Beyond The Numbers With Christian Stevens en Beyond The Numbers is the podcast for mortgage brokers who want to build businesses that last. Hosted by Christian Stevens, five-time Best Broker in Australia and CEO of Flint. Each week, Christian delivers practical Deep Dives on the skills and systems that drive real results, alongside Industry Titan conversations with the leaders who've built something exceptional. No fluff, no theory – just the playbooks and lessons you need to grow a sustainable, profitable broking business. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/da0ce1ac-d8bf-11f0-aefd-c3b3abb8e19f/image/25bc53b7cb1a4b38e375f0bf0ba86cbd.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Beyond The Numbers With Christian Stevens episodic Christian Stevens Beyond The Numbers is the podcast for mortgage brokers who want to build businesses that last. Hosted by Christian Stevens, five-time Best Broker in Australia and CEO of Flint. Each week, Christian delivers practical Deep Dives on the skills and systems that drive real results, alongside Industry Titan conversations with the leaders who've built something exceptional. No fluff, no theory – just the playbooks and lessons you need to grow a sustainable, profitable broking business. Beyond The Numbers is the podcast for mortgage brokers who want to build businesses that last. Hosted by Christian Stevens, five-time Best Broker in Australia and CEO of Flint. Each week, Christian delivers practical Deep Dives on the skills and systems that drive real results, alongside Industry Titan conversations with the leaders who've built something exceptional. No fluff, no theory – just the playbooks and lessons you need to grow a sustainable, profitable broking business.

]]> Christian Stevens social@pivotalconversations.io Why Mortgage Broking Is One of the Best Careers for Work-Life Balance Pete Davies is a mortgage broker based in Lake Macquarie — a former big four business banker turned underground coal miner, who rebuilt his life from scratch after a separation during Covid and came back to finance with a clarity most brokers never find.  This conversation goes well beyond the loan book. Pete opens up about why he deliberately chose not to go it alone — selecting a mentor with 30 years of experience, negotiating a commission split his peers called remarkable, and building his business around being a present father to two daughters rather than chasing volume. He unpacks his philosophy on debt as a tool for freedom rather than a rate-shopping exercise, why he turned down clients early on that would have cost him more than they paid, and how a coal mining background taught him more about resilience and teamwork than any sales training ever could. He also gets into the habits that underpin everything — time blocking, morning routines, the pen-and-paper end-of-day list that sets up tomorrow's quick wins — and why he believes momentum is built through small consistent actions, not big swings. If you're new to broking, thinking about the transition from banking, or trying to build something sustainable without burning out, this one's worth your time. 1:07 — From Big Four Banking to Underground Coal Mining 3:15 — 18 Months In — The Reality of the Building Phase 6:23 — Choosing the Right Mentor — What Pete Was Looking For 10:26 — FY27 Vision — Building for Sustainability, Not Volume 13:06 — How Separation Reshaped Everything 20:36 — Debt as a Tool for Freedom — Not a Rate-Shopping Exercise 24:14 — What Success Actually Looks Like at 40 29:32 — What Worked and What He'd Never Do Again 36:40 — The Mentor Selection Process — Face to Face, Experience Over Convenience 43:03 — Mindset, Mental Health and Daily Discipline 48:36 — If You Had to Start Again — The One Thing He'd Do Differently Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Pete Davies:  Website: https://www.petedaviesbroker.com.au/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/petedaviesbroker/ Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Pete Davies is a mortgage broker based in Lake Macquarie — a former big four business banker turned underground coal miner, who rebuilt his life from scratch after a separation during Covid and came back to finance with a clarity most brokers never find.  This conversation goes well beyond the loan book. Pete opens up about why he deliberately chose not to go it alone — selecting a mentor with 30 years of experience, negotiating a commission split his peers called remarkable, and building his business around being a present father to two daughters rather than chasing volume. He unpacks his philosophy on debt as a tool for freedom rather than a rate-shopping exercise, why he turned down clients early on that would have cost him more than they paid, and how a coal mining background taught him more about resilience and teamwork than any sales training ever could. He also gets into the habits that underpin everything — time blocking, morning routines, the pen-and-paper end-of-day list that sets up tomorrow's quick wins — and why he believes momentum is built through small consistent actions, not big swings. If you're new to broking, thinking about the transition from banking, or trying to build something sustainable without burning out, this one's worth your time. 1:07 — From Big Four Banking to Underground Coal Mining 3:15 — 18 Months In — The Reality of the Building Phase 6:23 — Choosing the Right Mentor — What Pete Was Looking For 10:26 — FY27 Vision — Building for Sustainability, Not Volume 13:06 — How Separation Reshaped Everything 20:36 — Debt as a Tool for Freedom — Not a Rate-Shopping Exercise 24:14 — What Success Actually Looks Like at 40 29:32 — What Worked and What He'd Never Do Again 36:40 — The Mentor Selection Process — Face to Face, Experience Over Convenience 43:03 — Mindset, Mental Health and Daily Discipline 48:36 — If You Had to Start Again — The One Thing He'd Do Differently Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Pete Davies:  Website: https://www.petedaviesbroker.com.au/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/petedaviesbroker/ Pete Davies is a mortgage broker based in Lake Macquarie — a former big four business banker turned underground coal miner, who rebuilt his life from scratch after a separation during Covid and came back to finance with a clarity most brokers never find. 

This conversation goes well beyond the loan book. Pete opens up about why he deliberately chose not to go it alone — selecting a mentor with 30 years of experience, negotiating a commission split his peers called remarkable, and building his business around being a present father to two daughters rather than chasing volume. He unpacks his philosophy on debt as a tool for freedom rather than a rate-shopping exercise, why he turned down clients early on that would have cost him more than they paid, and how a coal mining background taught him more about resilience and teamwork than any sales training ever could.

He also gets into the habits that underpin everything — time blocking, morning routines, the pen-and-paper end-of-day list that sets up tomorrow's quick wins — and why he believes momentum is built through small consistent actions, not big swings.

If you're new to broking, thinking about the transition from banking, or trying to build something sustainable without burning out, this one's worth your time.

1:07 — From Big Four Banking to Underground Coal Mining

3:15 — 18 Months In — The Reality of the Building Phase

6:23 — Choosing the Right Mentor — What Pete Was Looking For

10:26 — FY27 Vision — Building for Sustainability, Not Volume

13:06 — How Separation Reshaped Everything

20:36 — Debt as a Tool for Freedom — Not a Rate-Shopping Exercise

24:14 — What Success Actually Looks Like at 40

29:32 — What Worked and What He'd Never Do Again

36:40 — The Mentor Selection Process — Face to Face, Experience Over Convenience

43:03 — Mindset, Mental Health and Daily Discipline

48:36 — If You Had to Start Again — The One Thing He'd Do Differently

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ 

Connect with Pete Davies: 


Website: https://www.petedaviesbroker.com.au/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/petedaviesbroker/

]]> 3100 The Attention Economy: Why the Broker Who Shows Up Online Wins All the Clients Robbo Roper is the founder of Trusted Finance and arguably the most followed finance mind in Australia — 1.7 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, built entirely without spending a single dollar on advertising. But his origin story isn't what you'd expect. He spent a decade as a high school maths teacher, built a 15-staff tutoring centre on the side, and only stumbled into mortgage broking when Covid shut his business down overnight and his income went to zero. This conversation goes well beyond the follower count.  Robbo breaks down exactly how he went from posting one video a day hoping for one lead a month, to generating 500–750 qualified leads per week through a 30-question intake form that filters out everyone who isn't serious. He gets into his three-pillar content framework — education, entertainment, inspiration — why he deliberately made himself harder to contact, how he turned 11 hero videos into 40–60 daily posts across every platform, and the fork-in-the-road decision that transformed him from mortgage broker into a full-scale marketing business. If you're a broker trying to figure out social media, or wondering what's actually possible with consistency over five years, this one will reset your benchmark. 1:05 — From maths teacher to mortgage broker — how Covid shutting down a 15-staff tutoring centre sparked the pivot 7:21 — The turning point - The moment Robbo knew social media had changed everything 13:08 — The 6,900 posts framework - why consistency is the only secret 19:00 — The 3-pillar content strategy — education, entertainment and inspiration, and how to hijack the For You page across every platform 24:57 — Live content creation demo — Robbo films a real video in real time showing the hook-problem-solution structure, segment-by-segment filming and in-app editing 35:05 — 40–60 posts per day from 11 hero videos — the repurposing system, trial reels, and the fatherhood video that hit 48M views and generated 70,000 followers overnight 41:34 — What most brokers are doing wrong — reactive content, RBA-day-only posting, and why the willingness to fail is the real barrier 45:14 — The brand risk nobody talks about — running Trusted Finance solo with zero staff, the "if you die tomorrow" question, and what the next chapter looks like Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/  Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Robbo Roper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbo-roper-online-marketing-expert-88a56024b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusted.finance/ Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Robbo Roper is the founder of Trusted Finance and arguably the most followed finance mind in Australia — 1.7 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, built entirely without spending a single dollar on advertising. But his origin story isn't what you'd expect. He spent a decade as a high school maths teacher, built a 15-staff tutoring centre on the side, and only stumbled into mortgage broking when Covid shut his business down overnight and his income went to zero. This conversation goes well beyond the follower count.  Robbo breaks down exactly how he went from posting one video a day hoping for one lead a month, to generating 500–750 qualified leads per week through a 30-question intake form that filters out everyone who isn't serious. He gets into his three-pillar content framework — education, entertainment, inspiration — why he deliberately made himself harder to contact, how he turned 11 hero videos into 40–60 daily posts across every platform, and the fork-in-the-road decision that transformed him from mortgage broker into a full-scale marketing business. If you're a broker trying to figure out social media, or wondering what's actually possible with consistency over five years, this one will reset your benchmark. 1:05 — From maths teacher to mortgage broker — how Covid shutting down a 15-staff tutoring centre sparked the pivot 7:21 — The turning point - The moment Robbo knew social media had changed everything 13:08 — The 6,900 posts framework - why consistency is the only secret 19:00 — The 3-pillar content strategy — education, entertainment and inspiration, and how to hijack the For You page across every platform 24:57 — Live content creation demo — Robbo films a real video in real time showing the hook-problem-solution structure, segment-by-segment filming and in-app editing 35:05 — 40–60 posts per day from 11 hero videos — the repurposing system, trial reels, and the fatherhood video that hit 48M views and generated 70,000 followers overnight 41:34 — What most brokers are doing wrong — reactive content, RBA-day-only posting, and why the willingness to fail is the real barrier 45:14 — The brand risk nobody talks about — running Trusted Finance solo with zero staff, the "if you die tomorrow" question, and what the next chapter looks like Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/  Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Robbo Roper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbo-roper-online-marketing-expert-88a56024b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusted.finance/ Robbo Roper is the founder of Trusted Finance and arguably the most followed finance mind in Australia — 1.7 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, built entirely without spending a single dollar on advertising.

But his origin story isn't what you'd expect.

He spent a decade as a high school maths teacher, built a 15-staff tutoring centre on the side, and only stumbled into mortgage broking when Covid shut his business down overnight and his income went to zero.

This conversation goes well beyond the follower count. 

Robbo breaks down exactly how he went from posting one video a day hoping for one lead a month, to generating 500–750 qualified leads per week through a 30-question intake form that filters out everyone who isn't serious. He gets into his three-pillar content framework — education, entertainment, inspiration — why he deliberately made himself harder to contact, how he turned 11 hero videos into 40–60 daily posts across every platform, and the fork-in-the-road decision that transformed him from mortgage broker into a full-scale marketing business.

If you're a broker trying to figure out social media, or wondering what's actually possible with consistency over five years, this one will reset your benchmark.

