5 minutes with... John Stewart

12 August 2024

We recently caught up with one of our self-employed advisers, John Stewart to find out a little more about him and his work. John helps clients in beautiful Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

 

Can you tell us a bit about you and what you do?

As an Independent Mortgage and Protection Adviser I help people achieve their property purchase goals and arrange protection for them and their loved ones. Having gained a wealth of experience in this area and having a serious passion for properties, I’m in my element helping people finance their house purchase or remortgage.

I originally started as a general insurance broker with an HSBC subsidiary in the late 80s. By the late 90s, I was ready for a new, fresh challenge and seized an opportunity with Barclays Bank to become an Investment and Pension Adviser where I very quickly gained a loyal client bank and many connections.

Always looking to advance my career and knowledge further, I then decided to also qualify and train to advise on mortgages and protection. I quickly realised I had found my niche and moved away from the investment side of financial services to specialise in what I enjoy most.

Working with Peritus means I have access to the whole of the market, whether the needs of a client be a remortgage, purchase, buy to let, development finance, self-build, bridging loan or equity release.

 

I guess you can do your job from anywhere. What led you to live in this area?

I moved down to the North East of England in 1994 from Aberdeen (The Granite City) and immediately fell in love with the people, the culture and in particular the stunning Northumberland coast. I love to spend time in the countryside, particularly in the borders. Home is always calling!

 

What does a working day look like for you?

As I am self-employed, I try to organise my week to meet with people face-to-face. My clients prefer a personal service and I’m always available to talk through any concerns, or provide an update on their case. 

The team at Peritus take on some of my administration tasks, allowing me to spend more time with my clients.

  

Where do you most enjoy escaping to when you are not working?

Away from work I enjoy travelling and recently visited Paris. I was just wandering around the streets looking at the architecture and of course enjoying the fabulous food! Further afield and totally different to my usual environment, I love to cruise as you get to visit several fabulous places within a very short period of time.

 

What are you working on now and what’s next for you and your business? 

Looking forward to the future, I’d like to continue advising in and around  Northumberland. I recently qualified as an Equity Release specialist. This area has had rough press in the past, but it’s now very heavily regulated. As many people have the bulk of their wealth tied up in property, lifetime mortgages are now considered another option (alongside pensions) as a later-life financial strategy.

 

Finally, if you were to describe your dream home what would it look like?

Oh wow, that’s a tricky question. I see so many beautiful properties in the area. I think my ideal home would be as close to a river or the sea as possible, in an area with access to footpaths so I can enjoy the fresh air and achieve my daily “step count”!

 

 

 

Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Home reversion plans and lifetime mortgages are complex products. A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. Equity release will reduce the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits