James Angus, CEO of finweb, brings nearly two decades of expertise and passion to his leadership role. Drawing from a rich background as a mentor, mortgage broker, and Chartered Accountant, James is dedicated to fostering business growth through innovation and scaling. His commitment to mentorship and professional development is a cornerstone of finweb's ethos, shaping the company's culture and guiding its team to excellence.
James's educational journey includes studying at the prestigious Stanford University in Palo Alto, an experience that has profoundly influenced his approach to business and leadership. At finweb, he leverages this background to create a supportive and dynamic environment for brokers, ensuring they have the tools and guidance needed to thrive.
finweb, a boutique broker group, stands out in the industry by bridging the gap between the broad offerings of aggregators and the unique needs of individual brokers. The company provides comprehensive support through mentoring, professional development, business coaching, loan administration support, marketing, and innovative tools. This holistic approach empowers brokers to achieve their full potential and deliver exceptional service to their clients.
Under James's leadership, finweb has become synonymous with excellence and growth, transforming good brokers into great ones. His dedication to the success of his team and his innovative vision have made finweb a leader in the industry, celebrated for its commitment to helping brokers succeed and grow.
Mendy Ash serves as a Senior Business Development Manager with Bizcap across VIC and QLD, boasting close to a decade of experience in the finance industry across consumer and commercial lending. With a passion for assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia, Mendy finds immense fulfillment in facilitating fast access to capital for SMEs, enabling their growth and success.
John Paul, commonly known as JP to the Resimac team, is relatively new to the asset finance industry. With two master's degrees in international relations and research, JP was a university lecturer before joining Resimac Asset Finance.
Seeking a sales role and having a strong interest in asset finance, he began his career in an administrative position at Sonder Equipment Finance where he quickly became an integral team member and transitioned into a Business Development Manager role at Resimac Asset Finance.
JP takes pride in building strong relationships with his brokers, his determination to achieve positive outcomes for brokers and their clients, his professional presentation, and his attentiveness to the needs of clients and colleagues alike.
Bringing over a decade of expertise in the Financial Services Industry, Isaac joined Bizcap nearly four years ago at its inception to lead broker distribution efforts. Focusing his attention on the large broker base in NSW and QLD, he has been instrumental in propelling Bizcap to its status as Australia's fastest growing cashflow lender.
Travis is the Head of Franchise Distribution at Yellow Brick Road with 30+ years of experience in the finance industry and 17 years in the Franchise space,
My role is to develop and implement strategies, tools, and processes that enhance the brand awareness, market share, and customer satisfaction of YBR.
My main aim, and where I get the most satisfaction, is to help establish successful and sustainable Mortgage Broker Franchise businesses.
Tom Hawley, the dedicated Co-Founder and Director of Azura Financial, is a prominent figure in the financial sector, renowned for his unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for delivering 6-star service. Tom’s career in the financial sector began in stockbroking and funds management, but it was a chance invitation from a friend that led him into mortgage broking, a move that proved to be a transformative experience. Since then, Tom hasn’t looked back and has dedicated himself to providing market leading service and advice that genuinely make a positive difference in the lives of his clients. In 2016, Tom, in collaboration with his brother Ben, established Azura Financial. Since its inception, the firm has rapidly ascended to market leadership, consistently ranking within the Top 10 Brokerages in Australia (The Adviser). Tom has also ranked in the Top 30 Brokers in Australia (MPA Magazine) for several years running. Tom’s continuous-improvement mindset drives him to stay abreast of market trends and to constantly seek out ways to enhance Azura Financial’s service offerings. This commitment ensures that the firm remains a market-leading force, solidifying Tom’s reputation as a forward-thinking and client-focused financial professional. Tom holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, and a Masters of Business in Finance and Accounting from UTS.
Annie Kane is the managing editor of Momentum's The Adviser.
As well as writing about the Australian broking industry, the mortgage market, financial regulation, fintechs and the wider lending landscape – Annie is also the host of the Elite Broker and In Focus podcasts and The Adviser Live webcasts.
Josh is the Principal and Mortgage Broker at Yellow Brick Road Miranda and has been with the YBR Group for just over 2 years.
