For this Christmas edition of the Mortgage Mingle Podcast, Louisa, Lea and Paul were joined by Rob Barnard from Pepper Money, to look back on a demanding year for the mortgage industry.

We talked less about products and more about people.
 What the industry handled well. Where it struggled. The moments that tested brokers, lenders and consumers and what this year has really taught us about leadership and resilience.

It’s an honest conversation and a thoughtful way to close out the year.

🎧 Full episode here: https://youtu.be/_G75OocEEgI

Wishing everyone in the industry a well-earned break and a peaceful Christmas.

mortgagemingle, mortgageindustry, mortgagebrokers, specialistlending, mortgagepodcast, leadership, yearinreview, christmasedition

The mortgage industry is facing a moment of reflection.
Last week, the BBC aired a powerful investigation into 'conditional selling,' where estate agents appear to favour buyers who agree to use in-house services such as their mortgage broker or conveyancer. It’s reignited industry-wide conversations about ethics, consumer protection, and the broker’s role.

Just one day after the programme aired, we sat down with Stephanie Charman, the new CEO of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, for a timely and wide-ranging conversation.

We covered:

·       The broker-related themes in the BBC investigation

·       Key proposals from the FCA’s DP25/2 paper on mortgage regulation

·       Steph’s early priorities and leadership vision for AMI

·       And of course… her passion for all things Disney (quick-fire round included)

 Plus, if you’d like to support Louisa’s bike ride in aid of Guide Dogs UK, here’s the link: www.justgiving.com/page/paragon-bank-fenchurchtosolihullbikers

#MortgageMingle #StephanieCharman #AMI #MortgageAdvice #FCA2025 #ConditionalSelling #EstateAgents #UKMortgageMarket #ConsumerDuty #MortgageBrokers #BBCInvestigation #PaulBrett #MortgageEthics #MortgagePodcast #LeaKarasavvas #AndrewMontlake #LouisaSedgwick #UKPropertyMarket

Dear Mortgage Professionals,

I’ve just been reviewing the FCA’s Discussion Paper DP25/2 on the future of UK mortgage regulation, and I was all set to record a podcast breaking down the key points.

Why? Because this paper could trigger the biggest shake-up in the mortgage market since the global financial crisis.

If you’re a lender, a broker, or anyone involved in the industry, I’d strongly urge you to read it and more importantly, to have your say. The consultation is open until 19 September 2025and what comes next will affect us all.

Now, with my AI hat on, I decided to see what Google’s Notebook LM could do with the document. And the result?

A surprisingly strong summary, not perfect and yes, the voiceover is clearly American (no offence to my US friends…you know what I mean) but it captures the essence of the paper with clarity.

It’s around 20 minutes long, ideal for a lunch break or drive home.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think and most importantly, have your say.

Links:

https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/discussion/dp25-2.pdf

https://www.onlinesurveys.fca.org.uk/jfe/form/SV_4HJtet1lcsqyXRQ?_gl=1*1hxa3or*_gcl_au*ODgyMTQwNjgzLjE3NTE1NTIzOTE.

Welcome to the Mortgage Mingle Podcast, the podcast made by mortgage professionals, for mortgage professionals! Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by Vikki Jefferies, Market Development Director at Legal & General. Vikki has an impressive track record from her over 20 years in the mortgage industry and she’s passionate about helping brokers tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing market. 

We dive into everything from GI to AI, to the pressures of top-level netball and some market commentary thrown in too. 

Welcome to The Mortgage Mingle Podcast, where we bring together leading voices in the  sector to tackle the topics that truly matter. In this episode, we’re joined by two remarkable guests who are champions of mental health in our industry:

• Sally Desborough – Founder of Your Well Being Hub, a seasoned HR professional with vast experience in the financial services sector. Sally’s passion lies in delivering Mental Health First Aid training and tailored workshops that promote supportive, healthy work environments.
• Jason Berry – Group Sales Director at Crystal Specialist Finance and the driving force behind the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter. Jason’s advocacy has ignited essential conversations around mental well-being, impacting over 20,000 mortgage professionals.

Together, they’ll highlight the importance of open dialogue, professional support, and collective awareness—particularly during the challenging month of January. 

If you’re struggling, remember that help is available through trusted friends, counsellors, and resources like the Samaritans on 116 123.

• Mental health awareness is crucial within the mortgage industry and beyond
• 70% of adults with mental health issues do not seek professional help
• January can be an especially tough month emotionally
• Support can come from various sources—friends, family, or professional services