LVR Podcast

with Guest Darren Saul from Saul RecruitmentThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

In this episode of the LVR Podcast, hosts Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze, along with guest Trent Carter from Provident Lending  Business Solutions, delve into the pathways for mortgage brokers to integrate commercial lending into their businesses.They address common barriers such as time management and knowledge gaps, and explore strategies for success in commercial lending. The conversation provides valuable insights on maximising opportunities within your existing client base, the importance of education and mentorship, and the potential revenue benefits of diversified brokerage services.Key points from the episode include:Overcoming fear and hesitation related to time and knowledge in commercial lendingImportance of time management and delegation to explore commercial opportunitiesShift from product-focused to client-focused brokerage to unlock potential in the self-employed sectorCommercial lending's significant impact on brokerage revenueEducation and mentorship as keys to confidence and success in commercial lendingNon-traditional referral sources can be crucial for business expansionTechnology's influence on the brokerage industry and the increasing importance of complex lending solutionsKey quotes from the episode include:"It's around getting that confidence around you don't need to know everything, and to get comfortable asking the right questions." - Trent"To anyone saying they don't know where to start when it comes to commercial lending, if this is truly a lane that they want to open in their business, you guys have gone and built the highway so to speak." - Ruan"There's more options and opportunities for clients out there with technology, we as brokers need to get a lot better at handling the more complex stuff because that is the stuff that is going to be harder for technology to fill the gap." - Marissa"I actually think that if you do get educated in that commercial lending space, it actually makes you a better resi broker too." - Trent"With human interaction, it's just such a good opportunity for us to not just strengthen our proposition to market and to our clients, but also protect our clients' wellbeing through our engagement." - Ruan"We hope this inspires our listeners to create some time in their busy schedules to invest in their education and upskilling into that commercial space, because there is a huge opportunity." - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Welcome to another episode of the LVR Podcast, where we're excited to have Michael Payne from Pinnacle Brokers join us. Transitioning from banker to broker, Michael's journey is nothing short of inspirational. We delve into the motivations, challenges, and triumphs that Michael encountered on the path to becoming a self-employed broker. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricacies of making a significant career change or who's just starting out and is itching for some tips!Key points:Strategies for attracting leads and clients, and the crucial role of referral partnershipsHow flexibility and innovative client engagement strategies contribute to successOvercoming hurdles in attracting referral partners and clients through unique strategiesMichael's biggest learnings and some things he wish he knew before he startedInsights into Michael and Pinnacle Brokers' plans for growthKey quotes:"We make a commitment [to our referral partners] that we will either call them back or call their clients within 2 hours." - Michael"Lead flow is only the starting point. How we deliver, how we engage, is key and it really makes everything real." - Ruan"I think once you implement the boundaries for them [clients], they actually start respecting your time more as well." - Marissa"The main difference [in broking] is to have that flexibility, that you can build a team that works together to actually get the best outcome for clients." - Michael"And it is all education, we need to educate our clients as much as we educate the referral sources, as much as you educate your staff." - Marissa"One of the things just these last 12 months for you has been communication is key, making sure nothing is left to chance." - RuanThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

In the ever-evolving landscape of the mortgage industry, establishing a strong professional identity and brand is paramount for mortgage brokers seeking to distinguish themselves from the competition. Sergio Stefano, a forward-thinking broker, has demonstrated the transformative power of social media in achieving this goal. By strategically leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, Sergio has not only expanded his reach but also cultivated a community grounded in education and trust. His journey highlights the importance of a broker's ability to adapt and thrive in a digital-first world, making it a compelling case study for brokers across Australia.5 Key Points for Brokers to Build Their Identity:Embrace Social Media: Utilise platforms where your audience spends their time to share valuable content and engage with potential clients.Content Strategy: Focus on creating educational and relatable content that addresses the needs and challenges of your target audience.Brand Consistency: Maintain a consistent brand voice and visual identity across all channels to build recognition and trust.Engagement and Community Building: Actively engage with your audience to foster a sense of community and loyalty.Analytics and Adaptation: Monitor the performance of your content and adapt your strategy based on