February Talk with Rachel Rowley

It's February and Valentine's Day has come and gone and it now appears we're in a period of extreme weather again this week. Historically February is a month of ‘new beginnings’ and today we're talking to Rachel Rowley and Julie Bilsby who both share the same passion for helping people with their finances and together we run New Life Equity Release. The organisation was born from their love of helping clients. Between them they have over 40 years of experience in financial services. Rachel and Julie know the equity release process can be confusing and complex, so their role is to take the stress out of applying for equity release by offering free impartial advice.

What do you love about running your own business? 

1.     The way we can help our clients with creative financial solutions.

2.     The flexibility it provides us personally

3.     The autonomy it gives us and being able to walk the dogs when we want!

What do you love about your business community? 
We’re a supportive bunch. Having spent the last two years having lived our business lives on Zoom it’s so lovely to be able to meet in person. 

We are luckier than most, we have been friends and worked together for over 15 years and we chose to start New Life Equity Release together in lockdown, so we’ve always got each other’s back!

Our industry is full of men in grey suits, so it’s so refreshing to be able to support each other as passionate and ambitious business women. 

When women support each other, the energy and tangible force of like-minded women is a powerful force.

What do you love about your business which has changed over the last year?
There’s a saying – if you want something done give it to a busy person! Well, in our opinion that is so true – especially in the last year. 

We have never been so busy! The stamp duty helped so many so our other mortgage businesses were busy, but with so many people at home with more time on their hands and no ability to go on holiday so many people wanted to raise funds to do work to their homes. 

Equity Release has helped many of our clients fund their hopes and dreams. 

What have been the main challenges you’ve had to overcome in the last year? 
We started our business during lockdown and we already both had successful businesses so finding the time to build New Life Equity Release was challenging. 

We have families, and dogs to walk but we are so glad we made the time to realise our dreams, and we’re so grateful for the success to date. 

Is Valentine’s Day a ‘thing’ for you in your business? If so tell us more. 
It’s not a thing in so much as we do not have services or products related to it. This time of the year is always very busy, whether it’s love in the air, or the longer days and warmer weather, people look forward to the spring months.

It’s often a period of change and moving forward and moving home, so we encourage our clients and our team to be kind and compassionate and practice self-compassion and self-care during busy and stressful times.

Is Valentine’s Day a ‘thing’ for you in your life? 
It’s not really a thing for either of us, although this year one of us was pleasantly surprised (Rachel) and the other completely forgot… and it passed her by… (Julie)! 

February 17 was Random Acts of Kindness Day – has anyone shown you, or your business, a random act of kindness over the last year? 
I’m lucky to work with my best friend and to work with some amazing clients who regularly show us Random Acts of Kindness to me and our team. 

Anything mortgage or moving house is stressful, so when we can successfully navigate our clients through this stressful time whilst remaining positive and solution focused and help them find a way of funding a new life, they do often show their appreciation with gifts, compliments, and kind words.

In the yearly cycle of your business – what do you expect during February? 
After two years of possibly the busiest we have ever been there is no sign that business is slowing down. Our clients are successfully using the equity they have built up in their home to fund their new lives. Whether it’s a dream holiday, extending their home, helping their children, paying off debt or paying for long term care.

And finally: 
How is it almost March already! The last two years have just flown up. We’re pivoted our businesses and adapted how we work. 

After months of being glued to our screens and Zoom we’re so happy to being able to meet with our clients in person!

For more information visit www.newlifeequityrelease.co.uk