Providing the latest and most relevant information, tips and inside knowledge on mortgages. Below is the latest article that has been created for you by Expert Mortgage Advisor’ qualified mortgage advisors that are UK based and fact-checked by a team of mortgage experts. For more information, visit their website or contact their team here.
NB The articles featured below don’t constitute financial advice and should only be used as guides.
What to do once you’ve completed CeMAP
Expert Mortgage Advisor has partnered up with Brilliant Solutions to produce a guide for newly qualified mortgage advisors. The guide will be split up into three separate articles and will cover:
- Completing CeMAP – What to do next
- How to achieve competent advisor status (CAS)
- What to do once you’ve achieved CAS status
As a newly qualified mortgage advisor, you’ll be filled to the brim with course notes. But, how do you actively use this new found knowledge to kickstart your mortgage career?
Should I find employment or become a self-employed mortgage advisor?
Before you can get started, you’ll need to decide whether you want to find a job as a mortgage advisor, or become a self-employed broker. There is no right or wrong path, but each option does have its pros and cons.
Benefits of being an employed mortgage broker
The main benefit of being an employed mortgage broker is you’d earn an annual salary. Your employer may also pay you commission and bonuses on top of your salary, which is typically performance based.
Other advantages include:
- Holiday entitlement
- Sickness pay
- Paid for your time
- Office environment provided
- Tools provided (laptop, phone)
- Employer arranges your Tax and National Insurance contributions
Each employer is different, so the advantages aren’t guaranteed, but it’s what typical employers will offer. Furthermore, you’ll also have the option of working in a bank, mortgage brokerage or an estate agent.
Are there any disadvantages to being an employed mortgage broker?
The main disadvantage, when compared to a self-employed broker, is you perhaps won’t have the flexibility of being your own boss.
Other disadvantages include:
- Commissions and bonuses may be capped
- Earn smaller amounts from each case
- Less control
- Less flexibility
- Often have to work from company location
- Working to company targets
- Under instruction from boss
Again, each employer varies, so do check the details of any potential employers you’re thinking of joining.
Benefits of being a self-employed mortgage advisor
It’s important to note that you should still receive the same amount of training to achieve your CAS status, irrespective of whether you’re self-employed or employed.
- Uncapped commissions
- Receive larger shares of each case
- More control
- Completely flexible
- Work from anywhere
- Choose your own working hours and days
- No boss to report to
- Set your own goals and targets
Are there any disadvantages to being an employed mortgage broker?
Being your own boss involves heaps of motivation and discipline as there’s nobody there to push you. Some of us simply get a lot more done when we have an employer to report to.
- No holiday entitlement
- No sickness pay (from employer)
- Not paid for your time, only for cases that you covert
- Arrange your own tax and National Insurance administration
- File your own accounts
- Working environment and tools may not be provided
Conclusion – what should I do?
You’ll know your own strengths and weaknesses. While there is no right or wrong answer, you may find that one employment type may suit you more. Also, there’s nothing stopping you from switching employment types at a later date if you find that it’s not quite what you thought it was.
Many brokerages allow you to be self-employed, while also providing you with administration staff, an office and working tools, along with training as part of the network they’re with. That being said, you’ll often have to sacrifice a small amount of your case fees to gain such extras.
Once you gain enough experience, you may want to open your own brokerage, or become directly authorised. We’ll cover this in our next 2 guides.