Prior to Starting his franchise with the YBR Group in May 2022, Josh was with the Westpac Group for 7 years. Initially in their Wealth Division, BT, where he was Head of Customer Strategy for the Distribution Team responsible for the national distribution of their platform, and Personal Insurance Businesses he then joined the Westpac Retail Business Division where he was Regional General Manager of their combined South Coast Branch Network for the Westpac and St George Banks.
Before he found Financial Services in 2015 Josh had been in various sales leadership roles across companies such as Pfizer, Ferrero, Arnott’s, Johnson and Johnson, and 20th Century Fox.
I’m James Kerr, currently the Head of Growth at InvestorKit, an award-winning Buyers Agency. I oversee Sales, Marketing, Operations, and People and Culture. My professional journey began as a Business Development Manager (BDM), and I quickly moved into training and developing sales teams. Later, I became the General Manager of sales and lead generation marketing companies that specialized in helping small and medium-sized businesses, primarily in the real estate and construction sectors. We crafted grand slam offers, created compelling marketing campaigns, and closed clients on their behalf.
After spending five years working alongside the real estate industry, I decided to dive in directly. Most recently, I was the Head of Growth for Little Real Estate, leading our BDM and Strategic Partnerships divisions. My passion for real estate comes from wanting to see more people living life on their own terms, choosing work out of pleasure rather than necessity. I’ve witnessed the life-changing effects property can have on people, and through InvestorKit, my mission is to help thousands more realize their dreams through property.
On a personal note, I’m a husband and a father of two wonderful children: my five-year-old son, Angus, and my ten-month-old daughter, Georgia. When I’m not burning the midnight oil building InvestorKit with Arjun, you’ll find me on the floor building LEGO with my son, creating Jackson Pollock-inspired food paintings in the kitchen with my daughter, or in my mancave (aka gym) in the garage.
Ben is the founding and Managing Director of Empower Wealth and inaugural Chair of the not-for-profit Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA). He holds the following qualifications: Qualified Property Investment Advisor (QPIA); Real Estate Agency Licenses in VIC, NSW, QLD, SA & WA; Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management; Associate Diploma of Business and has become one of Australia’s leading experts and commentators on all things property investing, lending and personal money management.
Ben founded Empower Wealth in late 2007, on one hand, driven by his mission to help individuals and households achieve their personal and financial goals through smarter money management, better financial habits and long-term investing.
On the other hand, however, he remained frustrated by the lack of professional, independent property advice that was out there and the quality of research that was supporting property investment decisions.
His vision of building a whole wealth advisory firm with qualified, experienced and specialist personnel that helps guide and advise clients on their specific, yet unique financial journey, is being realised.
Empower Wealth now combines all the key areas any household needs to grow their wealth including Property Investing (Property Investment Advisors, Buyers Agents), Finance (Mortgage Brokers), Tax Compliance and Advisory (Accountants and Tax Agents) Money and Wealth Planning, Risk Management, Superannuation, Shares, Managed Funds and Estate Planning (Financial Planners).
Hand-picking the very best and most qualified specialists, Empower Wealth has become one of Australia’s leading property and holistic wealth advisory firms, supporting clients all over Australia and Ex-Pats overseas. An ‘all in one’ team dedicated to personalised solutions for each and every one of our clients, no matter where they are located.
Empower Wealth’s approach to serving its customers is very simple – provide clients with access to tailored advice and best-in-class client portal (moorr.com.au) with leading research and tools which will help them achieve sound long-term investment returns and find their financial peace.
Ben’s philosophy of building great “can-do” service attitudes, strong collaboration amongst colleagues, high trust & accountability, equates to establishing a strong caring culture and client-focused teams that result in delighted customers.
It’s Ben’s and now Empower Wealth’s true belief that no matter your background, no matter your current situation or your current starting point, anyone can truly improve their money and wealth outcomes, almost irrespective of what income they currently earn.
This approach, coupled with his experience in building his family’s multimillion-dollar property portfolio and financial independence, has seen Ben pass on his knowledge to personally help thousands of individuals and households to invest in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of residential property over 20 odd years of guiding his clients and now with the Empower Wealth team, that number continues to grow every day.
Empower Wealth has been recognised nationally with multiple awards which you can view here
In 2012, Ben was appointed Chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) which he served until stepping down in late 2017. PIPA is a not-for-profit association whose mandate is to increase the professionalism of those in the industry and to champion consumer protection from unscrupulous property spruikers. PIPA continues lobbying the government to have the property investment industry regulated under the Corporations Act by ASIC.
