After 13 years working for CBA in home lending, I took the opportunity to manage a local insurance broking business, which was a big learning curve and a step out of my comfort zone.
While insurance and lending have completely different processes and procedures, we were dealing with the same clients, and the main focus of any business is customer service and talking to people regularly. I absolutely loved the broking side of the business—looking after clients each year and reviewing their insurance policies. I loved the clients and loved the staff, but I didn’t love the company I worked for, and I missed lending.
I had the idea that I wanted to become a mortgage broker, but as I’m from a small town with lower house prices and loan amounts, I wanted to also have an insurance broker working with me—the idea being when we do a home loan for someone, we also do the insurance. I knew I was a good lender but had no idea how to run a business or where to start. I then got into contact with John Watts from Astute in Cairns, who was so open in showing me his business, how he started, and what it’s grown into. I find the guidance and help from John and other brokers in the Astute network absolutely invaluable. Five years into opening the office, we now have two completely separate and independent businesses with three employees each.
Just like every client’s situation is different, every Astute office will have their own way of doing certain things.
