The Adviser Podcast Network

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Will Paige as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The fallout from the November RBA rate decision. Westpac's revelation it is focusing on proprietary. The first look into uptake of the government's expanded deposit scheme. And much more!

For more than 30 years, MSA National has been transforming the loan documentation process – partnering with some of Australia's largest lenders to make settlements faster, smoother, and more seamless for brokers and their clients. In this episode of In Focus, we speak with MSA National founder and CEO Sam Makhoul and Sergio Delvescovo, national sales manager for the broker channel and former head of lending operations at ING Australia. They discuss how MSA's partnerships have helped drive efficiency, lift broker satisfaction scores, and reduce ING Australia's average settlement time from 24 days to just 10–12 days. Tune in to discover: Three things that brokers can do for faster settlements. How MSA's products have transformed the broker and customer experience. The borrower story that made Makhoul cry and how that shaped the MSA culture. And much more!

Former consultant Chris Dodson made the switch to mortgage broking two years ago after being told, "If you're gonna fail, fail fast and go for it." He has since grown his brokerage from the bottom up, using community connections for advice and to generate leads. In this episode of the New Broker podcast, host Will Paige sits down with the Sydney-based broker to find out how he made the switch to broking and his plans for future growth. Tune in to find out: The importance of mentorship. The tech he's using to grow his brokerage. The one piece of advice he'd give to brokers just starting out. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join The Adviser's commercial content writer Ben Squires and senior journalist Will Paige as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: Higher-than-expected quarterly inflation data. Forecasts ahead of next week's rate decision. Big announcements and a leadership change. And much more!

Former financial planner Son Pham's career continues to go from strength to strength, and now, as managing director of Rethink Financing, he leads a growing team of commercial brokers. In this episode of The Adviser's Winner Showcase, we catch up with the Commercial Broker of the Year at the Australian Broking Awards 2025 to discuss: His approach to commercial broking and what he finds most rewarding. Why getting the fundamentals right is crucial in the broking industry. His journey as a mentor and how he's shaping the next generation of commercial brokers at Rethink Financing. And much more!

Building a successful brokerage may seem like a daunting prospect, but if you get the fundamentals right, you're well-positioned for success. In this episode of In Focus, we chat with Ben Livera, national broker success manager and state manager SA/NT at Mortgage Choice, recently named Mentor of the Year at the 2025 Australian Broking Awards, and Terence Hammond, mortgage broker and franchise owner of Mortgage Choice in Colebee, NSW. Tune in to discover: How to lay solid business foundations. Practical tips to start generating business from day one. What it takes to build a successful brokerage from the ground up. How Mortgage Choice's support sets up brokers for success. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join The Adviser's commercial content writer, Ben Squires, and the deputy editor of Momentum Media's real estate brands (Smart Property Investment, REB, and First Property Buyer), Emilie Lauer, as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: Housing markets that have hit the $1 million milestone. Recent trends in first home buyer activity. New data on mortgage stress levels. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join The Adviser's commercial content writer Ben Squires and senior journalist Will Paige as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The latest mortgage broker market share figures. Key takeaways from ANZ's strategy update. Highlights from the Elite Broker Ranking 2025 – Residential. And much more!

Going from being an on-the-tools broker to the leader of a brokerage can be daunting, but Phil Rogers from Loan Market Edge is embracing the new role by setting his team some lofty targets. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the Queensland-based brokerage lead to find out how he's built out his 18-person team, and how he aims to get his brokerage to writing $1 billion a year by 2030. Tune in to find out: How he's harnessing AI to save 30–50 per cent of his team's time. What it takes to come off the tools and become a brokerage leader. How he aims to write $1 billion a year by 2030. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: Westpac NZ getting rid of trail in NZ – will it happen here? AFG takes a minority stake in an asset finance brokerage. Why APRA has disqualified former Xinja Bank leaders. And much more!

The commercial finance sector is rapidly evolving, with private lenders increasingly stepping up to provide accelerated finance for businesses. But how can brokers best position themselves to leverage these opportunities? In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Zakariah Rahman, lending executive at Maxiron Capital, to unpack the current trends in commercial finance landscape, and how private lenders are helping broker clients support more businesses. Tune in to discover: How non-bank lenders are bridging the gap for business borrowers. The advantages of Maxiron's “Flash 48” product for quick settlements. Best practices for brokers to build effective referral partnerships and navigate the commercial lending landscape. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and the deputy editor of real estate titles Smart Property Investment and REB, Emilie Lauer, as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: What the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme entails. What consumers think of the scheme and how they will access it. Why cash rate forecasts are changing once again. And much more!

Former tax accountant Ankur Ahluwalia has been hitting the ground running as a residential broker at Smartfinn Advisors, writing $20 million in his first nine months. In this episode of the New Broker podcast, host Annie Kane sits down with the Sydney-based broker to find out how he built strong foundations as a broker, and why and how he's intending on doubling his volumes in the next year. Tune in to find out: The crucial role of mentorship. The biggest surprises he faced as a new broker. What he wishes he knew when he first started out. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: New data on the size, scale, and systemic issues with private lending. The changing nature of broker complaints. Why cash rate forecasts are shifting. And much more!

Self-employed lending has typically been seen as more complex and time-consuming, leading borrowers and brokers alike feeling underwhelmed. But a new broker-built tool aims to transform how brokers handle self-employed clients. In the latest In Focus podcast, host Annie Kane sits down with Accurateli co-founders Joel Wyld and Ben Callaghan from brokerage Peasy, who've channeled their frustration with self-employed lending into building what they believe could be a game-changing solution for brokers. Tune in to discover: How Accurateli automates lender-ready income reports and notes. How the tool addresses compliance and best interests duty requirements. What early adopters are saying about streamlining their self-employed processes. And much more! Related link: How this husband-wife team make running a brokerage look Peasy

Asset finance broker Nicole Romero has helped build a thriving asset finance offering at Loan Market Newcastle CBD, writing nearly 150 deals a year. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with Romero to explore her journey from car dealership finance manager to specialist asset finance broker and how she's building meaningful relationships with clients and referral partners in Newcastle's tight-knit business community. Tune in to discover: Why she writes everything from car loans to CNC machinery financing. Her strategy for competing against dealership finance offers. The challenges and rewards of being a female broker in asset finance. And much more!  

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The major penalty for a major bank. How climate change will impact property values. The surprising home buying pessimism from Western Australian consumers. And much more!

Earlier this year, a new, professional designation was unveiled exclusively for experienced mortgage brokers - the first to be offered in Australia. But what is it, and what does it entail? In the latest In Focus podcast, Annie Kane discusses the newly launched Mortgage Finance Professional Australia (MFPA) designation with MFAA CEO Anja Pannek, outlining how and why it aims to elevate the professional standards of experienced mortgage brokers. Tune in to find out: What this mortgage broker designation involves. What the MFPA aims to achieve. What the first MFPA brokers think of the designation. And much more!

With a 100-strong team spanning three countries, including around 40 brokers, Smartmove-Professional Mortgage Advisors was recently crowned Australia's Major Independent Brokerage of the Year. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with Darren Little, general manager of lending for Smartmove (and executive director of parent company Viridian Financial Group), to look under the hood of the major brokerage and find out what it takes to run one. Tune in to find out: The importance of processes when scaling a brokerage. The benefits of being part of a broader financial service group. Why training the new generation of brokers is crucial. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires, as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: Why payroll tax might be a bigger problem for the broking industry. What's driving major restructuring and redundancies at the banks. New product launches in mortgage and business lending. And much more!

Private lending in Australia is experiencing a boom, creating new opportunities for brokers and borrowers. But what should brokers look for in a private lender partner? In this episode of In Focus, we speak with Joseph Eichenblatt, co-founder and managing director of Equity Access, to unpack the private lending landscape and explore how brokers can effectively use these solutions to help their clients. Tune in to find out: The current trends driving the growth of private lending. The types of financial voids private lenders can fill. How Equity Access' new “Hyperbridge” product can help brokers and their clients. And much more!

Mortgage Choice broker Richard Brown was crowned the New Broker of the Year 2025 at the Australian Broking Awards 2025, with judges championing his dedication to financial literacy and making the home loan process enjoyable. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the recently crowned New Broker of the Year 2025 to find out how he went from a career in advertising to becoming the nation's best new broker. Tune in to find out: Why building a financial runway is essential for new brokers. Why he chose to outsource his administrative work early. How he leverages his networks to generate leads. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The problems with the CSLR and how to pay the $47 million shortfall. The growing number of broker adverts in market. Why concerns are rising about unlicensed advice to property investors. And much more!

Self-managed super fund (SMSF) lending offers brokers a chance to diversify, but it's also a niche full of nuance, requiring expertise and close collaboration, says Bluestone Home Loans. In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Richard Chesworth, head of specialised distributions at Bluestone Home Loans, to unpack this specialised market and explore how brokers can ensure they're writing SMSF loans the right way. Tune in to find out: The evolution of SMSF lending and current trends in market. What brokers need to know to confidently navigate the SMSF lending space. How Bluestone Home Loans supports this growing segment. And much more!

After building his business as director for several years, Sydney-based broker Joseph Daoud started loan writing himself and settled a staggering $200 million in FY2025. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane sits down to uncover the story behind this rapid rise, the challenges overcome along the way, and his plans for future growth. Tune in to find out: Why he's launching a mentoring and training platform for new-to-industry brokers. How he's helping streamline lending for doctors and allied health professionals. Why he thinks having strong BDM relationships has been key to success. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: What the financial results from AFG and Finsure tell us. Another mutual merger in the making. The AI strategy at Mortgage Choice. And much more!  

As the managing director of one of the top 25 brokerages in the country, Nick Reilly has pivoted from broker to business strategist, leading a team of more than 50 staff who settle over $800 million a year. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the brokerage MD to understand what it takes to run a major independent brokerage and where the business is heading next. Tune in to find out: How Inovayt scaled to become one of Australia's top brokerages. Why the business is focused on a full financial services offering. The biggest lessons he's learned from managing a team of 50+. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: What happened at this week's Economic Reform Roundtable. The opportunities and barriers in open banking. What's driving growth at the lenders. And much more!

This month, AMP Bank officially launched its new home loan origination platform, a major milestone in the lender's drive to deliver faster, simpler, and more consistent lending experiences. In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane catches up with AMP Bank's head of lending origination, Melissa Christy, and its head of lending and everyday banking distribution, Paul Herbert, to find out how the new lending platform is transforming home loans. Tune in to find out: Why the platform was broker-designed from day one. How the new system integrates leading technology across both pre- and post-submission stages. How brokers can learn more about the new platform. And much more!

Being a brokerage focused on investor lending has seen boutique brokerage Finni grow substantially over the years, with the team becoming specialists in knowing how to structure loans in an investor's best interest. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the new principal of Sydney-based brokerage Finni, Eva Loisance, to find out how she's been servicing the brokerage's growing investor clientele and her plans for the brokerage's future. Tune in to find out: How Finni aims to hit $1 billion in the next two years. How the work of brokers is changing. How she'd like to see clawback changed to become more equitable. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: How long will it take for the July cash rate cut to filter through. The changing broker flows at the major banks. What's driving investor lending growth. And much more!

What makes a great trail book – and how can brokers maximise their business value? We sit down with Trailblazer Finance's Simon Lewis to uncover the key factors to look out for when buying or selling a trail book. In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane catches up with Simon Lewis, growth strategist at Trailblazer Finance, to discuss what's driving the current wave of mergers, acquisitions, and trail book sales - and the strategies brokers can use to build and protect the value of their business. Tune in to find out: Why consolidation is reshaping the broking landscape. What makes a high-quality trail book in today's market. The common pitfalls brokers should avoid when buying or selling. And much more! Read more about trail book valuations in the TrailBlazer Finance ebook here.

After first entering the broking industry four years ago, Loan Market broker Julian Choo has been quickly building his business under the Loan Market brand, supported by four team members. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the Sydney-based broker Choo from Loan Market to explore his journey from real estate to mortgage broking and his plans for future growth. Tune in to find out: Why he transitioned from real estate to broking. The role mentorship and learning from top brokers like Daniel Pym guided him in career. His strategies for success, including finding a niche and utilising digital marketing to generate leads. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: How the broking industry is reacting to the mainstreaming of AI Key takeaways from the Loan Market Scale Up conference The great wealth transfer and how this is impacting the market And much more!

After buying into a broker franchise in NSW, broker Kristie Gould hit the ground running making it her own. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the Mortgage Choice Warners Bay franchise owner to explore how she values human connection in a digital age, and how she embeds her brokerage in the heart of the community. Tune in to find out: The process and changes she implemented after buying a broking business. How she supports her fully- female team. Why she's transitioning from broker to business owner. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join commercial content writer Ben Squires and senior journalist Will Paige as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The latest inflation data from the Reserve Bank of Australia. AMP Bank's newly launched broker platform. Record-breaking broker association figures. And much more!

What does it take to make the broking industry more diverse? We sit down with Finsure's Fatima Dib to discover how gender diversity is transforming Australia''s broking industry, offering flexibility and unlimited potential for women. In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane catches up with Fatima Dib, the head of business innovation and co-chair of Women in Finsure, to discuss why the broking industry is an appealing career choice for women and how we can be encouraging more women into the industry. Tune in to find out: Why diversity benefits the industry and clients. How the industry can better empower women in broking. Why Finsure is providing scholarships to help more women thrive in broking. And much more!

Sydney broker Paul Biddle has had an unusual path into broking, having gone from the army to owning a dance studio before making the move into broking 10 years ago. Over that time, he's embedded himself deep into the industry and built a successful brokerage in the form of Mortgage Rate Finder. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the founder and principal broker at Mortgage Rate Finder and former FBAA state president to delve into his unique career journey and why he's focused on giving back. Tune in to find out: How he went from dancing to the army to becoming a broker. Why he loves writing construction loans. His biggest industry bugbears. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires, as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: The MFAA's new ‘university-level' qualification for brokers. ASIC's new review of the debt management and credit repair industry.  AFG's move to take a stake in another brokerage.  And much more!

