SPF eyes broader proposition as it transitions to Howden Private Clients

SPF Private Clients is preparing to broaden its proposition beyond mortgages and protection as part of its transition into Howden Private Clients.

The business is looking to support a wider range of products, multiple currencies and clients across different markets as it develops under the Howden Private Clients brand.

The plans emerged following SPF’s decision to appoint Irish mortgage technology firm LendWell as a long-term technology partner.

While the initial project will replace the CRM used by SPF’s mortgage and protection teams, managing director James Rodea (main picture, inset) said the ambitions for the platform extend significantly further.

BEYOND MORTGAGES AND PROTECTION

Rodea told Mortgage Soup: “We were looking for a technology partner to support the next stage of our business and reviewed a number of strong platforms, but LendWell stood out because of its ability to support the breadth of our proposition and where we want to take it.

“Our requirements extend beyond mortgages and protection. We needed the flexibility to support a diverse product offering, multiple currencies and clients across different markets, while adapting to the way our business operates.”

SPF has agreed a multi-year partnership with LendWell, with implementation already underway and a wider rollout scheduled for 2027.

The technology will initially be used to automate administrative work around mortgage and protection cases, including preparing documentation, managing follow-up activity and coordinating work before submission.

GROWTH WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION

Rodea said artificial intelligence was a central consideration in SPF’s decision as the business looks to increase adviser capacity without a corresponding increase in operational workload.

He said: “AI was also central to our decision. Our ambition is to reduce the administrative work involved in serving clients, give our advisers more capacity and enable the business to grow without adding the same proportion of operational workload.

“LendWell’s work with our sister business in Ireland, Finance Solutions, gave us confidence in both the platform and the team behind it.

“The initial focus is replacing the CRM for our mortgage and protection teams, but we see a wider role for LendWell in supporting our transition into Howden Private Clients. We wanted a partner that could help us shape how the business operates and grows.”