Name: Sam Lindsay
Age: 48
Location: Essex
Firm: My Mortgage Angel
Interests: Helping people on their homebuying journey, shoes and spending quality time with my family.
- What’s the one career moment that changed everything for you?
One client completely changed how I see my role as a mortgage adviser. She came to me wanting to shorten her mortgage term to pay it off quickly. But once we started talking properly, I realised that wasn’t really the problem.
She was in her sixties, working in a physically demanding job and was exhausted. What she really wanted was the freedom to reduce her hours and spend more time with her grandchildren.
Rather than shortening the term and increasing her monthly payments, we reviewed everything and found a solution that reduced her mortgage payments instead. That gave her the financial breathing space to cut back at work and enjoy a much better work-life balance.
That experience made me see that my job isn’t just arranging mortgages. It’s about understanding what’s really important to someone and them the options that are right for their situation. That’s when you can genuinely change someone’s life.
- What was the biggest lesson you learnt early on as a mortgage adviser?
Clients don’t often know what they need. Most individuals understandably don’t know how the mortgage market works or what options are available to them. They often come in with a plan they’ve created themselves which is normally based on myths or assumptions.
I’ve learnt to dig a little deeper and ask why. Once you understand someone’s motivations, you can usually find a much better solution. I’m probably not your average mortgage adviser. I’ll happily speak to clients later in the evening when they’re relaxed and have time to talk properly because that’s often when the best conversations happen. By taking time to understand the ‘why’ I can better help find the mortgage that’s right for them.
- What led you to start My Mortgage Angel?
It was our own house purchase that sparked everything. We received excellent mortgage advice that ended up saving us thousands of pounds. I became fascinated by how mortgages worked and wanted to understand the industry for myself, so I started studying for my exams.
I was in a job that wasn’t making me feel valued at the time and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. Around the same time my son, who has additional needs, needed me to be available at short notice for medical appointments and other unexpected situations. I knew the traditional corporate world couldn’t give me the flexibility our family needed.
Starting my own business meant I could build a career around helping people while also being the mum my son needed me to be.
- How would your clients describe you as an adviser?
I’m friendly, approachable, realistic. I’m not someone who just ticks boxes, I like to explore all the options for my clients by taking the time to understand their circumstances. I give honest advice, even if it’s not what they were expecting to hear.
Judging by my reviews, clients also appreciate that I’m knowledgeable and genuinely care about helping them make the right decisions.
- What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about mortgage lending since becoming an adviser?
One thing that still surprises me is how inconsistent lending criteria can be. For example, there are lenders willing to assess applications based on future income, yet some still won’t consider court-ordered maintenance payments as useable income.
Sadly I’ve also seen how many people become trapped after separation because they can’t borrow enough to move on with their lives. It has opened my eyes to the financial abuse that can happen and the importance of good advice in those situations.
More generally, there’s still a huge lack of education around mortgages, particularly for self-employed people and those who don’t understand how their finances affect borrowing.
- If you hadn’t gone into mortgages, what career do you think you’d be in today?
I wanted to become a genetic counsellor. The science fascinated me, but it was always the people side of the role that appealed most — supporting families through important life decisions. Looking back, that’s probably why mortgages suit me so well. At its heart, it’s still about helping people through some of the biggest decisions they’ll ever make.
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given in the industry?
Get a business coach. Running a business can be lonely, and having someone challenge your thinking has been invaluable.
I’ve also learnt that you don’t have to do everything yourself. If there are tasks that don’t need your expertise, outsource them. That frees up your time to focus on the things only you can do. Hiring support has made a huge difference to my business.
- What part of the job gives you the biggest buzz?
Seeing people get the outcome they were hoping for. Whether that’s collecting the keys to their first home, securing funds for home improvements or simply having clarity about their finances, it’s incredibly rewarding.
I love helping people feel confident enough to move forward into the next chapter of their lives. And when clients come back years later or recommend me to their family and friends that’s the biggest compliment I can receive.
- What’s one myth about the mortgage industry you wish people would stop believing?
That you need to have everything perfectly organised before you speak to a mortgage adviser. So many people think they need a huge deposit saved or that having a credit card automatically means they won’t get a mortgage.
The reality is that by speaking to an adviser early on in the process, we can tell you how much you need to save, what lenders are looking for and what steps you should take to put yourself in the strongest possible position.
- Looking back at your career, what experiences have shaped you the most and helped you become the adviser you are today?
One experience has stayed with me throughout my career. In a previous role, I was called into my manager’s office and told to “drop your standards and do a bit less for clients.” That advice never sat comfortably with me. Instead, I left, studied for my mortgage qualifications and eventually built My Mortgage Angel.
Doing more rather than less has always been my philosophy. Going the extra mile isn’t about making more money, it’s about making a genuine difference to people’s lives, and that’s what motivates me every day.
- How do you switch off after a busy week?
Usually with a glass of red wine and good company. My work is incredibly people-focused, so spending time with family and friends is the perfect way to unwind and recharge.
- Favourite place to grab a coffee or reset between meetings?
I don’t stop very often! I prefer to maximise my working day so I can finish earlier and spend more time with my family. If I do treat myself, Mad Dogs & Englishmen in Leigh-on-Sea is always a favourite because it’s somewhere I can slow down and feel properly looked after.
- What can clients and lenders do to make your job ten times easier?
For clients, honesty is everything. Tell me the full story, even if you think something might be embarrassing or unimportant. I’d also encourage everyone to check their credit report before applying for a mortgage. Even if you’re convinced everything is perfect, it’s always worth checking first so there are no surprises.
For lenders, I’d love to see simpler processes when rates change. If we have secured a rate for a client and rates fall before completion, some lenders make switching incredibly straightforward while others make it unnecessarily complicated.
- If you could change one thing about the mortgage market overnight, what would it be?
I’d speed everything up. Quicker decisions from lenders, faster document checks and valuations happening much sooner would make the whole process far less stressful for everyone involved.
I’d also love to see less pressure from estate agents encouraging buyers to use their in-house mortgage advisers. Buyers should always feel comfortable choosing the adviser that’s right for them.
- What’s the hidden talent your colleagues would be surprised to learn about?
I used to play the tenor saxophone. I’m also surprisingly good at DIY projects.
