The Adviser Podcast Network

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!

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 best interests duty audit from ASIC. Changes to how HELP debt is applied. Problems with the Consumer Data Right. And much more!

An avid interest in property and wealth creation spurred Peter Savage to try his luck as a mortgage broker and, in no time at all, he turned his passion into a thriving business. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the founder of Savage Money – who is on track to settle $145 million this financial year – to unpack his approach to broking and learn how he's been able to achieve such a significant volume so quickly. Tune in to find out: Why he opened his own brokerage rather than operating as a franchise. Where he found his first clients and how he brings leads through the door. What's next for his business and how he plans to grow in the next 12 months. 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 closure of the Advantedge business. Third-Party Lending Report: what brokers think of the lenders. New leaders at the aggregation groups. And much more!

The asset finance space has been on a roller-coaster ride, but what does the future trajectory look like? In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Andrew Wagg, head of broker sales at Shift, and Mark Rayson, head of COG Aggregation, to unpack the recent trends that have characterised Australia's asset finance sector and examine best practice tips for writing these loans. Tune in to find out: The headwinds challenging the asset finance space. What brokers need to know in the run into EOFY, including the instant asset write-off. How to build enduring relationships with asset finance clients and the benefits of a long-term versus short-term approach. And much more!

What would elite brokers do differently if they had their time again? To find out, we asked some of our Elite Broker guests their top advice for new brokers. In this episode of Elite Broker, we've compiled some of the top tips for success from recent guests on The Adviser's Elite Broker podcast. Tune in to find out: What they think is the key to their success. What they wish they knew when they first started. How new brokers can hit the ground running. 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 details of systemic misconduct in mortgage lending at RAMS. How far will broker market share go? NextGen's new report on how brokers approach loan processing. And much more!

ApplyOnline is the cornerstone lending platform for the Australian mortgage and finance industry, used by thousands of brokers daily. But what do brokers really think of it? In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane sits down with Renee Blethyn, head of broker partnerships at NextGen, to unpack the findings of the 700 broker respondents to the inaugural Industry Insights Report.  Tune in to find out: What brokers think of ApplyOnline. How NextGen is updating the system to reflect broker feedback. How open banking tools are accelerating the lodgement process. And much more!

In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with Maulik Chaudhary from Brokio and Matt Turner from GSC Finance Solutions to discover how they work together as mentor/mentee. Tune in to find out: Their top tips for choosing the right mentor. The problems with differentiating mentoring and business coaching. Why they think industry needs to do more on mentoring standards. And much more!

Momentum Media was thrilled to host the Women in Finance Network Lunch in Sydney on 2 May, run with the support of principal partner ANZ. In this episode of the Women in Finance Podcast series, host Annie Kane is joined by Natalie Smith, general manager for retail broker, at ANZ to discuss Natalie's path to senior leadership, as well as how the bank is advocating for greater gender balance and fostering leadership pathways for women. Tune in to find out: The importance of being challenged in your thinking. How the industry can better support female talent. Why ANZ started its Doyenne program to support women in broking. 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: Details of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's broker strategy. The new finance ministers in the shadow cabinet. What's driving optimism in the SME space. And much more!

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is Australia's largest lender but has the smallest proportion of new broker flows of the major banks. But why? And what is the bank's broker strategy? In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by CBA, we speak with the general manager of third-party banking, Baber Zaka, to explore CBA's broker strategy and their plans for growth in the channel. Tune in to find out: How CBA is working to strengthen relationships with brokers. How the bank is changing its broker offering. CBA's investment in technology and support for brokers. And much more!

Scaling a high-performing business without sacrificing personal life is notoriously difficult, but the key might be ensuring you stay true to your core values. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with Aaron Christie-David, broker director of Atelier Wealth, to discuss how he's built a successful brokerage with his wife Bernadette and how they've adapted business growth as their family has grown. Tune in to find out: How he's navigated aggressive business growth with personal wellbeing and family priorities. The strategies behind their successful pivot to a niche in property investment and wealth creation. Why he believes a broker's role extends beyond loans. And much more! Related links: A husband and wife team on why brokers need more education How the Best Residential Broker 2017 made it to the top Jeremy Fisher charts his journey from novice to number one

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: All the fallout from the RBA's latest interest rate decision. The broking industry hits back at a controversial column. Treasurer Jim Chalmers' response to LRBA speculation. And much more!

Chris Bates took out the top spot in The Adviser's residential Elite Broker ranking 2024, having settled $329 million across 412 loans in the financial year. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the CEO and broker principal of Alcove to find out how he's built an efficient brokerage. Tune in to find out: How he structures his team for optimal efficiency. How he navigated rebranding his brokerage. Why he believes the role of brokers is evolving. 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 new political leaders in Australia. Alexis George's defence of AMP's 10-year IO loan. Flint's expansion following a new merger. And much more!

Aussie is one of the most recognisable brands in broking but recently underwent a brand evolution. Here, we find out how and why the brokerage is helping Australians Find.Buy.Own property. In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Brad Cramb, CEO of distribution at Lendi Group, to unpack how and why the household brand is evolving. Tune in to find out: Why Aussie is moving to become a property ecosystem. How the evolution streamlines the property journey for Australians. The new services and support available to its brokers. And much more!

After a diverse career, including working on a blast crew in Western Australia, Sam McDonald made the move into commercial broking and hasn't looked back since. In this episode of New Broker, host Annie Kane finds out how the Atlas Broker has navigated from blasting to broking to put commercial finance broking on the map. Tune in to find out: His strategies for building strong relationships with accountants and equipment suppliers. Insights into the intricacies of structuring complex equipment finance deals. The current challenges and opportunities within the commercial finance industry. 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 diverging broker flows at the major banks. The reasons why aggregators drop lenders. A groundswell in broker tech. And much more!

Non-bank lenders form an increasingly important part of the mortgage market, particularly when it comes to servicing clients with specialist finance needs, such as the self-employed. In this episode of In Focus, we sit down with Tony MacRae, chief commercial officer of Bluestone Home Loans, to unpack the current lending market and discuss how brokers can grow their business by supporting clients who have specialist finance needs. Tune in to find out: The growing importance of specialist lenders in Australia. Scenarios that require an open-minded approach. How Bluestone Home Loans assesses income differently. And much more!

After two decades in IT, Arnab Baral made the leap into broking to transform the client experience, but he's still harnessing his obsession with tech to escalate his brokerage. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane speaks with Arnab Baral – CEO and managing director of Cinch Loans and recipient of the Editor's  Choice Award Vic/TAS at the 2025 Better Business Awards – to find out how he's building Cinch Loans with technology, the principles that guide his team, and the lessons new brokers need to hear. Tune in to hear: Why he left tech to start a career in broking. The tools and tech he uses to scale his business (without losing human touch). Why “start slow, but start deep” is his top advice for new brokers. And much more!