"The preconception that finance is a male job is fading fast and any woman wanting to establish a career in finance just need to go for it and let nothing stop them."
FR: Do you work in the same branch?
Laura: No. I think that might be a bit too much! Matt works in Bury St. Edmunds and I’m based in the Braintree branch.
FR: Were you married before you joined Just Mortgages?
Matt: No, we actually met at a Just Mortgages work event. Maybe Just Mortgages should set up Just Matchmaking?
Laura: We were both working for Just Mortgages and separately invited to Ascot as guests of Santander and you could say that it was love at first sight across the table.
FR: How long have you been brokers for?
Laura: I qualified in 2007 Matt has been a broker since 2004.
FR: Who is the better broker?
Laura: Me! Lol.
Matt: Laura tells me it’s her and I’m not about to disagree!
FR: What’s the best part of having a spouse in the same business?
Matt: It’s great to be able to bounce ideas off someone who genuinely understands the business and also has a different point of view. We often have slightly different views on things but this is hugely positive as it makes us challenge our own opinions and I think this makes us both better at our jobs.
Laura: For me it’s having someone who really understands what you go through on a daily basis. There are so many pressures on brokers whether it’s the stress of an interest rate pull, ambitious targets or just the demand you put upon yourself to please clients, colleagues, and bosses. I work and look after our son George and so it’s a bit of a juggling act and without a support system at home that really ‘gets it’ you can’t succeed. I also hope that in the same way I support Matt who has a lot on his shoulders and will often work until midnight and so my half of our partnership is to support him as he does me.
FR: Are you competitive with each other?
Laura: I think that people would like us to be, but sadly no. We are two very different brokers with two very different outlooks on business. It would be like comparing an F1 driver to a F3 driver. They’re in completely different leagues (apologies we are both Formula 1 fans) I will say though, when I beat him in a league table it does bring a smile to my face.
Matt: As Laura said, I’m sure our regional bosses would like us to be more competitive (in a nice way) but it’s more of a friendly rivalry. We have complete respect for the work and success we achieve individually and just want the best for each other. [OK. She’s popped out so I can say that I’ve always got one eye on the league table and if Laura’s beating me, I’ve been known to put in a few extra hours! Shush, she’s back.]
FR: Do you talk about work at home?
Matt: We tend to get any work chat out of the way in the car journey home so that when we’re home it’s quality family time with George and each other, although work talk has been know to creep in when we’re on holiday – maybe we just like our jobs too much!
Laura: As Matt said, we try to use the commute to discuss work so that George is our focus when we’re home.
FR: Are there any downsides to having a spouse in the same industry?
Laura: Frustration when they don’t agree with my opinion!
Matt: Surprisingly no, for us anyway. People might think that it could get too much for a couple working for the same company and attending the same work events but we prefer to see the positives that we have the opportunity to share quality time within our work environment. Often working couples have three different worlds to navigate i.e., home and two business worlds whereas we only have two which means more time together.
FR: Has Just Mortgages been supportive?
Laura: Absolutely. It’s a very supportive environment and we’ve always felt that. There is a very positive ethos in Just Mortgages.
Matt: Very much so. With us having a young child and both being at the same industry events and obligations they have been very sensitive and accommodating to our childcare needs.
FR: What are your thoughts about the future of mortgage advice?
Laura: The need for proper, genuine mortgage advice will always be needed. There is often talk about automation in the sector which is fine in terms of processing but understanding the needs of a client and their family is much, much more than just sourcing the lowest rate.
Matt: I think the need for mortgage advice will get increasingly valuable over the next few years. We have rising interest rates, high inflation and affordability being attacked from all sides with energy, fuel and cost of living increases and so securing the right mortgage will become increasingly difficult.
FR: Why are there not more women in finance?
Laura: Actually, I think that the industry has made great strides over recent years and I’m delighted to know so many women in finance both in Just Mortgages and also finance generally. The preconception that finance is a male job is fading fast and any woman wanting to establish a career in finance just need to go for it and let nothing stop them.
Matt: I think that it ebbs and flows to an extent as I’ve known periods when there have been more women than men in my region. The expectation that a mortgage broker will be a man has changed dramatically over the past few years and that’s certainly the case in Just Mortgages where there is a female head of compliance, head of operations and women in many other senior roles. I think that as an industry age is more of factor than sex as younger brokers have a challenge to convey their experience to older clients.
FR: Who arranged your personal mortgage?
Laura: I picked the mortgage and Matt did the paperwork. See, I told you I was the better broker! Work smarter not harder.
FR: What’s the best thing about working for Just Mortgages?
Matt: It really is a supportive and professional environment where everyone is given the opportunity to shine and there is a wonderful ethos that puts helping clients at the centre of everything that we do.
Laura: Aside from being a wonderful place to work we also have the opportunity to contribute to activities that support the Magic Moments Children’s Charity. The charity supports 13 Children’s Hospices around the country and has raised in excess of £1m over the years and is dedicated to helping children from the supported hospices and their families on annual trips to Disneyland Paris. We have taken part in a variety of sponsored events, I managed to complete a sponsored ‘run’ on crutches after knee surgery, and we are so proud that our 7 year old George is taking part in a half marathon to raise money. Matt and I even had the honour to go on one of the trips which was just wonderful. It’s a truly special charity and we feel very honoured to be a part of a company like Just Mortgages that supports it.
