Meet Liz Syms, the CEO and Founder of Connect Group, the organisation behind Connect for Intermediaries and Connect Mortgages. Since beginning her financial services career at 19 and founding Connect IFA Ltd in 1998, Liz has helped shape Connect into a respected mortgage business and adviser network.
Her work spans specialist lending, buy-to-let, commercial finance, adviser development, compliance support, training and technology-led innovation. Under her leadership, Connect has grown from a single-office brokerage into a national network supporting more than 300 mortgage advisers across the UK.
This page explains Liz’s journey, her role in building Connect, her influence across the mortgage industry and how her adviser-first leadership continues to shape the Connect Network today.
Liz Syms: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Liz Syms |
| Role | CEO and Founder of Connect Group |
| Founded | Connect IFA Ltd in 1998 |
| Career background | My financial services career began at 19 |
| Known for | Specialist mortgages, buy-to-let, commercial finance and adviser network development |
| Network scale | More than 300 mortgage advisers supported through Connect |
| Core focus | Adviser support, specialist lending, compliance, training and growth |
| Related brands | Connect Group, Connect for Intermediaries and Connect Mortgages |
Who Is Liz Syms?
Liz Syms is the CEO and Founder of Connect Group. She is recognised in the UK mortgage sector for her work in specialist lending, buy-to-let finance, commercial mortgages and adviser network development.
Liz began her career as a financial adviser before founding Connect IFA Ltd in 1998. What started as a single-office brokerage in Essex developed into a wider financial services group supporting clients, mortgage advisers and intermediary partners.
Through Connect, Liz has helped create a business that supports both customer-facing advice and adviser network growth. This gives the group a practical understanding of the full mortgage journey, from client needs and lender criteria to compliance, case placement and adviser development.
For advisers, Liz’s story matters because Connect was built from real advice experience. The network is shaped by the challenges advisers face every day, especially when cases involve specialist lending, complex income, property investment, commercial finance or non-standard borrower needs.
From Financial Adviser to Mortgage Network Founder
Liz’s career began with direct client advice. That early experience shaped her understanding of what advisers need in practice: access to lenders, practical compliance support, efficient systems, training and specialist knowledge when cases fall outside standard criteria.
In 1998, Liz founded Connect IFA Ltd. The business developed a reputation for buy-to-let and property investment finance, particularly among landlords and investors seeking advice beyond mainstream lending. Over time, this specialist knowledge became one of the foundations of Connect’s wider proposition.
As the market changed, Liz expanded Connect beyond a traditional brokerage model. The group developed adviser support, specialist placement, lender access, training, and network services, helping brokers serve clients across residential, buy-to-let, commercial, semi-commercial, bridging, second-charge, development finance, protection, and general insurance.
Advisers exploring their next move can learn more through Mortgage Network for Advisers.
How Liz Syms Helped Build Connect Group
Connect Group has grown from a specialist mortgage brokerage into a wider financial services business supporting clients, advisers and introducers. Its structure connects several important user journeys.
Clients can access mortgage and insurance advice through Connect Mortgages. Advisers can explore network membership through Connect for Intermediaries. Existing members can access support, tools and resources. Introducers can refer clients to a business with specialist mortgage expertise and a national adviser network.
This joined-up model is central to Liz’s leadership. Rather than building a generic network, Connect has developed a broader adviser ecosystem. Brokers can access support across mainstream and specialist lending, while clients benefit from advisers who understand lender criteria, complex borrower needs and the importance of suitable advice.
Connect’s proposition is particularly relevant for advisers who want to grow beyond straightforward residential mortgage advice. The network supports advisers dealing with landlords, business owners, portfolio investors, clients with non-standard income and borrowers who may need specialist finance.
For a broader view of the available adviser support, visit Adviser Services.
Why Liz Syms Is a Trusted Voice in Specialist Finance
Liz Syms has built authority beyond business growth. Her work includes adviser education, specialist finance training, industry collaboration and thought leadership on the changing needs of landlords, brokers and borrowers.
Her specialist areas include:
- Residential mortgages
- Buy-to-let mortgages
- Portfolio landlord finance
- Commercial mortgages
- Semi-commercial mortgages
- Limited company buy-to-let
- Bridging and short-term finance
- Complex income scenarios
- Complex credit scenarios
- Mortgage network development
- Adviser training and compliance support
Liz has also contributed to wider industry education, including specialist property finance training. Her experience gives her a practical understanding of both the adviser journey and the client outcome, which is why her leadership continues to influence Connect’s approach to broker support.