1:05 — From maths teacher to mortgage broker — how Covid shutting down a 15-staff tutoring centre sparked the pivot

7:21 — The turning point - The moment Robbo knew social media had changed everything

13:08 — The 6,900 posts framework - why consistency is the only secret

19:00 — The 3-pillar content strategy — education, entertainment and inspiration, and how to hijack the For You page across every platform

24:57 — Live content creation demo — Robbo films a real video in real time showing the hook-problem-solution structure, segment-by-segment filming and in-app editing

35:05 — 40–60 posts per day from 11 hero videos — the repurposing system, trial reels, and the fatherhood video that hit 48M views and generated 70,000 followers overnight

41:34 — What most brokers are doing wrong — reactive content, RBA-day-only posting, and why the willingness to fail is the real barrier

45:14 — The brand risk nobody talks about — running Trusted Finance solo with zero staff, the "if you die tomorrow" question, and what the next chapter looks like


Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ 


Connect with Christian Stevens: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ 


Connect with Robbo Roper: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbo-roper-online-marketing-expert-88a56024b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusted.finance/

]]> 2937 Can a Single Parent Build a Brokerage From Scratch and Still Be There for Their Kids? Kaylene Edwards is the managing director of Flexify and one of the more honest, self-made stories to come through Beyond The Numbers. She grew up in commission housing, bartended her way through her twenties, and bought her first property at 21 — sleeping in her car between shifts to save the deposit. She later moved into banking as an assessor, watched brokers submit loan after loan, and eventually thought: I can do this better. So she did. Flexify was born, and she's been building it ever since — as a single mum, without a mentor, figuring it out in real time. But this conversation goes well beyond the origin story. Kaylene talks candidly about what it really takes to build a broking business from scratch — the social media strategy she's used from day one, why she'd rather get six likes from the right people than a million views from the wrong ones, and how she's doubling her team heading into FY27. She opens up about building a niche she didn't choose — self-employed borrowers and property investors — and how 20% of her Brisbane-based book ended up in Kalgoorlie. She also gets into what she believes is holding women back from staying in broking, and what a genuine solution to that might look like. If you're a broker trying to build something real from nothing, or just want a reminder of what backing yourself actually looks like — this one's for you. 1:13 Working as an Assessor — Watching Brokers and Thinking She Could Do It Better 7:13 The Moment She Saw What Brokers Got Paid 13:22 FY27 Plans — Doubling the Team and Launching Paid Ads 16:40 Social Media Ad Strategy — What She's Actually Testing 19:23 Do You Want Exposure or Do You Want to Get Rich? 24:27 The Hardest Parts Nobody Warns You About 29:09 Why Women Leave Broking — and Her Idea to Fix It 35:26 AI and Automation — What's Actually Saving Her Time 48:29 Sleeping in Her Car to Save Her First Property Deposit Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Kaylene Edwards: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleneedwards/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flexify.au/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Kaylene Edwards is the managing director of Flexify and one of the more honest, self-made stories to come through Beyond The Numbers. She grew up in commission housing, bartended her way through her twenties, and bought her first property at 21 — sleeping in her car between shifts to save the deposit. She later moved into banking as an assessor, watched brokers submit loan after loan, and eventually thought: I can do this better. So she did. Flexify was born, and she's been building it ever since — as a single mum, without a mentor, figuring it out in real time. But this conversation goes well beyond the origin story. Kaylene talks candidly about what it really takes to build a broking business from scratch — the social media strategy she's used from day one, why she'd rather get six likes from the right people than a million views from the wrong ones, and how she's doubling her team heading into FY27. She opens up about building a niche she didn't choose — self-employed borrowers and property investors — and how 20% of her Brisbane-based book ended up in Kalgoorlie. She also gets into what she believes is holding women back from staying in broking, and what a genuine solution to that might look like. If you're a broker trying to build something real from nothing, or just want a reminder of what backing yourself actually looks like — this one's for you. 1:13 Working as an Assessor — Watching Brokers and Thinking She Could Do It Better 7:13 The Moment She Saw What Brokers Got Paid 13:22 FY27 Plans — Doubling the Team and Launching Paid Ads 16:40 Social Media Ad Strategy — What She's Actually Testing 19:23 Do You Want Exposure or Do You Want to Get Rich? 24:27 The Hardest Parts Nobody Warns You About 29:09 Why Women Leave Broking — and Her Idea to Fix It 35:26 AI and Automation — What's Actually Saving Her Time 48:29 Sleeping in Her Car to Save Her First Property Deposit Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Kaylene Edwards: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleneedwards/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flexify.au/ Kaylene Edwards is the managing director of Flexify and one of the more honest, self-made stories to come through Beyond The Numbers.

She grew up in commission housing, bartended her way through her twenties, and bought her first property at 21 — sleeping in her car between shifts to save the deposit. She later moved into banking as an assessor, watched brokers submit loan after loan, and eventually thought: I can do this better. So she did. Flexify was born, and she's been building it ever since — as a single mum, without a mentor, figuring it out in real time.

But this conversation goes well beyond the origin story.

Kaylene talks candidly about what it really takes to build a broking business from scratch — the social media strategy she's used from day one, why she'd rather get six likes from the right people than a million views from the wrong ones, and how she's doubling her team heading into FY27.

She opens up about building a niche she didn't choose — self-employed borrowers and property investors — and how 20% of her Brisbane-based book ended up in Kalgoorlie. She also gets into what she believes is holding women back from staying in broking, and what a genuine solution to that might look like.

If you're a broker trying to build something real from nothing, or just want a reminder of what backing yourself actually looks like — this one's for you.


1:13 Working as an Assessor — Watching Brokers and Thinking She Could Do It Better

7:13 The Moment She Saw What Brokers Got Paid

13:22 FY27 Plans — Doubling the Team and Launching Paid Ads

16:40 Social Media Ad Strategy — What She's Actually Testing

19:23 Do You Want Exposure or Do You Want to Get Rich?

24:27 The Hardest Parts Nobody Warns You About

29:09 Why Women Leave Broking — and Her Idea to Fix It

35:26 AI and Automation — What's Actually Saving Her Time

48:29 Sleeping in Her Car to Save Her First Property Deposit


Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/


Connect with Kaylene Edwards:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleneedwards/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flexify.au/

]]> 3313 Why 2026 Might Be the Best Time in History to Be a Mortgage Broker Simon Lewis is the founder of Broker Capital, a trail book lender built specifically for mortgage brokers who want to grow — without selling what they've spent years building. In this episode, Simon unpacks how trail book funding actually works, why most brokers don't realise they're sitting on a borrowable asset, and how Broker Capital is funding deals in as little as two days. He breaks down the four main reasons brokers come to him — growing a team, buying out a partner, acquiring another book, or consolidating debt — and why the banks simply won't touch most of these situations. But this conversation goes deeper than product. Simon shares what a high-quality trail book actually looks like under the hood — loan age, clawback rates, run-off, growth trajectory — and why the average book transacted at nearly 3x in FY25. He talks about the consolidation wave reshaping Australian broking, why the smaller operators are feeling the squeeze, and what ambitious brokers should be doing right now to capitalise on it. He also opens up about what it's really like being four months into building a business from scratch — wearing every hat, figuring it out in real time, and why he believes the broking industry is in a golden window that won't last forever. If you're a mortgage broker sitting on a trail book and wondering what your next move is — this one's for you. 3:45 The Beginner's Guide to Trail Book Funding 9:00 Acquisitions 101: Buying a Book With $0 Out of Pocket 12:40 What Makes a Good Borrower — and Who Gets Declined 19:10 The 4 Reasons Brokers Come to Broker Capital 23:15 What Makes a High-Quality Trail Book (Run-Off, Clawbacks, Loan Age) 25:20 Biggest Clawback Horror Stories 30:25 Generalist vs Specialist: Where the Industry Is Heading 33:00 The Long-Term Vision for Broker Capital Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Simon Lewis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlewisbrokercapital/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonlewis_brokercapital/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Simon Lewis is the founder of Broker Capital, a trail book lender built specifically for mortgage brokers who want to grow — without selling what they've spent years building. In this episode, Simon unpacks how trail book funding actually works, why most brokers don't realise they're sitting on a borrowable asset, and how Broker Capital is funding deals in as little as two days. He breaks down the four main reasons brokers come to him — growing a team, buying out a partner, acquiring another book, or consolidating debt — and why the banks simply won't touch most of these situations. But this conversation goes deeper than product. Simon shares what a high-quality trail book actually looks like under the hood — loan age, clawback rates, run-off, growth trajectory — and why the average book transacted at nearly 3x in FY25. He talks about the consolidation wave reshaping Australian broking, why the smaller operators are feeling the squeeze, and what ambitious brokers should be doing right now to capitalise on it. He also opens up about what it's really like being four months into building a business from scratch — wearing every hat, figuring it out in real time, and why he believes the broking industry is in a golden window that won't last forever. If you're a mortgage broker sitting on a trail book and wondering what your next move is — this one's for you. 3:45 The Beginner's Guide to Trail Book Funding 9:00 Acquisitions 101: Buying a Book With $0 Out of Pocket 12:40 What Makes a Good Borrower — and Who Gets Declined 19:10 The 4 Reasons Brokers Come to Broker Capital 23:15 What Makes a High-Quality Trail Book (Run-Off, Clawbacks, Loan Age) 25:20 Biggest Clawback Horror Stories 30:25 Generalist vs Specialist: Where the Industry Is Heading 33:00 The Long-Term Vision for Broker Capital Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Simon Lewis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlewisbrokercapital/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonlewis_brokercapital/ Simon Lewis is the founder of Broker Capital, a trail book lender built specifically for mortgage brokers who want to grow — without selling what they've spent years building.


In this episode, Simon unpacks how trail book funding actually works, why most brokers don't realise they're sitting on a borrowable asset, and how Broker Capital is funding deals in as little as two days. He breaks down the four main reasons brokers come to him — growing a team, buying out a partner, acquiring another book, or consolidating debt — and why the banks simply won't touch most of these situations.


But this conversation goes deeper than product.


Simon shares what a high-quality trail book actually looks like under the hood — loan age, clawback rates, run-off, growth trajectory — and why the average book transacted at nearly 3x in FY25. He talks about the consolidation wave reshaping Australian broking, why the smaller operators are feeling the squeeze, and what ambitious brokers should be doing right now to capitalise on it.


He also opens up about what it's really like being four months into building a business from scratch — wearing every hat, figuring it out in real time, and why he believes the broking industry is in a golden window that won't last forever.


If you're a mortgage broker sitting on a trail book and wondering what your next move is — this one's for you.


