Giving Advisers Market Reach in Non-Regulated Bridging

By Haydn Thomas, CEO, Cornerstone Finance Group & MD, Cornerstone Capital Finance

How Bridging Finance Helps Advisers and Clients

In the world of property investment, timing can be everything. Opportunities often arise with little warning, and the ability to move quickly can make the difference between securing a deal and watching it pass by. That is where bridging finance proves its worth – offering a short-term funding option that can be arranged quickly and tailored to the needs of the client.

Specialist Bridging for Niche Clients

Within the Cornerstone Network, our mortgage and protection advisers have access to a range of solutions in this space, including our own in-house bridging fund, Cornerstone Capital Finance. Privately funded and focused on both the client and the introducer, it sits alongside a panel of trusted external lenders to provide a broad choice of options.

Cornerstone Capital Finance is deliberately niche. We often work with high net worth clients who may be asset-rich but cash-poor, and who need to act fast on the right opportunity. We are also one of the few bridging funders to take a favourable view of agricultural land and farms, which makes us a valuable option for advisers with clients in that sector. In some cases, we will step in where a mainstream lender cannot, if the client’s track record is strong and the case makes sense. That can mean doing something slightly different or unconventional to get the right outcome.

Since launching in 2021, we have lent over £20 million, with around half of our business coming from repeat clients. Our current loan book is just over £6 million, and to date, all loans have redeemed in full. We work closely with the Cornerstone Commercial Finance team, who manage relationships with around 10 to 15 trusted lenders out of more than 100 bridging providers in the UK. Cornerstone Capital Finance is one of those options, but it forms part of a much wider market reach.

Helping Advisers Deliver the Right Solution

For advisers in the Cornerstone Network, the opportunity is there to use this infrastructure to deliver the right solution for their clients. We are already seeing quality introductions from advisers who have long-standing buy-to-let clients and are now recognising the role bridging can play in helping those investors secure opportunities.

Balancing Cost and Opportunity

The principle of opportunity cost is key here. While bridging may appear more expensive than other types of finance, when you look at the true cost over time – and the potential gain from moving quickly – the value becomes clear.

Why Early Involvement Matters

For non-regulated bridging in particular, my advice to our advisers is to involve the Cornerstone Commercial Finance team early. For those advisers who don’t deal with bridging regularly, it can feel like a specialist area – but by working with the team, advisers can ensure their clients have access to the best deal in the market, whether that comes from our own fund or another lender.

Training and Future Plans for Advisers

Looking ahead, we plan to replicate the training programme we have run on regulated bridging, offering advisers who work closely with property investors the opportunity to upskill in non-regulated bridging as well. That will enable them to introduce cases directly to a set panel of approved lenders and explain the product clearly to their clients. Until then, the most effective route is to refer to the commercial finance team, who will make sure the client gets the right product, at the right time, from the right lender.