LOSING her husband to cancer pushed a consultant to guide others into having a financial safety net in place.

Rita McCredie, from Royal Wootton Bassett, has spent more than 30 years of her career in the financial sector, including with Hambro Life, Allied Dunbar and Zurich.

In 2006, she took a three year career break to accompany her husband Ken on his RAF posting in the USA.

Her husband’s cancer diagnosis after returning from the states reinforced to Rita the importance of having adequate financial protection.

Following his death in 2014, she decided to specialise as a financial services consultant and qualified with a Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice.

“My husband had critical illness cover which paid out without any issues,” said Rita, who is now also a trustee of the RAF Widows’ Association.

“With so much to deal with during his illness, one concern we didn’t have was financial instability and it enabled us to make the most of the remaining time we had together.

“It was in part this experience, and the fact I had always wanted to be at the front end of financial services, advising and supporting clients, that guided me towards becoming a mortgages and protection consultant.”

Rita set up her company in Royal Wootton Bassett in 2018, under the banner McCredie Financial Management.

Now she has relaunched as The Mortgage Navigator, to better reflect her firm’s services, with the strapline, ‘Charting the ideal course to your property dreams’.

“The new business name explains exactly what I do; I can help navigate the mortgage market for first time buyers, those moving home and people looking to remortgage” she added.

“Additionally, we offer protection policies – including critical illness cover, life insurance and income protection – to ensure people keep the keys to their properties, no matter what happens to them in the future.”

She is based in Bowman House, is an appointed representative of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, visit www.themortgagenavigator.co.uk.