Former car sales manager champions better support for self-employed brokers
Broker in Focus is a dedicated series that highlights the unique journeys of mortgage brokers, providing them with a platform to share their experiences, insights, and expertise. Through compelling personal stories and professional reflections, each featured broker recounts the key moments that have shaped their careers, delves into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, and shares the valuable wisdom they have gained along the way.
This week, Mortgage Introducer is shining the spotlight on Steve Dickinson (pictured), managing director of Momentum Financial Services, who transitioned from car sales to mortgage broking and is now leading efforts to reshape support for self-employed advisers.
With a focus on mentorship, flexibility, and tech-driven efficiency, Dickinson is building a brokerage model that meets the needs of today’s brokers — whether they’re industry veterans seeking more autonomy or newcomers looking for a supported way in.
Full Name: Steve Dickinson
Job Title: Managing director
Company: Momentum Financial Services
Number of years in the industry: 7
Location: Sevenoaks, Kent
How and when did you become a mortgage broker?
I became a mortgage broker somewhat accidentally in 2017. At the time, I was working as a transaction manager at Inchcape Audi in Canterbury. One day, the operations director from Your Move Financial Services came in to buy a car. We got talking, and I mentioned I was interested in mortgage advising. My wife had just fallen pregnant with our first child, and I was working long hours with weekends and a long commute. I didn’t want to be a weekend dad, so I was looking for something that offered a better work-life balance while still utilising my skills.
Despite not being qualified at the time, Your Move offered me a trainee position and supported me through my exams. I joined their Swanley branch, which was much closer to home, and eventually left to become self-employed in 2020, launching Momentum Financial Services.
You don’t need to have a banking background to succeed — you need drive, people skills, and the right mentorship.
In your opinion, what has been the most positive development in broking?
Technology, without a doubt. Systems like Acre, Knowledge Bank, and sourcing platforms have changed the game. We can now process applications faster, track compliance more easily, and spend more time helping clients and less time on admin. It’s not just about speed either — technology helps us give more accurate advice and keep everything on record properly.
Another big shift is how the role of the broker is now seen. Clients increasingly value a broker’s role as a long-term adviser, not just someone to find a rate. There’s greater awareness around protection and financial planning, and brokers are becoming more involved in their clients’ full financial lives.
And while regulation has become more complex and challenging, I believe it’s ultimately had a positive effect. Reforms like the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), and Consumer Duty have helped create better outcomes for consumers.
What challenges do you see currently facing the industry , and what solutions would you propose?
First is the increasing complexity of compliance — it’s growing year on year. Then there’s a lack of structured support and training for new brokers, and the fact that a lot of experienced advisers are nearing retirement with not enough new talent coming in.
On top of that, the mortgage broker market itself has changed. Gone are the days when everyone was in a nine-to-five employed role. The self-employed broker model has grown rapidly because more people are prioritising flexibility and autonomy. That said, this shift also creates a challenge —while there are more paths into the industry, many self-employed brokers aren’t getting the support they need.
We’re building a proposition that tackles these issues directly, one that works for experienced self-employed advisers who are fed up with the one-size-fits-all model of the larger networks and is also here for brokers currently in employed roles who are looking for more work-life balance, as well as for people brand new to the industry who may not have a way in through a traditional employed route.
For new brokers, there needs to be hands-on mentoring. There needs to be a culture of collaboration so brokers can lean on each other and not feel isolated, especially when they’re just starting out. It’s not enough to just get someone through CeMAP and send them into the field. You need to help them with real-world scenarios, teach them how to build relationships, and give them the tools to grow a pipeline and a reputation.
Can you share a memorable or challenging experience from your career as a broker and the lessons you gained from it?
When I first went self-employed, it was a shock to the system. I went from being in a high-traffic estate agency where appointments came to me, to having no leads. It was a huge shift — I had to figure out how to generate business, build a local presence, and manage my own schedule.
The biggest lesson? You have to be visible. People need to know who you are and what you do. And you can’t let business generation get in the way of looking after clients. Time management became key — balancing chasing leads with delivering a great service.
Could you share any valuable advice for individuals aspiring to become brokers or those new to broking?
Put yourself in your client’s shoes. Give them honest advice, check every detail, and make sure their whole situation is covered — from mortgages to protection to general insurance. Don’t rush things just to hit numbers.
Also, always be learning. The more you know, the better you’ll be at finding solutions no one else thought of. Find a mentor who genuinely wants to see you succeed. Choose a firm that backs you with good tech, good training, and proper support. And remember — you’re selling yourself. People need to trust you. That trust comes from doing a proper job, every time.
It’s also important to stay consistent. Whether business is booming or quiet, keep showing up. Stay in touch with clients, keep building your personal brand, and never stop marketing. Referrals and recommendations come when you least expect them — but only if people remember your name.
Broker in Focus is a weekly Mortgage Introducer feature, spotlighting mortgage brokers from diverse backgrounds and locations across the UK. Among those recently featured are Paul McMath of Prosper Home Loans, Richard Noble of The Mortgage Finance Store, Luke Spellman of Spellman Financial Services, Daniel McLardy of Experts 4 Mortgages, Richard Dalgleish of Premier Financial Planning, Nick Cooper of Clark Marshall Associates, Shadab Sayed of Bennison Brown, Andrew Foligno of Foligno & Co, Luke O’Sullivan of The Loans Engine, and Simon Allen of Searchlight Finance.
Are you a mortgage broker interested in being featured? Email the author with your details.
