It Pays for Financial Planners and Brokers to Work Together

Recently, I sat across from a client who had a casual $2 million sitting in his bank account. That’s right – two million dollars, just languishing in an ordinary bank account, not achieving very much.

He wasn’t investing in the stock market. He wasn’t contributing extra to his super. And the only property he owned was the home he and his family were living in.

Can you imagine? He had $2 million just sitting in the bank; that is known as dead money. With interest rates in the toilet and so many better options out there he could be using to grow his wealth, this seemed like such a wasted opportunity to me.

He may as well have had it stuffed underneath his mattress!

Of course, I knew that I had to get him in front of a great financial planner, pronto.

Optimizing Financial Success: When Planners and Brokers Team Up

This is something that comes up quite a lot for me as a finance broker. I’m not qualified or certified to give money advice, so in these situations, I always refer my clients to a reputable financial planner.

As a broker, all my clients require adequate TPD and income protection insurance, and most of them have no idea how to get it, what products are available or why they even need it in the first place.

So, virtually every borrower I meet needs the aide of a financial planner to navigate this. Not to mention those clients whose expenses are holding back their borrowing power, or those who have no clue how to best structure their finances to take advantage of tax breaks and other incentives.

If I can refer these clients to a planner I know and trust to take care of these needs, not only does that planner benefit from a new client, but I’m also able to offer a greater variety of products to the client and possibly write them a larger loan.

It’s a win for the client, who moves towards a better financial position as a result of the advice, and a win for the financial advisor, who builds new business… which is why it blows my mind that more financial planners and brokers don’t collaborate. The benefits for all parties involved can be huge!

Accordingly, for planners, taking on new clients means loads of information gathering as you get to grips with the state of their finances and their short and long-term goals. In the process, of course, you will tally up their current debt and how this will factor in your planning.

This is the ideal opportunity to hand over to a broker, who can help with refinancing said debt at a more attractive rate, or recommending a product with inclusions that will better fit their goals. When they arrive back at your office with more manageable monthly debt repayments and the spare cash that’s been freed up through refinancing, they’ll be better able to implement your suggestions and the financial planner can take care of their insurance needs.

In my mind, a savvy planner is one who looks for debt first, as this is an area where substantial savings can be made without any real changes to the clients’ lifestyle or goals. Clients are more willing and able to commit to these painless adjustments than they might be to a strict budget, and if they’re happier, they’ll refer more friends, family and colleagues to the professionals who have helped them.

The cross-collaboration opportunities don’t stop there. In our increasingly online environment, working together allows financial planners and brokers to boost our social media engagement, grow our LinkedIn presence, and get more visits on our websites – all of which can lead towards more enquiries, more referrals, and more clients.

It’s essentially free advertising. For instance, I might share and promote a great blog written by a planner colleague of mine, and in turn, he’ll do the same with my most recent article. We’ll comment on each other’s updates and congratulate each other on accolades and awards, like my recent Broker of the Year and Customer Service of the Year wins at the Momentum Media Australia Business Awards. All of this serves to build our reputations and credibility in the eyes of potential and existing clients.

And all the while, we are increasing our online visibility and driving more and more traffic, enquiries and commissions.

What do you think? Are you a planner who can see the value in collaborating with an experienced broker – or perhaps you’re a broker who never realised just how complementary the two professions are? If so, maybe it’s time to start hitting up your connections and see where it takes you both.

Why is it beneficial for financial planners and brokers to collaborate?

Financial planners and brokers can mutually benefit from collaboration. Planners can refer clients to brokers for loan products and refinancing, while brokers can refer clients to planners for financial advice and insurance needs. This creates a win-win situation for both professionals and the client.

What are the advantages for clients when financial planners and brokers work together?

Clients benefit from a more comprehensive financial strategy. They can receive advice on insurance, tax breaks, and other financial products, while also getting help with loan products and refinancing options. This holistic approach helps clients optimize their financial situation.

How does collaboration between financial planners and brokers affect their online presence?

Collaboration can boost both professionals’ online visibility. They can share and promote each other’s content on social media platforms, thereby increasing traffic, enquiries, and commissions. This essentially acts as free advertising for both parties.

What is the role of a financial planner in this collaboration?

The financial planner gathers information about the client’s financial state and goals. They can then refer the client to a broker for refinancing existing debt at more attractive rates, which frees up cash for implementing the planner’s suggestions.

What is the role of a broker in this collaboration?

The broker can offer a variety of loan products to the client, possibly writing them a larger loan based on the financial planner’s advice. They can also help with refinancing existing debts, enabling the client to better implement the financial planner’s suggestions.

How can clients find a financial planner and broker who collaborate?

Clients can contact Zippy Financial for a comprehensive financial service that includes both planning and brokering. This ensures that they don’t miss out on any opportunities to optimize their financial situation.

Contact Us

Don’t miss this golden opportunity! Contact Zippy Financial today and let us cater to your financial needs. Don’t let your money go to waste – take action now and unlock the potential of your wealth!

Phone: 1300 855 022

Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

Zippy Financial is an award-winning mortgage brokerage specialising in home loans, property investment, commercial lending, and vehicle & asset finance. Whether you are looking to buy your first home, refinance or build your property investment portfolio, the team at Zippy Financial can help find and secure the right loan for you and your business.

About the Author:

Louisa Sanghera is an award-winning mortgage broker and Director at Zippy Financial. Louisa founded Zippy Financial with the goal of helping clients grow their wealth through smart property and business financing. Louisa utilises her expert financial knowledge, vision for exceptional customer service and passion for property to help her clients achieve their lifestyle and financial goals. Louisa is an experienced speaker, financial commentator, mortgage broker industry representative and small business advocate.

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Disclaimer: This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This article is not to be used in place of professional advice, whether business, health or financial.

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How Will the Commission Update Affect You | Zippy Financial

You may have heard the news about the Royal Commission’s recommendations relating to the mortgage broking industry. Here is an update on what it may means for you – especially if the recommendations becomes law.

Business is as usual for Zippy Financial. Nothing has changes yet and our service remains the same. We are here to help and, always will do so with the best interests at heart.

Our home loan services are still at no cost to our customers. However, the Royal Commission has made recommendations that could impact your ability to secure a competitively-priced home loan in the future, so let’s cut through the media noise and provide some basic facts.

What does the Report Say?

At present, lenders pay mortgage brokers a commission (fee for all the work we do for you rather than their staff member or call centre member), which enables us to provide our home loan service at no cost to our customers. The Royal Commission’s final report recommends gradually banning commissions and moving to a system where home loan customers will need to pay brokers a fee for the service we offer.

What does this Mean for You?

This is a major change and a threat to competition in the home loan market. Mortgage broking as an industry has delivered important benefits to all Australians. Today, mortgage brokers are responsible for arranging almost 6 out of every 10 (59.1%) home loans and this figure is growing. For over two decades, we’ve helped drive competition in the home loan market, giving home buyers greater choice and driving home loan interest rates down.

If the proposed changes were to become law, many consumers would not be able to afford the services of a mortgage broker and mortgage brokers would struggle to survive. Without brokers, more power will go to the big banks and Australians will have less access to smaller lenders as they’ll stop lending/close less access to credit, and interest rates are likely to rise due to lack of competition.

Where to from Here?

The Banking Royal Commission has offered recommendations only. The Federal Government will now consider what legislative changes should be made, which will take some time. We need your help to ensure the policy makers understand the potential impact of the changes on borrowers.

Stand with us in this first for competition and choice. To do so, please sign the industry’s online petition at brokerbehindyou.com.au. If you would like to take further action, the website also provides the tools for contacting your local MP, this will only take a minute to do.

SIGN THE PETITION

We will keep you up to date with any changes the government introduces.

Right now, it is business as usual for us and we are here to help with all your finance needs – car loans, insurances, financial planning, business loans and making sure your home loan is right for you.

We are here to help and listen. If you have any questions about how the Royal Commission recommendations might impact you or if you want to share your story, feel free to reach out. We are actively looking for any clients who are happy to go on video stating why they want to have access to Mortgage Brokers and how they help you.

And if you know anyone looking for finance we’d love your referral!

Support Mortgage Broker | Zippy Financial

Going with the Cash Flow | Interest Rates | Zippy Financial

Do you know how much you will earn this month? And more importantly what your expenses are? Two simple questions, but if you can’t come up with a rough answer off the top of your head, you’re making a rookie financial mistake. This means you’re not taking control of your cash flow – and this can end up costing you dearly.

There’s no time like the present to organise your family’s financial planning, and by getting on top of those dull day-to-day transactions that dictate your bank balance, you’ll be amazed to find that your monthly budget will start to run itself. And you will have more time and money to spend on the fun stuff in life.

So grab a pen and paper and write down what you have coming in every month, and list everything you need to pay out.

Better Budgeting will Save You:

Money – by making sure your balances does not slip into the red, you’ll reduce bank and loan penalty payments and avoid higher interest rates. You will also save on your utilities, thanks to prompt-payment discounts.
Time – once your direct debits and automatic payments are set up, you won’t need to spend time on banking pursuits every month.
Stress – the lack of clarity on your financial position generates stress that is easily avoidable. If you find yourself lying in bed unable to sleep, worrying about money, it’s time to get a grip. By knowing exactly how much you have to spend each month, you can limit your spending to match your budget.

Once you feel on top of your day-to-day finances it’s worth creating a financial roadmap that will help you better navigate a long-term savings plan and build a nest egg for the future.

Here’s a Few Budgeting Tips to Help with Your Plan

1. Try to work out a plan for the year, listing every essential utility and bill: rent/mortgage, water and electricity, rates, insurance, school fees, work-travel/car costs, etc. Plan your savings for holidays, birthdays, Christmas etc, so you spread the cost over the year.

2. Open several accounts to help keep everything separate – have one for your rent/mortgage, one for your bills, one for your savings and one for your everyday living expenses. You can transfer the relevant funds from your salary every month into your different accounts, then whatever is left in your everyday account is what you have left to spend.

3. Set up direct debits for all your essential bills. Big bills, such as insurance, can be spread throughout the year, to ease the pain – most insurance companies will offer this at no extra cost. If yours doesn’t, it’s time to move.

4. Take a hard look at any debts that could be dragging you down. If you have two or three smaller personal loans and/or credit card debts you will be wasting a small fortune on heavy interest rates. Time to cut your losses and give yourself a clean slate. Talk to your trusted mortgage broker about consolidating them into your home loan. Bank mortgage rates are at a historic low, and are likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Not only will this streamline your monthly cash flow, you’ll find your broker may be able to reduce your monthly payments too.

Fell good!

A fear of finances is really just a fear of the unknown. By clearing the decks of all your essential bills each month, you’ll end up with a clear picture of what you have to spend on day-to-day living expenses, such as good, and the luxuries that make the daily grind a little less grinding: Netflix, lattes and the occasional mall-splurge on your plastic.

You’ll be amazed how good this will make you feel.