The Intermediary – February 2026 - Flipbook - Page 10
SPECIALIST FINANCE
In focus
Behind every great
case is a great team
T
he world of specialist
finance is complex.
Every case has layers:
the customer’s story,
the numbers behind
the deal, the broker’s
insight, and the lender’s expertise.
And whilst brokers and sales teams are
oen the visible face of the journey,
the truth is that countless individuals
are involved in making each case
work. Many of these are people who
don’t always appear in the spotlight,
but without them deals simply
wouldn’t happen.
Take Together’s new Premier for
Intermediaries proposition as an
example. This service, just launched
in 2026, brings together a handpicked
team to support brokers handling
large, high-value cases over £1m.
It provides a bespoke, experience
where communication is direct and
complex scenarios get the aention
they deserve.
And whilst the Premier team
is headed by the exceptional Dan
Narwal, even the strongest leaders rely
on the strength of the wider operation.
Behind every smooth journey sits an
ecosystem of specialists; underwriters,
case managers, completions experts,
risk analysts, valuations teams,
and operational colleagues who
quietly keep the entire process
moving forward.
The underwriters
Underwriters are oen unseen, but
brokers certainly feel the impact of
their specialist knowledge. They take
every detail, document, and nuance of
a case and apply an expert lens to it.
For high-value cases, that
expertise is even more important.
Underwriters assess affordability,
analyse risk, challenge assumptions,
and ensure that the lending decision
works for the customer, the broker,
and the business. Their ability to
balance commercial opportunity
with responsible lending is what
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The Intermediary | February 2026
makes complex cases viable. But
underwriters don’t simply say “yes”
or “no”. They work collaboratively,
asking the right questions, spoing
gaps early, and guiding brokers
towards solutions that strengthen
the case.
In many instances, a skilled
underwriter can turn what appears to
be a dead end into a constructive path
forward. They are the architects of
workable lending.
Case managers
Once a case is in motion, case
managers become the heartbeat of the
journey. They ensure everything stays
on track, documents arrive on time,
and all parties; solicitors, valuers,
brokers, or customers, stay aligned.
A good case manager removes
friction long before it reaches the
broker or the client. They spot missing
paperwork early, anticipate questions
before they’re asked, and raise red
flags before they become roadblocks.
In a high value environment, that
level of proactive management is
essential. It protects timelines, reduces
stress, and builds trust. For brokers,
it means fewer phone calls chasing
updates, and for customers, it means
confidence that their significant
financial move is in safe hands.
The completions team takes a
fully packaged case and turns it
into a funded loan, an achievement
that is oen underestimated. They
handle everything from final checks
to coordinating release of funds,
ensuring solicitors have what they
need, and verifying that all conditions
have been met properly.
When completions run smoothly,
a broker may never realise how much
work went in behind the scenes.
But when timelines are tight and
expectations are high, the precision
and responsiveness of the completions
team can make or break a customer’s
positive experience. They are the ones
who turn “approved” into “delivered.”
TANYA ELMAZ
is managing director of
intermediary sales at Together
Beyond the customer-facing teams,
there are specialists whose expertise
shapes the success of every case long
before a decision is made.
Valuations teams ensure properties
are accurately assessed and reflect
true market conditions. Risk
analysts protect customers and the
business by understanding long-term
implications, and operational teams
build and refine the systems and
processes that allow large, complex
cases to move with ease. Without these
functions, speed and reliability simply
isn’t possible.
It takes a team to succeed
For Together, whilst the Premier for
Intermediaries team offers a single
point of contact and along with great
service for brokers dealing with
larger loans, they are supported
by a network of experts who give
that promise substance. It’s their
combined knowledge, judgement,
and commitment, that enables us
to maintain a relationship-first
approach to lending.
Those internal teams are the reason
businesses can support brokers
through challenging cases and help
more people achieve their property
ambitions, even when the scenarios
are far from straightforward.
So, the next time a case completes
seamlessly, or a complex scenario
turns into a successful outcome, it’s
worth remembering the people behind
the scenes who made it possible. They
might not always be visible, but they
are absolutely vital.
These are the unsung heroes of
Together, and all other lenders,
and every successful case is their
achievement too. ●
