In episode #153 of the Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, is joined by Jason Berry, Group Sales Director at Crystal Specialist Finance, to discuss the experiences that have shaped his nearly 35-year career in financial services – and why performance, purpose and people remain at the heart of his approach.
From early ambitions in football to a career spanning financial advice, sales leadership and specialist finance, Jason has seen the mortgage industry change significantly. Along the way, he has developed strong views on what makes partnerships last, how advisers can respond to an increasingly complex market and what separates genuinely valuable relationships from purely transactional ones.
Jeremy and Jason explore why those lessons matter particularly now. With brokers facing changing customer needs and continued market challenges, their conversation considers the role of specialist finance, the importance of looking beyond the most straightforward mortgage solution and how advisers can broaden the support they offer without needing to become an expert in everything.
But sustainable performance is about more than commercial results. As co-founder of the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter, Jason is a passionate advocate for improving wellbeing across financial services. He shares why he believes the industry still has work to do and why simply having a wellbeing framework is not enough.
The discussion also raises a bigger leadership question: how do businesses maintain ambition and high standards while creating an environment in which people can thrive? Jason reflects on how his own leadership has evolved, the importance of remaining humble and supportive, and why listening to the people closest to the work continues to matter.
There is plenty of reflection too, including the advice Jason wishes he had received at the beginning of his career and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
Covering relationships, specialist advice, leadership, culture and wellbeing, this episode offers an insightful conversation about what long-term success in the mortgage industry really looks like – and why the people behind the performance matter.
Listen to more podcasts in the Mortgage Mentors Series here.
The Growth Series is a dedicated and FREE resource for mortgage brokers, containing blogs, guides and podcasts to help you scale and grow your business. For more hints and tips on how to grow your business, access for free here.
05:34 - 27:38
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