The thinking behind the name

Built on the belief that your home is your castle, Moat exists to help people secure the mortgage they need to buy it, and the insurance they need to protect the loved ones who live in it.

At a time when trusted advice can feel hard to come by, Moat is on a mission to change that. We aim to make mortgage and life insurance advice easily accessible and free of charge to people across the UK.

The story behind the company

While Moat may be a new name, the business behind it has decades of experience.

Formerly known as Hazelwood Financial Services, the firm was founded in 1997 by Peter Hunt, who believed personal mortgage and life insurance advice should never be reserved for those who could afford to pay for it.

From day one, he refused to charge clients for advice, choosing instead to rely solely on commission from lenders and providers.

Today, the business is run by Peter and his son Dave, who led the rebrand to Moat. His vision is to grow the firm into a trusted nationwide brand, while staying true to the principles it was built on: free advice, personal service, and genuine care for customers.

“The name has changed, but what we stand for hasn’t,” says Dave. “We’re still all about real advice from real people, helping customers make confident decisions about their homes and families.”

Moat is now open for business, offering free mortgage and life insurance advice to anyone buying their first home, remortgaging, moving house, or looking to protect their family’s future.