Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland managing director, Dominic Taddei, has shared with Mortgage Solutions the main steps of his journey, after having recently won the ‘Most Improved Business Award’ at the Mortgage Advice Bureau Awards 2018, based on growth and turnover.
With a growing turnover of £2.46m in 2017, his expectation is to reach up £4m by the end of the current financial year.
In 2004 in the Scottish Borders, Taddei and his wife Claire set-up Clear Mortgage Solutions. In 2016, they sought an equally motivated and ambitious partner to match their rapidly growing business, taking the strategic decision to enter into a joint venture with Mortgage Advice Bureau.
Taddei spent a long time looking at different options: “We wanted to partner a forward thinking business and one with similar values and ethos. They also have an amazing back story which to me is very inspirational.”
Scottish location, national approach
His business provides mortgage and protection advice predominantly in Scotland but also across the UK. It also has a business to business arm, which involves working with other businesses to enhance services to their customers.
Taddei tells Mortgage Solutions what makes a managing director successful in growing a business.
“In my opinion, one of most underused qualities is humility, being able to give credit where credit is due and put your hands up if something goes wrong, is generally good practice. Seeing or carving out an opportunity which others may miss is also very important for success.”
Taddei also believes in the ability of inspiring others and being different.
“Building a business has many different challenges and opportunities but if you have an inspired leadership team then you have a true force to be reckoned with.
“It’s essential to be different, to be better. In order to achieve this goal, it’s important to provide exceptional service to all our clients to be a firm that employees and associates want to be a part of. If you do so, then the success will follow.”
Further, he recognises the importance of being focused on people and finding a way to help others.
“If you can help enough people achieve what they want, then you’ll have everything you could ever want. Also, the company leaves no stone left unturned when it comes to sourcing and securing mortgages for their clients, helping them to secure their dream home through expert advice and exceptional customer service.”
Taddei loves what he does because he recognises he has “an amazing team and an ever-growing list of associate firms to work with”.
He says he believes it is important to live life to the fullest and enjoy the journey: “This value summarises how I feel about life, but it also has a real relevance in the office – how can I expect the team to perform at its peak if they dislike what they do?”
However, his journey has not always been plain sailing. Almost five years ago he went through a difficult patch losing a few advisers in the space of a week.
“The most important part of any business is the people and so to lose some was devastating. However, tough times make you stronger as a business. When you believe in something or that something is going to come to you then the debate stops. There is no maybe and it’s no longer a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
“If you are so determined that you won’t give up regardless of what happens, then whatever it is that you’re striving for will come to you,” he adds.
Evolution
Looking at the future, Taddei thinks the world of mortgages is certainly changing.
His goal is to be the biggest broker in Scotland in the next year and then top five in the UK thereafter.
“Almost 100 advisers has been the target for some time but my own goal is to try and help as many people achieve their own goals, if we can do this, then we will most certainly achieve ours,” he adds.
In the end, Taddei reveals what is behind his success: “We are where we are as a result of everything that’s happened before, so there should never be any regrets. Mistakes are great as long as you learn from them.”
