Spotlight: Karen Allen

Believe it or not when I left school, I wanted to work in a theatre, I swore I would never work in an office. My mum insisted that I had to find work straight away, so I decided I would take a temporary job with Nationwide Building Society. That temporary job lasted 12 years! During that time I ended up specialising in mortgages, underwriting them and managing an intermediary unit, looking after Essex based Brokers. Eventually I decided to take voluntary redundancy, this could have been my time to join the theatre, but instead I began working with a local Mortgage Broker. A few years passed and I was approached by a different company and was asked if I could join them as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser, I thought why not? That was 26 years ago. I worked my socks off, until my son was born, then spent a couple of glorious years just being a mum.

Over the next few years I worked on a part time basis advising with a few DA firms. Then in 2020 I was approached by a very successful company to ask if I could train their advisers and thought why not? As well as advising, I began a new path as a Broker Development Consultant. I can honestly say this changed my life. I discovered I have a passion for recruiting and training advisers, who knew? During the years I worked with this company, I recruited and trained over 50 advisers and adored my new working life. You know that feeling of contentment you have when you have changed a clients’ world? I have that same feeling of joy when one of my trainees passes a role play and achieves CAS. To see them excel is the icing on the cake. 

I retained my CAS status through these years to enable me to continue to write mortgages and protection, but supporting trainees gave me a new lease of life.

Then last year, one of the advisers I worked with asked if I would consider setting up a new business with her and I thought why not? 9 months ago we did just that... and Sapphire Mortgages was born.

Sapphire Mortgages has a small team of three advisers, Maira, Sue and I. Customer Service is right up there as one of our top values. We work incredibly hard obtaining the best for our clients. The three of us are highly motivated, when I say nothing is ever too much trouble for our clients, it is true. We treat our clients how we would like to be treated ourselves. We provide knowledge, experience, honesty and we are real people, offering the best possible service with a real human touch. 

My business partner Maira is Brazilian, who speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, which is an added benefit as we can therefore help foreign nationals where English is not their natural tongue. We can target Brazilian Nationals.

We consider ourselves fortunate to have Sue – otherwise known as Super Sue working with us. Sue prides herself on complicated mortgages. If anyone can get something across the line, it is our Super Sue!

Our business is based in North London, although we work remotely in London and Essex. We love to meet up face to face to let out hair down! We took advantage of the MI conference this year and booked a local Airbnb and managed to make this last three days and that still wasn't long enough - we're thinking perhaps a week next year! 

Who can say they love what they do? I can! I have begun to help trainees again, something of which I am very passionate about, and I couldn’t do this without MI.

In 2012 I began working with a DA company and in 2020 I began my new role as a Broker Development Consultant – an AR of MI. I have worked very closely with MI over the last 6 years and can honestly say they have changed my life. I have built up very good relationships with the team. They have always been incredibly supportive, in particular my BAM who has provided me with the confidence to not only grow myself, but help to grow my previous team. I couldn’t have achieved what I have over the last 6 years if it wasn’t for her. I am extremely fortunate to have her in my life and will always be thankful for her guidance and friendship, thank you Claire.

Whilst we were setting up Sapphire Mortgages, Maira had carried out lots of research with other networks. There was only the one in my eyes, who I felt would provide our firm with the right support, guidance and protection. 

MI gave me the confidence to set up our new firm and any new firm to the network will discover quite quickly how valuable they truly are.

The first thing I would say is to be yourself, people buy from people. It took me years to realise that it didn’t matter what advice I gave, my clients trusted me and my recommendation, whatever that was.

We all know that our jobs can be quite stressful at times, so be prepared! Obtain as much information as you can upfront. Obtain the right documents and assess them in detail before making a recommendation and applying for an Agreement In Principle. Time is so valuable, I want to ensure that my mortgage or insurance product is underwritten as quickly as possible with the right outcome each time.

Communication is key. Not only with your clients, but with BDM’s. There will be times, when you need their help in getting something across the line. Building relationships will make your lives so much easier.

Attend Webinars, invite BDM’s to speak to you. You will always be too busy to do this but make the time. Policies change, products change and keeping up to date will help you and your clients and you are building those all-important relationships at the same time.

MI have a team of friendly specialists, who are there to support you. They are an extended arm of your business who will guide and protect you and your firm. They really do want the best for you and your clients.

Work with them, use the tools they offer.

MI will make you a better broker!