In Conversation With John Stewart

In Conversation with John Stewart of Peritus Private Finance Ltd

If you’re thinking about buying a property and needing help in securing a mortgage, or perhaps it’s time to remortgage and you have questions about the current market, our advice is always to consult a specialist who can guide you through the process, removing the stress and uncertainty.

With this in mind, we caught up with Independent Mortgage and Protection Adviser John Stewart of Peritus Private Finance Ltd to have a chat about his work and career path, along with his life in Northumberland.

Thanks so much for chatting with us John. First of all, 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 off 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 further advance my career and knowledge, 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.

Guessing 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 the 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, 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’!

For advice on all aspects of property finance contact John Stewart on 07973 430 331 or email [email protected]

*Your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.*