When you hire a mortgage broker, you expect expert advice, market access, and the best deal available. But in 2025, not all brokers are equal—and many are costing their clients thousands without them even realising it.

From missed lender opportunities to poorly structured applications and lazy advice, the wrong broker can make the difference between an efficient, cost-effective loan and a financial mess.

In this guide, we break down:

• The most common broker mistakes
• What they’re costing clients
• Real-world examples
• How Willow Private Finance does things differently

💸 1. Limited Market Access = Higher Rates

Some brokers only work with a small panel of lenders, or even worse—just one or two. This means:

• You don’t get the best rates
• You miss out on specialist or private lenders
• You might be recommended a product that suits the broker—not you

Example: A client earning £180k with bonus-based income was quoted a 5.75% 2-year fix by a panel broker. Willow placed the case with a private lender at 4.38%, saving over £10,000 over the fixed term.

✅ Willow is whole-of-market. We access hundreds of lenders, including private banks, international lenders, specialist providers, and those who work exclusively with top-tier brokers.

🧱 2. Poor Structuring Can Limit Borrowing or Trigger Declines

A good mortgage isn’t just about rate—it’s about how the deal is structured.

We see brokers:

• Submit self-employed income without business accounts
• Forget to include bonuses or director loans
• Apply as an individual when Ltd Co structure would be better
• Fail to prepare a clear exit for bridging cases

These errors result in:

• Declined applications
• Lower loan amounts
• Higher stress rates and lower affordability
• Missed tax benefits or higher upfront costs

✅ At Willow, we design each case strategically—maximising borrowing, minimising tax exposure, and avoiding deal-breaking mistakes.

⏳ 3. Delays = Missed Opportunities

In a fast-moving market, time is money. Some brokers simply aren’t responsive. We’ve heard horror stories of:

• Brokers taking weeks to return a call or request documents
• Missed auction deadlines
• Clients losing out on dream homes because the broker couldn’t act quickly enough
• Lending offers lapsing while waiting for basic legal work

Example: A landlord trying to refinance four properties was held up by slow communication and incomplete paperwork from their broker. They contacted Willow and we completed the entire refinance—across all four assets—in 11 working days.

✅ At Willow, we pride ourselves on same-day responses, efficient onboarding, and working with solicitors and valuers who prioritise our cases.

🧾 4. Brokers Who Don’t Understand Complex Income

Not all income is straightforward. But many brokers treat it like it is.

They:

• Average out variable income unfairly
• Omit bonuses, dividends, or international earnings
• Assume retained profits can’t be used
• Don’t understand how to present trust income or company accounts

This means:

• You borrow less than you could
• You’re forced into higher-rate products
• You get declined for no good reason

✅ At Willow, complex income is our bread and butter. Whether you’re self-employed, earning overseas, have multiple companies or trust income—we know how to package your case for approval.

🔒 5. Protection and Planning Left Behind

Some brokers stop at the mortgage. That’s a major problem.

Failing to include:

• Life cover
• Income protection
• Whole-of-life for IHT mitigation
  ...leaves clients exposed to major risk and often in breach of lender requirements.

We've seen clients:

• Buy £2M properties with no insurance in place
• Have families left with debt due to no life cover
• Miss IHT mitigation opportunities worth hundreds of thousands

✅ At Willow, we integrate mortgage and protection planning, so your finances are covered, not just approved.

🗣️ Real Client Story: “We Had No Idea What We Were Missing”

“We used a broker recommended by our estate agent. Nice guy, but he just put us on the first high street deal that passed their computer. Then we spoke to Willow, and suddenly we were looking at a 5-year fix that saved us thousands—and they spotted protection gaps our old broker never even mentioned.”

“It’s not just about access—it’s about advice, and Willow had it in spades.”



⚠️ Signs Your Broker Might Be Costing You

• They don’t explain alternatives or lender types
• They’re slow to respond or disappear after the AIP
• They never asked about your long-term goals or exit strategy
• They gave you a lender choice before seeing documents
• They’re not transparent about fees, commissions, or what they earn

✅ Why Clients Switch to Willow

• Whole-of-market access to residential, buy-to-let, expat, and private banks
• Skilled in complex income, HNW, and structured finance
• Fast, responsive, and experienced in time-sensitive deals
• Integrated protection and estate planning advice
• Trusted by clients who have been rejected or misadvised elsewhere

We don’t just compare rates—we build strategies that work.

Final Thought

Choosing the wrong broker won’t always result in a disaster—but it almost always means you’re overpaying, underborrowing, or exposed.

At Willow Private Finance, we correct what others get wrong.

Whether you’ve just started your search, been rejected, or simply want a second opinion—we’ll show you what great advice really looks like.

📞 Want to See What Your Current Broker Missed?

Speak to a Willow adviser today and get a full market comparison—plus a strategy that protects your finances, not just your mortgage.