Broker Daily Podcast Network

With persistent inflation, rising input costs and impending Reserve Bank decisions putting pressure on margins, brokers must understand the operational realities their business clients face and how credit assessors evaluate risk in a high-rate environment. In this episode of Finance Specialist, host Julian Barnes sits down with Trent Carter from Accendo Financial to unpack Australia's latest inflation figures and explore what ongoing macroeconomic headwinds mean for commercial borrowers and brokers alike.

The discussion delves into the psychological and cash flow impacts of rate hikes, how rising transport, fuel and labour costs are compressing margins, and why lenders closely monitor whether a business is actively managing its overheads or simply hoping for relief.

Tune in to discover how and why brokers should be running "what if" stress tests to present robust, compelling credit cases to lenders for their SME clients.

Sole traders represent a significant part of the market and a big opportunity for brokers. So why is getting deals across the line still such a headache? And what can lenders do to simplify the process for borrowers who don't fit the traditional PAYG mould?

Join Julian Barnes as he sits down with George Srbinovski, head of broker distribution at Ubank, to discuss the lender's new sole trader proposition and what it means for brokers and their clients.

What's covered:

• The market opportunity in sole trader lending, why the segment matters and how borrower needs are changing.
• How brokers can navigate sole trader applications, understand lender criteria and present a strong file to get deals across the line.
• What Ubank's new sole trader proposition offers, including its eligibility criteria and streamlined application process, and what it means for brokers and their clients.

Listen now to explore how brokers can make the most of this opportunity and give sole trader clients a fair go.

Products issued by Ubank, part of NAB. Credit criteria and other conditions apply. Find out more Ubank broker - ubank

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With more brokers in the market, growing competition from banks and borrowers increasingly focused on price, how can brokers stand out and protect their businesses?

In this episode of Business Accelerator, Julian Barnes is joined by broker coach Jason Back from Broker Essentials to explore how brokers can stay competitive, differentiate their value and hold on to clients in a tougher market.

They discuss cashback offers, the importance of client retention and why brokers may need to rethink how they engage with their existing customer base.

Listen now to find out how brokers can adapt to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the competition.

Finsure's new AI-powered vetting tool reportedly rejected 13 prospective brokers in its first six weeks, raising questions about how technology could change industry standards.

In this episode of Broker Daily Uncut, Julian Barnes is joined by Finni brokers Costa Arvanitopoulos and Eva Loisance to discuss AI screening, broker accreditation and the risks of relying on technology to make decisions.

The team also explores lessons from overseas broking markets, the cooling property market and the latest lender policy changes.

Listen now for the latest industry insights.

Getting a commercial finance deal across the line takes more than a set of financial statements and a loan application. Brokers need to understand how a business operates, what is driving its financial performance and how to present a compelling case to a lender.

In this episode of Finance Specialist, Julian Barnes is joined by Trent Carter as well as fellow Accendo Financial partner John Sgambelluri to unpack what lenders really look for when assessing commercial finance applications.

The discussion explores the relationship between profit, cash flow and the balance sheet, why understanding a business' underlying risks matters, and how brokers can connect the numbers with the story behind them to build stronger credit applications.

The trio also discuss the role of security in commercial lending, how to articulate the purpose of a loan and why developing strong relationships with lenders can help brokers get more complex deals across the line.

Mortgage brokers have more technology at their disposal than ever, from CRM systems and open banking to AI tools that promise to save time and streamline processes. But are brokers making the most of what's available, and how can they separate genuinely useful technology from the latest hype?

In this episode of Business Accelerator, Julian Barnes is joined by Jason Back, founder of Broker Essentials, to discuss how brokers can approach technology adoption, get more out of their existing systems and make smarter decisions about where to invest.

They also explore the challenges around client trust, data privacy and AI, as well as how technology is changing the fight against fraud.

Listen now to find out how brokers can make technology work harder for their businesses without losing sight of the value of human judgement and client relationships.

Small businesses can struggle to access the right finance even when funding could help them manage cash flow or pursue growth. So what are lenders missing when they assess SMEs, and how can brokers help businesses find the right solution?

Join Broker Daily's Julian Barnes and Sam Althaus, CEO and founder of SME non-bank lender Lendmigo, to explore the gap between how small businesses operate and how they are financed.

From the challenges facing SME lending to the opportunities for brokers looking to expand into commercial finance, this episode of Broker Daily Spotlight explores how a different approach to business funding could help brokers better serve their clients.

What's covered:

• Why small businesses struggle to access finance, and the limits of traditional lending approaches.
• How lenders assess cash flow, business performance and the people behind a business.
• How mortgage brokers can identify commercial finance opportunities among existing clients, including through referral arrangements.

Listen now to find out more about the changing SME finance landscape and the role brokers can play in helping businesses access funding.

Banks are offering cashback deals and rates that brokers say can be difficult to match – raising questions about competition between lenders and their own broker channels. Join Broker Daily's Julian Barnes and Finni brokers Costa Arvanitopoulos and Eva Loisance to discuss the growing tension around exclusive cashback offers following warnings from the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia about their potential to undermine consumer choice.

The episode explores how brokers are competing with lenders to retain clients, why strong relationships can matter more than rates alone, and how refinancing activity and clawbacks are shaping the mortgage market.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC) review of brokers' best interests duty (BID) has raised questions about loan recommendations, documentation and what good client outcomes look like. While the statutory BID review does not directly apply to commercial lending generally, its findings raise questions about the standards commercial brokers should apply when recommending finance. In a market where price is only one part of the equation and deals can be far more complex, what lessons can the industry take from the review?

Join Broker Daily's Julian Barnes and commercial finance broker Trent Carter to unpack those lessons, including how to justify recommendations, document lender comparisons and manage situations where only one lender is willing to do a deal.

Trust is one of the most valuable assets a broker can build, but how do you earn it, protect it and make sure it extends beyond your own reputation? Join Broker Daily's Julian Barnes and Jason Back, founder of Broker Essentials and broker coach, to explore the business of trust and why consistency, transparency and accountability matter.

From building credibility as a new broker to scaling trust across a team, managing negative reviews and responding when things go wrong, this episode explores how brokers can turn trust into a lasting business advantage – without resorting to clickbait or sacrificing their reputation for attention.