Elite Force Mortgages

25/05/2026

Yes, it’s Bank Holiday Monday, but I’m putting a few hours in today to get ahead of the week before I take some time out with my family later this week.

I’ve already worked quite a bit over the weekend and today I’ve been reviewing the cases due to complete on 1st July.

Interestingly, I have been monitoring two of these mortgage cases closely for the past few months.

On the first case, I secured a rate following my prompt to the clients at the time and then continued monitoring the lender afterwards. Had they ignored my advice to secure a deal when they did and only looked to apply now, their payments would currently be £119 per month higher.

On the second case, the difference would now be £72.36 higher per month.

These are not small amounts of money for families and this is exactly why I continue to monitor cases after application, not just submit them and leave them.

I genuinely feel good knowing I’ve done the best job I can for these clients.

In other news, we also received a formal mortgage offer today on a purchase case I submitted recently, on a Bank Holiday too, so clearly the lenders are still working behind the scenes! This particular lender does use an overseas underwriting team which likely helped keep things moving.

The client is porting their existing mortgage product, which allows them to transfer their current rate and avoid early repayment charges whilst moving home.

We also had a family complete on their new home on Friday, which was fantastic news. They have moved out of military housing and into their own home, which is such a huge milestone. Although moving house in a heatwave is definitely not ideal, the exact same thing happened to us last year!

I’ve also had another family’s protection policies go live. Should either parent pass away during the policy term, the mortgage would be repaid in full. They also now have enhanced critical illness cover in place through to retirement.

The protection side did take a few weeks longer than expected due to underwriting delays currently being experienced by some insurers, but I’m just pleased we got everything over the line and the family now has cover in place.

This week’s diary is looking busy, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I am slightly behind, but there is only one of me!

Anyway, I’m about to finish up now because I am desperate to spend a bit of time in the garden!

Here are a few photos from the weekend and today because it makes the post a little more interesting than just mortgage talk all the time 🤣

As always, thank you to everyone who continues to support me, I couldn't do it without you.

22/05/2026

Thought I’d share a little life update that isn’t related to the rollercoaster world of mortgages for once!

This week, we waved off my eldest on his school trip to China ahead of taking GCSE Mandarin next year.

Such an incredible opportunity, although it’s definitely a strange feeling watching your firstborn head off on such a big adventure! The wind got in my eyes abit

Lucky also had a wash this morning 😂 She’s still amazing and very much living her best life for snacks!

I’m absolutely loving the warmer weather too, spending more time gardening and seeing what wildlife we can attract.

I’ve recently got into making sourdough, so here’s this morning’s cheddar and chilli loaf fresh out of the oven.

Other than that, keeping well, keeping busy, and looking forward to the long weekend.

Hope you’re all doing well too, and hopefully I’ll catch up with some of you soon!

Sim x

22/05/2026

Rate decrease in!

Which one of you lucky people is it going to be for?!😃

Here's a clue....you like to 🏊🤸‍♂️🚵....ok maybe not cartwheeling 😂 (although love to see that!)

This will be the second time I will have amended this case.

It's an existing lender switch deal, so had they gone direct to lender (they would never do that to me!! )...none of these savings would have been passed on.

21/05/2026

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a broker who continues monitoring the lender even after your application has been submitted.

Last week, I repriced two cases with the applied to lender after rates reduced and secured updated mortgage offers for both clients with lower cost deals.

That same lender increased rates again this morning, now higher than the original rates we first applied on.

The mortgage market can move quickly, which is why ongoing case management matters just as much as securing the initial deal.

Good outcomes often come from staying proactive throughout the process, not just at application stage.

17/05/2026

Many people rely on employer or military death in service benefits without realising those benefits are usually linked to employment and may end when service or employment ends.

For example, if someone leaves the forces, retires, or is medically discharged, any death in service benefit may no longer apply.

A lot my clients are of an age where they will leave the military before their mortgage term ends, which is why it’s important to consider what protection may still be in place afterwards.

Many of my clients have now left the military, so my client base is naturally starting to shift into civilian life. That makes protection conversations even more important, especially when the comfort blanket of military benefits and full sick pay may no longer be there.

Another important consideration is that if your health changes in the future, life insurance or critical illness cover may become more expensive, have exclusions applied, or may not be available depending on individual circumstances.

There are also some exceptions. For example, if you are currently undergoing medical investigations, insurers will often require a diagnosis or outcome before an application can proceed. Not everyone will be able to obtain cover or standard terms depending on their health and medical history.

Over the years, I’ve spoken to clients who felt they didn’t need protection because they were fit and healthy at the time. Unfortunately, unexpected health issues can and do happen.

