How a career-altering accident led him to his true passion
For several years, Joshua Pfeiler was an arborist who cut down trees and did gardening as a job and ran his own business. He never anticipated his career pivot until a life-changing accident impaired 70% of his vision, barring him from continuing his work in arboriculture.
“I was not allowed to work in the industry any longer,” Pfeiler (pictured above) said. “I tried to get insurance and was happy to try with limited vision but all the doctors, insurance providers and all said that it wasn’t possible without a lot of issues.”
Faced with the daunting task of reinventing his career path, Pfeiler decided to depend on his mind rather than on his body, immersing himself in the fields of real estate, finance, and marketing, just three weeks post-accident.
Despite initial ventures into real estate, Pfeiler quickly discerned it was not his calling, troubled by the industry’s lack of transparency.
This realisation steered him towards finance and, eventually, mortgage broking, a domain where he found his true passion. Pfeiler said he was drawn to the industry’s emphasis on honesty and client care, aligning with his own values.
Through interviews with firms such as Lendi, Aussie, and Coronis, he recognised a community that prioritised helping clients navigate one of their most significant life decisions without compromising integrity.
“I absolutely love helping out my clients and helping people through some of the hardest choices they would have to make, and all without lying or having to settle on my morals at all,” said Pfeiler, who is now a mobile mortgage broker at Aussie. “I can just be who I wanted to be and help people from all around Australia.”
However, his journey is not without its challenges. Pfeiler pointed out the increasing difficulty in lead generation and the completion of applications due to market dynamics, such as rate hikes and a competitive housing market exacerbated by immigration.
He remains optimistic though, citing regulatory and market adjustments that promise to ease these pressures in the coming years.
Asked what the most positive development in broking in recent years had been, Pfeiler said it had to be the transformative impact of technology on the broking industry, with its role in streamlining processes and enhancing client service.
This shift, according to him, had allowed brokers to focus more on personal interactions, guiding clients through the complexities of mortgage decisions with a more hands-on approach.
Reflecting on his career, Pfeiler stressed the importance of maintaining a positive and caring attitude towards clients. This philosophy had not only won him the loyalty of his clients, but also served as a testament to the impact of empathy in professional success.
“A lot of brokers tend to forget that these clients are stressed, and they don’t know much, so you’re there to guide them and help,” he said. “You need to have the right attitude and answer with a smile so they can feel a little less stress when dealing with you.”
For those aspiring to enter the broking industry, Pfeiler’s advice is simple yet profound: “Don’t give up.”
He acknowledged the challenges and stresses inherent in broking but encouraged perseverance, highlighting the long-term rewards of building lasting relationships and making a meaningful difference in clients’ lives.
“Those that complain usually share how well you did, those you go the extra mile for usually send a gift or leave reviews, and overall, every client you help will be a client not just now, but if you do things right, they will be a life-long client and with upfront and trailing commissions. You can build your book and just keep helping all these amazing people and getting paid for it,” he said.
Pfeiler’s story is not just about overcoming personal adversity; it’s a narrative that underscores the value of integrity, empathy, and resilience in crafting a fulfilling career.
From the depths of a career-ending accident to the heights of professional success in mortgage broking, Pfeiler’s journey serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the lives of others, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected paths lead to the most rewarding destinations.
“I would love to hear my story shared – the story of a man who never gave up,” Pfeiler said. “So we can show others no matter what happens in life, there is always time, and it’s always possible even with only one eye.”
Are you a mortgage broker who also has a story to tell? Email the author, and you might get your story featured too.
