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The aggregator is pushing for a 50-50 split between women and men in its broker network, noting a recent drop in the proportion of women in the industry.
After noting recent data from the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), which revealed the proportion of women in the mortgage broking industry had dropped to 25.6 per cent (the lowest proportion observed in the past six years), Finsure's new CEO Simon Bednar said Finsure was “strongly committed” to workplace equality and was “working hard” to reverse this trend.
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Mr Bednar said that, since establishing the Women in Finsure program five years ago, 50 per cent of its head office team were now women, including the last three BDMs appointed.
“Over the past 12 months one in three of the brokers Finsure has recruited have been female, with 200 women recruited to our fast-growing broker network over the past 12 months,” Mr Bednar revealed.
“Out of a total broker network of more than 2,200 brokers, 555 are women, compared to 214 in 2018.
"I want to see the day where it’s at least a 50-50 split between males and females in the Finsure network, and I’m determined to achieve this."
He continued: “The days of this industry being a boys club are over. Those businesses that don’t support women are going to be left behind.”
Mr Bednar said the group will continue to “pro-actively” promote equality, opportunity, diversity and the greater inclusion of women within our great industry.
“Our Women in Finsure platform supports achieving equality throughout the Finsure network and the financial services sector as a whole,” he said.
“Women in Finsure holds quarterly gatherings to celebrate women in finance and give everyone the opportunity to network with other brokers, share their business and leadership tips and celebrate achievements beyond settlement figures. Women in Finsure also helps charitable organisations by raising money for the people who need it most.”
Retention in the industry
With the recent stats by MFAA showing the proportion of female brokers in the industry had fallen despite a growing number joining, some female leaders suggest getting into the industry early - and promoting it as a viable career path to students - could help retention.
Marissa Schulze, broker and director of Rise High Financial Solutions said the lack of retention in broking was partly due to the perception that you can be a broker and work part-time.
“It is really hard for a female to work part-time and sustain a business if they’re on their own,” Ms Schulze said.
“I think it is the responsibility of bigger brokerage groups… to be able to offer opportunities for female brokers to have successful broking careers.”
[Related: How this female-run brokerage thrives in a male-dominated space]
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