once you get your head around them, it becomes easier and an essential part of the process when providing financial advice.
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