He advised multinationals for 16 years — now he helps families buy homes
Broker in Focus is a dedicated series that highlights the unique journeys of mortgage brokers, providing them with a platform to share their experiences, insights, and expertise. Through compelling personal stories and professional reflections, each featured broker recounts the key moments that have shaped their careers, delves into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, and shares the valuable wisdom they have gained along the way.
This week's broker profile features Chris Dodson (pictured top), director and principal of Mortgages Plus at Home Finance Hub, who traded a high-flying corporate career for the more personal rewards of mortgage broking. Now based in Manly and serving Sydney's Northern Beaches, Dodson brings three years of broking experience underpinned by a decade of property investing and an MBA currently in progress.
In the interview below, he reflects on why the switch felt inevitable, how he rescued a client from near-settlement disaster on a Sunday from his boat, and what he believes it truly means to serve clients through one of the biggest decisions of their lives.
- Full name: Chris Dodson
- Job title: Director and principal
- Company: Mortgages Plus
- Years in the industry: 3
- Location: Manly
How and when did you become a mortgage broker?
I became a mortgage broker about three years ago, after investing heavily in property myself since 2015. I loved the process: finding the right property, connecting the right people, and making sense of what can be a genuinely confusing process for most buyers.
Before that, I spent 10 years at Ernst & Young in London and six years at Boston Consulting Group in Sydney, leading large teams and, at the core of it, connecting people and resources to get results. What I was missing was a more direct, tangible impact on individuals rather than organisations. Broking gave me that. I could take complex financial information and make it digestible for someone to actually act on, and because I was already living it through my own property investing, it felt like a natural move rather than a leap.
I'm also currently studying my MBA, which keeps me sharp and surrounded by people who push me to keep levelling up. Looking back, my honest reflection is that I wish I'd made the move sooner. Getting to help people through one of the biggest purchases of their life is a genuine privilege, and it's what gets me up in the morning.
Today I run my office out of Manly, and most of my client base is here on Sydney's Northern Beaches — a part of the market I know intimately, both as a broker and as a local.
In your opinion, what has been the most positive development in broking?
The clearest signal is the numbers: mortgage brokers now settle 81% of all new home loans in Australia, a record high as of early 2026. That's not just a statistic — it's proof of the value brokers bring. We keep the banks honest and competitive, and we get close enough to our clients to genuinely advocate for them rather than just process an application.
Beyond the market share, the real positive development is what that trust represents: brokers being recognised as the people who help others move toward financial security, no matter their starting point or background. That's where the lifelong relationships come from. Clients remember who genuinely helped them, and they refer their friends and family because of it.
I see that play out constantly here on the Northern Beaches, including with the large number of New Zealanders relocating to Australia and settling in the area. Coming from a different lending system, with different rules around visas, deposits, and credit history, they need someone who can translate all of that clearly and get them into the market with confidence.
It works the other way too. A growing number of my Australian clients are using the equity in their home here to invest in New Zealand property — Queenstown has been a particularly popular spot. It's a nice reflection of how connected the two markets have become.
What challenges do you see currently facing the industry?
The recent federal budget changes have shifted the landscape, and the industry, along with clients, is still working through exactly what that means in practice. Layer on the current cost-of-living pressures and interest rate cycle, and a lot of borrowers are feeling squeezed.
Our approach is to stay ahead of it rather than react to it. We work closely and regularly with our clients — not just at settlement — to make sure their position is reviewed, optimised, and battle-ready for whatever the next 12 months of rates and policy changes bring. The solution isn't a one-off transaction; it's an ongoing relationship where we're proactively looking out for their position.
Can you share a memorable or challenging experience from your career as a broker and the lessons you gained from it?
I was sitting on my boat on a Sunday when I got a call from a client who'd been badly let down by another broker, days out from settlement and at real risk of losing their deposit. I jumped on it immediately, leaned on a strong relationship with a BDM, and we got them unconditional approval within two days, secured a cashback for them, and settled on time. They kept the house and didn't lose a cent of their deposit.
It was intense, but it's exactly why choosing the right broker matters. The lesson for me was twofold: due diligence and follow-through are what separate a good outcome from a disaster, and being genuinely available for clients — even on a Sunday on the water — is part of the job I signed up for.
Could you share any valuable advice for individuals aspiring to become brokers or those new to broking?
Never forget this is a privilege, not just a transaction. You're helping someone through one of the biggest decisions of their life, so go above and beyond — every client, every time. Do that consistently, and the relationships, referrals, and reputation take care of themselves. It's exactly why I still love doing this every day here on the Northern Beaches.
Broker in Focus is a weekly MPA feature spotlighting mortgage brokers from diverse firms and locations across Australia. Among those recently featured are Greg Watson of Home Finance Hub, Sam Naragala of Mortgage Choice in Hobart, Martin Robinson of The Mortgage People, Rachelle Kroon of Sphere Home Loans, Lawry Miller of Teachers and Nurses Mortgage & Finance, Stacey Straatsma of Mortgage Choice Nowra, Jerry O'Brien of Mortgage Station, Ashley Hooker of Mortgage Choice Woronora Heights, Ben Harris of In Financial Services, Bree Rollo of Tend Home Loans, and Charlotte Rubbo of In Mortgage & Finance Services.
Are you a mortgage broker interested in being featured? Email the author with your details.