3:45 The Beginner's Guide to Trail Book Funding

9:00 Acquisitions 101: Buying a Book With $0 Out of Pocket

12:40 What Makes a Good Borrower — and Who Gets Declined

19:10 The 4 Reasons Brokers Come to Broker Capital

23:15 What Makes a High-Quality Trail Book (Run-Off, Clawbacks, Loan Age)

25:20 Biggest Clawback Horror Stories

30:25 Generalist vs Specialist: Where the Industry Is Heading

33:00 The Long-Term Vision for Broker Capital


Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/


Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/


Connect with Simon Lewis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlewisbrokercapital/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonlewis_brokercapital/

]]> 2339 The Traineeship Model That Produces $100 Million Brokers From Inside Your Own Business Chris Raymond, founder of Unconditional Finance, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. With 25 years across banking and broking — from loan documentation and credit analysis to becoming a #1 BDM nationally — Chris built Unconditional Finance from a single relationship that generated $67 million in his first year as a broker. But it wasn't overnight. From going all-in on one referral partner after lying about his experience to building a 25-person team running over $300 million a year, Chris opens up about the deliberate, unglamorous decisions behind that growth — the foundations-first philosophy, why he refused to blow up his back office chasing volume, and how he's used an internal traineeship model to promote brokers who write $60–70 million in their first year. He also talks about the equity conversations nobody has with their team, what it actually takes to step off the tools, and why he still believes relationship-based business will always outperform the social media lead machine. If you're a mortgage broker, brokerage owner, or anyone building something in financial services from the ground up — this one's for you. 4:55 $67M in Year One — From One Referral Partner He Lied To 7:00 How Unconditional Finance Grew to 25 People 10:30 Managing Gen Z Brokers: Cuddles vs. Boot Camps 13:15 Why Brokers Need to Specialise (Not Just Settle Loans) 17:00 The Back-Office Philosophy That Stopped Him Blowing Up 21:30 Getting Off the Tools: The Traineeship-to-Broker Pipeline 26:00 Equity, Ownership, and Keeping Your Best People 29:00 Writing 300M and Still Up at 4:30am: The Real Cost of Big Numbers 33:00 Expansion Plans, Acquisition Offer, and What's Next for 2027 38:00 Three Referral Partners, 14 Properties, and His Biggest Investing Mistake Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Chris Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-chris/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_unconditionalfinance/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Chris Raymond, founder of Unconditional Finance, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. With 25 years across banking and broking — from loan documentation and credit analysis to becoming a #1 BDM nationally — Chris built Unconditional Finance from a single relationship that generated $67 million in his first year as a broker. But it wasn't overnight. From going all-in on one referral partner after lying about his experience to building a 25-person team running over $300 million a year, Chris opens up about the deliberate, unglamorous decisions behind that growth — the foundations-first philosophy, why he refused to blow up his back office chasing volume, and how he's used an internal traineeship model to promote brokers who write $60–70 million in their first year. He also talks about the equity conversations nobody has with their team, what it actually takes to step off the tools, and why he still believes relationship-based business will always outperform the social media lead machine. If you're a mortgage broker, brokerage owner, or anyone building something in financial services from the ground up — this one's for you. 4:55 $67M in Year One — From One Referral Partner He Lied To 7:00 How Unconditional Finance Grew to 25 People 10:30 Managing Gen Z Brokers: Cuddles vs. Boot Camps 13:15 Why Brokers Need to Specialise (Not Just Settle Loans) 17:00 The Back-Office Philosophy That Stopped Him Blowing Up 21:30 Getting Off the Tools: The Traineeship-to-Broker Pipeline 26:00 Equity, Ownership, and Keeping Your Best People 29:00 Writing 300M and Still Up at 4:30am: The Real Cost of Big Numbers 33:00 Expansion Plans, Acquisition Offer, and What's Next for 2027 38:00 Three Referral Partners, 14 Properties, and His Biggest Investing Mistake Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Chris Raymond: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-chris/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_unconditionalfinance/ Chris Raymond, founder of Unconditional Finance, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. With 25 years across banking and broking — from loan documentation and credit analysis to becoming a #1 BDM nationally — Chris built Unconditional Finance from a single relationship that generated $67 million in his first year as a broker.


But it wasn't overnight.


From going all-in on one referral partner after lying about his experience to building a 25-person team running over $300 million a year, Chris opens up about the deliberate, unglamorous decisions behind that growth — the foundations-first philosophy, why he refused to blow up his back office chasing volume, and how he's used an internal traineeship model to promote brokers who write $60–70 million in their first year.


He also talks about the equity conversations nobody has with their team, what it actually takes to step off the tools, and why he still believes relationship-based business will always outperform the social media lead machine.


If you're a mortgage broker, brokerage owner, or anyone building something in financial services from the ground up — this one's for you.


4:55 $67M in Year One — From One Referral Partner He Lied To

7:00 How Unconditional Finance Grew to 25 People

10:30 Managing Gen Z Brokers: Cuddles vs. Boot Camps

13:15 Why Brokers Need to Specialise (Not Just Settle Loans)

17:00 The Back-Office Philosophy That Stopped Him Blowing Up

21:30 Getting Off the Tools: The Traineeship-to-Broker Pipeline

26:00 Equity, Ownership, and Keeping Your Best People

29:00 Writing 300M and Still Up at 4:30am: The Real Cost of Big Numbers

33:00 Expansion Plans, Acquisition Offer, and What's Next for 2027

38:00 Three Referral Partners, 14 Properties, and His Biggest Investing Mistake


Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/


Connect with Chris Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-chris/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_unconditionalfinance/

]]> 3180 How 1,000+ Mortgage Brokers Are Earning Extra Revenue Without Extra Clients Julian Fayad, Founder and CEO of LoanOptions.ai, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As Australia's first AI-powered loan comparison platform, FBAA Industry Champion of the Year, and a Deloitte Tech Fast 50 company, Julian has been building AI in financial services since 2020 — years before it was mainstream. He joins Christian to unpack the full story of how it happened. But it wasn't a straight line. From building a loan matching engine in an Excel spreadsheet at midnight, to walking away from a publicly listed company during COVID with nothing but his non-compete removed, Julian opens up about what it really took to build LoanOptions.ai from the ground up into a team of 35 with operations in Australia and New Zealand. He speaks candidly about the difference between AI hype and AI that actually works, why he refused to let lenders pay to rank higher on his platform, and the coming product releases he believes will triple the business in 12 months. This episode is a rare look inside one of Australia's most exciting fintech companies — and the obsessive, uncompromising founder who built it. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone curious about where AI in lending is actually headed, this one's for you. 3:15 - From Admin to State Manager: Julian's Path Into Finance 6:00 - The Midnight Excel Spreadsheet That Started It All 8:16 - Why COVID Changed Everything — and Led to LoanOptions.ai 11:30 - Refusing to Let Lenders Pay to Rank Higher on the Platform 13:00 - From B2C to B2B2C: Finding the Business Model That Actually Works 20:45 - What "AI Native Business" Actually Means (and Why It Matters) 29:32 - Team Culture: How Julian Runs a Team of 35 Mid-to-Late 20s 37:54 - What's Coming Next: New Products, NZ Expansion & the Partnership That Could Triple the Business Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Julian Fayad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianfayad/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianfayad/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Julian Fayad, Founder and CEO of LoanOptions.ai, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As Australia's first AI-powered loan comparison platform, FBAA Industry Champion of the Year, and a Deloitte Tech Fast 50 company, Julian has been building AI in financial services since 2020 — years before it was mainstream. He joins Christian to unpack the full story of how it happened. But it wasn't a straight line. From building a loan matching engine in an Excel spreadsheet at midnight, to walking away from a publicly listed company during COVID with nothing but his non-compete removed, Julian opens up about what it really took to build LoanOptions.ai from the ground up into a team of 35 with operations in Australia and New Zealand. He speaks candidly about the difference between AI hype and AI that actually works, why he refused to let lenders pay to rank higher on his platform, and the coming product releases he believes will triple the business in 12 months. This episode is a rare look inside one of Australia's most exciting fintech companies — and the obsessive, uncompromising founder who built it. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone curious about where AI in lending is actually headed, this one's for you. 3:15 - From Admin to State Manager: Julian's Path Into Finance 6:00 - The Midnight Excel Spreadsheet That Started It All 8:16 - Why COVID Changed Everything — and Led to LoanOptions.ai 11:30 - Refusing to Let Lenders Pay to Rank Higher on the Platform 13:00 - From B2C to B2B2C: Finding the Business Model That Actually Works 20:45 - What "AI Native Business" Actually Means (and Why It Matters) 29:32 - Team Culture: How Julian Runs a Team of 35 Mid-to-Late 20s 37:54 - What's Coming Next: New Products, NZ Expansion & the Partnership That Could Triple the Business Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Julian Fayad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianfayad/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianfayad/ Julian Fayad, Founder and CEO of LoanOptions.ai, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers.


As Australia's first AI-powered loan comparison platform, FBAA Industry Champion of the Year, and a Deloitte Tech Fast 50 company, Julian has been building AI in financial services since 2020 — years before it was mainstream. He joins Christian to unpack the full story of how it happened.


But it wasn't a straight line.


From building a loan matching engine in an Excel spreadsheet at midnight, to walking away from a publicly listed company during COVID with nothing but his non-compete removed, Julian opens up about what it really took to build LoanOptions.ai from the ground up into a team of 35 with operations in Australia and New Zealand.


He speaks candidly about the difference between AI hype and AI that actually works, why he refused to let lenders pay to rank higher on his platform, and the coming product releases he believes will triple the business in 12 months.


This episode is a rare look inside one of Australia's most exciting fintech companies — and the obsessive, uncompromising founder who built it.


If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone curious about where AI in lending is actually headed, this one's for you.


3:15 - From Admin to State Manager: Julian's Path Into Finance

6:00 - The Midnight Excel Spreadsheet That Started It All

8:16 - Why COVID Changed Everything — and Led to LoanOptions.ai

11:30 - Refusing to Let Lenders Pay to Rank Higher on the Platform

13:00 - From B2C to B2B2C: Finding the Business Model That Actually Works

20:45 - What "AI Native Business" Actually Means (and Why It Matters)

29:32 - Team Culture: How Julian Runs a Team of 35 Mid-to-Late 20s

37:54 - What's Coming Next: New Products, NZ Expansion & the Partnership That Could Triple the Business


Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/


Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/


Connect with Julian Fayad:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianfayad/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianfayad/

]]> 2887 How This Broker Got 2.7 Million Views Without Spending a Dollar Leigh Morris, mortgage broker and founder of SFP Financial, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As a former financial planner turned content creator, Leigh has built a following of 50,000+ across social media, hit 2.7 million views on a single video, and books out his calendar weeks in advance — all without spending a dollar on ads. But the journey wasn't overnight. From posting every week for months with barely any views, to making a personal promise he wouldn't stop until a video hit a million — Leigh opens up about what it really takes to build a brand from scratch while running a lifestyle brokerage by design. He speaks candidly about the mistakes, the grind, and the decisions he'd do differently — including why he'd never buy a loan book again, and how he built an offshore team that handles 600 client reviews a year so he doesn't have to. This episode is an honest look at content, consistency, and what it means to build a business around your life — not the other way around. 5:12 - Why a Financial Planning Background Makes You a Better Broker 10:45 - Starting From Zero: Posting Every Week With Barely Any Views 16:36 - How Viral Content Converts Into Booked Meetings 22:13 - Designing a Lifestyle Business: The Team Structure Behind SFP Financial 30:10 - The Offshore Team System & 600 Client Reviews a Year 35:47 - What He'd Do Differently: Why He'd Never Buy a Loan Book Again 38:23 - FY27 Goals: Paid Ads, More Content & Stepping Back From the Day-to-Day Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Leigh Morris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighjmorris/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financial.leigh/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Leigh Morris, mortgage broker and founder of SFP Financial, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As a former financial planner turned content creator, Leigh has built a following of 50,000+ across social media, hit 2.7 million views on a single video, and books out his calendar weeks in advance — all without spending a dollar on ads. But the journey wasn't overnight. From posting every week for months with barely any views, to making a personal promise he wouldn't stop until a video hit a million — Leigh opens up about what it really takes to build a brand from scratch while running a lifestyle brokerage by design. He speaks candidly about the mistakes, the grind, and the decisions he'd do differently — including why he'd never buy a loan book again, and how he built an offshore team that handles 600 client reviews a year so he doesn't have to. This episode is an honest look at content, consistency, and what it means to build a business around your life — not the other way around. 5:12 - Why a Financial Planning Background Makes You a Better Broker 10:45 - Starting From Zero: Posting Every Week With Barely Any Views 16:36 - How Viral Content Converts Into Booked Meetings 22:13 - Designing a Lifestyle Business: The Team Structure Behind SFP Financial 30:10 - The Offshore Team System & 600 Client Reviews a Year 35:47 - What He'd Do Differently: Why He'd Never Buy a Loan Book Again 38:23 - FY27 Goals: Paid Ads, More Content & Stepping Back From the Day-to-Day Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Leigh Morris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighjmorris/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financial.leigh/ Leigh Morris, mortgage broker and founder of SFP Financial, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers.

