What drives a senior healthcare manager overseeing 300 support workers to leave executive life and step into mortgage broking?

Gold Coast-based broker James Allen, co-founder of Coastal Financial Consultants, made that exact leap after a decade spanning insurance broking and disability support management. Having crossed the first-year mark in his broking career, he brings a fresh perspective on client education, leveraging old-school networking, and navigating the early days of building a brokerage.

Tune in to find out:

• How he built an 80 per cent referral-driven pipeline.
• Why he uses AI tools to streamline client communication, compliance, and local market research.
• His hands-on strategies for guiding first home buyers through the market and deposit schemes.

And much more!

AUSTRAC has referred over 200 entities, including brokers, lawyers, and accountants, to authorities over suspected mortgage fraud following a major operation. But that is just the tip of the iceberg in a week packed with massive industry updates. Join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian break down what AUSTRAC has discovered in its latest mortgage fraud probe, which has uncovered potentially hundreds of millions in suspected fraud, and the vulnerabilities being exposed across the lending sector.

This week, they discuss:

• What AUSTRAC uncovered in Operation Claw.
• The widespread pullback in nationwide mortgage demand.
• The government's long-awaited CSLR overhaul.

And much more! News stories mentioned:

AUSTRAC refers brokers to authorities in mortgage fraud probe https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48830-austrac-refers-brokers-to-authorities-in-mortgage-fraud-probe Associations urge united action on mortgage fraud response https://www.theadviser.com.au/compliance/48833-associations-urge-united-action-on-mortgage-fraud-response Home loan commitments plummet as investor lending slumps https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48814-home-loan-commitments-plummet-as-investor-lending-slumps Property downturn extends into regional Australia https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48826-property-downturn-extends-into-regional-australia Number of FHBs with 5% deposit loans in negative equity revealed https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48819-number-of-fhbs-with-5-deposit-loans-in-negative-equity-revealed Viridian mothballs Smartmove brand, relaunches broking business https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48823-viridian-mothballs-smartmove-brand-launches-new-broking-business Government announces major changes to CSLR https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48835-government-announces-major-changes-to-cslr

What happens when a deal looks perfect on paper until a last-minute valuation shortfall, stamp duty gap, or LMI threshold threatens to derail it completely?

In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by Latitude Financial, host Annie Kane speaks with Natasha Murray, general manager, broker and partnerships at Latitude Financial, about how brokers can solve funding shortfalls and help more clients achieve their property goals.

Tune in to learn:

• What's driving the rise of funding gaps at settlement day.
• Practical ways brokers can diversify their revenue while navigating complex borrowing scenarios.
• How Latitude's Funds to Complete product is helping brokers find a solution before settlement day.

And much more!

With 257 high-achieving finalists revealed across 29 categories, competition for the 16th annual Australian Broking Awards has reached a record high.

But which brokers are among the country's elite residential brokers, commercial brokers, asset finance brokers, and what are the top aggregators doing to succeed in this market?

Hosts Annie Kane and Charlie Tchetchenian detail some of the broker finalists for the Australian Broking Awards 2026 and unpack submission highlights, growth models, and key trends shaping this year's standout contenders ahead of the national awards ceremony on 28 August.

From custom artificial intelligence platforms and workflow automation to proactive rate repricing strategies and content-led client education, this special episode reveals how top performers across regional and metro markets are scaling their businesses while delivering exceptional client care.

Tune in to find out:

• How ABA broker finalists are leveraging technology to boost productivity.
• The proactive repricing and client education strategies driving record-high retention rates.
• What sets the contenders apart in the race for the coveted Broker of the Year title.

And much more!

With inflation target timelines pushed out to 2028, hopes for interest rate reductions any time soon are dwindling – but some lenders are already dropping rates out of cycle.

Join host Annie Kane and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they examine the biggest stories shaping the finance broking space this week.

This week, they discuss:

• Why the RBA held the cash rate in August and why rate cuts may not be coming any time soon.
• What the latest predictions on house price corrections mean for broker clients.
• CBA's turnaround in broker flows.

And much more!