I’ve had a client tell me he was fit, healthy and “never gets ill” ..then suffered a heart attack while gardening.

I’ve also seen the positive impact protection policies can have when claims are paid, helping reduce financial pressure at an already difficult time. One client who originally didn’t have critical illness cover prior to me putting it in place for them, later received a claim payment of over £130,000.

There are also clients who follow my pages who have had claims paid and are grateful that they listened and put cover in place.

Sadly, there are also people who ignored the advice and later told me they wished they hadn’t.

I manage my clients’ policies and aim to ensure cover remains suitable as circumstances change, but clients also need to engage with the review process. I can’t properly advise or recommend changes if communications are ignored.

Do you know exactly what protection you currently have in place?
When was the last time you reviewed it?
Would it still meet your needs today?

Protection isn’t legally required, and whether it is suitable depends on your own circumstances, needs and budget. However, many people choose to have cover in place to help provide financial security for their family and protect the family home if the unexpected happens.

Life changes quickly:
• illness or injury.
• medical discharge.
• leaving service.
• changes in health.
• family circumstances changing.

Having personal protection that stays with you and is not tied solely to employment can provide reassurance for many families.

As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply, and policies may not cover all circumstances.

15/05/2026

A big thank you to Alan and Lauren from Scottish Widows today for a fantastic session this morning and for sharing some really important insights from the new “Living with and beyond cancer in 2045” report, informed by Macmillan Cancer Support and powered by Scottish Widows.

The report highlights that by 2045, an estimated 5.4 million people in the UK will be living with and beyond cancer — a 58% increase from today.

It’s a powerful reminder that a cancer diagnosis can affect far more than someone’s health. It can impact family life, work, finances and future plans too.

That’s why having the right support and financial protection in place can make such a difference during difficult times.

Really valuable insights this morning and an important conversation about how we can better support people and families for the future.

For anyone who would like to read more, here’s the link below. It’s a really interesting insight into the future of cancer care in the UK, the growing pressures families may face, and why planning ahead and building financial resilience has never been more important.

Macmillan Cancer Support and Scottish Widows have launched a new initiative projecting how UK cancer prevalence may change from 2025 to 2045.

15/05/2026

New Client Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

"I cannot recommend Simone highly enough. I initially engaged with her while I was still serving in the Armed Forces and preparing to transition into civilian life. From our very first conversation, she completely changed my perspective and gave me the confidence to move forward with securing a mortgage before I had even left the military.

Simone demonstrated exceptional knowledge and foresight, guiding me through the process of securing a mortgage based on my future employment contract. This was something I hadn’t realised was possible, and it ultimately allowed me to secure a property I truly wanted and needed at a critical time of transition.

What really stood out was her commitment and responsiveness. There were moments where timelines were tight and pressure was high, but Simone was always on hand, stepped up when it mattered most, and made my case a clear priority. Her professionalism, dedication, and ability to deliver under pressure made all the difference.

Thanks to Simone, I was able to secure my mortgage smoothly and move forward with confidence. I’m incredibly grateful for her support and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone, especially those navigating complex situations or major life changes".

Elite Force Mortgages Google Reviews, April 2026

15/05/2026

New Client Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

"Simone was fantastic throughout the entirety of my first house purchase. She was great and making the daunting process feel achievable and was careful to explain everything. She went through my individual requirements and found a mortgage ideal for my needs - and kept and eye on changing rates when inevitable delays set in!
It is obvious she is passionate about her clients and it shows in her approach everyday. Easy to recommend"

Elite Force Mortgages Google Reviews, May 2026

15/05/2026

A case study from a couple of weeks ago (I am little behind on posts!) This is client is a recent service leaver.

This morning my client had no mortgage life insurance in place. If the worst happened his wife could have lost their home.

He also had no income protection. If illness or injury stopped him working his income would’ve lasted about 4 weeks… and that’s it.

With 26 years left on the mortgage, that’s a scary position to be in.

Fast forward to this afternoon…

He’s now fully covered. I recommended and placed life insurance matching the mortgage and in place for the full term and full income protection set up to support him right through to age 70.

Everything is live and on risk already. I have also put the mortgage life insurance into trust for his wife.

It means the money goes straight to her if he passes away. No delays, no waiting for probate, no added stress at an already difficult time.

It might feel quick but when someone’s in good health it really can be that straightforward.

The important bit?

He’s made a decision to put his family first.

If he’s not here, they keep the home.

If he can’t work, they still have an income.

No panic. No scrambling. No worst-case scenario becoming reality.

Just proper protection for everything he’s worked so hard to build.

P.s Just a photo of Lucky sat in her favourite spot in the garden 😃 🐕‍🦺 🐾 🌸