As a former financial planner turned content creator, Leigh has built a following of 50,000+ across social media, hit 2.7 million views on a single video, and books out his calendar weeks in advance — all without spending a dollar on ads.

But the journey wasn't overnight.

From posting every week for months with barely any views, to making a personal promise he wouldn't stop until a video hit a million — Leigh opens up about what it really takes to build a brand from scratch while running a lifestyle brokerage by design.

He speaks candidly about the mistakes, the grind, and the decisions he'd do differently — including why he'd never buy a loan book again, and how he built an offshore team that handles 600 client reviews a year so he doesn't have to.

This episode is an honest look at content, consistency, and what it means to build a business around your life — not the other way around.

5:12 - Why a Financial Planning Background Makes You a Better Broker

10:45 - Starting From Zero: Posting Every Week With Barely Any Views

16:36 - How Viral Content Converts Into Booked Meetings

22:13 - Designing a Lifestyle Business: The Team Structure Behind SFP Financial

30:10 - The Offshore Team System & 600 Client Reviews a Year

35:47 - What He'd Do Differently: Why He'd Never Buy a Loan Book Again

38:23 - FY27 Goals: Paid Ads, More Content & Stepping Back From the Day-to-Day

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/

Connect with Leigh Morris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighjmorris/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financial.leigh/

]]> 2517 Niche Brokerage: How to Scale to $80M by Owning One Community From arriving in Australia with just $1,500 in his pocket to becoming the #1 mortgage broker for the Nepalese community — Raj Sapkota’s story is one of relentless grit, smart strategy, and playing to your strength. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Raj to unpack the immigrant mindset that turned a cleaner's wage into a multi-million dollar property portfolio and a thriving broking business settling $80 million this year. Raj shares the raw truth behind his early broking years — bad mentors, no support, and having to figure it out alone — and how turning those struggles into content became his greatest business weapon. From a viral investor journey video that flooded his phone with 30+ calls a day, to posting property education every morning before 5am, Raj's strategy is as disciplined as it is authentic. His philosophy is simple: educate first, sell never — and the results speak for themselves. If you're a mortgage broker, property investor, or aspiring entrepreneur trying to build something from nothing, this one's for you. 1:01 — Raj's Story: $1,500 & A One-Way Ticket to Australia 8:08 — "Property Is Shelter in Nepal, Wealth in Australia" — the mindset shift that changed everything 13:35 — Niching Down: Why Raj Went All-In on the Nepalese Community 15:30 — The Viral Video That Generated 30+ Calls a Day 26:37 — Why Raj Chose Flint Over Building His Own Business 31:34 — The Mentorship Crisis — what went wrong before finding the right support 35:22 — On Track for Top 1% — what's next for Raj in 2025 Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Raj Sapkota: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkumarsapkota/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raj_mortgage_broker/ Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens From arriving in Australia with just $1,500 in his pocket to becoming the #1 mortgage broker for the Nepalese community — Raj Sapkota’s story is one of relentless grit, smart strategy, and playing to your strength. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Raj to unpack the immigrant mindset that turned a cleaner's wage into a multi-million dollar property portfolio and a thriving broking business settling $80 million this year. Raj shares the raw truth behind his early broking years — bad mentors, no support, and having to figure it out alone — and how turning those struggles into content became his greatest business weapon. From a viral investor journey video that flooded his phone with 30+ calls a day, to posting property education every morning before 5am, Raj's strategy is as disciplined as it is authentic. His philosophy is simple: educate first, sell never — and the results speak for themselves. If you're a mortgage broker, property investor, or aspiring entrepreneur trying to build something from nothing, this one's for you. 1:01 — Raj's Story: $1,500 & A One-Way Ticket to Australia 8:08 — "Property Is Shelter in Nepal, Wealth in Australia" — the mindset shift that changed everything 13:35 — Niching Down: Why Raj Went All-In on the Nepalese Community 15:30 — The Viral Video That Generated 30+ Calls a Day 26:37 — Why Raj Chose Flint Over Building His Own Business 31:34 — The Mentorship Crisis — what went wrong before finding the right support 35:22 — On Track for Top 1% — what's next for Raj in 2025 Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Raj Sapkota: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkumarsapkota/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raj_mortgage_broker/ From arriving in Australia with just $1,500 in his pocket to becoming the #1 mortgage broker for the Nepalese community — Raj Sapkota’s story is one of relentless grit, smart strategy, and playing to your strength. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Raj to unpack the immigrant mindset that turned a cleaner's wage into a multi-million dollar property portfolio and a thriving broking business settling $80 million this year. Raj shares the raw truth behind his early broking years — bad mentors, no support, and having to figure it out alone — and how turning those struggles into content became his greatest business weapon. From a viral investor journey video that flooded his phone with 30+ calls a day, to posting property education every morning before 5am, Raj's strategy is as disciplined as it is authentic. His philosophy is simple: educate first, sell never — and the results speak for themselves. If you're a mortgage broker, property investor, or aspiring entrepreneur trying to build something from nothing, this one's for you. 1:01 — Raj's Story: $1,500 & A One-Way Ticket to Australia 8:08 — "Property Is Shelter in Nepal, Wealth in Australia" — the mindset shift that changed everything 13:35 — Niching Down: Why Raj Went All-In on the Nepalese Community 15:30 — The Viral Video That Generated 30+ Calls a Day 26:37 — Why Raj Chose Flint Over Building His Own Business 31:34 — The Mentorship Crisis — what went wrong before finding the right support 35:22 — On Track for Top 1% — what's next for Raj in 2025 Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Raj Sapkota: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajkumarsapkota/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raj_mortgage_broker/

]]> 2205 19 Suicides in 1 Year: The Dark Side of the Mortgage Industry Rhianna Farnan, Chief Communications Officer at Derwent Finance and mental health advocate, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As FBAA Tasmania State President, Artemis Ambassador, and the 2025 Better Business Awards Thought Leader of the Year, Rhianna shares the story behind building one of Australia's leading mortgage broking firms - starting from a bedroom at just 18 years old. But the journey wasn’t smooth.From a failed Melbourne expansion that nearly brought the business undone, to pioneering TikTok for mortgage brokers and generating more than 150 leads a month, Rhianna opens up about what it really takes to build something over a decade. She speaks candidly about the mistakes, the pressure, and the moment things almost collapsed - including a time when the business was struggling so much they couldn’t afford to buy groceries. This episode is a raw look at resilience, rebuilding, and what it takes to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone building something from scratch, this one's for you. 5:13 — The Melbourne Expansion That Nearly Destroyed Everything 8:17 — Running a Business With Your Partner: The Honest Truth 11:30 — Why She Founded a Mental Health Event for the Industry 19:07 — How TikTok Became Their Biggest Lead Source (150/Month) 22:29 — Viral ≠ Leads: The Content Strategy That Actually Works 31:42 — How the Back Office Is Structured (Offshore, Settlements, PA) 36:23 — The First Date Was a Disaster — Here's What Changed 39:19 — Balancing Ambition, Kids & Knowing When to Step Back 50:10 — Where the Mortgage Broking Industry Is Heading Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Rhianna Farnan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhianna-farnan-055a2716b/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rhiannafarnan/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:47:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Rhianna Farnan, Chief Communications Officer at Derwent Finance and mental health advocate, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers. As FBAA Tasmania State President, Artemis Ambassador, and the 2025 Better Business Awards Thought Leader of the Year, Rhianna shares the story behind building one of Australia's leading mortgage broking firms - starting from a bedroom at just 18 years old. But the journey wasn’t smooth.From a failed Melbourne expansion that nearly brought the business undone, to pioneering TikTok for mortgage brokers and generating more than 150 leads a month, Rhianna opens up about what it really takes to build something over a decade. She speaks candidly about the mistakes, the pressure, and the moment things almost collapsed - including a time when the business was struggling so much they couldn’t afford to buy groceries. This episode is a raw look at resilience, rebuilding, and what it takes to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone building something from scratch, this one's for you. 5:13 — The Melbourne Expansion That Nearly Destroyed Everything 8:17 — Running a Business With Your Partner: The Honest Truth 11:30 — Why She Founded a Mental Health Event for the Industry 19:07 — How TikTok Became Their Biggest Lead Source (150/Month) 22:29 — Viral ≠ Leads: The Content Strategy That Actually Works 31:42 — How the Back Office Is Structured (Offshore, Settlements, PA) 36:23 — The First Date Was a Disaster — Here's What Changed 39:19 — Balancing Ambition, Kids & Knowing When to Step Back 50:10 — Where the Mortgage Broking Industry Is Heading Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Rhianna Farnan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhianna-farnan-055a2716b/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rhiannafarnan/ Rhianna Farnan, Chief Communications Officer at Derwent Finance and mental health advocate, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers.

As FBAA Tasmania State President, Artemis Ambassador, and the 2025 Better Business Awards Thought Leader of the Year, Rhianna shares the story behind building one of Australia's leading mortgage broking firms - starting from a bedroom at just 18 years old.

But the journey wasn’t smooth.From a failed Melbourne expansion that nearly brought the business undone, to pioneering TikTok for mortgage brokers and generating more than 150 leads a month, Rhianna opens up about what it really takes to build something over a decade.

She speaks candidly about the mistakes, the pressure, and the moment things almost collapsed - including a time when the business was struggling so much they couldn’t afford to buy groceries.

This episode is a raw look at resilience, rebuilding, and what it takes to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone building something from scratch, this one's for you.

5:13 — The Melbourne Expansion That Nearly Destroyed Everything

8:17 — Running a Business With Your Partner: The Honest Truth

11:30 — Why She Founded a Mental Health Event for the Industry

19:07 — How TikTok Became Their Biggest Lead Source (150/Month)

22:29 — Viral ≠ Leads: The Content Strategy That Actually Works

31:42 — How the Back Office Is Structured (Offshore, Settlements, PA)

36:23 — The First Date Was a Disaster — Here's What Changed

39:19 — Balancing Ambition, Kids & Knowing When to Step Back

50:10 — Where the Mortgage Broking Industry Is Heading

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/

Connect with Rhianna Farnan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhianna-farnan-055a2716b/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rhiannafarnan/