Andrew “Backman” Wallace may have made a name for himself as one of the biggest wrestlers on the Pro Wrestling Australia roster as part of The Regime, but he is quickly making a name for himself as a mortgage broker, too. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the Crowd Property Capital Lending Solutions broker and former pro wrestler to find out how and why he chose broking as his finishing move. Tune in to find out: Why and how he made the move into broking. How he's helping clients build a budgeting regime. What he has planned for his future career. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. Join host Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they review the news of the week. This week, they discuss: What brokers think about moves to use cryptocurrency for mortgages. Why more brokers are using the major banks. Calls for urgent reforms to bring more housing online. And much more!

Complex lending challenges make it more important than ever for lenders to truly understand brokers' needs and to build solutions that fit every scenario. In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Damien Simonfi, founder and CEO of Capital Bridging Finance, to explore his 20-year journey in bridging finance and how he continues to help brokers find solutions to even the most complex lending challenges. How brokers' needs have evolved over the past two decades. Why listening and understanding are at the heart of effective lending. How Capital Bridging Finance's broker-first approach has shaped its success ahead of its 10-year anniversary. And much more!

Having started his own brokerage 25 years ago, George Massouridis from Mortgage Navigators has charted the course of the broking industry, helping countless borrowers find their truth north in the property journey. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the Sydney-based broker and recent winner of the MFAA's Residential Broker of the Year – NSW award 2025 to find out how he's navigated the changing needs of borrowers and the broking industry over the last quarter of a century. Tune in to find out: How he's structured and evolved his team over the years. Why and how he launched a property management offering. Why he's now looking at business acquisitions. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. This week, join managing editor Annie Kane and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they unpack some of the biggest stories in finance and property. They cover: The RBA's surprise decision for the July cash rate. Where will the cash rate go from here? What brokers think of the major banks. And much more!

A groundswell of brokers has been folding asset finance into their business models to provide more solutions to clients while diversifying their revenue streams. But how exactly is it done? In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Tom Caesar, the group executive of asset finance at LMG, to discuss the evolving trends in the industry, how brokers can harness asset finance to scale their businesses, and why offering asset finance doesn't necessarily mean brokers have to write it themselves. Tune in to find out: How the top asset finance brokers are winning. The power of referral networks. The big disruptions and opportunities in the asset finance space. And much more!

After leaving banking to become a broker eight years ago, Matt Pongrass has quickly established himself as the go-to broker for professionals and sophisticated investors, averaging $2.2 million a loan. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the Sydney-based broker to find out how he's been building a successful brokerage with a high-touch servicing model and how he's evolving his brokerage for growth. Tune in to find out: How and why he's never marketed his business. What his high-touch, relationship-driven client service looks like. Why he's rebranding and expanding his business this year. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. This week, join managing editor Annie Kane, senior journalist Will Paige, and commercial content writer Ben Squires as they unpack some of the biggest stories in finance and property. They cover: The new and expanded lending initiatives for FY2025–26. Why ASIC's levies are doubling for the broker channel. A swathe of senior leadership changes in the industry. And much more!

The mortgage landscape is undergoing a period of rapid transformation at the moment, with technology rapidly accelerating the “time to yes” and enhancing the broker and customer experience. In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane sits down with Natalie Sheehan, head of broker distribution at Bendigo Bank, to delve into the bank's new lending platform and how it is transforming the broker and client journey. Tune in to find out: Why Bendigo Bank embarked on a major digital transformation focusing on the broker channel. How the new lending platform is significantly reducing “"time to yes”". Bendigo Bank's strategy for supporting new brokers entering the industry. Key trends and forecasts for the Australian mortgage market in the upcoming financial year. And much more!

In this special episode of New Broker, host Will Paige speaks with brokers at the beginning of their careers to find out what inspired them to enter the industry, the early challenges they've faced, and what they'd do differently if they had the chance. The episode includes insights from: Jarrod Lawson, broker at Pink Loans Financial Mitchell Flitcroft, broker at Equity One Finance Stephane Belaicha, broker at Loangevity Virgilio (Victor) Casal, broker at Strength Capital Tune in to hear: The most common challenges new brokers encounter. How they landed their first clients. Their top tips for getting started. And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights. This week, commercial content writer Ben Squires is joined by Emilie Lauer from REB to unpack some of the biggest stories in finance and property. They cover: New state government initiatives to address the housing crisis. The most affordable major city for investing in Australia. The latest monthly inflation figures from the ABS. And much more!

Award-winning finance broker Will Hamer has been hitting the nail on the head when it comes to asset finance, running not one – but two – successful asset finance brands. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the Best Finance Broker Victoria/Tasmania 2025 to find out how he's been striking a good deal for both his clients at Hamer Asset Finance and for the clients of his broker referral partners at Loan Market Accelerate. Tune in to find out: How he handles 70 transactions a month. Why he values a 20-minute discovery call. The impending shake-up of the Australian car market. And much more!