Rhian Mannings | Turning trauma into triumph: Filling the vacuum in bereavement support

This episode contains reference to suicide and infant death that listeners may find upsetting.

In this episode of Just Covered, we speak with Rhian Mannings, founder of the 2Wish Charity about her emotional and thought-provoking story. In 2012, Rhian suffered a deeply profound and challenging experience, losing both her infant son and husband in just a matter of days. It changed her life forever. And, the clear absence of bereavement support in her Welsh community caused her to set up her own charity service. Today, it operates in England too and her incredible work has been recognised with an MBE, the New Year Honours list, and more. It’s a powerful story that some listeners may find upsetting.

This episode also covers:

· The best ways to approach grieving and traumatised clients, as well as dealing with children in traumatic circumstances.

· Key challenges for bereavement services in the UK.

· Understanding some of the financial implications of loss and the role of advisers in empathetically addressing these issues.

For more information on the 2wish Charity visit - Home - 2 Wish

Bob White | Bridging the gap: Collaboration, learning and later life lending

In this episode of Just Covered, we sit down with Bob White, an adviser at Mortgage & Lifetime Solutions with over 30 years' experience. Having started his career in Mortgages and Protection, Bob qualified as a lifetime mortgages adviser 15 years ago and is passionate about the need for advisers to continually learn and improve their knowledge. Bob also discusses how advisers can collaborate and refer clients, to help prioritise their interests and achieve the best possible outcomes.

This episode also covers:

• How equity release can be a game-changer for clients who prefer to stay in their homes rather than downsizing, despite the challenges and costs associated with moving.

• The ever-evolving nature of financial products, and the necessity of staying updated through training meetings, seminars, and conferences to provide the best advice to clients.

• The importance of collaboration amongst advisers to ensure clients' future needs are met, advocating for a duty of care that prioritises the best interests of clients.

Charley O’Neill | Mortgage Mum: Finding work-life balance and flexibility in financial services

In this episode of Just Covered, we meet Charley O’Neill, Senior Mortgage and Protection Adviser and Head of New Build at Mortgage Mum. A mother of two, Charley’s journey in financial services began after leaving school. She earned her stripes in customer service at HSBC, before eventually becoming a qualified Mortgage Adviser in 2015. But after returning from maternity leave, she found traditional industry working patterns strained her personal life. Determined, she sought to find an organisation that would recognise and value her needs as a working parent. Her success is an inspiration for any adviser, but especially those with families.

This episode also covers:

· The ethos and community behind Mortgage Mum and the benefits of forward-thinking and flexible ways of working, compared to traditional working practices.

· The importance of personable communications with clients and how different approaches can support this.

· An insight into New Build schemes, buyer incentives and valuable tools, like Own New’s Rate Reducer.