Mortgage Adviser Explains Why She Went Self-Employed, and Will Never Go Back!

👉 “I left my job after 16 years, and it turned out to be the best decision I ever made.” That’s what Carly Naylor, Mortgage and Protection Adviser at Foster Denovo, told me when we sat down to record this episode of Financial Planner Life.

Carly’s been in financial services for over two decades. She started her journey in high street banking, moved into mortgage advice, and spent 16 years with one firm before making a leap that changed her life completely. She went self-employed under the Foster Denovo umbrella.

She didn’t make the jump just for more income. It was about freedom. About ownership. And more importantly, about finally finding the balance between work and being a mum without compromising on ambition.

But let’s be honest. That golden phrase, “work-life balance”, gets thrown around a lot, especially in self-employment circles. So we ask the question head-on in this episode:

Can you really find work-life balance as a self-employed mortgage adviser, or is it just a myth?

👇 In this episode, we cover:

🟢 Why 16 years in the same job was enough

🟢 The mindset shift from comfort to growth

🟢 How Carly built recurring income through protection advice

🟢 The emotional and financial impact of going self-employed

🟢 Managing motherhood and a business without burning out

🟢 What Foster Denovo provides that made all the difference

🟢 Mentoring young talent and building something meaningful

🟢 What real balance looks like when you choose how you work

Whether you're a mortgage adviser stuck in a rut, a mum wondering how to make a career work around your kids, or someone on the edge of going self-employed, Carly’s story will hit home.

It’s real. It’s relatable. And it might just give you the nudge you need.

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