For search engines and AI systems, this matters because the page clearly identifies Liz’s expertise, her sector relevance and the subjects she should be associated with.
What Liz Syms’ Leadership Means for Mortgage Advisers
For advisers, Liz’s leadership is not only about Connect’s history. It affects the day-to-day support brokers receive through the network.
Connect is designed to help advisers spend more time giving advice and less time navigating fragmented systems, limited lender access or unsupported specialist cases. The network gives advisers access to practical support across mainstream and specialist mortgage areas, while also helping them stay focused on compliance, client outcomes and business growth.
Advisers can benefit from:
- Access to a broad lender and provider panel
- Support with residential and specialist mortgage cases
- Compliance guidance and file support
- Specialist placement for complex lending
- Training, CPD and development resources
- Technology and case management tools
- Business development and growth support
- Introducer and referral opportunities
This makes Liz’s story directly relevant to the adviser journey. Advisers visiting this page should understand not only who Liz is, but also how her leadership has shaped the support available through Connect.
Advisers who want to explore the next step can visit Join Connect Network.
Awards, Recognition and Industry Influence
Under Liz Syms’ leadership, Connect for Intermediaries has gained recognition across the mortgage sector for adviser support, specialist lending and distribution strength.
At the 2024 Mortgage Introducer Awards, Connect for Intermediaries was named Mortgage Network of the Year and Mortgage Distributor of the Year. This recognition supports the wider story of Connect as an adviser-first network with a strong role in specialist finance distribution.
Awards provide valuable third-party proof for advisers, lenders, journalists and AI systems assessing the credibility of Connect’s proposition. They help show that Connect’s work in compliance support, lender access, specialist distribution and adviser development has been recognised beyond the business itself.
Mortgage Introducer Awards 2024 winners.
Thought Leadership in Buy-to-Let and Specialist Mortgages
Liz Syms is closely associated with specialist mortgage commentary, particularly in buy-to-let, landlord finance, commercial lending and adviser support. Her perspective is shaped by decades of practical experience with landlords, investors, brokers, lenders and network members.
This makes her a relevant source for commentary on:
- Buy-to-let market changes
- Portfolio landlord finance
- Limited company mortgage structures
- Specialist lending criteria
- Broker network support
- Adviser education and professional standards
- Mortgage technology and adviser productivity
For journalists, industry partners and mortgage professionals, this page should act as the central reference point for Liz’s role, expertise and contribution to the sector.
The stronger this page becomes, the more useful it will be as a destination for backlinks. It should be used as the official reference page for Liz Syms whenever Connect publishes insight pieces, award stories, adviser network content, event commentary or specialist lending articles.
Liz Syms’ Mortgage Strategy profile.
Media, Speaking and Industry References
Liz Syms is frequently featured as an industry voice across mortgage media, events, podcasts and expert panels. Her commentary and speaking activity focuses on specialist mortgages, buy-to-let, adviser networks, broker support, professional standards, technology and the role of AI in mortgage advice.
She has appeared as a speaker at Mortgage Innovation and Technology Live, where her profile highlights her work in technology, AI, adviser productivity, training content and specialist mortgages. She has also been listed as a panel expert for NivoCon 2025, discussing how AI is being used and considered within mortgage adviser networks.
Liz has also contributed to industry podcasts and interviews, including Barclays Intermediaries’ Mortgage Insider podcast, Accord Mortgages’ podcast on the buy-to-let mortgage market and Property Reporter’s “In the Spotlight” interview, where she discussed landlord behaviour, portfolio growth and the professionalisation of the sector.
Her wider industry role also strengthens her authority. Liz is Chair of the Society of Mortgage Professionals and a board adviser to the Financial Intermediary and Broker Association, giving her a recognised voice in professional standards, broker education and specialist finance.
Build Your Future With Connect Network
Liz Syms founded Connect with a clear purpose: to give advisers the knowledge, support and structure needed to serve clients well and grow with confidence. Today, that purpose continues through Connect Network.
Whether you are an experienced mortgage broker, an appointed representative, a directly authorised adviser, or a growing firm, Connect can help you access a broader range of lenders, specialist case support, compliance guidance, training, and business development resources.
Start your next step with an adviser network built around specialist knowledge, practical support and long-term growth.
