The Five Minute Interview with Michael Fisher, Development Finance Director, Crystal Specialist Finance

By Tony Sanchez 13th April 2017

Crystal Specialist Finance is an award-winning Specialist Finance distributor, providing Commercial Finance, Bridging Loans, Second Charge Loans, Development Finance and Specialist Mortgages.

We speak to development finance director, Michael Fisher:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging & development finance business?

The bridging and development finance markets are constantly changing, with no two cases being the same. I enjoy being able to facilitate the process of helping people’s ideas develop into their projects.

What keeps you focussed?

Making sure our clients’ development needs are met within the required deadlines, whilst maintaining an exceptional level of customer service.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

If I could choose the best quality for people to embody, it would be for them to be an Aston Villa fan!

All joking aside, I look for people that are equally as driven as myself, are reliable and, most importantly, approachable. Any problem can be solved if people work together.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Definitely an optimist, however managing people’s expectations in this market can sometimes infer that I’m a pessimist.

I always have our clients’ best interests at heart and do my upmost to source the right outcome for their projects.

What did you want to be as a child?

I always wanted to be a vet, but the thought of seeing animals suffer changed my mind! So, I decided to take an about turn and enter an environment where facts and figures help to keep my feet on the ground.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the development finance industry in the coming months?

The uncertainty around Brexit and not exactly knowing where the land lies can lead to some doubt in the market place.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Larry David in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’. The guy is brilliant – I wish that I could be around him for a day.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No, I dread 6pm on a Friday and having to wait until the weekend is over to get back to working on moving our clients project funding to completion.

I look forward to the new challenges a new week brings with it.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I find it difficult at times switching off from work and spending time with the wife when I’m always replying to work emails of an evening!

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Elon Musk. I’m convinced that he holds the key to our future on this planet and whatever planet(s) his endeavours take us!