]]> 3141 Can Women Do It All? Building a Brokerage While Raising a Family Melissa Procajlo, founder of Pro Good Finance, began her career in project management within the mining sector, working on large-scale quarry and infrastructure projects across Australia. The role demanded long hours, tough environments, and resilience - lessons that would later shape the way she approaches business. In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Mel shares how she transitioned into mortgage broking and eventually launched her own brokerage after nearly a decade in the industry. But this conversation goes beyond business. Mel talks openly about what it really takes to build something meaningful while raising a young family - balancing motherhood, business ownership, and the realities of entrepreneurship. She also reflects on the importance of having a strong partner beside you, and how the choices you make as a family shape the life and business you build together. In this conversation we talk about the resilience Mel developed working in mining, what it was really like leaving a top brokerage to start her own business, and the responsibility that comes with building a team who trusted her vision. She also shares why the best businesses are built on relationships, not chasing leads, the simple strategy behind the 8-10 referral partners who now drive most of her business, and why consistency beats any growth strategy every time. If you're a broker thinking about going out on your own, building your referral network, or just trying to show up better every day - this one's for you. 0:00 - From Mining Sites to Mortgage Broking 4:12 - Launching Pro Good Finance: The Leap & The Fear 9:01 - How Mel Became a "Super Mum" (Her Honest Answer) 13:27 - Buying a House Without Pre-Approval (Broker Confesses) 15:44 - Building the Team: Offshore Staff & Hiring Her Brother 18:21 - Biggest Year Ever in Her First Year of Business 25:20 - Why You Need a Village to Raise a Business 33:56 - The Referral Mistake That Wasted 5 Years 38:28 - Social Media, Content & Standing Out in 2025 41:59 - The One Thing Every New Broker Must DoL earn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Melissa Procajlo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaprocajlo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melprocajlo_broker/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Melissa Procajlo, founder of Pro Good Finance, began her career in project management within the mining sector, working on large-scale quarry and infrastructure projects across Australia. The role demanded long hours, tough environments, and resilience - lessons that would later shape the way she approaches business. In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Mel shares how she transitioned into mortgage broking and eventually launched her own brokerage after nearly a decade in the industry. But this conversation goes beyond business. Mel talks openly about what it really takes to build something meaningful while raising a young family - balancing motherhood, business ownership, and the realities of entrepreneurship. She also reflects on the importance of having a strong partner beside you, and how the choices you make as a family shape the life and business you build together. In this conversation we talk about the resilience Mel developed working in mining, what it was really like leaving a top brokerage to start her own business, and the responsibility that comes with building a team who trusted her vision. She also shares why the best businesses are built on relationships, not chasing leads, the simple strategy behind the 8-10 referral partners who now drive most of her business, and why consistency beats any growth strategy every time. If you're a broker thinking about going out on your own, building your referral network, or just trying to show up better every day - this one's for you. 0:00 - From Mining Sites to Mortgage Broking 4:12 - Launching Pro Good Finance: The Leap & The Fear 9:01 - How Mel Became a "Super Mum" (Her Honest Answer) 13:27 - Buying a House Without Pre-Approval (Broker Confesses) 15:44 - Building the Team: Offshore Staff & Hiring Her Brother 18:21 - Biggest Year Ever in Her First Year of Business 25:20 - Why You Need a Village to Raise a Business 33:56 - The Referral Mistake That Wasted 5 Years 38:28 - Social Media, Content & Standing Out in 2025 41:59 - The One Thing Every New Broker Must DoL earn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Melissa Procajlo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaprocajlo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melprocajlo_broker/ Melissa Procajlo, founder of Pro Good Finance, began her career in project management within the mining sector, working on large-scale quarry and infrastructure projects across Australia. The role demanded long hours, tough environments, and resilience - lessons that would later shape the way she approaches business.

In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Mel shares how she transitioned into mortgage broking and eventually launched her own brokerage after nearly a decade in the industry.

But this conversation goes beyond business.

Mel talks openly about what it really takes to build something meaningful while raising a young family - balancing motherhood, business ownership, and the realities of entrepreneurship. She also reflects on the importance of having a strong partner beside you, and how the choices you make as a family shape the life and business you build together.

In this conversation we talk about the resilience Mel developed working in mining, what it was really like leaving a top brokerage to start her own business, and the responsibility that comes with building a team who trusted her vision.

She also shares why the best businesses are built on relationships, not chasing leads, the simple strategy behind the 8-10 referral partners who now drive most of her business, and why consistency beats any growth strategy every time.

If you're a broker thinking about going out on your own, building your referral network, or just trying to show up better every day - this one's for you.

0:00 - From Mining Sites to Mortgage Broking

4:12 - Launching Pro Good Finance: The Leap & The Fear

9:01 - How Mel Became a "Super Mum" (Her Honest Answer)

13:27 - Buying a House Without Pre-Approval (Broker Confesses)

15:44 - Building the Team: Offshore Staff & Hiring Her Brother

18:21 - Biggest Year Ever in Her First Year of Business

25:20 - Why You Need a Village to Raise a Business

33:56 - The Referral Mistake That Wasted 5 Years

38:28 - Social Media, Content & Standing Out in 2025

41:59 - The One Thing Every New Broker Must DoL

earn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/

Connect with Melissa Procajlo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaprocajlo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melprocajlo_broker/

]]> 2852 How to Scale a Brokerage to $1 Billion a Year In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Ben Robinson, Flint Director, top 1% broker, and the man building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage. Ben shares his unconventional journey from mustering 20,000 cattle on a 2.5 million acre station in the Northern Territory to becoming one of the highest-performing brokers in Australia. He reveals how he built a team structure that allowed him to take 5 weeks completely off without answering a single call or email, why he's targeting $300M in settlements this year, and the exact tech stack and systems that let his team handle 13 new enquiries in a single day. Whether you're a broker looking to scale past the $50-100M ceiling, trying to build a team that runs without you, or searching for the habits and routines that separate the top 1% from everyone else, this conversation is packed with actionable insights from someone who's actually done it. 0:00 - Introduction: Meet the top 1% broker building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage 1:39 - From jackaroo mustering 20,000 cattle to mortgage broking 5:02 - Inside his team structure: The "pod within a pod" model 12:02 - How his team handles 13 new enquiries in a single day 20:24 - The hardest part: Transitioning from broker to leader 28:59 - The "Third Space" concept: How he switches off after work 35:09 - Announcement: Ben is now a partner at Flint 44:43 - 2025 targets: $300M settled this year, half a billion next year Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Ben Robinson:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--robinson/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/benrobinson_flint/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Ben Robinson, Flint Director, top 1% broker, and the man building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage. Ben shares his unconventional journey from mustering 20,000 cattle on a 2.5 million acre station in the Northern Territory to becoming one of the highest-performing brokers in Australia. He reveals how he built a team structure that allowed him to take 5 weeks completely off without answering a single call or email, why he's targeting $300M in settlements this year, and the exact tech stack and systems that let his team handle 13 new enquiries in a single day. Whether you're a broker looking to scale past the $50-100M ceiling, trying to build a team that runs without you, or searching for the habits and routines that separate the top 1% from everyone else, this conversation is packed with actionable insights from someone who's actually done it. 0:00 - Introduction: Meet the top 1% broker building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage 1:39 - From jackaroo mustering 20,000 cattle to mortgage broking 5:02 - Inside his team structure: The "pod within a pod" model 12:02 - How his team handles 13 new enquiries in a single day 20:24 - The hardest part: Transitioning from broker to leader 28:59 - The "Third Space" concept: How he switches off after work 35:09 - Announcement: Ben is now a partner at Flint 44:43 - 2025 targets: $300M settled this year, half a billion next year Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Ben Robinson:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--robinson/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/benrobinson_flint/ In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Ben Robinson, Flint Director, top 1% broker, and the man building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage.

Ben shares his unconventional journey from mustering 20,000 cattle on a 2.5 million acre station in the Northern Territory to becoming one of the highest-performing brokers in Australia. He reveals how he built a team structure that allowed him to take 5 weeks completely off without answering a single call or email, why he's targeting $300M in settlements this year, and the exact tech stack and systems that let his team handle 13 new enquiries in a single day.

Whether you're a broker looking to scale past the $50-100M ceiling, trying to build a team that runs without you, or searching for the habits and routines that separate the top 1% from everyone else, this conversation is packed with actionable insights from someone who's actually done it.

0:00 - Introduction: Meet the top 1% broker building Newcastle's first billion-dollar brokerage

1:39 - From jackaroo mustering 20,000 cattle to mortgage broking

5:02 - Inside his team structure: The "pod within a pod" model

12:02 - How his team handles 13 new enquiries in a single day

20:24 - The hardest part: Transitioning from broker to leader

28:59 - The "Third Space" concept: How he switches off after work

35:09 - Announcement: Ben is now a partner at Flint

44:43 - 2025 targets: $300M settled this year, half a billion next year

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/

Connect with Ben Robinson: 


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--robinson/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/benrobinson_flint/

]]> 2984 13,000 Brokers Use His Platform: Here's How He Revolutionised a $400 Billion Dollar Industry In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Eric Dill, the co-founder of Quickli - the tech platform that has revolutionised how over 13,000 mortgage brokers assess serviceability across 35+ lenders. Eric shares the unfiltered story of building Quickli from a spreadsheet proof-of-concept to the industry's most essential tool, why he's never raised a single dollar of outside capital, and how he's been working Australian hours (6pm-2am) from the US for three years straight. He also reveals what's coming next with Quickli Pro, including their AI-powered credit analyst "Jiffy," and why becoming an aggregator is NOT on the cards. Whether you're a broker curious about the tech transforming your workflow, or an entrepreneur wondering how to build something essential without outside funding, this conversation delivers. 0:00 - Introduction: The man who revolutionised a $400 billion industry 5:43 - Quickli Pro launch: AI tools, Jiffy, and what's coming next 11:35 - Will lenders return to asset finance? The future of the industry 24:28 - Early days: From free trial to flipping the payment switch 27:17 - Never raised capital: How they bootstrapped to 40+ employees 31:48 - Business partnerships are a marriage: How Eric and Angus make it work 40:45 - How Quickli is levelling the playing field for smaller brokers Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Eric Dill:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericraydill/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Eric Dill, the co-founder of Quickli - the tech platform that has revolutionised how over 13,000 mortgage brokers assess serviceability across 35+ lenders. Eric shares the unfiltered story of building Quickli from a spreadsheet proof-of-concept to the industry's most essential tool, why he's never raised a single dollar of outside capital, and how he's been working Australian hours (6pm-2am) from the US for three years straight. He also reveals what's coming next with Quickli Pro, including their AI-powered credit analyst "Jiffy," and why becoming an aggregator is NOT on the cards. Whether you're a broker curious about the tech transforming your workflow, or an entrepreneur wondering how to build something essential without outside funding, this conversation delivers. 0:00 - Introduction: The man who revolutionised a $400 billion industry 5:43 - Quickli Pro launch: AI tools, Jiffy, and what's coming next 11:35 - Will lenders return to asset finance? The future of the industry 24:28 - Early days: From free trial to flipping the payment switch 27:17 - Never raised capital: How they bootstrapped to 40+ employees 31:48 - Business partnerships are a marriage: How Eric and Angus make it work 40:45 - How Quickli is levelling the playing field for smaller brokers Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/  Connect with Eric Dill:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericraydill/ In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Eric Dill, the co-founder of Quickli - the tech platform that has revolutionised how over 13,000 mortgage brokers assess serviceability across 35+ lenders.

Eric shares the unfiltered story of building Quickli from a spreadsheet proof-of-concept to the industry's most essential tool, why he's never raised a single dollar of outside capital, and how he's been working Australian hours (6pm-2am) from the US for three years straight. He also reveals what's coming next with Quickli Pro, including their AI-powered credit analyst "Jiffy," and why becoming an aggregator is NOT on the cards.

Whether you're a broker curious about the tech transforming your workflow, or an entrepreneur wondering how to build something essential without outside funding, this conversation delivers.

