Mortgage and financial advisers increasingly view access to lenders as the starting point of an aggregator relationship, with expectations growing for a broader package of business support, industry figures told recent reporting on aggregator roles and responsibilities.
Aggregators moving from access providers to business partners
According to the reporting, advisers now want aggregators to help manage regulatory duties, professional development and the operational demands of an advice practice. That shift reflects advisers facing a complex mix of economic uncertainty, regulatory change, recruitment challenges and rapid technological evolution.
Two practising advisers cited in the coverage outlined what they consider essential. Guy Carter, managing director and financial adviser at Your Mortgage Team, said a high-quality aggregator should be able to tailor support to firms with differing needs and act as a backbone to their business.
“They need to offer a broad range of services for every adviser depending on how much support the adviser or FAP requires. Covering everything from compliance and admin support to marketing, commissions, training, and CPD - basically, they are the backbone to any advice business.”
Eric Hao, GM and financial adviser at STAR Mortgage & Insurance, added that aggregators should lift standards across the industry, with a particular emphasis on compliance and personal development opportunities.
“It’s about focusing on compliance and championing this aspect of our industry, as well as creating opportunities for its members to grow through personal development.”
Practical services advisers want
The reporting identifies a set of functions advisers value most from aggregators:
- Compliance support — helping advisers meet regulatory responsibilities and stay inspection-ready;
- Professional development — training, CPD and coaching to raise capability and career progression;
- Operational support — administration, marketing and commission handling to ease day-to-day burdens;
- Technology and integration — systems that streamline sales, client records and lender interactions;
- Advocacy and representation — acting as a collective voice when engaging with lenders, regulators and industry stakeholders.
Advisers argued that some small practices lack the time or influence to negotiate directly with every lender or regulator, so an aggregator that can advocate effectively becomes strategically important.
| Service | Why advisers value it |
|---|---|
| Compliance | Reduces regulatory risk and administrative burden |
| Training & CPD | Improves adviser capability and client outcomes |
| Technology | Speeds processes and lowers operating costs |
| Advocacy | Secures better access and terms with lenders and stakeholders |
Implications for households and the advice market
For consumers, stronger aggregator support can mean more consistent adviser standards, better compliance and potentially smoother access to mortgage products. For advisers, the right aggregator services can translate into lower operational costs, higher productivity and improved capacity to serve clients — all of which matter in a market where margins and client acquisition costs are under pressure.
At the same time, the shift raises questions for the wider industry about how aggregators will be measured and regulated if their role broadens beyond distribution to include coaching, technology provision and formal advocacy. Advisers expect aggregators to act not just as middlemen but as partners that help future-proof advice practices against regulatory and market change.
These dynamics are relevant to any market where independent advisers operate under heavy compliance burdens and tight commercial margins. As the adviser role becomes more demanding, aggregator propositions that combine lender access with practical business support are likely to become a competitive differentiator.
Note: This report summarises recent reporting on aggregator expectations in the mortgage advice sector and does not constitute financial advice.
