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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  • Ricky and Jen were professional and are experts in their field. They took the time to learn and understand my current and future aspirations which I really appreciated. They then gave me honest advice and offered products tailored for me and my family. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to... read more my family and friends. Many thanks.

    Kenneth Yau Avatar Kenneth Y.
    2nd September 2021

  • Alan has been fantastic to work with and provided sound professional advice. He was always on hand to answer any queries and was supportive throughout the process. Would definitely use his services again.

    CW Avatar CW
    26th August 2023

  • I continue to be extremely satisfied with the level of service and advice provided by Ricky Chan. I have always found that Ricky ensures that his advice is based on my needs which are informed by getting to know me as a person, and reflects any changing needs. This is... read more due to his professionalism, knowledge, integrity, and his personality which means that I am at ease and able to share details of my life which go to build a more detailed picture enabling a tailored response to his recommendations. And of course over time this becomes refined. Similarly, I too have got to know Ricky well and I have seen that he acts with integrity and openness and accordingly I have a high level of trust in him and his honesty. Qualities which are essential in a Financial Advisor. He also recognises the level of my own financial knowledge, and responds promptly to any queries I might have. Consequently I have confidence in his recommendations and am able to approve them for implementation having read through them, as they are well written in plain English. I have had no hesitation in recommending him to friends, and will continue to do so.

    George Bye Avatar George B.
    26th August 2021

  • We've been working with Alan since 2016. We've found him to be both responsive and reassuring (especially to somone who was very new to the world of investing and pensions). He's helped us plan ahead properly and take practical steps to safeguard our future.

    amanda nelmes Avatar amanda n.
    2nd September 2021

  • Alan helped me secure a mortgage recently which went smoothly. We had great communication throughout the process and the next steps are always explained clearly and concisely.Alan is clearly very knowledgeable and was able to advise the various mortgage options in the market tailored to my circumstances.Thank you for your... read more help, Alan! I would recommend IFS Wealth & Pensions to anyone.

    Karl Thum Avatar Karl T.
    10th June 2023

  • I don’t often write reviews but this was one I had to write. Alan has been absolutely fantastic throughout the process, he has made the purchase of my first property as smooth running as possible. Very knowledgeable, explained everything clearly in details, and extremely efficient. I will definitely recommend... read more him to any of my friends who needs the mortgage broker.

    N H Avatar N H.
    26th August 2021