Hi All,
I have searched the back postings on this subject and I am unsure of a few points. Before that I will explain my situation.

I already run my own business, I develop rental property and small commercial property, I used to be a structural engineer and took voluntary redundancy 4 years ago to concentrate on my business that had been running for 8 years already part time. After redundancy I retrained rather quickly and took the business through NICEIC ( electrical contracting) accreditation so firstly I could rewire the properties more cost affectively and secondly to start an electrical testing business serving landlords only for fire alarms and electrical inspections. Business sounds a bit quick of the mark, but I have quite extensive electrical knowledge and experience so technically it was not an issue. Business is running OK but I now realise a few things.

1. I miss my clean job.
2. Although well paid, my body wont last 20 years of electrical testing.
3. Electrical Inspection is a good business but it doesn't float my boat. It was a functional business choice not a career move that has started to take over.

I will keep on building up and diversifying my portfolio, but I want to step up a gear and that involves making more profit per deal and locking in as little cash as possible , and become less physical in their renovation. Most of the problems are due to locked in cash due to surveyors down valuations ( even after market value comparisons), and the mortgage being not quite being the product it should be.

I have always had a big interest in finance as it is the lifeblood of the business, I am an avid mass reader and absorber of any finance , tax literature and spend alot of time comparing the mortgage rate cards (especially in this market).

Hence my brainwave of combining my interest with finance an mortgages with having my finance finger on the pulse for specialised rental purchases for myself and my network of landlords and investors that currently use my electrical testing etc and a wider customer base. Not a new brainwave really I have been thinking about it for about 5 years, but now is possibly the time.

I see this as a long term way forward. I have flexibility to initially give a few days a week to this goal. I have the funds for training and I have the enthusiasm and interest in the subject. I already have customers in mind and am used to finding my customers using direct marketing and creative means.

That aside here are my questions:

I understand the Cmap qualifications, what I don't understand is the practical training period format and sign off. Who can sign off and how is this documented to take as a qualification for a network registration?

If I have to get a job as a trainee adviser to obtain sign off, will this be possible part time say 2-3 days a week whilst I still pay my wage with my other business.

Is the mortgage advisor route comprehensive enough? I am already into sale and rent backs, which will come under FSA style rules like equity release within a few years. That aside if you sell a mortgage , I assume you need to be a IFA to sell the mortgage protection??

Is there any where this start up info / tree of requirements is documented?

The platforms of systems to view the mortgage products, could I have a list and some comments on them.

What I want to do is organise in my mind what the yearly business costs are for an independant advisor are regarding registration fees etc, and how I am in the short term at least going to fund this and make appropriate time for it.

My quest for 2008 onward is to go back to the realm of clean work and nice shirts. please tell me all this is possible. By the way this is the best forum so far I have seen on this stuff. No other sites have come close.

Thanks in advance
John:)
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Just a quick comment; Under the current economic climate you will need to take a looong view. Mortgage brokers & Financial Advisor's I know have all reported a collapse in their markets. Many building contractors I deal with have also reported the same.
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True, which makes me think it might be a good time to train ready for the upturn. I can balance out income with my other business in the short term.

I still see a buoyant remortgage market. I work for mainly investors already as we have a common view. Some are still buying on mass just buying more aggressively. I think I would base my customers on investors in the main and roll out mainstream as the market gains confidence. I know quite a few investors that have maybe 20-40 re mortgages a year regardless of the climate, properties need to be refinanced. A slice of that would be good if I could work out the nuts and bolts of how all the pieces fit together.
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