Featured stories:

• RBA cash rate decision https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48792-rba-reveals-latest-cash-rate-decision-2
• Michele Bullock on potential higher rates https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48795-bullock-flags-quite-possible-path-to-higher-rates
• Equifax softening mortgage demand https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48785-mortgage-slump-spreads-across-every-state-and-age-group
• What the banks have been seeing in flows: Westpac: https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48783-mortgage-applications-fall-at-westpac-as-proprietary-share-dips CBA: https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48797-cba-broker-flows-rise-as-mortgage-applications-fall ANZ: https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48805-anz-applications-slide-as-suncorp-mortgage-book-contracts
• Interesting data from Agile/Cotality on broker communications https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48777-many-brokers-still-quiet-between-client-conversations
• Congratulations to ABA finalists https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48801-finalists-revealed-for-australian-broking-awards-2026

For mortgage brokers, uncovering new revenue opportunities doesn't always mean finding new clients – it can mean helping existing clients take the next step in their property journey.

Julian Fadini, founder of PRPTY 360, joins In Focus to explore the current investor landscape and why experienced investors are looking beyond the market noise to identify opportunities.

He also unpacks how PRPTY 360 works with mortgage brokers, why long-term relationships and local networks can provide an edge in a crowded market, and how brokers can help clients approach investment decisions with greater clarity and confidence.

Tune in to hear:

• Why experienced investors may be looking to re-enter the market.
• Why data alone isn't enough when assessing property investment opportunities.
• How mortgage brokers can build valuable referral partnerships.

And much more!

After a decade in banking, former BOQ franchisee Nicholas Barker made the leap into broking, starting a brokerage that quickly scaled to a team of five and settled $145 million in its first year.

In this edition of New Broker, host Annie Kane catches up with the founder and mortgage broker at Brokers for Queensland to learn how he hit the ground running, why he offers a fully diversified loan offering, and the operational strategies behind his business growth.

Tune in to find out:

• How he managed to write more than $100 million in his first year of broking.
• The key takeaways and operational lessons behind rapidly scaling a brokerage.
• Why thorough planning is critical when transitioning from banking into broking.

And much more!

History was made this week as HSBC sold its Australian loan book to Blackstone in what is believed to be the largest home loan portfolio transaction globally.

From banks selling their loan books to tax reform clarity, join host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they review the biggest news in mortgage and finance broking this week. This week, they discuss:

• HSBC's departure from the Australian residential mortgage market.
• Macquarie and RAMS both complete loan book sales.
• The first non-bank joins the 5 per cent Deposit scheme.

And much more!

Featured stories:

• HSBC to sell Australian home loan book to Blackstone

https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48741-hsbc-to-sell-australian-home-loan-book-to-blackstone

• Household Capital completes Macquarie reverse mortgage acquisition

https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48761-household-capital-seals-macquarie-reverse-mortgage-deal

• Westpac completes RAMS mortgage book sale

https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48752-westpac-completes-rams-mortgage-book-sale

• First non-bank joins 5% Deposit Scheme

https://www.theadviser.com.au/lender/48749-first-non-bank-joins-5-deposit-scheme

• Mortgage demand dives as hardship climbs

https://www.theadviser.com.au/borrower/48753-mortgage-demand-dives-as-hardship-climbs

• Complaints hit record highs as banking dominates case load

https://www.theadviser.com.au/compliance/48760-complaints-hit-record-highs-as-finance-dominates-caseload

• Treasury revises tax overhaul after releasing new carve-outs

https://www.theadviser.com.au/broker/48765-treasury-revises-tax-overhaul-after-releasing-new-carve-outs

The opportunity to unlock new revenue doesn't always require finding new clients – sometimes it's about having different conversations with the ones you already have.

Stephen Lew, state manager for NSW and the ACT at SME lender Lumi, joins In Focus to explore how SME lending is set to evolve over the next five years, from the rise of data-driven decision making to the expectation that brokers act as full-service credit advisers.

Lew explores why more SMEs are looking to their broker for broader funding support and explains how Lumi Spark delivers real-time indicative quotes through a soft credit check in under five minutes. He also discusses how brokers can turn existing client relationships into an additional revenue stream without adding complexity to their workflow.

Tune in to hear:

• Why working capital represents a significant revenue opportunity for mortgage brokers.
• How brokers can proactively identify funding opportunities in their existing client base.
• How Lumi Spark helps brokers generate indicative working capital quotes in minutes.

And much more!

Elite broker Fabio De Castro currently writes over 400 loans a year and recently doubled his team to expand his brokerage's capacity as it aims to become a fully diversified financial services business.

In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane brings Simplify Finance director and principal broker Fabio De Castro into the studio to share how he went from being a bank BDM to writing more than $200 million a year in a multidisciplinary financial services business.

Tune in to find out:

• How he writes more than 400 loans a year.
• How he's managing the transition from broker to business owner.
• The importance of strict daily boundaries to manage high volume.

And much more!