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Rising Star: Billy Saunders, adviser at Stonebridge Group

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  • 14/10/2019
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Rising Star: Billy Saunders, adviser at Stonebridge Group
This week, Mortgage Solutions speaks to Billy Saunders, mortgage and protection adviser at Stonebridge Group.

 

What does your role entail and how long have you been doing it?

I am a mortgage and protection adviser and have been doing this since 2016. I moved to our new-build team in 2019 so I now help people take their first steps onto the property ladder.

 

What attracted you to working in the mortgage/property/finance sector?

I wanted a role where I would be faced with different challenges every day. I had previously worked in business development and helped mortgage advisers maximise their client banks, ensuring their clients’ needs were fully covered so becoming an adviser myself was a natural progression.

 

What were you doing in the five years before starting here?

Before starting at Stonebridge, I was in college unsure of my goals and direction in life. I went to work with my Dad as a plumber before quickly learning that I wasn’t the right fit for that. I then started at Stonebridge and after working here a few months set out my development plan with the goal of becoming an adviser.

 

What personal talent/skill is most valuable in doing your job?

I speak to different people every day with different levels of knowledge and understanding so my communication skills and being able to adapt to suit the people you are speaking to are important. You also need patience and perseverance when things aren’t going smoothly.

 

What personal talent/skill would you most like to improve on?

My girlfriend could give you a big list for this with ironing, cleaning and domestic chores coming out on top, but personally I would like to be able to run for longer. We’ve done a few charity runs over the years and I’m always accused of cheating or not finishing. Professionally I want to keep improving on my knowledge of the industry allowing me to cover more areas.

 

What is the most interesting/memorable property deal/case you’ve been involved in?

I have seen a few cases for footballers and musicians come through which are always interesting to see but the most memorable cases are the ones where you help make the difference. For example, when clients have been turned down by certain lenders but you are able to help them find the mortgage they need.

 

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

In five years’ time I still want to be enjoying what I am doing, still be busy and to have a large client bank.

 

If present-day you could go back in time and tell yourself something five years ago, what would it be?

Skip the plumbing and go straight to the office job. Also, have patience and you’ll get where you want to be.

 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve tackled so far in your career?

Adapting to working from home and having to self-motivate myself when everything isn’t going as planned.

 

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

I’d like to be able to talk to animals.

 

And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

I have been in some weird situations – one time someone asked if I minded while they painted their toenails while I was there for a mortgage appointment. They then gave me a box of chocolates as a thank you but they were half-eaten with the wrappers left in.

 

 

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