Stephen Perkins, whose network Yellow Brick Mortgages operates almost entirely remotely, says most experienced advisers prefer the flexibility of working where and when they want.
However, he says providing an office space is beneficial. And he also believes some roles may be better suited to office working.
"Due to the nature of the [adviser] role, whereby most clients want to have appointments after they finish work, this often means evening appointments and more admin tasks during the day. Working from home seems to work best for most in that role," he says.
He adds: "Having offices that they can utilise when they just want to get out of the house or be around colleagues is also a great option to provide.
"Employed admin staff who work more standard office hours and share a team workload work better often in an office environment in our experience."
One drawback to remote working, he says, is it's more difficult to assess the employees' mood, how they are coping and any help or assistance they might require.
Therefore "it's important to 'check in' regularly".
Gallagher adds offering flexibility can also pay when it comes to staff hiring and retention.
He says: "We pride ourselves on being extremely family-friendly and highlight this in adverts to attract and retain employees.
"We accommodate our team by offering remote working when needed, flexible hours, and paid time off for medical appointments.
"We understand everyone has lives outside of work."
carmen.reichman@ft.com
