Paper credit files. A pool shed for an office. Rebecca Justice built Benchmark Finance Group from nothing, and set one rule from day one: stick to what you're best at. In the latest Broker Bulletin, LMG's State Commercial Specialist, Todd Bateman, sits down with Benchmark Finance Group's Managing Director, Rebecca Justice to unpack why she has never diversified into home loans or asset finance, even as the rest of the industry leans into the write, develop, or refer model.

What you'll takeaway:


Why Rebecca has never diversified Benchmark beyond property and commercial finance


The $50 million deal that shows what can go wrong when brokers stray outside their lane


What Rebecca wishes she'd known about validation before going out on her own

Like this episode?

Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service.

Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker.

You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn.

Want to know more about LMG? Click here.

Show notes:

00:38 Rebecca's recent feature in business news on the private credit market
01:44 How Rebecca got into finance, from wanting to be a lawyer to working at Domino's
07:02 The leap from 15 years at NAB into starting Benchmark Finance Group
08:21 Why Rebecca chose to specialise in property finance instead of becoming a generalist broker
09:34 The case for referring instead of diversifying into every type of lending
14:35 The real difference between writing credit as a banker and as a broker
18:42 From a pool shed office to a growing seven person team
24:08 The biggest lesson Rebecca has learned since becoming a business owner

Paper credit files. A pool shed for an office. Rebecca Justice built Benchmark Finance Group from nothing, and set one rule from day one: stick to what you're best at.&nbsp;In the latest Broker Bulletin, LMG's State Commercial Specialist, Todd Bateman, sits down with Benchmark Finance Group's Managing Director, Rebecca Justice to unpack why she has never diversified into home loans or asset finance, even as the rest of the industry leans into the write, develop, or refer model.
What you'll takeaway:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Why Rebecca has never diversified Benchmark beyond property and commercial finance
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
The $50 million deal that shows what can go wrong when brokers stray outside their lane
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
What Rebecca wishes she'd known about validation before going out on her own
</li>
</ul>
Like this episode?
Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service.
Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker.
You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn.
Want to know more about LMG? Click&nbsp;<a href="http://lmg.broker/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lmg.broker/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789602116314000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YAAH0HtfRULD6KpNjekCO">here.</a>
Show notes:
00:38 Rebecca's recent feature in business news on the private credit market 01:44 How Rebecca got into finance, from wanting to be a lawyer to working at Domino's 07:02 The leap from 15 years at NAB into starting Benchmark Finance Group 08:21 Why Rebecca chose to specialise in property finance instead of becoming a generalist broker 09:34 The case for referring instead of diversifying into every type of lending 14:35 The real difference between writing credit as a banker and as a broker 18:42 From a pool shed office to a growing seven person team 24:08 The biggest lesson Rebecca has learned since becoming a business owner

Broker Bulletin is your go-to podcast for tips, stories, and insights straight from the heart of Australia’s broking industry. It’s all about keeping you ahead of the game in a market that’s always on the move.

Each week, we chat with guest brokers, industry leaders, and area experts who tackle the big challenges facing broking and share some of the real opportunities on offer. From celebrating wins to dishing out practical advice, each episode will give you the guidance you need to make the most of your broking journey.

Whether you’re on the road, at the gym, or taking some time out from a busy day, Broker Bulletin is here to keep you inspired, informed, and ready to take your business to the next level, no matter what stage of your career you are in.

So, hit subscribe, join the conversation, and connect with our growing broker community.

Broker Bulletin is your go-to podcast for tips, stories, and insights straight from the heart of Australia&rsquo;s broking industry. It&rsquo;s all about keeping you ahead of the game in a market that&rsquo;s always on the move.
Each week, we chat with guest brokers, industry leaders, and area experts who tackle the big challenges facing broking and share some of the real opportunities on offer. From celebrating wins to dishing out practical advice, each episode will give you the guidance you need to make the most of your broking journey.
Whether you&rsquo;re on the road, at the gym, or taking some time out from a busy day, Broker Bulletin is here to keep you inspired, informed, and ready to take your business to the next level, no matter what stage of your career you are in.
So, hit subscribe, join the conversation, and connect with our growing broker community.

