After the central bank hiked rates to an 18-year high this week, everyone is asking: Where do we go from here?

Join host Annie Kane and senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian as they review the biggest news of the week across mortgages and finance broking. They break down the rationale behind the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) move to increase the cash rate to 4.85 per cent, the industry's reaction to it, and why the central bank is less optimistic for the economy in the years ahead.

They also examine the fastest national home price decline in 40 years, the marked shift in proprietary lending at the major banks, and how agentic AI is transforming broker productivity at Lendi Group.

This week, they discuss:

• Why the RBA pushed the cash rate to 4.85 per cent.
• What the RBA, the market, and economists expect will happen next.
• Why Westpac and NAB are pushing further into proprietary lending.

And much more!

From new business owners to established operators, sole traders can face barriers accessing finance for essential business vehicles and equipment.

In this episode of In Focus, Latitude Financial Services head of broker – NSW/ACT & WA Amy Stachow and broker capability manager Nina Griffith discuss the lender's new commercial motor loan, the opportunities it presents for sole traders and how brokers can identify potential business within their existing client base.

Tune in to hear:

• Which vehicles and specialist equipment the loan can finance.
• How brokers can identify commercial opportunities within their existing client base.
• How low-doc options and flexible eligibility criteria support borrowers without traditional asset backing or extensive financial records.

And much more!

Are mortgage brokers sitting on a goldmine of data they don't even realise they have? With artificial intelligence rapidly moving from a tech buzzword into everyday broking operations, knowing where to start without losing the vital personal touch can make or break a modern brokerage.

The Adviser's commercial content writer Ben Squires speaks with Russell Easter, director at Digital Brief and featured speaker at the upcoming Finance360 roadshow, to break down how brokers can streamline routine administration, unlock repeat business from existing databases, and stay front of mind with clients.

From setting proactive post-settlement touchpoints to understanding why large language models follow the same fundamental rules as classic search engines, this discussion cuts through the hype to focus on practical, actionable digital strategy for growing firms.

Tune in to find out:

• How brokers can use simple client data like dates of birth to uncover new lending opportunities
• Why maintaining human trust and diligent proofing matters when deploying generative content
• How to get ranked in AI search platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini using search engine optimisation principles

And much more!

With all four major banks locking in predictions for a Melbourne Cup Day cash rate hike and mortgage repayments eating up more than half of the typical household budget, borrowers and brokers are bracing for maximum financial pressure.

Fresh from The Adviser's closed-door UK Study Tour, host Annie Kane returns to the mic alongside senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian to break down the latest macro shifts, association strategies, and executive moves shaping the broking channel.

This week, they discuss:

• Key takeaways from the UK mortgage market and the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) national conference.
• Why hotter-than-expected September quarter CPI figures have pushed all four major banks to forecast another rate hike next week.
• Why economist Warren Hogan warns the terminal cash rate could reach 5.35 per cent.

And much more!

As affordability and serviceability pressures challenge prospective home buyers and investors, lenders are tweaking their offerings to help borrowers enter the market.

In this episode of In Focus, sponsored by Granite Home Loans, co-founder and director Bridget Sakr and national sales manager Kit Wong unpack how the lender's new 40-Year Extended Home Loan aims to improve access to credit for owner-occupiers and investors, with flexible loan terms and features designed to meet different borrowing needs.

Tune in to hear:

• How the 40-year loan aims to help owner-occupiers overcome affordability and serviceability hurdles.
• What the extended term offers property investors, including interest-only repayments of up to 10 years.
• What brokers need to consider when assessing eligibility, serviceability, and exit strategies.

And much more!

What pushes a retail banker of 10 years to leave the branch and launch an independent brokerage from scratch? For Nick Lissikatos, it came down to being sick and tired of telling clients "no".

After a decade at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and St George Bank, the new broker and director of Sydney-based Trelos Finance made the jump to broking, going from casting a wide net across multimillion-dollar development sites to mastering a focused core of first home buyers and mum-and-dad investors.

Here, he chats to host Charlie Tchetchenian, senior journalist at The Adviser, to break down how he's built his brokerage over the past three years, his digital-first approach to client communication, and why he believes new operators should invest in outsourcing admin and credit analysis long before they reach breaking point.

Tune in to find out:

• How he built up a steady pipeline through educational social content and direct outreach.
• Why he chose a boutique aggregator over a major brand.
• His perspective on first-party lender competition and blanket clawback policies.

And much more!

Refinancing is accounting for a growing share of broker lending at one aggregation group, while the latest figures point to shifting conditions across the mortgage market.

In this episode of What's Making Headlines, The Adviser's senior journalist Charlie Tchetchenian and commercial content writer Ben Squires unpack the latest lending figures and what they mean for brokers, aggregators, and the wider industry.

They also discuss:

• Criticism of lender cashback tactics from the FBAA.
• The Coalition's proposed reset of ASIC and APRA's regulatory approach.
• What the MFAA's Global Insights Report reveals about Australia's broking model.

And much more!

What does it take to transition from a major bank background into building a high-performing solo brokerage writing over $120 million a year?

In this episode of Elite Broker, host Charlie Tchetchenian catches up with Tony Xia, director of Sydney-based brokerage The Mortgage Agency, to discuss his 11-year journey in the broking industry, how he built a streamlined residential lending business, and why he works a strict four-day week without sacrificing massive growth.

Tune in to find out:

• How he grew his settlement volume by 37 per cent while only increasing his personal workload by 5–10 per cent.
• Why 95 per cent of his business comes from residential lending and non-professional referrals.
• How leveraging sales tracker CRM workflows and dedicated support staff protects his client experience.

And much more!