I'm Not Your Finance Bro

In Australia there's a mortgage broker for every 1,211 people, according to data just released by the MFAA. That's a lot of online calculators and comparisons - and choices between brokers, for you as a client.

The broker market has grown. There are career changers, ex-bankers, whipper snappers and, of course, plenty of very confident "finance bros" who love content, ring lights, and big goals written on whiteboards (and equally big watches), while doling out financial advice they may not be qualified to give.

Not your Finance Bro...and proud of it. I stand for trust, clarity and proper strategy.

There's room for all those who operate honestly. Different brokers suit different clients.

What matters is that you find the person whose style, values and way of working actually fit you.

This is how I work, too.

Seasoned, not stale.

I've been round long enough to have seen a few economic cycles, more than a few interest rate changes, and a LOT of real life. Children, divorce, business, ATO changes, restructures, wins - and many curveballs.

That experience optimises how my clients view me.

I'm not agog by a big income if the foundations of it are shaky. I can read a P + L in my sleep and understand the story behind the numbers on the balance sheet. I've known what it's like to lie awake at 3am thinking about cash flow, school fees, elderly parents, and wondering if you're making the right decisions for your future.

You can teach any new broker bank policy. The harder thing to teach is sage judgement. Knowing when to push, when to pause, when to let you know that you are over-extending, and when to say: "You're in a solid position - go for it!".

That comes from years in the seat and a lot of real life - not just a sharp suit and a fancy website.

It's not about the loan. It's about the person with it.

Naturally, I care that your loan settles smoothly. I like a compliant file and a fast approval as much as anyone. But I am not chasing a quick transaction and moving on.

My clients stay with me. They refer their children, their siblings, their business partners and their friends. They text me from open homes on Saturday, send photos of renovations, and check in before they make their next move.

Why? Because they know I'm not just ticking boxes.

They know I see the human being carrying the debt, the business, the family, the workload.

If you simply want the cheapest rate emailed to you with no context and a "good luck pal!", there are plenty of finance bros and comparison sites that can help.

If you want someone who will think with you and for you, and who understands the weight of the decisions you're making: that's me.

Self-employed and complex clients are where I have an edge. I genuinely enjoy the challenge, the trusts, the company structures and the "my accountant suggested this interesting thing with my entity structure - can the bank cope?" conversations.

I also love working with high income professionals whose needs may be technically simple but strategically important.

You might be:

• A professional in law, finance, tech, or medicine

• A dual income couple with strong salaries and not much free time

• A business owner shifting more of your wealth into property

• Someone who has built a comfortable life and now wants your money set up properly

  
  

It's less about the size of the loan - and more about the way you approach decisions.

You value clarity. You like dealing with people who are intelligent, prepared and calm. You want to know that if something goes wrong on settlement day, your broker will pick up the phone and help fix it.

You do not have the patience to chase for updates or translate Bank Talk.

What my clients get from me:

Clients often say versions of the same thing.

"You always come back to me so quickly" "You explain it to me without being condescending" "Thank you for everything you've done for us"

In real life, that looks like this:

• Prompt responses. You are not left wondering if your email has vanished.

• Simple language. I can talk LVRs and serviceability if you want, but I always translate it into what it means for you.

• A sense of humour. Money is serious - but we don't have to be gloomy about it.

• Straight answers. If your plan is uncertain, I will encourage (likely insist!) you seek advice from your accountant.

• Follow-through. If I say I will do something, it gets done - or you will know why it can't.

  
  

Trust, relationship and integrity are not marketing subtext here. This is simply how I work. It makes both our lives a lot easier.

When things get messy:

Many loans are straightforward...until they're not.

A valuation comes in low. We found a weird clause in the trust deed. A bank changes policy halfway through. You decide to buy before you sell.

This is where experience and relationships matter.

Having strong and respectful relationships with lenders, bank BDMs, accountants and solicitors makes it easier to solve problems without drama. Knowing which banks can be persuaded on what and how, and how to present a deal so credit understands too, can make the difference between "declined" and "approved subject to".

We can't always avoid surprises - but you can choose a broker who does not fall apart when they show up.

The clients I am looking for:

Clients choose brokers. But brokers also choose clients.

I work best with people who:

• Are honest and open about their situation, even the bits you'd rather not show

• Respect that I am here to work hard for them, not to rubber stamp every idea

• Want a long-term relationship, not just a one-off rate drop

• Appreciate directness and a bit of humour and warmth along the way

  
  

You don't need to be perfectly organised. That's the point of having me. You simply need to be engaged, responsive, and willing to let me guide you.

Sound like You?

If you are looking for a broker who:

• Has genuine experience in life as well as lending

• Treats you like an intelligent adult, not a transaction

• Enjoys complex self-employed scenarios, and also values doing "simple" loans properly

• Puts trust, relationships and integrity at the centre of every relationship

Then we will probably get along - very well.

There may be one broker for every 1,211 people in Australia.

You do not need all of them.

You just need the right one.