Note: There will be video soon, working through some tech issues. Otherwise YouTube is where you can find it for now!

We’ve hit that stage of life where everyone’s either getting engaged, married, planning a Japan trip, or trying to buy a house. And somewhere in that chaos, the words “mortgage broker” keep popping up, but what do they actually do? Are they just a fancy search engine for home loans?

In this episode, Michael Nguyen joins us to break down the world of mortgage broking, answer the questions most first-home buyers are too scared to ask, and share what it’s really like working in the industry. Whether you’re buying soon or just curious, this one clears up a lot.

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Michael's email: michael@professionalhomeloans.com.au

https://www.professionalhomeloans.com.au/

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Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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0:00 Intro

3:04 Inspiring kids with Dai Le

5:33 Growing up, selective schooling PTSD

14:00 TAFE, uni offers and experience

20:34 Becoming an Apprentice Broker

23:28 How do brokers get paid? The cutthroat side

28:10 Cut out the broker and save?

31:18 Struggling as an apprentice, abusing free gym trials

36:38 Getting from start to finish for a loan, compromising

40:02 Where to buy IPs

45:32 Can brokers get loans for themselves? Apprentice life

52:48 Be the dumbest guy in the room

55:26 Teaching other colleagues

57:23 Apprentice vs now

58:20 The self employment struggle

1:02:24 Fluctuating income, the first deal ever

1:04:56 Bad vs good broker

1:06:33 Why not go for the cheapest rate?

1:10:51 5% deposit scheme

1:13:38 Biggest first home buyer mistakes

1:18:02 Emotions of buying a place

1:22:24 Toughest deal

1:25:08 How afterpay/credit card churning affects home loans

1:27:17 Advice for aspiring brokers

1:31:11 Outro

Why are games of luck like the lottery, or even casual gambling such a big part of Asian culture? In this episode we dive into the weird world of superstition, fate, our experiences with gambling growing up and what we'd actually do if we won the lottery.

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Guests: Matt & Nathan

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Items mentioned

• ⁠Behind Asia's AWFUL Gambling Obsession⁠
• Gourd, crab, fish, tiger game
• Racist Pokie Joke Origin
• $43M Pokie Machine Malfunction
• Sex dice watch

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Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:46 How much was gambling around you growing up?

4:02 Las Vegas vs Macau, culture

10:47 Old vs New gamblers

13:35 Sports betting, VR betting, Crypto casinos

19:09 Zombie apocalypse, bidet tangent

21:12 Betting on anything, following trades, powerball

26:43 What would we do if we won the lottery?

35:55 Is hiring an in-house chef cheating on your mum? Proxy incense

39:27 Aunty claiming she prayed for you to win hypothetical

42:29 Stealth wealth

47:19 Enjoying work? Lean FIRE? Jobs we'd work at still?

50:32 Would you still credit card churn?

53:15 A farm!

53:48 Outro

What is it really like to serve the community you grew up in? Kevin Lam sits down to share how his parents' migration story helped shape his drive, path into city planning and eventually becoming a Fairfield Councilor.

We also chat about a shared hobby, motorbikes. As the co-founder of Sydney West Riders, Kevin's built a community of over 14,000 riders for over a decade, running charity rides, events, and track days.

Tune in now to hear all about balancing identity, giving back, and finding purpose in both work and passion.

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Guest: Kevin Lam

Sydney West Riders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/327472683998295

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Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow

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Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:00 What it's like juggling so many responsibilities

2:51 Sydney West Riders origin story

7:51 What were we doing in Lithgow?

10:07 Career path - town planner

13:23 What's happening to the land across Cabra fire station?

14:47 Motivations for career from parents upbringing?

18:28 Running for 2016 Fairfield Council, how it works

25:55 Town planning, more info

30:07 Difference between mayor and local member

33:21 What does Kevin do as a councillor?

41:30 Biggest changes in council?

45:21 Will John St be the next food night market?

50:13 Are younger people more tuned into politics?

52:50 Most rewarding moments

58:03 Funny stories, media

1:01:32 Getting into motorbikes, safety courses

1:07:38 Motivation to keep going

1:14:28 Outro