Equity Release Awards judges described Dennis Kreijns as a “battler who is always prepared to take on a fight on behalf of the customer” but we wanted to hear from this year’s Adviser of the Year in his own words.
How long have you been in the industry? It is just over 10 years now.
What attracted you to the industry? I was drawn to the qualifications, career prospects, the advice-based role – helping clients and their families meet their financial aspirations.
What did you do before you became an adviser? I worked in banking (at Nationwide) within the finance department.
Are you married and do you have children? Not yet! Yes, I have one daughter.
What do you do to relax? To relax, I enjoy reading books, watching movies and enjoy socialising and dining out with friends.
Why did you join the Council? I joined the Council as it represents all that is required to be a good adviser: High standards of conduct and to promote safeguards to the consumer!
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started? You need to be readily available, seven days a week, to support clients and show complete dedication in always providing the best possible service. Of course, this is something I now live by. To this end, as the years have passed, client feedback has always shown that I am dependable and someone who consistently exceeds service expectations – always striving to go above and beyond to deliver the best outcomes.
How do you think you differ from other advisers? I genuinely care about helping my customers, finding solutions and making the whole journey a smooth and pleasant experience. What I feel sets me apart most of all, is my ability to provide exceptional business volumes whilst always maintaining the highest standards in everything that I do – from compliance to best advice, to best customer service.
How did you feel when you won the award and how did you celebrate? It was an amazing feeling. To be recognised by my peers, lender partners, solicitor firms, surveyors and professionals from the industry itself. Myself and my colleagues enjoyed a lovely dinner and a few drinks.
What is the greatest challenge facing the industry and how to overcome it? Naturally, dispelling myths about equity release, and educating the public about the potential to access the wealth in their home for a variety of uses, as supported by the Equity Release Council. This is a very personal industry, so I hope that the artificial intelligence style of machine advice/bots never gets put in place. It all starts from the very first moments with the client, establishing their needs, identifying and advising where equity release may not be right for a client. The fact find stage also ensures that the product being recommended is right for the client.
What is the greatest opportunity facing the industry and how do we embrace it? There are great opportunities to embrace. These include product innovation, more lenders coming to market providing more choice as well as the UK’s ever-aging population. Technology and the power of the internet enable comparisons to be made in the market to find the best possible plans available.
Is there anything else you want to tell us? A key part of my role is helping to grow and support this vitally important industry. I play an active part in championing the work of the Equity Release Council, which is an organisation that myself and Just Compare are proud to be members. We actively promote the Council’s core values and standards to our clients, as well as the great work you do for the industry. It is an industry that I am honoured to represent.
- The views of contributors are not necessarily those of the Council
The winners of the Equity Release Awards were announced last night at an in-person ceremony at Hilton Bankside. They appear here: Laterliving now!, best financial adviser firm with five or fewer advisers; Viva Retirement Solutions, best financial adviser firm with six to 19 advisers; Age Partnership, best financial adviser firm with 20 plus advisers; Dennis Kreijns, Just Compare Retirement, best individual adviser; Air Club, best mortgage club and best distributor for adviser support, training and development; Gilroy Steel, best conveyancer; e.surv, best surveyor; Nicola Palmer, Canada Life, best business development manager; Paul O’Hara, Canada Life, best underwriter; Canada Life, best provider for adviser support, training & development; Canada Life, best provider for service ; Pure Retirement, best provider for products; and Legal & General Home Finance, best overall provider for lifetime mortgages.