insights and trends to ensure maximum impact.By integrating these key strategies, mortgage brokers can significantly enhance their professional identity, increase their visibility online, and attract more clients in today's competitive market.Quotes:Marissa SchulzeOn Consistency: "I think the key is to stick to something. They say that it's not going to give you a direct return and they might give up too quickly."On Followers: "In your experience, what have you found to be the most effective way to build followers on those platforms rather than just people engaging with your posts?"Sergio StefanoOn Referrals: "The way we started everything, essentially one was just to ensure everyone knew about our services, what we could do, what we could offer, and obviously be able to reach as many people as possible."On Starting out: "It's like building your client database. You have to start from somewhere. It might take a year, might take two, might take three. But the more you can get your own brand, get your name out there, the easier everything you know flows through because you're building your own social group."Ruan Burger:On Branding: "At the end of the day, "I want to be part of this." is one of the things that I believe is very important in our industry as we are a client-facing business."On Impact of education: "I've been a bit of an advocate always saying you need to educate for leads; you can't ask for leads. And the reason for that is purely because education opens opportunities. "Thank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

This episode of the LVR Podcast delves into the crucial aspects of any successful mortgage broking business: Lead flow, Deal flow, and Work flow. Key insights:The importance of streamlined workflow, dealflow, and leadflow for mortgage brokers.How technology can automate tasks and improve efficiency.The need for customisation to ensure systems reflect brand identity and client experience.The ongoing role of human interaction and relationship building.Tips for choosing and implementing the right technology solutions.The importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the mortgage broking industry.The game-changing potential of technology for client retention and growth.Our hosts Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze unpack the importance of optimising these flows to ensure seamless client experiences, efficient operations, and ultimately, business growth. They discuss the benefits of technology in streamlining processes, while emphasising the human touch that remains essential for building lasting relationships with clients. Whether you're a seasoned broker or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips to navigate the ever-evolving mortgage broking landscape.Quotes:"Your business is only as good as its flow. Get the lead, work the lead, and create a deal proposition that makes a client want to come back to you." - Ruan"There's just such great technology out there at the moment that can help you streamline the lead flow, the deal flow, the workflow, and not only streamline it in a way that makes life much easier, it makes the customer experience so much better." - Marissa"You have to look at - when building a system - at what will impact the (client) relationship, what will impact the growth of the experience." - Ruan"What these systems do as well from a compliance perspective, it makes your compliance a lot more rock solid because it means that everything is recorded." - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era in broking (and every other industry, let's be honest), transforming how we navigate and redefine our industry norms. While it's fascinating to witness the exponential growth AI can bring, we want to take a look at Emotional Intelligence (EI/EQ), and what every broker should be mindful of.Amidst this technological renaissance, if you will, Marissa and Ruan discuss the unwavering importance of EI/EQ. At Success & Broker, we've always held the belief that it's the human element that truly sets us apart. We understand that while AI streamlines processes, it's the emotional connections and human insights that forge lasting relationships and elevate client experiences.Join us on this insightful journey as we dissect the interplay between AI and EI/EQ in the realm of mortgage brokers and finance professionals. Through real-life examples and practical insights, Marissa and Ruan highlight how AI's automation complements our industry, empowering brokers to maximise efficiency while preserving the essence of personal connections.Key points:Exploration of AI's role in mortgage broking, focusing on efficiency-boosting capabilities and time-saving potentialEmphasising the pivotal role of EI in the broker-client relationshipsInsights on the delicate balance between leveraging AI for streamlining processes and ensuring personal, emotionally intelligent interactions with clientsDiscussing the importance of understanding client needs and wantsStrategies for leveraging AI to free up timeExploring how the integration of AI prompts an evolution in broking practices, reshaping workflowsKey quotes:"We're trying to automate as much as we can behind the scenes so that our brokers and our even our admin team can spend as much customer facing time as possible." - Marissa"When you are looking to implement AI or automation into your business process or your customer journey, you need to weigh up how does the time that it's going to save my team going to impact the customer journey?" - Marissa"Because the reality of it is I'd rather have anyone at a barbecue talk about the way I make them feel versus what I've done for