Beyond Bank Australia BDM Samuel Power finds inspiration in brokers who go above and beyond
Location: Melbourne
1. What did you do before entering the industry?
Prior to working in financial services, I cut my teeth in hospitality; it was a great way to learn patience and customer service.
2. How often do you see brokers in a week?
Ten to twelve times per week. Two meetings every morning is perfect for putting faces to names and building relationships while still being able to get back to other brokers about scenarios.
3. What do brokers want most from you?
Quick and honest responses. More than ever, brokers are looking for BDMs who are quick to answer the phone and upfront about whether a loan suits them or not.
4. What is your favourite part of the job?
Being able to assist and be part of so many family-run businesses that are doing all they can to deliver the best results for their clients. When I work with brokers who are emailing on their holidays or signing documents at 9pm with clients, I find myself amazed by how often brokers will go above and beyond.
5. What distinguishes the best brokers you deal with?
Application notes — the quality of their notes, how well they know their client, how well they understand the risks of the application, and the mitigation they provide are what separate the best brokers from the rest of the pack.
6. What’s your ideal weekend?
Saturday would be making fresh bread in the morning, spending a day at the beach and BBQ at night with friends. Sunday would have to be a slow relaxing day, watching a few movies, going out for a walk and a big roast for dinner.
7. What’s the strangest lending scenario you’ve ever encountered?
I had a scenario where an applicant owned a property overseas (Bali, from memory) with three other friends. He did not have a job and played video games day in day out. The income derived from the property was enough to service the debt. But an applicant who had not worked in a few years, and had no plans of doing so soon, wanting a home loan, had to be one of the strangest.
8. What's your top time-saving tip and how much time does it save you?
Do appointments in the suburbs, this saves hours of driving! If you are already driving to an area, make sure your next appointment isn’t miles away. Geelong to Berwick in the same day is never a good move.
9. What’s your favourite meal?
Homemade lasagna. It gets better and better each day as well!
