What makes a good mortgage broker?

If a mortgage broker can get a loan approved with the best interest rate, he must be pretty good, right? If he can secure additional deals, such as a hefty cashback, wouldn’t that make him exceptional?

For Andrew, these are all excellent points, ones he strives to achieve for his clients. However, he believes that being a good mortgage broker means going above and beyond. If he can help change a client’s life, he will be more than happy to do so…

Shiela* never imagined that one conversation could change the entire course of her life. Seventeen years ago, she stood at a crossroads. She had made the difficult decision to separate from her husband for the sake of her children. Her nursing career had been put on hold to raise them, and financial uncertainty loomed over their family. She had one grown child who had already left the nest but five little ones still at home. “How do I secure a future for them?” This daunting question lingered in Shiela’s mind every day.

The answer came from Andrew, who saw her not just as a potential client but as someone in need of guidance. He believed she had the potential to create a secure future for her children—she just needed the right support.

“When I first met you, you were unsure,” Andrew recalled. “You didn’t know if you could go back to work. I said, just try two days a week. Get those payslips, and let’s see what happens.”

Shiela smiled fondly at the memory. “Best decision I ever made. If I hadn’t gone back when I did, I would’ve had to redo my nursing degree. It was pure luck that I slipped in just before the law changed.”

That decision set off a ripple effect in Shiela’s life. What began as a cautious re-entry into the workforce to make ends meet for her children turned into a full-time career. With steady employment, she was able to secure a home loan under Andrew’s guidance—a move that became the cornerstone of her family’s financial stability. At the time, it felt like the right step, and time proved her right.

The years that followed were filled with challenges, triumphs, and resilience. Andrew was there to guide her, serving as an anchor at every major turn. He provided support not just in managing her loans, financial portfolio, and investments but also in life.

Today, Shiela is the head nurse of a hospital in a rural town, overseeing a facility that serves a close-knit community. She owns multiple properties, and her children have completed their education and pursued promising careers.

Financial security also brought Shiela something even more valuable—the freedom to make choices. “I couldn’t have done any of this without the financial buffer we built,” she admitted. “When my daughter had a breakdown, I stopped working for six months to be with her. I didn’t have to worry about paying the bills. I had the time to help her heal.”

Andrew nodded. “That’s the real reason financial planning matters. It’s not just about buying property; it’s about having the flexibility to handle life’s unexpected turns.”

After reminiscing about the past and reflecting on how far Shiela and her family had come, their conversation shifted to her investment properties. She had allowed her children to live rent-free in one of them, but Andrew saw an opportunity.

“If they pay rent, even in a structured way, it allows you to claim tax deductions,” Andrew explained. “You’re missing out on savings.”

He then asked if she had thought about helping her children get into real estate themselves.

“I was actually thinking of selling one of my properties and splitting the money between them,” she admitted.

Andrew shook his head. “That’s generous, but there’s a better way. Instead of selling, take out a loan against the property and lend them the money. You keep the appreciating asset, and they still get the help they need.”

“That’s actually brilliant,” Shiela said.

Shiela sat back, letting everything sink in. It was a good talk, reminding her just how far she had come from the overwhelmed mother she once was. What started as a simple mortgage consultation had evolved into a partnership that secured her and her family’s future.

“You changed our lives, Andrew,” she said. “If I hadn’t walked into your office seventeen years ago, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Andrew smiled. “That’s what we do. We don’t just get people loans; we give them the foundation for a better future.”

For Andrew, this is what makes a good mortgage broker—being there for clients and helping them wherever they are in life. It’s a partnership where he does his best to support them in building the bright future they deserve.

*This story is based on a real conversation between Andrew and his client. Shiela’s real name has been withheld for privacy purposes.

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