them. I guarantee you today that's what I will remember you for." - Ruan"I think that when people are doing big transactions, when they're buying properties or refinancing their loans, I believe that humans do need humans." - Marissa"The more people you see, the better broker you become." - Ruan"I think the great thing about AI and the technology advancements that we have experienced and are going to experience is that this is going to give us the tools to maybe take it from 20% client facing time to 80 to 90% client facing time over time." - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Are you juggling a busy career while trying to maintain a healthy work and family balance? We've all been there, and sometimes it feels like there's no time for a breather. In our latest episode of the LVR Podcast, our hosts, Ruan and Marissa, explore a crucial topic that's relevant to professionals at all stages of their journey: "Reward and Recognition" through quality time off.Marissa, co-host and experienced professional, shares her incredible three-month adventure with her family across Canada, the USA, Europe, and Africa. An inspiring journey, indeed, but more importantly, it was a lesson in the art of switching off."It was a test," she says, "to ensure our business could thrive without us." For her and James, her partner, the trip was about stepping away, giving their minds a well-deserved break, and learning to trust their capable team. The result? A thriving business and an incredible experience of clarity and inspiration.One essential lesson from the episode is the importance of "quality over quantity." Whether you have a few days or a few weeks, taking time for yourself and your family, away from work-related distractions, is what truly recharges you.Key quotes:"We are very fortunate with our structure at Rise High that our brokers can take as much time off as they want without impacting their business or their clients because we've got an amazing support structure and process in place where things can still continue without them here and without them having to work whilst they're on holidays." - Marissa"Just taking stock that all the things that you do at work are the very things you shouldn't be doing If you go on holiday." - Ruan"If you do want to be in a position where you can have that flexibility to take that leave, you really have to be part of a team or build a team." - Marissa"You've got to find a system that allows you to take stock, take time out, reward yourself." - Ruan"So I think if you embrace the opportunity to step outside of the business, it is an opportunity to learn and evolve and will only make you stronger as a business owner and as a person." - Marissa"It's the little things that make us think, it's the little steps for the big wins in respect of quality over quantity." - Ruan"We started Rise High because we wanted to make a difference to our clients, but we also wanted to have a really great family life as well." - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Whether you're embarking on your journey as a mortgage broker or have an eye on your exit plan, this episode is a must-listen. We explore what exit strategies are, why they should be on your radar, and when it's the right time to start thinking about them.Join us as Marissa Schultze chats with Ruan Burger, a seasoned mortgage broker with a track record of successful business exits. He's here to share his insights on this critical aspect of your broker journey, from understanding the 'when' to considering the 'how.'Tune in to discover:The importance of timing and strategy in your mortgage broker exit plan.Insights from Ruan's personal experiences, exiting not one but two successful broker businesses.Valuable tips to consider on your journey, whether you're just starting or you're well into it.Quotes:"Part of what we do with our clients is discuss exit strategy. We consciously keep them accountable to say: When does such a choice become a reality?" - Ruan"I like shifting that to just having choices, knowing that you may not want to sell, it might not be something that's at the front of your mind at this stage, but maybe it's just about having choices in your business." - Marissa"And from there I built the Family Plan vs Business Plan, because I came to realise what things should be non-negotiable for my family and what can I then build around it." - Ruan"It's just really understanding what it is you want, what are your strengths and weaknesses and what is it going to give you, or help you to achieve your goals and objectives long-term." - Marissa"Action dictates priority. As soon as I knew I wanted to sell, it was the actions that were more important to me than the priority of getting there." - RuanThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

In this insightful episode of the LVR Podcast, we sit down with Darrell Weekes from Purple Thread Marketing to unravel the mysteries of the ever-evolving world of social media for mortgage brokers turned business owners. Our engaging conversation explores key strategies for success, and what really works and what doesn't in the realm of social media for brokers turned business ownersHere are five key takeaways:Social Media Simplified: Darrell emphasises that social media platforms are tools to deliver your message, not the message itself. Choosing the right platform is essential, and focusing on the message is paramount.Leads, Not Likes: Likes and followers are nice, but what you really want are leads. Darrell explains the importance of turning engagement into tangible business outcomes.Google Business Profile Power: The single most powerful social media