Honey, Im pregnant - again - for the eigth time! Not the sort of welcome home many men wish to hear these days but imagine going back a few thousand years to that homecoming. Fine dear, let me count the spare camel, sheep, chickens bags of grain, limbs etc. I can swap for a bigger property!

Man has, since the beginning of time, found ways of dealing for profit and gain long before money was invented. From grain, tools and tobacco through to Cowrie shells from the Indian Ocean which were still used until recent times. Even today, within the households of the mind blowingly rich around the world, gold bullion is preferred as a tangible commodity.

The royal palaces and temples of ancient Mesopotamia may well have had no idea just what they were starting when they initially provided secure places for the safe keeping of commodities such as grain. But they did modern day man a huge favour with the Code of Hammurabi - the first official laws regulating banking operations.

Long gone are the days of hauling around shed loads of grain to buy a house with. For the average person in need of protection from loan sharks gold bullion is not a realistic option and neither is hiding your hard earned savings under the mattress. Hence, the fast growing popularisation of electronic banking.

With all our assets tied up in banks and building societies can we always be sure of getting the most from our money? After all, they are all money making organisations out for their own interests ahead of the consumers. This is where mortgage advisors and mortgage brokers come into their own.

Recent years saw a huge upsurge in people wanting to jump on the investment bandwagon of buying to let. Probably fuelled by a trend in TV programmes relating to property renovation and making people feel this get rich quick scheme was accessible to even the most inexperienced developer.

Banks have cashed in on this trend with a push of their mortgages for buy to let schemes. However, according to the Council for Mortgage Lenders, UK house repossessions for 2006 totalled 17,000 - a massive 65% increase on the previous year. So, are individual banks doing whats right for the consumer?

A wise decision for any prospective purchaser or investor is an independent mortgage advisor. Regulated to protect the consumer, they are able to advice on a much broader range of products that can be tailored to the individual. Although still working for a commission (no grain!), they are not obliged to draw customers to one organisation or another.

Mortgage advisors are there to find you the very best deals in mortgages - whether it be investment, endowment, pension or repayment. They can advice on overpayment, underpayment, payment holidays, variable rates, fixed, discounted tracker and capped rates.

All financial concerns can be discussed with your personal mortgage advisor, including the buy to let mortgage, for everyone from the commercial developer to the first time buyer, from self build project managers to those looking to re-mortgage or buy a second home. They can even advice on the raising of finance for house boats, mobile homes or the more unusual property.

Your mortgage advisor will be able to help deal with problems such as CCJ's, bankruptcy and repossessions to get you back on that property ladder as well as imparting his vast financial advice of insurances, pensions, savings taxes and will writing.

So, with that next child on the way, a retirement looming or an unexpected accident or illness there is no need to panic, or round up the wildlife, just get advice from a mortgage broker.