Describe your firm in a few sentences
Oportfolio is a mortgage and protection brokerage. We have two senior advisers, three dedicated administrators, a content and communications manager, and a sweet office dog called Betsy.
The business was founded in 2009 by managing director Oliver Whitehead with the vision of helping people with all their financial needs under one roof.
There’s no use sitting there, waiting for business or experience to come to you. Just start helping people
We offer help and guidance to a wide range of professionals on mortgages, protection and wills. Our head office is in Putney, southwest London, and we operate across the entire country. We specialise in high-net-worth lending and buy-to-let loans, mainly.
What led you to become a broker?
My journey into mortgages started by chance.
I finished university with no clue of what I wanted to do; a common story. My stepdad was a mortgage adviser and he put me in touch with his employer to earn some experience and money in the short term. Seven years later, I am still in the industry.
More education — around the diversity of the job, the career progression and the satisfaction you get from the role — is a key thing to encourage new brokers to the industry
Very early in my career, I identified how greatly people needed help with their mortgages, and I got real satisfaction from the gratitude they expressed when I was able to help.
That is what it comes down to for me and the entire Oportfolio team. We love helping people and we believe everyone deserves help if they need it.
What plans do you have for the future of your firm?
We have big plans. We have a great team that we have built up and crafted over the years. To offer the best service to clients we will be looking to expand this team, diversifying what we offer and the knowledge we can share.
Observe as much as possible. Shadow experienced brokers, ask them questions constantly, sit in on appointments
We are also focusing more on our digital presence and moving with the times as a firm. We have a very strong referral and recommendation client base, but we are now looking more at reaching out to new clients through our digital marketing, content writing and SEO research, and social media.
Technology is also a new focus and we are working on an app that connects us with estate agents, which is very exciting. We are constantly learning, but our efforts are working very well so far.
What single thing could lenders do to improve brokers’ lives the most?
In our industry, having the right contacts really makes a difference.
With some lenders, we have great communication with business development managers (BDMs) and it makes the whole process a lot smoother for our clients. But, unfortunately, there are plenty of lenders that either don’t have a dedicated BDM for our area or are constantly unavailable to give us help when we need it.
We are working on an app that connects us with estate agents, which is very exciting
When a straightforward application is delayed because a BDM is not available to help us satisfy the underwriter, it really puts a strain on us and the client. Lenders need to provide more dedicated BDM support and more training to their representatives so that brokers receive the best help when they need it.
What advice do you have for a broker just starting out?
First, observe as much as possible. Shadow experienced brokers, ask them questions constantly, sit in on appointments, and ask them for case studies and research material.
We love helping people and we believe everyone deserves help if they need it
Second, get stuck in as soon as you are comfortable. There’s no use avoiding phonecalls or avoiding meeting clients face to face. There’s no use sitting there, waiting for business or experience to come to you. The best way to get comfortable with the job is to just start helping people.
How can the industry encourage a new intake of brokers?
The income side is a big factor for people becoming brokers as there is the opportunity to make a very good living. Smoother applications and helpful lender representatives will increase both revenue and the speed at which brokers get paid.
The business was founded with the vision of helping people with all their financial needs under one roof
But if you are becoming a broker just for financial gain, you are in the wrong industry.
More education — around the diversity of the job, the career progression that is possible and the satisfaction you get from the role — is a key thing to encourage new brokers to the industry.
If you would like your firm to be featured in Broker Focus, please email Mortgage Strategy reporter Linda Ram at: linda.ram@emap.com
This article featured in the April 2023 edition of MS.
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