In a bid to increase financial literacy and help borrowers navigate a changing rate environment, a growing number of brokers are launching their own podcasts.
EverLend director and broker, Evelyn Clark, has become the latest broker to launch their own podcast to improve borrower financial literacy, with the launch of You Have My Interest.
The podcast, hosted by Ms Clark and Everlend loan processor and financial wellness advocate, Maddie Walton, aims to help the brokerage’s new and existing clients become more confident in managing their mortgages.
Speaking to The Adviser about the new podcast, which launched in December 2022 and builds on the brokerage’s video series, Ms Clark said that the podcast was launched as means of keeping the brokerage’s client base up to date with the financial landscape as well as potentially attracting clients looking to buy or just generally interested in property and finance themselves.
She said: “We saw podcasting as another way to disseminate education to clients. In particular, the difference with this and our quick videos is the ability to listen on the go, and have far more detailed conversations, therefore, providing more access and more value.
“Our goal is to cover as many topics as possible over time, and therefore, we have started our conversations at the beginning, by introducing ourselves and mortgage broking in general, before we layer on context and guests that clients would benefit hearing from.”
The duo’s most recent podcast episode, ‘How to Prepare for Your Fixed Rate Expiry’, for example, aims to address the commonly asked questions and concerns raised by clients.
Ms Clark said: “Our goal, whenever we educate clients, and throughout our podcast episodes, is to provide clear and practical information, that gives them all sides of the equation. This allows them to make a calm, considered decision, and feel confident going forward.
“Too often, we see that people compare their situations to a friend’s or listen to a negative headline, which can lead them to jump into a decision that isn’t tailored to their circumstances. Therefore, we hope to be a professional platform people can learn from, and ultimately feel empowered in their decision-making process.”
The EverLend broker added that while podcasting was a convenient way to provide information to clients en masse, it took a significant amount of planning and organisation. To help create the podcasts, the brokerage also hired a podcast producer to ensure they can “still focus on the core broking business”.
You Have My Interest is the latest in a growing trend of broker podcasts aimed at improving the financial literacy of Australian borrowers and property buyers.
Ben Kingsley, founder and managing director of Empower Wealth, for example, has one of the most successful property and finance podcasts in Australia, The Property Couch, which he hosts with Empower Wealth’s partner and buyer’s agent, Bryce Holdaway.
Similarly, Wealthful broker, Chris Bates, co-hosts The Elephant In the Room podcast with real estate agent, buyer’s agent, and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia Veronica Morgan, to discuss the decisions buyers make when purchasing a property.
Offering advice for other brokers looking to start their own podcast, Ms Clark said planning was of the uppermost importance as running a podcast can be as time-consuming as “running a mini business on the side”.
“We are only a couple of months in, and it has taken us significant time to prepare as we wanted to launch with at least two months’ worth of content,” she said.
“Podcasts can also become quite an expensive hobby, so ultimately, you need a strategy and direction if you are to produce consistently.
“I knew when we started a podcast, we would have to plan and set goals first and foremost, or it wouldn’t be successful.
“Now, we schedule time for recordings, and outsource everything else where possible, so we can still focus on our core broking business.
“Before this, it was a dream of mine, and Maddie and I discussed it on many occasions. Until we set a date and spoke to our producer, we hadn’t taken any action. That would be my biggest advice — set a date and get started! Otherwise, it won’t happen.”
Brokers have also been looking to reach more borrower clients and improve financial literacy through video and social media reels.
You can find out more about creating your own social media content and financial literacy videos at The Adviser's upcoming Better Business Summit, where former broker and Trusted Finance director and founder, Rob “Robbo” Roper, will unpack how brokers could use TikTok to generate leads every month, attract a younger demographic, and convert followers into clients.
To buy tickets and secure your spot, click here.
[Related: New TikTok lead generation course launches for brokers]
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