0:00 - Introduction: The man who revolutionised a $400 billion industry

5:43 - Quickli Pro launch: AI tools, Jiffy, and what's coming next

11:35 - Will lenders return to asset finance? The future of the industry

24:28 - Early days: From free trial to flipping the payment switch

27:17 - Never raised capital: How they bootstrapped to 40+ employees

31:48 - Business partnerships are a marriage: How Eric and Angus make it work

40:45 - How Quickli is levelling the playing field for smaller brokers

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ 

Connect with Eric Dill: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericraydill/

]]> 2859 Bought Her First Property at 18 In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Sinead Grant - a FlintDirector and one of the most exciting young brokers coming through the industry. At just 22, Sinead has already built a portfolio of two investment properties, is on track for five by 25, and has grown a personal brand from scratch by simply putting herself out there and creating consistent content. She shares the exact social media system she uses to generate multiple enquiries per week, how she can film 20 videos in an hour with nothing more than an iPhone, and why she believes rentvesting is one of the most realistic ways for young Australians to get into the property market. Whether you’re feeling priced out, thinking about investing, or considering a career in broking, this is a practical and honest conversation with someone who’s actually doing it. 0:00 — Meet the FlintDirector, who's chasing 5 properties by 25 4:06 — The rent-vesting strategy that changed everything 10:05 — Live demo: Creating a video on the spot with just an iPhone 14:20 — From zero leads to multiple inquiries per week in 90 days 16:47 — Big goals: Third property, SheInvests, and 6-10M monthly settlements 25:03 — Why educating young women on property matters 34:28 — Advice for new brokers: Find a mentor and just start. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Sinead Grant: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinead-grant-718647241/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/grantmefinance/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Sinead Grant - a FlintDirector and one of the most exciting young brokers coming through the industry. At just 22, Sinead has already built a portfolio of two investment properties, is on track for five by 25, and has grown a personal brand from scratch by simply putting herself out there and creating consistent content. She shares the exact social media system she uses to generate multiple enquiries per week, how she can film 20 videos in an hour with nothing more than an iPhone, and why she believes rentvesting is one of the most realistic ways for young Australians to get into the property market. Whether you’re feeling priced out, thinking about investing, or considering a career in broking, this is a practical and honest conversation with someone who’s actually doing it. 0:00 — Meet the FlintDirector, who's chasing 5 properties by 25 4:06 — The rent-vesting strategy that changed everything 10:05 — Live demo: Creating a video on the spot with just an iPhone 14:20 — From zero leads to multiple inquiries per week in 90 days 16:47 — Big goals: Third property, SheInvests, and 6-10M monthly settlements 25:03 — Why educating young women on property matters 34:28 — Advice for new brokers: Find a mentor and just start. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Sinead Grant: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinead-grant-718647241/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/grantmefinance/ In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Sinead Grant - a FlintDirector and one of the most exciting young brokers coming through the industry. At just 22, Sinead has already built a portfolio of two investment properties, is on track for five by 25, and has grown a personal brand from scratch by simply putting herself out there and creating consistent content. She shares the exact social media system she uses to generate multiple enquiries per week, how she can film 20 videos in an hour with nothing more than an iPhone, and why she believes rentvesting is one of the most realistic ways for young Australians to get into the property market. Whether you’re feeling priced out, thinking about investing, or considering a career in broking, this is a practical and honest conversation with someone who’s actually doing it. 0:00 — Meet the FlintDirector, who's chasing 5 properties by 25 4:06 — The rent-vesting strategy that changed everything 10:05 — Live demo: Creating a video on the spot with just an iPhone 14:20 — From zero leads to multiple inquiries per week in 90 days 16:47 — Big goals: Third property, SheInvests, and 6-10M monthly settlements 25:03 — Why educating young women on property matters 34:28 — Advice for new brokers: Find a mentor and just start. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Sinead Grant: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinead-grant-718647241/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/grantmefinance/

]]> 2836 From Cold Calling to One of Australia’s Leading Brokers In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Max Harris, Associate Director at Azura Finance - one of Australia’s leading brokerages - and a 7x Top 100 Broker. Max shares how he went from being a part-time uni student cold-calling buyers at open homes to settling over $300M in loans this year, backed by a lean but highly effective team. Whether you’re a new broker chasing your first deal, or an experienced operator looking to scale without burning out, Max breaks down what actually works - hiring offshore vs onshore, building long-term referral relationships, managing client expectations, and preparing for an AI-driven future in lending. This is a practical, honest conversation about growth, pressure, and building something that lasts. 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Max Harris, 7x Top 100 Broker & Azura's Associate Director 5:15 – Azura's Growth Story: From 4 people to 50 staff across two floors in Double Bay 8:02 – The Multi-Mentor Approach: Why one mentor isn't enough for elite performance 12:23 – Team Structure Breakdown: Offshore vs onshore hires and the $50M junior broker mistake 19:03 – The Numbers: $130M → $200M → $300M in 3 years (and the systems behind it) 26:42 – Tech Stack Confession: Why a $300M broker still runs on Google Sheets + AI "James" 30:14 – Future-Proofing Your Business: Why simple PAYG loans will be eaten by AI 38:35 – Trust Lending Crackdown: What the recent policy changes mean for investors 42:22 – Career Advice: Hire earlier, build fewer but deeper referral relationships, slow down proposals Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Max Harris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxharrisazurafinancial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxharris_____/ Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Max Harris, Associate Director at Azura Finance - one of Australia’s leading brokerages - and a 7x Top 100 Broker. Max shares how he went from being a part-time uni student cold-calling buyers at open homes to settling over $300M in loans this year, backed by a lean but highly effective team. Whether you’re a new broker chasing your first deal, or an experienced operator looking to scale without burning out, Max breaks down what actually works - hiring offshore vs onshore, building long-term referral relationships, managing client expectations, and preparing for an AI-driven future in lending. This is a practical, honest conversation about growth, pressure, and building something that lasts. 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Max Harris, 7x Top 100 Broker & Azura's Associate Director 5:15 – Azura's Growth Story: From 4 people to 50 staff across two floors in Double Bay 8:02 – The Multi-Mentor Approach: Why one mentor isn't enough for elite performance 12:23 – Team Structure Breakdown: Offshore vs onshore hires and the $50M junior broker mistake 19:03 – The Numbers: $130M → $200M → $300M in 3 years (and the systems behind it) 26:42 – Tech Stack Confession: Why a $300M broker still runs on Google Sheets + AI "James" 30:14 – Future-Proofing Your Business: Why simple PAYG loans will be eaten by AI 38:35 – Trust Lending Crackdown: What the recent policy changes mean for investors 42:22 – Career Advice: Hire earlier, build fewer but deeper referral relationships, slow down proposals Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Max Harris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxharrisazurafinancial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxharris_____/ In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Max Harris, Associate Director at Azura Finance - one of Australia’s leading brokerages - and a 7x Top 100 Broker. Max shares how he went from being a part-time uni student cold-calling buyers at open homes to settling over $300M in loans this year, backed by a lean but highly effective team. Whether you’re a new broker chasing your first deal, or an experienced operator looking to scale without burning out, Max breaks down what actually works - hiring offshore vs onshore, building long-term referral relationships, managing client expectations, and preparing for an AI-driven future in lending. This is a practical, honest conversation about growth, pressure, and building something that lasts. 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Max Harris, 7x Top 100 Broker & Azura's Associate Director 5:15 – Azura's Growth Story: From 4 people to 50 staff across two floors in Double Bay 8:02 – The Multi-Mentor Approach: Why one mentor isn't enough for elite performance 12:23 – Team Structure Breakdown: Offshore vs onshore hires and the $50M junior broker mistake 19:03 – The Numbers: $130M → $200M → $300M in 3 years (and the systems behind it) 26:42 – Tech Stack Confession: Why a $300M broker still runs on Google Sheets + AI "James" 30:14 – Future-Proofing Your Business: Why simple PAYG loans will be eaten by AI 38:35 – Trust Lending Crackdown: What the recent policy changes mean for investors 42:22 – Career Advice: Hire earlier, build fewer but deeper referral relationships, slow down proposals Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Max Harris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxharrisazurafinancial/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxharris_____/

]]> 2636 Will AI Take Our Jobs? David Hyman - Co-Founder, Lendi Group, reveals how AI is fundamentally reshaping the mortgage broking industry. With a $107 billion loan book and 1,400 brokers under management, David shares the inside story of merging two major brands, building AI agents that analyse 600-page contracts in under two minutes, and why brokers who don't adapt may not survive the next five years. From taking top brokers on study tours to Anthropic, Nvidia and Salesforce in San Francisco, to deploying AI voice agents that increased customer engagement from 17% to 80%, this episode breaks down the practical reality of going "AI native" in financial services. Whether you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or just curious about how AI is changing traditional industries, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of Australia's most innovative financial services groups. 0:00 — Stepping down as CEO to go all-in on AI 5:01 — The painful reality of integrating 1,400 brokers 15:54 — What AI agents actually are (and why they're not replacing brokers) 19:04 — Contract Analyser: 600 pages reviewed in under 2 minutes 28:24 — "If you're not using AI, you may not have a job in 5 years" 33:30 — The vision: Redefining how Australians buy property 44:10 — How to actually use AI in your workflow (practical tips) If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with David Hyman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhyman/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens David Hyman - Co-Founder, Lendi Group, reveals how AI is fundamentally reshaping the mortgage broking industry. With a $107 billion loan book and 1,400 brokers under management, David shares the inside story of merging two major brands, building AI agents that analyse 600-page contracts in under two minutes, and why brokers who don't adapt may not survive the next five years. From taking top brokers on study tours to Anthropic, Nvidia and Salesforce in San Francisco, to deploying AI voice agents that increased customer engagement from 17% to 80%, this episode breaks down the practical reality of going "AI native" in financial services. Whether you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or just curious about how AI is changing traditional industries, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of Australia's most innovative financial services groups. 0:00 — Stepping down as CEO to go all-in on AI 5:01 — The painful reality of integrating 1,400 brokers 15:54 — What AI agents actually are (and why they're not replacing brokers) 19:04 — Contract Analyser: 600 pages reviewed in under 2 minutes 28:24 — "If you're not using AI, you may not have a job in 5 years" 33:30 — The vision: Redefining how Australians buy property 44:10 — How to actually use AI in your workflow (practical tips) If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with David Hyman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhyman/ David Hyman - Co-Founder, Lendi Group, reveals how AI is fundamentally reshaping the mortgage broking industry. With a $107 billion loan book and 1,400 brokers under management, David shares the inside story of merging two major brands, building AI agents that analyse 600-page contracts in under two minutes, and why brokers who don't adapt may not survive the next five years.

From taking top brokers on study tours to Anthropic, Nvidia and Salesforce in San Francisco, to deploying AI voice agents that increased customer engagement from 17% to 80%, this episode breaks down the practical reality of going "AI native" in financial services.

Whether you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or just curious about how AI is changing traditional industries, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of Australia's most innovative financial services groups.

0:00 — Stepping down as CEO to go all-in on AI

5:01 — The painful reality of integrating 1,400 brokers

15:54 — What AI agents actually are (and why they're not replacing brokers)

19:04 — Contract Analyser: 600 pages reviewed in under 2 minutes

28:24 — "If you're not using AI, you may not have a job in 5 years"

33:30 — The vision: Redefining how Australians buy property

44:10 — How to actually use AI in your workflow (practical tips)

If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode.

