This year's R U OK? Day serves as an important reminder to open up the conversation on mental health, both in the workplace and at home, according to David Coleman, member for Banks and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

In this special episode, join Momentum Media director Alex Whitlock as he speaks to Mr Coleman.

Together, the pair discuss the importance of shining a spotlight on mental health issues, share why the consequences of stigmatising mental health are significant, and reveal how you can make a difference to your workplace, community, family and friends.

Rise High Financial Solutions broker Kristin Tunbridge has wide-ranging experience in the mortgage industry - having been on the processing side of things at a bank, working in RMBS issuances, and covering relationships in commercial banking, too. But it’s broking where Kristin found her passion. Having been a broker in Adealide for nearly a decade now, the SA broker (and recently crowned Editor’s Choice award for SA/NT at the BEtter Business Awards 2021) reveals why she thinks more could be done to promote the benefits of working in this profession. Tune in to find out: - What she most loves about broking - How she provides financial literacy education to clients - Why she thinks brokers should be hiring support staff from the get-go And much more!

The credit profile of a borrower has always been at the centre of the mortgage process. Whether a borrower has a good credit history or not plays a fundamental role in getting a cheaper mortgage. This year, two important changes came into effect that change the credit reporting landscape, and how brokers can help borrowers access a better mortgage. In this episode of In Focus, partnered by Credit Fix Solutions, editor Annie Kane sits down with Credit Fix Solutions chief executive Victoria Coster to understand what’s been shaping the credit space this year, the real impact of buy now, pay later on credit scores, and how brokers can help ensure their clients are putting their best foot forward. Tune in to find out: - The new credit repair regulatory regime- Comprehensive credit reporting and what it entails - How brokers can help their clients improve their credit score And much more!

In July, Mortgage Choice Oakleigh broker Marvin Coleman was named Victoria/Tasmania’s Broker of the Year 2021 and the Best Residential Broker in the two states, at the Better Business Awards 2021.

The Melbourne-based broker was originally an accountant in the UK, but after the 2005 London bombings, made the move over to Australia to seek a different life. A battle with cancer led him to re-evaluate his career, and he went on to become a Morgtage Choice broker. Fifteen years later, he says his move to Australia and into broking was one of the best he ever made.

Tune in to find out:

- The biggest challenges he’s faced as a broker - The lessons he’s learned over his 15 years of broking - The importance of taking care of our health - both physical and mental And much more!

If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts, or any other mental health issues, or you’re worried about someone else and feel that professional support is needed, contact your local doctor or one of the 24/7 crisis agencies below: Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 beyondblue.org.auLifeline: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.auSuicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 suicidecallbackservice.org.auFor urgent medical or police help, freecall Triple Zero (000).

Join host Alex Whitlock as he invites his guests to open up on the biggest issues and opportunities facing the mortgage and finance industry.

Volt Bank CEO Steve Weston gives us a unique insight into the evolving digital banking proposition, the factors that steered him to launch the first neo-bank to secure a restricted ADI license in Australia and why brokers are critical to success.

Tune in to find out: - How the neo-bank plans to scale - The future for high-speed digital mortgages - Why Volt backed third party distribution

And much more!

Professional development and ongoing education is a key part to running any successful business. NAB discusses how it is supporting a successful broker channel. Earlier this year, The Adviser ran the Better Business Summit and Awards, in partnership with principal partner NAB. In this episode of In Focus – partnered by NAB – we’re sitting down with the bank’s new executive for broker distribution, Phil Waugh, and its head of strategic partnerships, Nicole Triandos, to find out more about the role of education and progressional development in forming leading brokers, and how and why the major bank is championing the broker channel. Tune in to find out: - Why NAB is supporting PD in the broker channel - The key trends the bank is seeing at the moment - How Phil went from professional rugby player to major bank executive And many more!

As well as being crucial credit advisers, brokers are also lynchpins of their community. We catch up with Gippsland-based broker Robert Trewin, who took home two awards at the recent Better Business Awards in Victoria for his work in giving back to his community, to find out how he does it. Trewin Mortgage Broking’s principal and broker Robert Trewin took home the Best Community Engagement Program and the Editor’s Choice award at the Better Business Awards Vic/Tas earlier this year. As well as cementing himself as a key mortgage adviser for the region, he’s also been giving back to the community with voluntary work, helped people get back on their feet after the devastating bushfires, and raising awareness about Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood (SUDC). Tune in to find out: - How his brokerage gives back in Gippsland - His process for writing loans - How a personal loss led him to set up the Brighter Days Festival in Bright to raise money and awareness of SUDC And much more!

Victoria-based broker Nicola Tucker is one of two directors of growing regional brokerage Surf Coast Finance, writing resi and asset business for borrowers in Torquay. The former banker became a broker three years ago, initially as a Loan Market franchisee, and has quickly established herself as a rising star – taking home several awards already, including Best Newcomer Vic/Tas at the Better Business Awards last year.

In this episode of Elite Broker, we’re catching up with the Loan Market broker to find out how and why she decided to partner with Lanie Conquest to join businesses, and how the duo co-run the brokerage, as well as how she manages broking and being a new mother.

Tune in to find out:

- The ins and outs of forming a business partnership - How she markets the business - Why and how they hired their staff

At the beginning of this financial year, a range of changes came in for the self-managed super fund market. Thinktank reveals how these affect SMSF lending. In this episode of In Focus, partnered by Thinktank, host Annie Kane is joined by Per Amundsen, company secretary of Thinktank, and Peter Vala, general manager of partnerships and distribution, to discuss exactly what brokers need to know when writing SMSF loans this financial year and the key trends in this space. Tune in to find out: - How SMSF loans are structured - The new member caps and contributions for FY22 - How Thinktank is helping brokers write SMSF loans And much more!

Long delays in broker-lodged loans have been an ongoing issue for the past year - but are things starting to look up? Annie Kane and Michael Johnson explore more In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane is joined by Momentum Intelligence’s head of strategy, Michael Johnson, to discuss what the data is showing us about turnaround times at the lenders, and whether this is the beginning of improved service times. Tune in to find out: - What the latest Broker Pulse survey shows us - Which lenders have been improving - What the banks are doing to improve turnaround times And much more!