Which locations and how many advisers and broker firms do you cover in your role at Pure Retirement?
I look after the Central and East regions, supporting a diverse mix of advisers and firms across everything from bustling city hubs to quiet rural patches. This reflects the varied cross-section of people exploring later life lending and lifetime mortgages to meet their retirement goals, and the way that advisers are turning to specialist providers such as Pure Retirement.
On any given week, I could be helping a brand-new adviser get set up, supporting a long-standing firm with complex cases, or delivering a marketing session. It’s a lively mix with hundreds of advisers and dozens of active firms, and there’s never a dull moment.
What personal talent/skill is most valuable in doing your job?
Relationship-building. Honestly, it’s the heart of everything I do, and being approachable, reliable, and able to explain things clearly makes all the difference when advisers are trying to navigate tricky cases or new product changes.
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What personal talent/skill would you most like to improve on?
I struggle saying ‘no’ – I love helping people, so I naturally want to jump in everywhere. I’m working on this so I can keep delivering my best without overloading myself.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
Balancing urgency with quality. In later life lending, cases are often emotionally charged or time-sensitive. Making sure advisers feel supported, informed, and calm – even during the busiest weeks – is a challenge, but a rewarding one.
What do you love most about your job?
Helping advisers grow their confidence and seeing the impact it has on their clients’ lives. Also, the variety – no two days, meetings, or cases are ever the same.
Are there any (popular) misconceptions about your job/role?
People think BDMs just ‘pop in for a chat and drink coffee’. If only. I do love this too, but behind the scenes, it’s strategy, product knowledge, regulation, case support, training, data analysis, and a lot of miles.
What’s the best bit of career-related advice you’ve ever been given? Who gave it to you?
“Always know your worth” – one of my industry colleagues reminded me of this and it’s stuck with me.
Knowing your worth means recognising the difference you make to advisers when you solve a problem, make their day easier, or help them grow their business. It also means understanding the impact you have on the company. Your relationships, your reputation, and the quality of support you deliver all matter more than you sometimes realise.
That advice has stuck with me. It keeps me grounded, confident, and reminds me never to underestimate the value I bring to both advisers and the wider business.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
Don’t underestimate your impact. A small bit of help or reassurance at the right moment can completely change someone’s direction, confidence, or outcome.
How do you keep up to date with developments in the market?
A mix of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) publications, industry news, adviser feedback, network updates, lender developments, and regular conversations with colleagues across underwriting, marketing, and sales. You learn a lot by simply listening.
What is the most quirky/unique property deal you’ve been involved in?
A case involving a property with a very quirky layout – imagine three staircases, two kitchens, three rental properties in the grounds. You name it, this property had it.
Tell us about your trickiest case – what happened and how did you resolve the problem(s)?
A power of attorney case where half the required documents were missing and timelines were tight. It required constant communication between the adviser, lender, and attorneys, but by breaking everything into clear steps and keeping everyone calm, we got it over the line. It proved the value of patience and having a BDM on speed dial.
What was your motivation for choosing this career?
I love roles that mix people, problem-solving, travel, and genuine impact. Being a BDM in the equity release industry fits this perfectly. Helping advisers help clients live better later lives is something I’m proud to be part of.
If you could do any other job in the property sector, what would it be and why?
I enjoy making sure things are done compliantly and with the client at the heart of everything – in our industry, this is so important, so probably something on the compliance or customer journey side of things. Helping to make sure the right things at the right times are achieved is essential to a job well done.
What did you want to be growing up?
Always something to do with travel and meeting people – maybe a holiday rep. So in a way, I’m not too far off – just without the hangover.
How do you think your job will change in five years?
The role itself will evolve with regulations, technology, and adviser needs – more digital, more data-driven, but still rooted in human relationships.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation. Skip the traffic, skip the petrol prices, arrive everywhere fresh and on time – dreamy.
What do you do to unwind?
I love a good audiobook. I’m really into Audible at the moment and love listening to a mix of books while commuting to meetings.
What is your greatest skill(s), either work- or non-work-related?
Work: relationship-building, problem-solving, staying calm and level-headed.
Non-work: I’m great at organising, making people feel at ease and included. Also, finding humour in even the most chaotic of days usually helps.
And above all else, being kind – you never know what’s going on with someone, so being kind without question, both in and outside of work.
And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?
“Do you lend on houses shaped like mushrooms?” (It was a genuine query on a very unique thatch-style home).
