Specialist Finance Academy Reopens Doors with New Partner Brilliant Solutions

02 July 2025

The Specialist Finance Academy (SFA), founded by Kim McGinley, is officially reopening its doors on Wednesday 2 July 2025. The relaunch brings fresh energy, updated resources, and even more support for brokers looking to build confidence and grow their specialist lending knowledge.

To mark this next chapter, the Academy has also confirmed an exciting new partnership with Brilliant Solutions, becoming the first mortgage club to officially collaborate with the SFA. This partnership is a major step in the Academy’s mission to simplify specialist finance and raise industry standards through practical, broker led support.

— Michael Craig, Managing Director, Brilliant Solutions

“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the Specialist Finance Academy (SFA) and especially proud to be the first Mortgage Club to do so.

At Brilliant Solutions, we’ve always believed that broker education is the foundation of better outcomes for clients, especially in the specialist lending sector, and it’s clear that SFA shares those same values.

A huge credit goes to Kim for the brilliant work she’s done in building this academy. It’s a fantastic platform that’s already making a real difference. This partnership is a natural fit, and we’re proud to support brokers together in raising standards across the industry.”

Founded by specialist broker and business owner Kim McGinley, the Academy was created to give brokers the tools, knowledge and support they need to confidently step into the specialist finance space. Backed by years of hands on experience building VIBE Finance, Kim’s focus now sits firmly on brand growth and partnerships.

The Academy’s education delivery is led by George Sanford, Director of Education, who is responsible for content development and ensuring the learning remains practical, real world and focused on today’s lending challenges.

“The Academy exists to cut through the noise,” says Kim.

“We know the pain points. Brokers feel overwhelmed, undertrained, and unsure how to place complex deals. We are here to change that. The partnership with Brilliant Solutions is a proud moment because their values mirror ours. They care about brokers, they care about outcomes, and they get it. Together, we are creating something that really moves the dial.”

The SFA offers a structured membership with two tiers – Core and Pro – giving brokers the flexibility to choose the level of support they need. Members gain access to a growing bank of tools, templates, resources and lender insights, all designed to help them place deals with confidence.

To celebrate the relaunch, Kim and George are hosting a free webinar today at 10am, giving brokers an exclusive look inside the platform, what’s included, and how it can support them.

An exclusive offer will be made available to those who attend live or watch the replay today only.

This relaunch includes a new member platform, expanded content, partner offers and an even more engaged network of brokers ready to raise the bar in the specialist space.

To find out more or join the Specialist Finance Academy, visit:

www.specialistfinanceacademy.co.uk