SPECIAL REPORT
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24
COLIN MCKEAN
MAINLAND FINANCE BROKERS BENDIGO, VICTORIA
KEY FACTS FY14 settlements:
$40.2m
Number of loans:
147
Bendigo private dwellings:
36,941
Median weekly household income:
$993
Colin McKean believes a varied background in financial services and a broad array of knowledge helps him to better serve the people of Bendigo. “Having the background in mortgage, commercial and rural banking over many years gives me a strong understanding of client needs,” he says. McKean’s business, Mainland Finance Brokers, has worked to set up referral relationships that mean he can help clients who have a variety of finance needs. “I have built relationships with referral partners in and around central Victoria. This includes real estate agents and accountants. This gives me day to day knowledge on housing market trends at a local level. I have also been
fortunate to be associated with Mainland Equipment Finance Bendigo who have a mature client base that require my services to support investment property and commercial purchases. I have been able to provide an excellent range of finance products to our clients in accordance with their wishes,” he says. McKean says regional brokers have the opportunity to build a particularly loyal client base. “The country broker is fortunate in that the client thrives on service and communication. They are loyal, and once they have experienced the personal attention they are more likely to become great referral sources.”
Sources: NMB, ABS
THE COUNTRY BROKER IS FORTUNATE IN THAT THE CLIENT THRIVES ON SERVICE AND COMMUNICATION
TRACEY BLORE
ON TRAC MORTGAGE BROKERS SALE, VICTORIA
KEY FACTS FY14 settlements:
$41.3m
Number of loans:
208
Sale population:
14,258
Top industry in Sale: School education
6.5%
Median weekly income:
$955
Sources: NMB, ABS
Tracey Blore of On Trac Mortgage Brokers says being a regional broker means being prepared to deal with a very diverse client base with equally diverse needs. “We deal with a real mix of clients with so many different lending needs so we need to ensure that we are extremely knowledgeable and up to date on every lender’s policies so that we can provide exceptional service and help our clients achieve their lending requirements,” she says. One challenge regional brokers can face, Blore says, is being relatively isolated from their peers. “Having a business in a regional location also means that it is extremely difficult to attend training sessions and industry events that are located in the city. While this is something we love to do, it is not always easy to close the office for a day or more to travel to these events.” But what often makes up for this is the opportunity regional brokers have to embrace their local community. “We are passionate about
supporting our local community and provide ongoing sponsorship for various community organisations including local primary schools, our hospital and numerous non-for-profit organisations. We also actively participate in local community projects and initiatives such as investment seminars, fundraising events and women in business activities. We believe in keeping business local and ensure that all of our business supplies including stationery, printing materials, signage and computers are purchased from other local businesses. When buying gifts for our clients, vouchers are always purchased from businesses in town. We actively refer business to local conveyancers, insurance brokers, accountants and financial planners to ensure that business is kept in town. Loyalty is extremely important in the country and business success is extremely reliant upon the strength of local relationships with most business being referred from members of the community.”
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY