The Adviser Podcast Network

Could the escalating conflict in the Middle East be the catalyst that pushes Australia's cash rate to its highest level in nearly two decades? As fuel security concerns take centre stage, and Treasury officials scramble to rewrite the federal budget, the ripple effects are already being felt across the lending landscape.

In this week's episode of What's Making Headlines podcast, host Annie Kane, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian review the economic fallout of the conflict, including forecasts that Australia's cash rate could reach GFC levels.

This week, they discuss:

• Why Westpac is forecasting a series of aggressive rate hikes by August.
• The surge in electric vehicle loans as borrowers scramble to bypass the "fuel crunch".
• How the home buyer schemes may be backfiring for the very people they aim to help.

And much more!

Michael Killiner of Tusk Finance has never been afraid of the hard graft required to succeed in the Western Australian broker market.

After launching his own brand two years ago, the Subiaco-based broker has grown his brokerage into a high-volume business, writing over 320 loans a year while embracing a "give first" philosophy to win over referral partners.

Annie Kane catches up with the multi-finalist for the Better Business Awards Western Australia to discuss his approach to leadership, why he believes the number of brokers in the industry will shrink, and how he uses video technology to provide ultimate transparency to his clients.

Tune in to find out:

• How he built a "spider web" of referrals reaching from Perth to Sydney and Canberra.
• Why he uses video tools for every single client interaction and team training session.
• His advice for new-to-industry brokers on surviving the first two years of business.

And much more!

Cost-of-living pressures and fuel supply chain constraints continue to weigh on the mortgage market following the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) second interest rate hike in 2026.

This week, the central bank offered a glimpse at its thinking, noting most mortgagors still have sufficient buffers to withstand tougher conditions. But questions remain about how resilient households will be if rates rise further and fuel prices continue to spike.

In this week's episode of The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, Charlie Tchetchenian and Ben Squires analyse the RBA's March 2026 Financial Stability Review and what it signals for borrowers amid the latest inflation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

They also review key developments across the mortgage and finance sector, including Recludo's latest acquisition, a Connective survey on broker AI adoption, and a warning from FICO's Corey Smith that the rise in fraudulent income documents and AI-generated paperwork has escalated the issue into what is now an industry-wide challenge.

Enjoy the podcast, The Adviser team

As the mortgage landscape undergoes rapid digital transformation, lenders are increasingly leveraging automation, AI, and insurance to deliver a more seamless, efficient experience for brokers and their clients.

In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by First Title, Annie Kane speaks with Chris Evans, general manager of sales and relationships at First Title, and Darren McLeod, head of third party and lending solutions at Beyond Bank, to unpack how innovation in lending technology is reducing friction in the settlement process and helping lenders scale consistently. Tune in to find out:

• How First Title is helping lenders process a refinance within a single day.
• The importance of high-quality API data in ensuring a human-touch-free journey from approval to funding.
• First Title's move to overcome the certificate of currency delays.

And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights.

Join host Charlie Tchetchenian, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and Julian Barnes, senior journalist on Broker Daily, as they review the news of the week.

This week, they discuss:

• How brokers have responded to the RBA's latest cash rate decision.
• Senate report on the CGT discount plus a surge in low-deposit lending.
• APRA highlighting the "widening structural divide" in the mutual banking sector.

And much more!

As Bankwest pivots to a digital-first model, the lender is doubling down on its commitment to the third-party channel with a clear goal: to become the number one bank for brokers in Australia. In this episode of In Focus, host Annie Kane is joined by Grant Roden, executive manager of operations in home buying distribution at Bankwest. They explore how the bank's digital transformation is reshaping its identity, and why human-led relationships - supported by BDMs and credit quality managers - remain at the heart of its strategy.

Tune in to learn:

• The "Four Ps" strategy: How Bankwest is leveraging People, Process, Policy, and Price to aim for the top spot in the broker market.
• Tech-driven efficiency: How tools like DocBox and the revamped Broker Portal are simplifying complex applications and speeding up the home-buying journey.
• Niche policy strengths: Why the bank's approach to self-employed borrowers, high-LVR investor loans, and digital offset accounts is driving its recent market share growth.

And much more!

As housing affordability and supply bites, the shift toward alternative housing like kit homes and modular builds has seen inquiry volumes surge. Teressa Fisk, senior finance broker and director of YourFinanceBroker.co, has been at the forefront of this movement, working to modernise lending policies for factory-built homes.

In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with the Sunshine Coast-based director and Queensland Thought Leader of the Year finalist to discuss how she is pioneering finance solutions in the modular housing market and helping Australians navigate the hurdles of financing non-traditional construction.

Tune in to find out:

• How she worked with major lenders to update policies for modular and alternative construction.
• Why demand for tiny homes and factory-built housing is skyrocketing across Australia.
• Her strategies for financing "fast and affordable" housing in a restrictive lending environment.

And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights.

Join host Charlie Tchetchenian, commercial content writer Ben Squires, and special guest Liam Garman, managing editor for REB and Smart Property Investment, as they review the news of the week.

This week, they discuss:

• What APRA's monthly ADI statistics are telling us about the lending market.
• The latest lender to join the 5 per cent Deposit Scheme and the potential negative equity risks for first home buyers using the scheme in a high-rate environment.
• Changing rate forecasts and a hawkish outlook ahead of the RBA's next decision.

And much more!

Welcome to The Adviser's What's Making Headlines podcast, your go-to source for the week's biggest stories in finance and real estate, distilled into bite-sized insights.

Join host Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Momentum Media journalist Stephen Kuper as they review the news of the week.

This week, they discuss:

• How the widening conflict in the Middle East is driving up fuel prices and adding further pressure to inflation and interest rates.
• The urgent need for Australia to pivot from a consumer of global security to a producer of national resilience.
• Why domestic social cohesion is under threat and what the recent flashpoints mean for Australia's future as a middle power.

And much more!

As optimism returns to the SME sector, commercial lending is booming. With businesses rebuilding margins and household consumption rising, brokers are finding that business lending is no longer a niche - it's a core part of a broker's offering.

In this episode of In Focus, Annie Kane catches up with George Obeid, chief third-party officer at Judo Bank, to discuss the shifting demands for SME finance, the importance of relationship-led lending, and how the fastest-growing business bank in Australia is helping brokers access judgement-based commercial lending.

Tune in to learn:

• The evolution of the commercial broker market and the value they unlock for business lending customers.
• The importance of working closely with experienced bankers who understand the SME landscape during times of uncertainty.
• Judo's commitment to direct access to decision-makers and how this facilitates quicker turnaround times.

And much more!