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/

Connect with David Hyman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhyman/

]]> 2939 How To Become a Top 1% Broker (Without Burning Out) Aaron Christie David went from corporate banking at Commonwealth Bank to building one of Australia's top-performing mortgage brokerages in just 10 years. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his close friend and mentor to unpack the mindset shifts, team structures, and brutal truths that separate elite brokers from the rest. From leaving a stable corporate career with "no Plan B" to serving the top 1% of property investors, Aaron reveals why most brokers plateau, how he built a team that runs without him, and why the simple stuff done consistently beats technical expertise every time. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone looking to level up your career while maintaining balance, this conversation delivers real talk on what it actually takes. 0:00 – Why Aaron left corporate banking with no Plan B 5:42 – The Mindset Shift that separates elite brokers from average 11:00 – Mentorship is broken: What real P2P learning looks like 17:49 – Niche Strategy: What he'd do differently starting today 23:56 – Social media built him a $Billions pipeline (how to replicate it) 39:33 – Team Structure Breakdown: From power broker to loan strategist 45:10 – Post-settlement retention: How they keep 95% of clients 58:04 – Abundance vs Scarcity: Why broker vs broker is killing the industry 1:05:07 – Vision boards, executive coaching & eliminating blind spots If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Aaron Christie David: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronchristiedavid/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronc_d/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens Aaron Christie David went from corporate banking at Commonwealth Bank to building one of Australia's top-performing mortgage brokerages in just 10 years. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his close friend and mentor to unpack the mindset shifts, team structures, and brutal truths that separate elite brokers from the rest. From leaving a stable corporate career with "no Plan B" to serving the top 1% of property investors, Aaron reveals why most brokers plateau, how he built a team that runs without him, and why the simple stuff done consistently beats technical expertise every time. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone looking to level up your career while maintaining balance, this conversation delivers real talk on what it actually takes. 0:00 – Why Aaron left corporate banking with no Plan B 5:42 – The Mindset Shift that separates elite brokers from average 11:00 – Mentorship is broken: What real P2P learning looks like 17:49 – Niche Strategy: What he'd do differently starting today 23:56 – Social media built him a $Billions pipeline (how to replicate it) 39:33 – Team Structure Breakdown: From power broker to loan strategist 45:10 – Post-settlement retention: How they keep 95% of clients 58:04 – Abundance vs Scarcity: Why broker vs broker is killing the industry 1:05:07 – Vision boards, executive coaching & eliminating blind spots If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Aaron Christie David: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronchristiedavid/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronc_d/ Aaron Christie David went from corporate banking at Commonwealth Bank to building one of Australia's top-performing mortgage brokerages in just 10 years. In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his close friend and mentor to unpack the mindset shifts, team structures, and brutal truths that separate elite brokers from the rest. From leaving a stable corporate career with "no Plan B" to serving the top 1% of property investors, Aaron reveals why most brokers plateau, how he built a team that runs without him, and why the simple stuff done consistently beats technical expertise every time. If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone looking to level up your career while maintaining balance, this conversation delivers real talk on what it actually takes. 0:00 – Why Aaron left corporate banking with no Plan B 5:42 – The Mindset Shift that separates elite brokers from average 11:00 – Mentorship is broken: What real P2P learning looks like 17:49 – Niche Strategy: What he'd do differently starting today 23:56 – Social media built him a $Billions pipeline (how to replicate it) 39:33 – Team Structure Breakdown: From power broker to loan strategist 45:10 – Post-settlement retention: How they keep 95% of clients 58:04 – Abundance vs Scarcity: Why broker vs broker is killing the industry 1:05:07 – Vision boards, executive coaching & eliminating blind spots If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Aaron Christie David: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronchristiedavid/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronc_d/

]]> 4390 Build Your Brokerage on Autopilot (Without a Huge Team) In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Dana Blewitt, founder of The Lenders Club and one of Australia's top mortgage brokers specialising in SMSF lending. Dana discusses why women are entering broking but failing to stay beyond five years, why new brokers spread themselves too thin trying to do everything, and how mastering the basics in one niche creates more success than being a jack of all trades. She shares her advice on setting boundaries, building referral partnerships, and the crucial role of communication in managing high volumes, a practical blueprint for brokers at any stage. If you're looking to scale your brokerage, master a specialist lending niche, or learn how successful brokers balance business growth with family life, this conversation delivers actionable insights from someone who's built it from scratch. 0:00 – Introduction: Dana Blewitt, one of Australia's best brokers 2:00 – How Dana accidentally fell into SMSF lending 7:20 – 300-400 deals a year with a team of just 7 people 11:45 – Why women leave broking within 5 years (and what needs to change) 17:50 – "Master the basics" – the mistake new brokers keep making 22:10 – Biggest regret: Not hiring sooner and backing herself 25:55 – 2026 vision: Expanding digital ads, Europe trip, and moving house 38:30 – Why a supportive partner makes or breaks broker success If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn:   / propertyfinance    Instagram: / cmrstevens   Connect with Dana Blewitt:  LinkedIn: / Dana Blewitt née FraserInstagram:  / danaf1  Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Dana Blewitt, founder of The Lenders Club and one of Australia's top mortgage brokers specialising in SMSF lending. Dana discusses why women are entering broking but failing to stay beyond five years, why new brokers spread themselves too thin trying to do everything, and how mastering the basics in one niche creates more success than being a jack of all trades. She shares her advice on setting boundaries, building referral partnerships, and the crucial role of communication in managing high volumes, a practical blueprint for brokers at any stage. If you're looking to scale your brokerage, master a specialist lending niche, or learn how successful brokers balance business growth with family life, this conversation delivers actionable insights from someone who's built it from scratch. 0:00 – Introduction: Dana Blewitt, one of Australia's best brokers 2:00 – How Dana accidentally fell into SMSF lending 7:20 – 300-400 deals a year with a team of just 7 people 11:45 – Why women leave broking within 5 years (and what needs to change) 17:50 – "Master the basics" – the mistake new brokers keep making 22:10 – Biggest regret: Not hiring sooner and backing herself 25:55 – 2026 vision: Expanding digital ads, Europe trip, and moving house 38:30 – Why a supportive partner makes or breaks broker success If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens:  LinkedIn:   / propertyfinance    Instagram: / cmrstevens   Connect with Dana Blewitt:  LinkedIn: / Dana Blewitt née FraserInstagram:  / danaf1  In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Dana Blewitt, founder of The Lenders Club and one of Australia's top mortgage brokers specialising in SMSF lending.

Dana discusses why women are entering broking but failing to stay beyond five years, why new brokers spread themselves too thin trying to do everything, and how mastering the basics in one niche creates more success than being a jack of all trades. She shares her advice on setting boundaries, building referral partnerships, and the crucial role of communication in managing high volumes, a practical blueprint for brokers at any stage.

If you're looking to scale your brokerage, master a specialist lending niche, or learn how successful brokers balance business growth with family life, this conversation delivers actionable insights from someone who's built it from scratch.


0:00 – Introduction: Dana Blewitt, one of Australia's best brokers

2:00 – How Dana accidentally fell into SMSF lending

7:20 – 300-400 deals a year with a team of just 7 people

11:45 – Why women leave broking within 5 years (and what needs to change)

17:50 – "Master the basics" – the mistake new brokers keep making

22:10 – Biggest regret: Not hiring sooner and backing herself

25:55 – 2026 vision: Expanding digital ads, Europe trip, and moving house

38:30 – Why a supportive partner makes or breaks broker success


If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode.

Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/

Connect with Christian Stevens: 

LinkedIn:   / propertyfinance   

Instagram: / cmrstevens  


Connect with Dana Blewitt: 

LinkedIn: / Dana Blewitt née Fraser
Instagram:  / danaf1 

]]> 2465 Brokers, Stop Building "Boring" Brands: How I Built a Finance Empire From a 1-Bed Apartment In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Morgan Owen, founder of Penny Finance. From a nutrition degree and a career in the fitness industry to building a national finance brand, Morgan’s journey is defined by resilience and a "figure it out" mentality. After a business partnership and marriage both collapsed, Morgan launched Penny Finance from a one-bedroom apartment with "less than nothing". In this raw conversation, she explains how she turned rock bottom into a catalyst for growth, building a powerhouse brand centered on bold marketing and a digital-first strategy. Morgan breaks down her "conveyor belt" business model, the realities of scaling with onshore and offshore teams, and her ultimate vision for vertical integration. This is a masterclass in leadership, brand positioning, and the grit required to thrive as a strong woman in a male-dominated industry. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Fitness to Finance: Bluffing into a career 00:06:30 Bold Branding: Why Penny Finance stands out 00:13:00 Rock Bottom: Launching during a divorce and business collapse 00:20:00 The "Conveyor Belt" Model: Driving volume through structure 00:27:00 Scaling Teams: Managing onshore and offshore staff 00:34:00 Partnerships & Affiliates: A new model for empowering brokers 00:41:00 Predatory Lending: Early warning signs to watch 00:48:00 Dealing with Haters: Staying true to yourself in business 00:55:00 The Digital Pivot: Life beyond Instagram 01:00:00 The Legacy Play: Stepping back to build an asset If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Morgan Owen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganowenbroker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pennyfinance/ Sat, 10 Jan 2026 08:43:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Morgan Owen, founder of Penny Finance. From a nutrition degree and a career in the fitness industry to building a national finance brand, Morgan’s journey is defined by resilience and a "figure it out" mentality. After a business partnership and marriage both collapsed, Morgan launched Penny Finance from a one-bedroom apartment with "less than nothing". In this raw conversation, she explains how she turned rock bottom into a catalyst for growth, building a powerhouse brand centered on bold marketing and a digital-first strategy. Morgan breaks down her "conveyor belt" business model, the realities of scaling with onshore and offshore teams, and her ultimate vision for vertical integration. This is a masterclass in leadership, brand positioning, and the grit required to thrive as a strong woman in a male-dominated industry. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Fitness to Finance: Bluffing into a career 00:06:30 Bold Branding: Why Penny Finance stands out 00:13:00 Rock Bottom: Launching during a divorce and business collapse 00:20:00 The "Conveyor Belt" Model: Driving volume through structure 00:27:00 Scaling Teams: Managing onshore and offshore staff 00:34:00 Partnerships & Affiliates: A new model for empowering brokers 00:41:00 Predatory Lending: Early warning signs to watch 00:48:00 Dealing with Haters: Staying true to yourself in business 00:55:00 The Digital Pivot: Life beyond Instagram 01:00:00 The Legacy Play: Stepping back to build an asset If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Morgan Owen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganowenbroker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pennyfinance/ In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Morgan Owen, founder of Penny Finance. From a nutrition degree and a career in the fitness industry to building a national finance brand, Morgan’s journey is defined by resilience and a "figure it out" mentality. After a business partnership and marriage both collapsed, Morgan launched Penny Finance from a one-bedroom apartment with "less than nothing". In this raw conversation, she explains how she turned rock bottom into a catalyst for growth, building a powerhouse brand centered on bold marketing and a digital-first strategy. Morgan breaks down her "conveyor belt" business model, the realities of scaling with onshore and offshore teams, and her ultimate vision for vertical integration. This is a masterclass in leadership, brand positioning, and the grit required to thrive as a strong woman in a male-dominated industry. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Fitness to Finance: Bluffing into a career 00:06:30 Bold Branding: Why Penny Finance stands out 00:13:00 Rock Bottom: Launching during a divorce and business collapse 00:20:00 The "Conveyor Belt" Model: Driving volume through structure 00:27:00 Scaling Teams: Managing onshore and offshore staff 00:34:00 Partnerships & Affiliates: A new model for empowering brokers 00:41:00 Predatory Lending: Early warning signs to watch 00:48:00 Dealing with Haters: Staying true to yourself in business 00:55:00 The Digital Pivot: Life beyond Instagram 01:00:00 The Legacy Play: Stepping back to build an asset If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Morgan Owen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganowenbroker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pennyfinance/

