Established in 2020, Monarch Financial Services has fast become Ayrshire’s largest Independent Mortgage Brokerage and one of the top firms in Scotland. With international clients on the books and multiple UK awards under its belt (including Best UK Firm 2023, Best New Advisor 2022 and Best Administrator 2023 – testament to the whole team approach to excellence), this family-run business has established itself as sector-leading in an impressively short space of time.
Owner and Director, Iain Greer, launched Monarch Financial Services during Covid having been made redundant from a firm in Glasgow where he had spent many years honing his skills working for a Chartered Financial Planner. With his wife, Claire, seven months pregnant with their second daughter, there was no time to stop and think about it: he was made redundant one day and launched Monarch Financial Services the next.
The start-up phase was exceptionally challenging. Two months after launching, Iain and Claire’s daughter was born with Downs’ Syndrome and four months later she was diagnosed with Leukaemia. It was a devastating blow for the family. Iain and Claire lived at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow for seven months as baby Anna went through treatment and into remission. Iain worked on the business Monday to Thursday and cared for their three-year-old daughter, Maisie, at home while Claire lived at the hospital. At the weekend they would swap. On the days Iain was based at the hospital he would complete all the business admin and book in appointments with clients, working all hours to care for his daughter while simultaneously building the business that would provide for his family.
Commitment to family and protecting families from all the possible turns that life can take, is very much at the heart of Monarch’s financial mission. With Claire bringing her extensive experience in administration and accounts to the business and Iain’s Dad, James, leaving his employment to come on board bringing 25 years of experience in the industry with him, it really is a family affair and it’s clear that they love what they do.
For Iain, being client-centric is the key and this means looking at whole home financing including, for example, second charge mortgages, bridging loans, development and commercial opportunities, equity release and insurance policies. Through the whole home approach Iain and his team are singularly focused on protecting their clients by making sure they have back up plans in place. As a firm they are proud to be the only one in Ayrshire approved by the Equity Release Council. It’s a specialism which means older clients exploring their options can rest assured they’re in safe hands. Once again, bringing the necessary expertise to fully protect clients and their finances as they navigate more complex and challenging monetary issues is at the core of what this business does. It has earned them an enviable reputation which last year helped them secure £140,000,000 worth of lending.
From finding the best deal possible for first time buyers overwhelmed by conflicting advice from competing banks, to supporting seasoned investment property owners to understand tax implications, Iain and his fast-growing team are making sure they put the right keys in the right hands in the right way.
Safeguarding families and the local community is what the Monarch Financial Services team is all about and it’s an investment which Iain knows works both ways; he looks after the local community and the community looks after him by supporting the business. Whether he’s meeting with clients, championing local events such as Roon the Toon, cheering on Kilmarnock FC at home or away or enjoying a cycle in the local park with Claire and their girls, investing in family and community is a life priority for Iain both as a family man and as a businessman.