In late 2017 Ben, along with its founding board members, established a new association for all property investors in Australia. The Property Investors Council of Australia is also a not-for-profit association run by property investors for the interest of property investors. PICA’s charter is to continue to educate current and would-be property investors and to provide government and regulars as a central contact to engage with investors on matters which affect them. Ben remains the current Chair of this association.
His personal property investing experience spans over 25 years with extensive experience in property acquisition, finance, cashflow modelling and analysis and the ultimate wealth creation outcomes these practice activities generate over the long term. This experience, together with a comprehensive understanding of industry regulations, issues and trends, has positioned Ben as a genuine expert in property, finance and money management disciplines.
In 2014 and 2015 he won (2016 r/u) the Best Property Investment Advisor of the Year Award by Your Investment Property Magazine before stepping back from direct day-to-day advising of clients in 2017 to help develop his team of QPIA advisors.
In 2018 Empower Wealth won the inaugural Property Investment Advisory Business of the Year, before the magazine ceased publishing the following year. Again, all the awards that Ben and Empower Wealth team has received can be found here.
Ben is a frequent media contributor and keynote speaker who is regularly featured across Australian TV and print publications. He also delivers professional development presentations as requested by industry partners, such as CPA Australia State Revenue Office (VIC), Industry bodies and more.
Ben has co-authored two bestselling books –The Armchair Guide to Property Investing and Make Money Simple Again, with fellow Empower Wealth Partner Bryce Holdaway. Together he and Bryce also co-host The Property Couch, Australia’s No.1 Top Ranked and Rated Podcast that covers all things Property, Finance & Money Management.
Finally, with the great support and expertise of the Empower Wealth team, Ben is one of the co-creators of the Lifestyle by Design platform – Moorr. This financial wellness platform is a game changer for individuals and households looking to have a single resource and tool to better control their money, plan their futures and achieve financial peace on life’s journey.
Daniel was appointed to State Manager in 2019 and continues mentoring brokers to reach new heights with great passion. Daniel brings extensive knowledge and almost 15 years’ experience in the mortgage broking and finance industry to Liberty Network Services. Beginning his career with GE Capital, Daniel previously held positions within branch management before progressing to third party relationship management roles. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is currently undertaking an MBA.
The founder and driving force behind InvestorKit Buyer’s Agency as a guest speaker at the "New Broker Academy". Where he will be talking about Creating an unbreakable referral pipeline. By the age of 25, Arjun had already ascended the managerial ranks at CBA and completed his MBA. Now at age of 31, he surpassed the goals of many seasoned property investors, acquiring 17 properties and exceeding $12+ million in property value. Leaving the corporate world to pursue his passion in property, Arjun's entrepreneurial efforts were quickly recognised. He received the 'Rising Star' award in 2020 by REB and is a three time in a row finalist for 'Sydney Young Entrepreneur of the Year' by Business News Australia. (21-22-23). By inside small business he was also ranked a top 50 entrepreneur and small business leader in Australia for 2022. More success followed. Arjun has over a Billion $ in property investing and finance experience and is regularly featured in the mainstream media. Over the last two years, he’s been featured in over 400 mainstream articles and 25+ TV appearances. With his podcasts InvestorKit Podcast and The Property Nerds crossing over 400k downloads. His company Investorkit received the highest accolade in the property investment industry, being Australia’s official, ‘Buyers Agency of the Year for 2023’ by REB. InvestorKit over the last 5 years has seen over 50% revenue growth each and every year whilst maintaining a 100% client satisfaction rate. Arjun has rightfully earned recognition as a leading authority in the property investment industry.
Meet the Founder of Property Before Prada: A Successful Mortgage Broker Paving the Way for Women's Financial Empowerment.
For over two decades, I've been an accomplished mortgage broker in Melbourne, running a thriving and award-winning business. My passion for doing things differently led me to rebrand my broking business to Property Before Prada in 2018. With bespoke educational programs, I aim to empower women to become more financially savvy and help them break into the property market.
Standing out has always been important to me, and remaining true to my brand has been key. Despite concerns that my branding would limit my customer base to women and hinder my business's growth, I've remained confident in my approach. My branding has a powerful message and story behind it, one that I wholeheartedly believe in. As a young woman unable to escape my circumstances, I was inspired to share my story and help others, particularly women, understand the importance of financial independence.