tool for mortgage brokers is a Google business profile with five-star reviews. Learn how this can skyrocket your leads.YouTube's Untapped Potential: Discover the immense power of YouTube as a platform for generating leads by providing valuable informational content that your audience is actively searching for.Optimising for Success: Darrell shares tips on optimising your Google Business Profile and YouTube channel to maximise their effectiveness and boost your visibility.Tune in to this episode for a masterclass in navigating the social media landscape for mortgage brokers and discover how to stand out and thrive in the digital age.Key quotes:"Marketing and social media is something probably outside of the comfort zone of most of the people in this industry, but obviously there's a lot of talk around the fact that we need to be doing this to be successful." - Marissa"Us brokers are found more frequently on these platforms, then the chances are brokers tomorrow become the client's first choice." - Ruan"Remember, social media is a collective term for platforms that allow you to engage with an audience. That's all. Some of them have no application for you whatsoever." - Darrell"You've got to pick your tribe, maybe this one first, invest in it, go hard in it, build it. And then, if you want to do another, then go to the next, rather than trying to do them all at once." - Ruan"You've given us so much great insight into some things that we can ALL do." - Marissa"For local mortgage brokers, brand awareness comes through your own work and having people understand the value that you deliver." - DarrellThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Welcome to another insightful episode of the LVR Podcast!  Hosts Marissa Schulze and Ruan Burger are joined by Samuel Longfield from Fuse Recruitment to explore the world of graduate recruitment within the mortgage broker industry.Discover how Fuse's innovative graduate program aims to bridge the gap between graduates and brokerages. Samuel delves into the strategic approach Fuse takes, including personalised candidate profiles and strategic partnerships, ensuring both graduates and employers are set up for success. Whether you're a brokerage seeking fresh talent or a graduate ready to embark on a fulfilling career journey, this episode has the insights you need. Tune in to explore the strategies that are shaping the future of recruitment in the mortgage broker industry.We discuss in this episode:Challenges of recruitment in the mortgage broker industry due to its cyclical nature.The need for innovative strategies to address evolving market demands.The concept of the graduate program as a solution to the industry's recruitment challenges.The importance of aligning candidates' attitudes and desires with the industry's demandThe value of personalised candidate profiles and one-way interviewinFuse's engagement model is designed to support businesses in finding the right talent.Fostering long-term partnerships between brokerages and candidates.Insights into the dynamic landscape of the mortgage broker industry and its future outlook.Key quotes:"As we all know, recruitment has been a bit of a bane of our existence for a long time. Every time you have to recruit you find yourself in a position where it's almost like you have to remind yourself: How do I play this here?" - Ruan"For us it's about finding clients that are able to facilitate that growth, facilitate their career and also be a fantastic entry point to mortgage brokers." - Samuel"Definitely there’s someone there you can reach out to if you wanted to build your business and get some really good young grads in, you know, some form of investment in the future of your business." - Marissa"I love that you've taken recruitment almost to a similar play like briefs for brokers, where at the end of the day, for me as the client, yes, I do want this type of person. Why? Because I know where I want to go." - Ruan"So before a candidate reaches a client, the client has the ability to watch a one-way interview between the candidate and pre-prepared questions. This is something that Ruan and I have talked about at length is making the question specific to the industry and what the brokerages actually care about." - Samuel"I think that one of the things that we need to solve as an industry is having better career pathways and better ways that people can come into the industry." - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODEAs a mortgage broker, staying ahead of the curve and providing valuable insights to your clients is crucial in today's dynamic finance industry. In this thought-provoking episode, we shed light on the role of comparison websites and their impact on brokers.Get ready for a captivating discussion that might just change the way you view comparison websites and their potential as a tool in your broker toolkit. Take a listen now. Find the answers to the following:- Are comparison sites competitors or complementary resources for brokers in helping clients find the right mortgage?- How can everyday finance websites like savings.com.au benefit mortgage brokers and keep them updated on market-relevant information?- How can comparison sites bridge the gap in financial literacy while collaborating with brokers to educate Australians about personal finance?- Will comparison sites adjust and become broker-focused, as they move toward using content from brokers?- Curious about the ever-changing market and finance trends? Discover how savings.com.au keeps pace with new developments and provides insights for everyone. Key quotes:"When 7/10 people use mortgage brokers it's good to know what sites are out there to tell our story, to tell the market what happens in our areas as well as what's market-relevant for us mortgage brokers." - Ruan"I appreciate the value of a site like this because it provides access to another layer of knowledge that we can readily share with our clients." - Ruan"Looks like you're doing some great stuff in terms of the education space, thank you so much for sharing that information with us." - Marissa"That brokering service is always going to be there in Australia. Even some of the people in the team here, who you could consider high-level of expertise in the home-loan space, still prefer to go through a broker, just for convenience." - DominicThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODEJoin Ruan, Marissa and Damian from Australia Lending and Investment Centre in this engaging conversation as they dive into the world of investment lending and education. Discover the strategies that the ALIC employs to minimise cash flow impact for their investment clients, get the inside scoop on the pros and cons of niche specialisation vs diversifying, and learn more about their unique career pathway program. Plus, uncover how ALIC has fostered a diverse team, celebrating achievements in gender and cultural diversity. Don't miss this enlightening discussion on specialisation, education, and building a skilled and inclusive workforce.Find answers to the following:- How does ALIC see the current market challenges as exciting opportunities for investors?- How does ALIC minimise cash flow impact for their investment clients? - What are some examples of ALIC's successful collaborations with experts from related fields? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of niche specialisation in mortgage brokering? - How does ALIC's career pathway program support the development of expertise and ensure high-quality brokers? - How has ALIC fostered gender and cultural diversity within their team and the benefits they have experienced?KEY QUOTES"What we’ve done is we’ve invested in people at the very beginning, and we’re showing them that you can become a broker, that it’s not this hard cliff you have to jump off and sort of make it on your own." - Damian"I think our industry needs to see more of those career pathways being set up so that we can try and get some good young people into the industry, and make sure the quality and equality is there." - Marissa"There’s a big investment that comes into play because you almost have to build your employees in a certain form to be sure that they deliver on what you’ve been selling to the market in respect to your capacity." - Ruan"For us it makes a lot more sense to invest in people at a very early stage and grow them through all of our business roles to ensure that they are appropriately trained and have the right skills and the right experience and technique to mirror what we expect of our investment lending managers." - Damian"The trust equation is very simple, it’s all about what’s in the best interest of the client." - Damian"A lot of our listeners will be torn between specialising in a niche and diversifying, and you’re obviously a very successful example where specialisation has worked really well for you." - Marissa"The tests are already done. From what ALIC has done in terms of the career pathway program, they've got enough information to show us all that it is working. At a grassroots level we can make our industry even better." - RuanThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODEDiscover the keys to thriving in a rising interest rate environment. This podcast episode with Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze dives deep into the strategies and insights necessary to navigate the changing market landscape. Join us as Ruan and Marissa share expert advice on adapting your approach and prioritising education, and unlock the tools and knowledge you need to optimise your value proposition and stay ahead of the curve.Find answers and insights to the following:Are you equipped to adapt your approach to rising interest rates and ensure client satisfaction?How can you maximise your value proposition in a changing mortgage landscape?What are effective techniques for nurturing long-term client relationships and generating referrals during market fluctuations?How can you support clients facing challenges in the current interest rate environment?What role does education play in providing exceptional client experiences?How can you address the needs of clients impacted by rising interest rates?What are the strategies employed by top-performing brokers to build trust with clients in uncertain times?Key quotes:“I think there’s a lot of mortgage brokers out there in Australia that have never experienced an interest rate rising environment.” - Marissa“It’s really important to have that shift in mindset as to what is really important to our clients moving forward.” - Marissa“You have to slow down before you speed up.” - Ruan“We’re setting an experience trend with our clients to know if this was to happen again, this is what would happen, this is how it’ll work and this is how we will deal with it.” - Ruan“We need to center our value around education, and that needs to be the experience that we provide.” - Marissa“You can’t ask for referrals, you have to educate for referrals.” - Ruan“What has made us who we have become? It’s our clients. It’s not the banks. It was 100% our clients. We have to do the very thing that made them come to us in the first place.” - Ruan“If you stick to the education focus you’ll survive and thrive this period of upswing in interest rates.” - MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

