Alex Leggett

An interview with Alex Leggett: 'I would like to see more accountability from lenders when providing criteria information'




In an exclusive interview with Bridging & Commercial, Alex Leggett, senior mortgage and protection consultant for Willow Private Finance (pictured above), discusses how the independent mortgage brokerage differentiates itself from its rivals and why a breadth of knowledge is such an important asset..

As a specialist broker, do you find it difficult advising clients with there being so many lenders now in the sector?

I would never complain about having too many options for my clients, but it can make it more challenging when you have so many players in the market. The key is to have a strong relationship with as many lenders as possible and a good understanding of their individual unique selling points. This enables you to provide the best possible outcome for clients.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that the industry is encountering at the moment?

I think that mortgage broking is facing a number of challenges, but a key one for me right now is the rise of the high-volume, low-cost online adviser. They are definitely disrupting the traditional model and mean that brokers are having to really differentiate themselves in order to justify their position in the market.

How would you say Willow Private Finance distinguishes itself from other mortgage brokers?

We have a team with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of experience — between us there is not much we haven’t seen. This breadth of expertise is an incredibly important asset. We all share this knowledge and experience to ensure that we give all our clients the best possible results.

What changes would you like to see in our space in the future?

I would like to see more accountability from lenders when providing criteria information. I think product innovation will be incredibly important, specifically in the realms of peripheral lending, credit impaired and asset impaired.

How did you get into the market?

I worked for banks for a number of years, but became frustrated with only being able to offer one solution to my clients. Knowing that Willow was looking to grow, particularly within its high-net-worth division, it seemed like the right time to make the move into whole-of-market lending.

If you didn’t work in finance, what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t working in finance, I would be a professional athlete — unfortunately, my talent does not equal my desire!

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