]]> 2499 The Future Of Mortgage Broking: From The Man Who's Seen It All In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Peter White AM, Managing Director of the FBAA and one of the most respected advocates the Australian mortgage broking industry has ever had. Peter’s career spans decades. He started in banking in the 1970s, moved into investment banking, built his own brokerage in regional New South Wales and became one of the first brokers in Australia to advertise on television. He has lived every version of this industry, from fax machines and Olivetti computers through to today’s conversations about AI. Over the years, Peter has been front and centre of every major regulatory change shaping modern broking. From the Uniform Consumer Credit Code to the NCCP Act and Best Interests Duty, he has been in the room fighting for brokers and for the long term health of the industry. That work was recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to both broking and mental health. This conversation goes well beyond policy and headlines. Peter speaks openly about clawbacks, net-of-offset commissions and the growing frustration around channel conflict, including where he believes the industry needs to draw a firm line in the sand on remuneration. He also shares why he believes banks and brokers must work together, not push the industry into a race to the bottom. But this episode is just as much about people as it is about business. Peter opens up about mental health, living with anxiety, finding balance and what culture really means when you strip it back. From “Toasty Tuesdays” to motorbikes and sleep routines, he shares simple but powerful lessons on leadership, resilience and actually caring about the people around you. This is not a highlight reel. It’s an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career, lead through change and still find peace along the way. This is Beyond The Numbers. Chapters: 00:00:00 23 years at the FBAA: From volunteer roles to Managing Director 00:07:30 Cutting teeth in the 70s: The era of Olivetti computers and the first ATMs 00:15:00 The regulatory milestones that shaped the modern broker 00:22:00 The truth about clawbacks and the 342% increase in lost commissions 00:30:00 Channel Conflict: Why major banks are creating a "race to the bottom" 00:37:00 Winning an AM: Advocacy beyond the industry line 00:45:00 The "Black Dog": Peter’s raw advice on mental health and anxiety 00:52:00 Toasty Tuesdays and why culture is just about being human 01:00:00 Finding peace: 1900cc motorbikes and the power of being present 01:05:00 AI and the future: Why the "Terminator" isn't coming for your job yet If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Peter White: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-j-white-am-b094607/ Website: https://www.fbaa.com.au/ Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:30:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Peter White AM, Managing Director of the FBAA and one of the most respected advocates the Australian mortgage broking industry has ever had. Peter’s career spans decades. He started in banking in the 1970s, moved into investment banking, built his own brokerage in regional New South Wales and became one of the first brokers in Australia to advertise on television. He has lived every version of this industry, from fax machines and Olivetti computers through to today’s conversations about AI. Over the years, Peter has been front and centre of every major regulatory change shaping modern broking. From the Uniform Consumer Credit Code to the NCCP Act and Best Interests Duty, he has been in the room fighting for brokers and for the long term health of the industry. That work was recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to both broking and mental health. This conversation goes well beyond policy and headlines. Peter speaks openly about clawbacks, net-of-offset commissions and the growing frustration around channel conflict, including where he believes the industry needs to draw a firm line in the sand on remuneration. He also shares why he believes banks and brokers must work together, not push the industry into a race to the bottom. But this episode is just as much about people as it is about business. Peter opens up about mental health, living with anxiety, finding balance and what culture really means when you strip it back. From “Toasty Tuesdays” to motorbikes and sleep routines, he shares simple but powerful lessons on leadership, resilience and actually caring about the people around you. This is not a highlight reel. It’s an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career, lead through change and still find peace along the way. This is Beyond The Numbers. Chapters: 00:00:00 23 years at the FBAA: From volunteer roles to Managing Director 00:07:30 Cutting teeth in the 70s: The era of Olivetti computers and the first ATMs 00:15:00 The regulatory milestones that shaped the modern broker 00:22:00 The truth about clawbacks and the 342% increase in lost commissions 00:30:00 Channel Conflict: Why major banks are creating a "race to the bottom" 00:37:00 Winning an AM: Advocacy beyond the industry line 00:45:00 The "Black Dog": Peter’s raw advice on mental health and anxiety 00:52:00 Toasty Tuesdays and why culture is just about being human 01:00:00 Finding peace: 1900cc motorbikes and the power of being present 01:05:00 AI and the future: Why the "Terminator" isn't coming for your job yet If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Peter White: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-j-white-am-b094607/ Website: https://www.fbaa.com.au/ In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with Peter White AM, Managing Director of the FBAA and one of the most respected advocates the Australian mortgage broking industry has ever had. Peter’s career spans decades. He started in banking in the 1970s, moved into investment banking, built his own brokerage in regional New South Wales and became one of the first brokers in Australia to advertise on television. He has lived every version of this industry, from fax machines and Olivetti computers through to today’s conversations about AI. Over the years, Peter has been front and centre of every major regulatory change shaping modern broking. From the Uniform Consumer Credit Code to the NCCP Act and Best Interests Duty, he has been in the room fighting for brokers and for the long term health of the industry. That work was recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to both broking and mental health. This conversation goes well beyond policy and headlines. Peter speaks openly about clawbacks, net-of-offset commissions and the growing frustration around channel conflict, including where he believes the industry needs to draw a firm line in the sand on remuneration. He also shares why he believes banks and brokers must work together, not push the industry into a race to the bottom. But this episode is just as much about people as it is about business. Peter opens up about mental health, living with anxiety, finding balance and what culture really means when you strip it back. From “Toasty Tuesdays” to motorbikes and sleep routines, he shares simple but powerful lessons on leadership, resilience and actually caring about the people around you. This is not a highlight reel. It’s an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career, lead through change and still find peace along the way. This is Beyond The Numbers. Chapters: 00:00:00 23 years at the FBAA: From volunteer roles to Managing Director 00:07:30 Cutting teeth in the 70s: The era of Olivetti computers and the first ATMs 00:15:00 The regulatory milestones that shaped the modern broker 00:22:00 The truth about clawbacks and the 342% increase in lost commissions 00:30:00 Channel Conflict: Why major banks are creating a "race to the bottom" 00:37:00 Winning an AM: Advocacy beyond the industry line 00:45:00 The "Black Dog": Peter’s raw advice on mental health and anxiety 00:52:00 Toasty Tuesdays and why culture is just about being human 01:00:00 Finding peace: 1900cc motorbikes and the power of being present 01:05:00 AI and the future: Why the "Terminator" isn't coming for your job yet If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Peter White: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-j-white-am-b094607/ Website: https://www.fbaa.com.au/

]]> 3071 This Broker Generated 1,300+ Leads in 9 Months - Here’s How You Can Too In the debut episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his business partner Redom Syed - Managing Director and Co-Founder of Flint, former Federal Treasury economist, and one of Australia’s most respected mortgage minds. Redom’s story doesn’t start in finance. It starts at 14, helping his family through financial hardship - long before strategy, markets, or lending were career paths. After landing his dream role at the Federal Treasury, analysing household behaviour and economic policy, Redom made an unexpected move - he walked away. Armed with data, conviction, and a laptop in his bedroom, he built a brokerage grounded in education, clarity, and long-term thinking. Along the way, he settled more than a billion dollars in loans and became a Top 100 Broker seven years running and earned a reputation for cutting through noise and explaining the why behind the numbers. In this episode, Redom breaks down how he built his business through content and education - generating 1,300+ warm leads in nine months from YouTube alone. He shares the mastery framework behind his growth, why he merged a successful business into the Flint vision, and what it really takes to scale a company to 100+ staff in 12 months. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a raw conversation about self-doubt, lonely decisions, fatherhood, and the moment that reshaped how Redom thinks about success and impact. This is Beyond The Numbers - real conversations, real lessons, and the thinking that sits beneath exceptional outcomes. Chapters: 00:00:00 At14-year-old he started giving his parents financial advice 00:06:30 He left his dream job at Treasury – everyone thought he was crazy 00:13:00 How YouTube generates 100+ warm leads every month 00:20:00 Why he cannibalised a top brokerage to merge with Flint 00:27:00 The brutal truth about scaling to 100+ staff in 12 months 00:34:00 Most brokers won't do this, it's a huge mistake 00:41:00 The mastery framework that separates good brokers from great ones 00:48:00 The night he heard his father cry changed everything 00:55:00 Managing multiple businesses without losing your mind 01:00:00 The no-douchebag policy and why culture will make or break you If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Are you a broker and want to elevate their craft, build a brand that stands out, and ultimately help more Australians achieve financial freedom? Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Redom Syed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/investmentfinance YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDOeVDy-Fjddc7vla7CJNxQ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:51:00 -0000 full Christian Stevens In the debut episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his business partner Redom Syed - Managing Director and Co-Founder of Flint, former Federal Treasury economist, and one of Australia’s most respected mortgage minds. Redom’s story doesn’t start in finance. It starts at 14, helping his family through financial hardship - long before strategy, markets, or lending were career paths. After landing his dream role at the Federal Treasury, analysing household behaviour and economic policy, Redom made an unexpected move - he walked away. Armed with data, conviction, and a laptop in his bedroom, he built a brokerage grounded in education, clarity, and long-term thinking. Along the way, he settled more than a billion dollars in loans and became a Top 100 Broker seven years running and earned a reputation for cutting through noise and explaining the why behind the numbers. In this episode, Redom breaks down how he built his business through content and education - generating 1,300+ warm leads in nine months from YouTube alone. He shares the mastery framework behind his growth, why he merged a successful business into the Flint vision, and what it really takes to scale a company to 100+ staff in 12 months. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a raw conversation about self-doubt, lonely decisions, fatherhood, and the moment that reshaped how Redom thinks about success and impact. This is Beyond The Numbers - real conversations, real lessons, and the thinking that sits beneath exceptional outcomes. Chapters: 00:00:00 At14-year-old he started giving his parents financial advice 00:06:30 He left his dream job at Treasury – everyone thought he was crazy 00:13:00 How YouTube generates 100+ warm leads every month 00:20:00 Why he cannibalised a top brokerage to merge with Flint 00:27:00 The brutal truth about scaling to 100+ staff in 12 months 00:34:00 Most brokers won't do this, it's a huge mistake 00:41:00 The mastery framework that separates good brokers from great ones 00:48:00 The night he heard his father cry changed everything 00:55:00 Managing multiple businesses without losing your mind 01:00:00 The no-douchebag policy and why culture will make or break you If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Are you a broker and want to elevate their craft, build a brand that stands out, and ultimately help more Australians achieve financial freedom? Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Redom Syed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/investmentfinance YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDOeVDy-Fjddc7vla7CJNxQ In the debut episode of Beyond The Numbers, Christian Stevens sits down with his business partner Redom Syed - Managing Director and Co-Founder of Flint, former Federal Treasury economist, and one of Australia’s most respected mortgage minds. Redom’s story doesn’t start in finance. It starts at 14, helping his family through financial hardship - long before strategy, markets, or lending were career paths.

After landing his dream role at the Federal Treasury, analysing household behaviour and economic policy, Redom made an unexpected move - he walked away. Armed with data, conviction, and a laptop in his bedroom, he built a brokerage grounded in education, clarity, and long-term thinking. Along the way, he settled more than a billion dollars in loans and became a Top 100 Broker seven years running and earned a reputation for cutting through noise and explaining the why behind the numbers. In this episode, Redom breaks down how he built his business through content and education - generating 1,300+ warm leads in nine months from YouTube alone. He shares the mastery framework behind his growth, why he merged a successful business into the Flint vision, and what it really takes to scale a company to 100+ staff in 12 months. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a raw conversation about self-doubt, lonely decisions, fatherhood, and the moment that reshaped how Redom thinks about success and impact. This is Beyond The Numbers - real conversations, real lessons, and the thinking that sits beneath exceptional outcomes. Chapters: 00:00:00 At14-year-old he started giving his parents financial advice 00:06:30 He left his dream job at Treasury – everyone thought he was crazy 00:13:00 How YouTube generates 100+ warm leads every month 00:20:00 Why he cannibalised a top brokerage to merge with Flint 00:27:00 The brutal truth about scaling to 100+ staff in 12 months 00:34:00 Most brokers won't do this, it's a huge mistake 00:41:00 The mastery framework that separates good brokers from great ones 00:48:00 The night he heard his father cry changed everything 00:55:00 Managing multiple businesses without losing your mind 01:00:00 The no-douchebag policy and why culture will make or break you If you want to build a sustainable, profitable broking business and learn from the best in the industry, subscribe and never miss an episode. Are you a broker and want to elevate their craft, build a brand that stands out, and ultimately help more Australians achieve financial freedom? Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/ Connect with Christian Stevens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/ Connect with Redom Syed: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/investmentfinance YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDOeVDy-Fjddc7vla7CJNxQ

]]> 3698