The Intermediary – January 2026 - Flipbook - Page 72
Meet The Broker
Sophisticated
histicated Sussex Finance Ltd
Marvin Onumonu speaks with Julie Turner, founder and
mortgage broker at Sophisticated Sussex Finance Ltd
What led you to become
a broker?
I initially came from a completely
different industry. My entire early
career was rooted in travel, which I
entered at just 16 through the Youth
Training Scheme (YTS) scheme,
earning £27 a week in a small travel
agency in Eastbourne.
It feels like a lifetime ago now, but
that experience gave me a strong
grounding in customer service
and the rhythm of a busy sales
environment. After that, I spent
time travelling – something I was
70
The Intermediary | January 2026
deeply passionate about – and when
I eventually returned to the UK, I
continued progressing within the
travel sector.
I managed several travel agencies
before moving into a long-term backoffice role for a large travel company,
where I stayed for 17 years.
When the pandemic hit in 2020
and the travel industry came to a
standstill, I was made redundant. It
was a huge turning point, but it also
gave me rare time to reflect.
During that redundancy period,
I had what I can only describe as
a lightbulb moment: I realised
becoming a mortgage broker
could combine everything I valued
– flexibility, meaningful client
relationships, and an interest in
property and finance.
My biggest priority was being able
to work around my daughter, who
was five at the time, and mortgage
advice felt like a perfect match for
the next chapter of my career. Five
years later, after passing my CeMAP
in December 2020, I now proudly run
my own firm. If someone had told me
all of this back in 2020, I would never
have believed it, but here I am – and I
absolutely love what I do.