We discuss in this episode:Chatting with Eric Dill, Co-founder of Quickli, we cover what’s happening in the tech world and how mortgage brokers can leverage it to support clients further and enhance the overall client experience. We also touch on the gap in the market Quickli (and brokers) have identified and why finding the right balance of tech and human touch is key moving forward.Quickli brings 20+ lender calcs into one, easy-to-use interface that allows brokers to place a deal faster than ever before! Tech like Quickli doesn’t replace but enhances brokers’ capabilities and reach — freeing them up for more time to spend on other key tasks; any good tech only strengthens the brokers’ proposition. Even if products like Quickli were directly available to consumers, they’re still going to welcome the opportunity to get a broker involved — they’re going to want that handholding. Looking ahead, we can expect to see more third-party services popping up, bringing in more technology and opportunities for aggregators. Scaling business will become difficult for brokers unwilling to adopt newer tech — don’t be afraid; embrace it. But don’t become lazy; brokers still have due diligence to tick all the boxes. Key Quotes:“The future of the industry is going to require brokers to adopt the right tech, and there needs to be the right blend of tech and the human element.” — Eric“There’s always an exception to the rule, and good brokers know that good policy is great, but the exception to the rule is better.” — Ruan “Aggregators can help us remain compliant and keep us doing what we do best, and that’s selling compliantly.” — Ruan“The time we’re saving with tools like Quickli, we should be reinvesting into our clients.” — MarissaThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

We discuss in this episode:How do you build the right team culture and become an amazing leader if you’re new to recruiting or leading? It’s a scary task for many business owners, but it doesn’t have to be. We dive into understanding team culture with Paul Findlay from REACH Ecosystem.Look at team culture from a leader’s perspective; people do their best work in an environment where they want to do their best work. Leaders play a critical role in creating team culture; they must be someone people respect and want to follow.Surveying staff regularly is essential for temperature testing, but only if you take action after.40% of people are actively disengaged if they don’t get regular feedback92% of people agree that even if they receive negative feedback, it will improve their performanceStrength-based recruitment places the right people in the right role; leverage tools that can help.Monitor your team culture to attract (and keep) the best talent.Key Quotes:“Surveying staff without taking action undermines culture, undermines trust and is a waste of time.” — Paul Findlay “Almost half of your people are actively disengaged, meaning almost half of your staff will actively work against you if you don’t give them regular feedback.” — Paul FindlayThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

We’re always looking for new tech that can add value without removing the human element that makes our service invaluable. Enter: the diñeiro app! In this episode, we chat with special guest Ben Shapira about how the app can streamline managing a financial portfolio for brokers and consumers.Most technology solutions currently in the market are designed to simplify the process for brokers; the diñeiro app works for both consumers and brokers.diñeiro allows users to centralise their financial portfolio and share, allowing brokers to understand a client’s current status and borrowing potential. The app is a helpful retention tool for brokers to identify whether their clients might be future property investors by staying connected to the client’s financial goals, assets, expenses, liabilities, and equity growth.App engagement is positive even after loan settlement, with consumers checking in once or twice a month.Whitelabel functionality is available for brokers passionate about building their brands, allowing brokers to have their own apps.Within 24-36 months, we can expect large-scale digitalisation in all areas of the lending space. deñerio expects to move into the small business lending space and anywhere that financial data is necessary — including integrations with the ATO, Xero, and more!Key Quotes“[With diñeiro] You don’t have to be tethered to the desk; they can meet a client for coffee or dinner and be able to talk about their finances.” — Ben“Clients find that brokers who are making an effort to be more engaged, and it makes the relationship more solid.” — Ben“It’s like a birdseye view for your finances.” — RuanThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

