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A look at the Mortgage Qualifications and other Professional Qualifications held by our team of mortgage specialists

Professional Qualifications are important. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) requires that any person arranging and advising you on a regulated mortgage product must have achieved a suitable mortgage qualification and have achieved a competent level of training, the programme of which should be ongoing.

This article takes a closer look at the Mortgage Qualifications and Professional Qualifications held by our Mortgage Advisors and team of mortgage experts here at Shire Direct, together with what these qualifications involve to ensure you receive the professional and expert advice and care you deserve when it comes to your mortgage - afterall, it is probably the largest financial transaction most of us are ever likely to be involved with!

Finally, we'll take a look at how Shire Direct can assist you with a Mortgage or Remortgage, even in the trickiest of circumstances.

Are Shire Direct Mortgage Advisors professionally qualified?

Yes, they are.

So you are safe in the knowledge that all our Mortgage Advisors are professionally qualified. Furthermore, all the firm's senior managers at Shire Direct Mortgages are also professionally qualified, and hold at least two of the following qualifications:

  • Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP)
  • Advanced Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (Adv. CeMAP)
  • Certificate in Regulated General Insurance (CeRGI)
  • Mortgage Advice Qualification (MAQ)
  • Financial Planning Certificate (FPC)
  • Certificate in Regulated Customer Care (CeRCC)
  • Certificate in Lifetime Mortgages (CeLTM)
  • Certificate in Regulated Equity Release (CeRER)
  • Certificate in Commercial Mortgages (CeCM)

These qualifications, together with our policy of on-going rigorous and continual training, are designed to ensure you receive top quality service and advice.

What do these professional qualifications involve?

The following section provides a brief description of each mortgage qualification / professional qualification, and the specialist areas of knowledge and practice they cover.

  • Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP)
    This is probably the best-known professional mortgage qualification in the UK. CeMAP is set by the Chartered Institute of Bankers subsidiary, the Institute of Financial Services IFS School of Finance, which is incorporated by Royal Charter.

  • The Advanced Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (Adv. CeMAP)
    This mortgage qualification is also controlled by the Institute of Financial Services' (IFS) School of Finance, and as the name of the qualification suggests, it is the senior qualification for mortgage advisors, who have chosen to develop their knowledge and areas of expertise.

  • Certificate in Regulated General Insurance (CeRGI)
    To be able to advise and recommend products that are associated with the protection of your home, ability to maintain your mortgage payments in the event of your incapacity to work, and the protection of your loved ones in the event of the onset of a critical illness, or your premature death, the FSA regulations insist that such advice is provided by a suitably qualified and competent person. The qualification is controlled by the Institute of Financial Services' (IFS) School of Finance.

  • Mortgage Advice Qualification (MAQ)
    The MAQ has been devised by the Chartered Insurance Institute, and is their specialist qualification for mortgage advisors.

  • Financial Planning Certificate (FPC)
    The Financial Planning Certificate is the Chartered Insurance Institute's professional qualification for those advisors engaged in investment and insurance advice. Although Shire Direct does not offer investment advice, nevertheless, most of our Mortgage Advisors hold this qualification, which provides for a greater understanding of our customer's needs and requirements.

  • Certificate in Regulated Customer Care (CeRCC)
    This professional qualification is controlled by the Institute of Financial Services' (IFS) School of Finance, and ensures the professionals and senior managers holding the certificate are amply qualified on the aspect of Treating Customers Fairly, and ensuring this is practised throughout all the firm's dealings.

    Shire Direct is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and as such we have fully embraced the FSA's Treating Customers Fairly Initiative. This ensures that our customers receive only suitable and appropriate advice and recommendations, in a manner that is clear, fair and not misleading.

  • Certificate in Lifetime Mortgages (CeLTM)
  • Certificate in Regulated Equity Release (CeRER)
    These two specialist qualifications are controlled by the Institute of Financial Services' (IFS) School of Finance. They ensure that those qualified have achieved a level of competence and specialist knowledge of regulated equity release situations and can therefore give appropriate advice and recommendations.

  • Certificate in Commercial Mortgages (CeCM)
    This commercial qualification has been devised by the Institute of Financial Services School of Finance, and provides Shire Direct's specialist advisors with a comprehensive understanding of the business and commercial products that may be required by Shire Direct's business customers.

Other professional qualifications held by our senior management team

Other professional qualifications held by Shire Direct's Senior Management Team include:

  • Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS)
    This is probably the world's premier professional administrative qualification. It is geared to ensure that holders of the qualification are well versed in corporate governance, business administration and structure, strategic development, accounting, legal aspects, technology and communications.

