PEOPLE
BROKERAGE INSIGHT
Two Birds empowers families for success Working mums Alissa Childs and Elouise Dooley set up Two Birds One Loan in 2018, a brokerage dedicated to helping families achieve their financial goals TWO BIRDS ONE LOAN was established on a firm foundation of friendship. Owners Elouise Dooley and Alissa Childs met in high school and have remained friends ever since. “Since 1998, we’ve been through everything together, from starting in our respective careers to meeting our husbands, who were also good friends, to having our babies and now running the business,” says Childs. While their career paths initially went in different directions, Childs says the skills and experiences they gathered paved the way for Two Birds One Loan as they realised that as
the brokerage, Dooley says they wanted to offer something different. “Our purpose is to empower families and individuals to achieve their goals with financial support,” she says. “Being a contemporary, young, female-run firm, we understand the unique concerns that female entrepreneurs, mothers and homemakers have when it comes to getting finance.” Two Birds One Loan has grown to a team of five, including Danni Childs, office manager and broker support; Charlotte Panetta, broker support and customer relations; and Meryll
“Being a contemporary, young, female-run firm, we understand the concerns that female entrepreneurs, mothers and homemakers have when it comes to getting finance” a team “we could have a greater impact”. Childs started her career in corporate financial services and worked as a lender BDM for over 10 years, while Dooley worked in corporate strategy and marketing. After completing her studies in 2013, Childs says she was eager to use her industry experience to become a broker. In 2015, she suggested to Dooley that she do the same. “We put our heads down, Elle completed her studies, and we started planning to open Two Birds One Loans.” In September 2018, when they launched
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Nunez, office support and administration. Childs and Dooley see Two Birds One Loan as an opportunity to make a real difference. “In a market that’s 80% male dominated, we specifically appeal to a female audience, constructing a brand message and design accordingly,” Childs says. “We’ve built a family-friendly business that works around our parenting roles, so it’s scalable and capable of achieving exceptional turnover.” Dooley says that with more than 25 years’ collective experience, “we offer a refreshingly warm and feminine approach to a service often considered masculine and rigid”. The pair want to see more women in broking. “It’s past time to acknowledge that the industry needs to catch up with the power women can bring,” Dooley says. She says women are great listeners with an ability to guide people through loan processes, patiently answering questions and drawing out all the required information.
BALANCING FAMILY COMMITMENTS, CUSTOMER NEEDS “With six children aged six and under, time management is paramount, and we know how precious time is for our clients, who are mostly young families. They are regularly blown away by our attention to detail, understanding of transactions, speed of processing and willingness to go the extra mile. Customer service is our number one priority and the driving force behind our fast growth and our popularity in the Hills District.” “We share an unwavering aspiration to further our careers whilst still being around to watch our kids grow up. Managing this balance, whilst growing and scaling Two Birds, has been the most fulfilling achievement of our careers.” – Alissa Childs and Elouise Dooley, Two Birds One Loan