With extensive professional experience across multiple industries, including Education, Fitness, Health, Technology, Pyrotechnics and Engineering, Chris brings a solution-focused approach and a talent for thinking outside the box. Whether you're seeking a loan for your first home or industry-specific finance, Chris leverages his broad spectrum of knowledge to ensure no "Rocc" is left unturned in solving your financial puzzle. Not sure where to start or what you need? Come and speak with Chris. He is always up for a chat and loves hearing about your next (ad)venture, eager to support your financial quest.
With nearly 20 years' experience, Mark has proven his passion for finance and building long-term relationships. As State Manager, Mark applies his extensive knowledge and business leadership experience to help his team deliver results. Prior to joining Liberty Network Services, Mark held several roles with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Mark has an MBA from RMIT University and a Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking.
Jane brings 12 years’ experience in the finance industry to her role as State Manager. With a background in marketing, Jane has the professional knowledge and coaching abilities to encourage her team to achieve their full potential. Prior to joining Liberty Network Services, Jane held various partnerships and relationship management roles at NGL and NewCo Financial Services. Jane has a Bachelor of Business and Marketing from the Queensland University of Technology.
Peter Sorgel, Wealth Manager and Principal at Yellow Brick Road Aspley, loves his local area because of the people and community feel. Outside work, Peter enjoys spending time with family and the great outdoors, bushwalking, camping and fishing. Peter Sorgel has a wealth of experience in the Financial Services industry, having started his career with the CBA over 27 years ago as a Batch clerk and progressing through a number of positions encompassing General Banking, Insurance, Investments, Lending and Management. Just before joining Yellow Brick Road, Peter Sorgel was the Franchise Business Owner of resi North Lakes. Peter holds a Diploma of Financial Services and a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking and is an Accredited Finance Broker with the FBAA. By joining Yellow Brick Road Peter saw the opportunity to be able to offer a comprehensive range of financial solutions to help you achieve your financial goals.
Darrell is a Marketing Strategist, who works with micro, small, and medium sized financial service businesses, with little to no marketing budget.
That’s because he teaches businesses how to generate leads without spending money on marketing or advertising.
By implementing super effective, low-cost, no-cost marketing strategies, Mortgage Brokers, with little to no marketing budget, can usually generate all leads they can handle.
In the early 90’s Darrell was commissioned by John Symond to established and build Aussie Home Loans in both the ACT and Victoria. In three years Darrell cemented Aussie Home Loans as a major player in both markets guiding the offices to record production.
Darrell subsequently held senior positions at both AMP Bank and Liberty Financial before starting his own successful award winning mortgage broking business, ProMortgage, in Canberra in 1999.
ProMortgage was ranked as the number one Broker in the Professional Lenders Association Network, from the time it joined in 1999 until Darrell sold the business in 2004.
In four years, Darrell personally settled over $400 Million dollars in Home Loans, with an average loan size of only $250,000.
Darrell has been engaged to consult and present by some of Australia’s most recognisable businesses, including: The Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank, NAB, AMEX, Mortgage Choice, PLAN, the Real Estate Institutes in QLD, NSW, SA and WA, CPA and CA, the Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand, the Australian Institute of Business Brokers, the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, and the Australian Bookkeeping Network, to name just a few.
Peter White is the Managing Director of the FBAA and first started as a volunteer with the FBAA in
2003 as the State President for NSW, then National President and Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
Peter’s banking and finance career spans over 41 years covering retail banking, Head of Private
Banking, Associate Director of Marketing and Distribution in Investment Banking, established
RAMS Home Loans first sales office in 1993 and has run several mortgage management and
broking businesses of his own.
Alex is an experienced Finance & Insurance Consultant within the dynamic world of financial services.
He’s passionate about delivering results and thrive in roles that require Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Recruiting, and Public Speaking expertise.
With a relentless commitment to excellence, Alex brings extensive experience in sales, account management, and customer relationship building.
His specialty lies in nurturing and sustaining long-term client partnerships that drive sales growth and enhance brand visibility.
As a business-focused professional, Alex possesses a unique ability to match both internal and external clients with tailored solutions that meet their specific needs.
His continuous quest for innovative ways to promote products and expand professional networks fuels his drive to excel in this ever-evolving industry.
