My name is John Steel. I am a Chartered Accountant and qualified IFA, and for the last 20 years have been managing director of SHO Financial Services Limited, now based at 12 Royal Crescent, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3DA.

The company is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (ref 144338)

From our beginnings as a general purpose IFA company operating alongside a Chartered Accountancy practice, we now specialise as independent, whole of market, mortgage advisers trading as Strictly Mortgages, and as independent debt management consultants trading as Strictly Debt UK.

Because of our background, we understand the threats surrounding the self employed and the family company, and we are well experienced at implementing solutions to counter those threats. If you need professional advice outside our own areas of expertise, we will ensure that you are referred to the best source for that advice, and we will monitor the service you receive.

Through Strictly Mortgages we can implement mortgage solutions that can give you that much needed cash flow boost, or we can direct you to alternative sources of business finance if one of those is more appropriate. These may include asset finance (for purchasing or re-financing equipment), factoring or invoice discounting to raise money on your sales ledger, or introducing you to a bank manager who will actually know you exist and remain contactable. Commercial mortgages also come within our remit.

We jealously guard the independence of Strictly Mortgages. We are not tied to any financial institution and are therefore free to go wherever necessary to obtain the best deals for our clients.

Through Strictly Debt UK we remain equally independent and professional. We will appraise your situation and ensure that you receive advice that is timely and in your best interests.

The process is as follows:
• When you call us, you will have the opportunity to talk to a debt consultant and   explain your circumstances and your problems.
• If you have time we will then take you though a brief Fact Find for the purpose of   gathering the information we need to advise you of the best solution. If you do not   have the time immediately we will arrange a convenient time to call you back and talk   at greater length.
• If you would prefer a home visit that can also be arranged.
• If you have a genuine insolvency problem we will assign you a consultant at IDC-   solutions, arrange for telephone contact if necessary, and set up a meeting for you at   the next regional client day (these take place regularly throughout the country).
• If the problem is such that it can be more easily and cheaply handled directly   yourself, we will advise you accordingly.
• If you have an urgent problem with a pushy creditor, HM Revenue and Customs   pressure, bankruptcy petition, bailiffs, eviction notice, or other enforcement action we   will arrange immediate assistance.
• If your problem can be resolved by way of mortgage, we will advise you accordingly   and carry out a detailed mortgage Fact Find to enable us to source the best deal for   you.
• If an alternative form of finance is more appropriate, we will tell you so and put you   in touch with a trusted provider.
• In some cases you may need the immediate protection of an insolvency procedure to   keep creditors at bay, followed by a mortgage solution arranged under less pressure   to raise the money needed to put you in the clear.
• Every case is individual, but once we have a full knowledge of the problem we will be   in the best position to recommend the appropriate solution for you.
• One thing we do ask and indeed insist on, is that you are totally open and honest with   us. We can’t help you without knowing exactly what we are having to deal with, and   we can’t provide the right solution if we don’t know the full extent of the problem.