Broker Bulletin

From a pool shed to a multi million dollar brokerage, and she still won't touch your home loan

Balpreet Bal didn't set out to build a billion dollar business. He set out to give clients a better experience than the one he had as a first-time home buyer.

Twelve years later, that instinct still anchors Loan Market Bal and Associates. The Perth-based brokerage has grown into a team of 15+, with over $1 billion in loans settled and 530+ five-star Google reviews. In the latest Broker Bulletin, Loan Market CEO Sam White sits down with Bal to unpack the real turning point in Loan Market Bal and Associates' growth. 

In this episode, you'll hear:
How Bal's mindset shift took him from solo broker to settling $1 billion in loans
Why letting go of control was the hardest, and most valuable, lesson in scaling
How Bal's team uses AI to save time without losing the human touch

Balpreet Bal didn't set out to build a billion dollar business. He set out to give clients a better experience than the one he had as a first-time home buyer.
Twelve years later, that instinct still anchors Loan Market Bal and Associates. The Perth-based brokerage has grown into a team of 15+, with over $1 billion in loans settled and 530+ five-star Google reviews.&nbsp;In the latest Broker Bulletin, Loan Market CEO Sam White sits down with Bal to unpack the real turning point in Loan Market Bal and Associates' growth.&nbsp;
In this episode, you'll hear:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>How Bal's mindset shift took him from solo broker to settling $1 billion in loans</li>
<li>Why letting go of control was the hardest, and most valuable, lesson in scaling</li>
<li>How Bal's team uses AI to save time without losing the human touch</li>
</ul>

$1 billion in loans. One mindset shift behind it all. 

Nine thousand commercial properties sold last year. $85 billion in transactions. And most brokers still think commercial lending isn't for them.

In this episode of Broker Bulletin, Mel Griffin sits down with John Flavell, Founder & Director of Wave Money, to bust the biggest myths around commercial property lending. Uncovering why your own client database might already hold your next opportunity.

You'll hear:
Why your existing customers are sitting on an opportunity you might be missing
Why "it's complicated" is a myth worth questioning
How an 80% LVR and 30-year term is opening commercial property to everyday investors

Like this episode?
Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service.

Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker.

You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn.

Want to know more about LMG? [URL]

Show notes timestamps:

00:59 – John explains why he founded Wave Money and the borrowers being underserved by traditional lenders
03:28 – Why brokers now write over 70% of resi loans, and what hasn't changed in 30 years
06:25 – How recent tax changes are shifting where investors put their money
10:36 – "Your customers are already sitting in your database"
13:58 – Busting the myth that commercial lending is too complicated for resi brokers
17:56 – The policy detail: 80% LVR, 30-year terms, and lease-only servicing
22:14 – What "lease doc" lending actually means, explained simply
25:40 – A first-time investor's story: buying a factory unit in Geelong
31:06 – John's "one percenters" for building a business built on long-term relationships

Nine thousand commercial properties sold last year. $85 billion in transactions. And most brokers still think commercial lending isn't for them. In this episode of Broker Bulletin, Mel Griffin sits down with John Flavell, Founder &amp; Director of Wave Money, to bust the biggest myths around commercial property lending. Uncovering why your own client database might already hold your next opportunity. You'll hear:
<ul>
<li>Why your existing customers are sitting on an opportunity you might be missing</li>
<li>Why "it's complicated" is a myth worth questioning</li>
<li>How an 80% LVR and 30-year term is opening commercial property to everyday investors</li>
</ul>
Like this episode? Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service. Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker. You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn. Want to know more about LMG? [URL] Show notes timestamps: 00:59 &ndash; John explains why he founded Wave Money and the borrowers being underserved by traditional lenders 03:28 &ndash; Why brokers now write over 70% of resi loans, and what hasn't changed in 30 years 06:25 &ndash; How recent tax changes are shifting where investors put their money 10:36 &ndash; "Your customers are already sitting in your database" 13:58 &ndash; Busting the myth that commercial lending is too complicated for resi brokers 17:56 &ndash; The policy detail: 80% LVR, 30-year terms, and lease-only servicing 22:14 &ndash; What "lease doc" lending actually means, explained simply 25:40 &ndash; A first-time investor's story: buying a factory unit in Geelong 31:06 &ndash; John's "one percenters" for building a business built on long-term relationships