  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Management (MCIM)
    The highly respected Chartered Institute of Management qualification structure is aimed at Senior Managers within finance and industry as a benchmark for excellence in the management function of business entities.

  • Fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT)
    The Association of Accounting Technicians is a worldwide organisation providing various grades of professional qualifications for accounting technicians within industry and government at all levels, and specialise in accountancy, legal and taxation services.

  • The Finance & Leasing Certificate (FLC)
    The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) represents the interests of business and consumer finance throughout the United Kingdom, and is the voice of the specialised finance and lending industry, including consumer credit, leasing and asset finance.

Available Mortgage help from Shire Direct

As you will see from our website, we are specialist mortgage intermediaries and offer a comprehensive and professional service to our customers, including:

  • Mortgages for Purchase
  • First Time Buyer Mortgages
  • Mortgages for Home Movers
  • Prime Mortgages
  • Commercial Mortgages
  • Equity Release Services
  • Buy to Let Mortgages
  • Let to Buy Mortgages
  • Sub-Prime Mortgages
  • Income Self-Certification
  • Mortgages for the Self-Employed Borrower
  • Secured Homeowner Loans
  • Business Financial Restructure

For your protection, Shire Direct is:

For more information, and a rapid in-principle mortgage decision...

So, for more information on our available mortgage help and a rapid in-principle decision just get in touch!

You can either call one of our professionally qualified mortgage advisors on Freephone 08000 282 281 (our lines are open until 10pm everyday, including weekends), or alternatively why not enquire online at any time.

We are certain that you'll find our service to be friendly yet professional, helpful and not at all stuffy. We have the approach, the skill and the products to help even in the trickiest of circumstances.

We'll carefully assess your circumstances, needs, requirements and aspirations, so that we come up with just the mortgage product for you!

So, if you are thinking of applying for a mortgage or remortgage, and require any information or assistance, we would of course be delighted to hear from you! So why not call us now - you'll be glad you did!

That wraps up our look at the Mortgage Qualifications and other Professional Qualifications held by Shire Direct Mortgage Advisors and our Senior Management Team, we hope it gives you some peace of mind that you are in expert hands with Shire Direct. Remember, you'll find a wealth of mortgage related information throughout our website, and we're just a free telephone call or couple of mouse clicks away and assure you of a warm welcome.

Enquire Online now, or call us today 08000 282 281 - our freephone lines are open 8am-10pm everyday! We'd love to hear from you!

Mortgages/Remortgages: The overall cost for comparison is 9.8% APR. The actual rate available will depend upon your circumstances. Ask for a personalised illustration. APR variable and based on a usual case. Most customers are likely to receive a lower rate or the same rate as our overall cost for comparison rate - learn more about APR.

There are no upfront broker fees.
However, a fee may be charged on successful completion. An indication is that on conforming cases (straightforward applications with no or minimal adverse credit) a fee may be charged of up to 1% of the amount advanced, typically £795 and will depend on your circumstances. For non-conforming cases (where case research and processing may be more complex due to adverse credit or unusual circumstances), a fee may be charged of up to 3% of the amount advanced, typically £1,995.

Homeowner Loans: Rates from 8.9% APR variable, but typically 13.9% APR variable. Most customers are likely to receive a lower rate or the same rate as our typical variable rate - learn more about APR. Shire Direct also has a range of non-conforming loan plans with rates up to 19.9% APR. These plans are designed to help those who may have a more difficult credit history, including CCJ's and credit arrears, IVA and bankruptcy problems.
A broker fee of between 0% and 10% of the loan advance may be charged for arranging a secured loan.
All loans subject to status and secured on property.
The actual rate available will depend upon your circumstances. Written quotations on request.

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE
SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED
IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.

Adding existing debt to your mortgage will increase the repayment term and overall cost.

Shire Direct and Shire Direct Mortgages are trading styles of Shire Processing Centre Limited which is
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of regulated mortgage products and general insurances.
Registered No: 302389. Commercial funding and Secured Loans are not regulated by the FSA.
Licensed Credit Brokers. Consumer Credit Licence Number: 349999.

Shire Processing Centre Limited is registered under the provisions of the Data Protection Act by the Information Commissioners Office: Registration No: Z6795249. Registered in England & Wales. Company number: 2732202. Telephone calls may be recorded for training, monitoring and security purposes. All applicants must be aged 18-years or over.