The industry has experienced exponential growth in the past 12 months; however, that’s all about to change! The lending environment is shifting, so brokers need to keep up with what’s ahead. A busy year for the industry meant an emphasis on recruitment, but finding the right staff wasn’t always easy. Taking the time to slow down and focus on recruitment to grow, retain, and perform will be essential moving into the new year.Focus on your employee/employer value proposition and workplace culture to make sure you’re attracting the right people to your team.The wild ride that was 2022 — in terms of loan volume and borrowing capacity — is coming to an end, so brokers will need to look for other strategies to grow their business. Brokers who haven’t experienced a rising rate environment need to upskill to have the right knowledge and education to support their clients. Choose the right technologies to improve your business, client experience, and efficiency, but remember the value you bring that tech can’t.Mental health, diversity, inclusion, and work-life balance are top priorities for brokers — we must continue to build awareness in these areas.A changing market means more brokers are paying attention to lead flow and are investigating better processes to gain new leads. Expect to see more consolidation of businesses in our industry next year as sole operators find it difficult to keep up with compliance requirements.Key Quotes“Recruitment isn’t the call to action; it’s merely the process for the call to action, which is employment.” — Ruan “When you’re desperate to hire is the worst time to hire.” — Marissa “The fixed-rate avalanche is coming, so brokers need to know how to advise and educate their clients.” — Ruan Thank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Back in the day, a broker could do a deal on the back of a fax and voila. These days with more compliance, quality control and deadlines from lenders and clients a broker needs more support and that support can come in the form of smart systems. Broker Engine is a workable tool for any broker. Here's more about Broker Engine: Broker Engine handles the entire life cycle of the client, the leadflow to dealflow to running reviews and client maintenance so that you retain more clients. All these systems help a broker to manage a successful client relationship over time and ensure that you are retaining more clients. If I was to sign up tomorrow to Broker Engine, how much time will it take to get it running? With Broker Engine we supply the workflows out of the box and have a customer success team to support our clients so we suggest it takes about three weeks to get it up and running, so not long at all. For Broker Engine, we see: The broker likes it, team likes it, the client likes it. It helps to document the processes and systems so that the things that typically gets missed from a workflow are put into a structure, allowing a team to become at least 20% more efficient. Broker’s who are business builders and building a team to scale, then Broker Engine can help you achieve a more powerful business flow. The whole workflow and the client engagement can be managed in a powerful way with Broker Engine. Key Quotes“Leadflow is what gets you the appointments and what gets you the activity.” - Ruan “After the loan settles, aftercare can be built into the system via email and sms, so it takes the headache away from brokers having to remember everything.” - Will Thank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

A lot of brokers struggle with the attraction and retention side of the business. REACH  is a great tool that business owners can rely upon in their recruitment process to have the confidence that they are finding the right people in the right team. However, it’s also about retaining them and keeping your culture thriving. The goal is to have a team that love what they do, adding value to the business every day and shouting from the rooftops of what a great place your business is to work! REACH is a capability and culture platform which is data led and automated. There is a profiling element as well as a huge learning platform, a culture platform and a leadership element plus much more.  A typical profiling tool helps an employer identify someone who fits the role (but it doesn’t say this is some learning you can dive into to help you get to the next stage in your career and it doesn’t say this is our culture, and this is where you want to work) REACH does. REACH uses data and automation that gives a team member their own micro learning that is in the moment and specifically suited to that team member’s growth. REACH helps to create the foundation for learning then gives a team member their personalised learning which they can work through independently and grow their skills.For leaders, owners and managers who enjoy coaching their team and having their hands in the upskilling then the platform gives the learning platform for managers to use in their coaching process.  You can apply REACH surveys to any part of the application process. You get the insights into whether an applicant will genuinely enjoy the work associated with the role on offer, and how they will fit in with your existing team and culture. You get the data to be confident that you can bring them into your business and sit them up for success. The culture survey element of REACH can bring so much feedback and awareness to a leadership team on how the team and individuals are feeling (and how engaged they are) about the business. When you don’t have the data point to get some awareness, then you have a revolving door of people who keep leaving the role and company and you don’t know why.Key Quotes“The talent is out there, it’s just a very competitive marketplace…and people are moving jobs a lot, trying to find the workplace they can add value and have a meaningful career”. - Paul “There’s more to it than the recruitment piece. The culture element is huge and the 360 platform for the managers too.”- Ruan “Every time you bring in a new person into the team it changes the culture and it’s something you have to constantlThank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker

Thank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions: Marissa Schulze Linkedin Marissa Schulze Instagram Marissa Schulze Facebook Rise High Financial Solutions More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker: Ruan Burger Linkedin Ruan Burger Instagram Ruan Burger Facebook Success and Broker