The $85 billion opportunity: why ‘complexity is our friend’

Jenna built a business around school pickups. Now it's reshaping what broking can look like for women and men everywhere.

Fifteen years ago, Jenna Davenport left banking because there was no flexibility for a parent trying to do the school run….

In this episode of Broker Bulletin, Loan Market's Erin Manhood sits down with Jenna, managing director of The Finance Nest, to unpack how her and her business partner have grown a six broker business with a genuine mission to bring more women into the industry, without ever losing sight of process, culture or client experience.

What you'll take away:

 Why The Finance Nest built its own "associate broker" apprenticeship model
 How process and systems, not less work, are what actually create flexibility
 Jenna's honest take on stepping off the tools and planning succession
 Why she rings a bell for every single settlement (and what else gets celebrated)
 How AI is being used to buy back time for real client connection

 Like this episode?
Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service.

Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker.

You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn.

Want to know more about LMG? Click here.

Show notes:
00:36 – Meet Jenna Davenport and The Finance Nest
01:16 – What an "associate broker" actually is at The Nest
03:08 – Why Jenna stumbled into broking to be present for her daughter
04:03 – Building a business of attraction for women in the industry
08:12 – Why process and systems are the real key to flexibility
10:16 – The next stage for Jenna and Dusty as leaders
19:18 – The bell, the wins, and celebrating what matters
23:19 – Using AI to buy back time, not replace people

Jenna built a business around school pickups. Now it's reshaping what broking can look like for women and men everywhere.
Fifteen years ago, Jenna Davenport left banking because there was no flexibility for a parent trying to do the school run&hellip;.
In this episode of Broker Bulletin, Loan Market's Erin Manhood sits down with Jenna, managing director of The Finance Nest, to unpack how her and her business partner have grown a six broker business with a genuine mission to bring more women into the industry, without ever losing sight of process, culture or client experience.
What you'll take away:
&nbsp;Why The Finance Nest built its own "associate broker" apprenticeship model &nbsp;How process and systems, not less work, are what actually create flexibility &nbsp;Jenna's honest take on stepping off the tools and planning succession &nbsp;Why she rings a bell for every single settlement (and what else gets celebrated) &nbsp;How AI is being used to buy back time for real client connection
&nbsp;Like this episode? Leave a review! Don't miss an episode: Subscribe to the Broker Bulletin podcast channel on your favourite streaming service.
Got questions, ideas, or a guest suggestion? Drop us a line at podcast@lmg.broker.
You can also connect with us on Instagram @lmg.broker and on LinkedIn.
Want to know more about LMG? Click&nbsp;<a href="http://lmg.broker/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://lmg.broker&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1788567596190000&amp;usg=AOvVaw38PJ4vWcRBbMgwKglg9HCv">here.</a>
Show notes: 00:36 &ndash; Meet Jenna Davenport and The Finance Nest 01:16 &ndash; What an "associate broker" actually is at The Nest 03:08 &ndash; Why Jenna stumbled into broking to be present for her daughter 04:03 &ndash; Building a business of attraction for women in the industry 08:12 &ndash; Why process and systems are the real key to flexibility 10:16 &ndash; The next stage for Jenna and Dusty as leaders 19:18 &ndash; The bell, the wins, and celebrating what matters 23:19 &ndash; Using AI to buy back time, not replace people

From a pool shed to a multi million dollar brokerage, and she still won't touch your home loan

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