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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  • Much appreciated Ricky’s professional advice and his team’s coordination in helping me to do the BTL mortgage. I am from Hong Kong and totally have no ideas how I can get a mortgage from the UK bank. Ricky’s team just very helpful and always response quickly to me for all... read more the enquiries. I'd definitely recommend IFS Wealth & Pensions to other people who are interested in doing BTL or seeking professional advice in other financial planning.

    Casey Cheung Avatar Casey C.
    26th August 2022

  • Highly recommend. Professional and efficient. They helped me a lot on my first mortgage in UK.

    Ryan Tse Avatar Ryan T.
    26th August 2023

  • I'd strongly recommend Alan to anyone. He managed my pension while I was self-employed, and helped my partner and I find a fantastic (and timely!) deal on our mortgage.He's always available to give excellent, clear, financial advice. Someone I trust implicitly with discussing my plans for the future.

    Jack Hanna Avatar Jack H.
    22nd October 2022

  • I cannot praise this company highly enough. If I only had three (3) words to sum this Company up they would be: trustworthy, calm and professional. I have dealt with them for the past decade and I will always continue to do so.They have always been there when I needed... read more help and advice with my financial planning. I would 100% recommend them to anyone who requires help with their finances. Keep up the very good work!

    Paul Palmer Avatar Paul P.
    25th July 2026

  • Ricky and the team at IFS Wealth and Pensions have helped me so much in my re-mortgaging journey. If only I had worked with them on my first ever mortgage deal!They were diligent in their work and have always explained in simple terms what my next steps should be. They... read more have a great wealth of knowledge in the housing market as well as general advice on other related matters to due with my mortgage and finance.I have successfully mortgaged with them and they will be my first point of call with whatever my next move will be. Thanks again Ricky and team!

    Cheng Ly Avatar Cheng L.
    8th August 2024

  • Excellent

    Nicholas Blakemore Avatar Nicholas B.
    26th August 2023