Mortgage Advice

What is it?

We provide Independent and Whole-of-Market Mortgage Advice and are sometimes call “Mortgage Brokers”. This means that we have no ties to any banks or lenders out there and we work for our clients best interests only – our advice is impartial and unbiased. As we’re Independent Financial Advisers, we can also help with wider financial questions than just a mortgage broker could.

How we do it

When we meet for the first time, we will explain to you our Four Stage Mortgage Advice Process.  We take all of our Mortgage Clients through every step of this journey because providing you with a consistently high standard of advice and service is of paramount importance to us.

Stage 1 – Initial Consultation

This stage allows us both to get to know each other and ensure we’re a good fit for working together. Unless stated otherwise, this is normally done at our own expense. We invest the time here to listen and understand your current financial position and circumstances, and conduct Whole of Market research (see below) and advise of your mortgage options. We would provide you with a fixed Broker Advice Fee if we agree to work together and move forward to the next stage. During Stage 1, we have three layers to our mortgage research:

  • Lender Criteria search to ensure your circumstances and the property you’re buying/remortgaging meets the lender’s criteria
  • Lender Affordability check to ensure the lender can lend you the amount you need
  • Mortgage product search (whole-of-market) to ensure you’re getting the most competitive and suitable mortgage product

This is the first milestone and lays and solid foundation for you to proceed onto buying your property or remortgaging. Once we’ve recommended a suitable lender to proceed with based on our research, the lender would carry out some basic credit checks and “affordability checks” to see how much they could lend you in theory.

We’d progress your case onto a Full Mortgage Application once your property offer has been accepted or as soon as possible for remortgages. This involves submitting supporting documents, such as payslips and bank statements, for the lender’s underwriter to review. Separately the lender would also request a surveyor to value the property to ensure the property is worth the price agreed and is suitable security for the mortgage. If all goes well, then a formal Mortgage Offer is issued and you’ll be in the home straight.

Your solicitors (known as “conveyancers”) would be working behind the scenes to complete the necessary legal process. Once a Completion Date has been set, your purchase/remortgage would be completed. Thereafter, typically between 3 to 6 months before your mortgage deal comes to an end, we’d be in touch to review your existing lender’s product range and compare this against the whole market to ensure your next deal would be just as competitive to save you money.

Who we work with

  • First Time Buyers (including Shared Ownership or Shared Equity schemes)
  • Home movers (such as those upgrading their homes, and those wishing to buy a second property)
  • Landlords (investment properties, Buy-to-Lets, HMOs)
  • Remortgages (with and without capital raising)
  • Self-employed individuals and business owners
  • Contractors
  • Limited Company mortgages
  • Expats
  • Foreign Nationals (with and without Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK)
  • Chinese & Hong Kong nationals – we speak fluent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese

By working with us you will:

  • Save money, time and hassle;
  • Have peace of mind;
  • Have greater certainty and confidence of your maximum budget and affordability;
  • Have a professional who will advise and guide you through the often stressful mortgage and house buying process. We would often liaise with the estate agent and solicitors when needed to take the burden off your shoulders;
  • Benefit from regulated, professional and independent and whole-of-market mortgage advice.

IFS Wealth & Pensions is both Independent Financial Advisers & Chartered Financial Planners (external link), awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute, which is often regarded the gold standard in the profession.  Less than 5% of advice firms are Chartered so you can be sure that the advice we provide is of the highest standards. We take no shortcuts in our work.

IFS Wealth & Pensions Ltd
IFS Wealth & Pensions Ltd
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  • I have been really impressed with the service delivered by Alan. Very efficient, rapid in response, and gave appropriate answers to everything asked. Our case is a little complex than normal, but Alan was extremely professional and friendly to deal with. I would highly recommend Alan and IFS to... read more anyone who's looking to secure a mortgage.

    Molly Zhang Avatar Molly Z.
    26th August 2021

  • I bought my first property a couple of years ago and I could not have done it without the amazing help I got from Mr Ricky Chan at IFS. Buying any property can be stressful but Ricky explained every step, gave useful advice, was extremely responsive over phone and email.... read more I could not recommend this company more for their professionalism, vested interest to tailor to your needs and being an absolute pleasure to work with. I was so impressed that they contacted me ahead of my mortgage renewal recently to advise on the steps ahead and even did the research beforehand to make sure the process was as smooth as could be. Customer care is next to done and I look forward to receiving my Christmas Card each year. Thank you so much for the exceptional work you do!

    Cheryl Phan Avatar Cheryl P.
    26th August 2021

  • Mr Alan Chan, Director of IFS Wealth & Pensions, has acted as my financial advisor since 2015. Over the past five years, he has provided detailed, expert, state-of-the-art advice and management of my ethical investment portfolio with the main objective of securing my retirement income requirements. This has now largely... read more been achieved as a result of Alan's in-depth knowledge and constant monitoring of global investment markets and funds which has enabled, whenever necessary, the switching of funds to higher value alternatives. It represents a considerable achievement particularly in the light of the prevailing global market volatility during much of this period.

    Sandip Hazareesingh Avatar Sandip H.
    2nd September 2021

  • Ricky recently assisted me in securing a re-mortgage, and the whole process was seamless. Communication was excellent throughout. He was very helpful to notify and help me change for a better rate even a rate had been locked for me already.Thanks ever so much Ricky for your support—I have recommended... read more IFS Wealth & Pensions to my friends.

    Iris Chan Avatar Iris C.
    3rd October 2025

  • Ricky was exemplary, can't rate him high enough. He is extremely knowledgeable and helped matching our mortgage needs to the best options available. Then he was truly great at clearing up the jargon and breaking down the details and not simply the trade-offs of different mortgage products but also had... read more the immense patience at clearing our many pesky doubts at each step of the way. He was courteous and truly flexible finding the time to speak to us, and each time he was a pleasure: thorough on the details and fast on acting liaising with lenders. Miles better and faster than most of the advisors we've spoken to. We'll be glad to request his services again and happy to recommend to anyone.

    PFOR PORKUT Avatar PFOR P.
    26th November 2025

  • Excellent

    Nicholas Blakemore Avatar Nicholas B.
    26th August 2023