Shows
(Anything But) Banker to Broker#15: Simon Lewis - From Cold Rooms to Capital RaisingBefore he was talking to brokers about scale, valuation and growth, Simon Lewis was building something very different — a meat company. The early days of McKenzies Meats taught him about hustle, margins, people and what it takes to keep a business alive long before he ever stepped into the world of finance.In this episode, Simon traces the journey from selling steaks to helping brokers understand the real value of their businesses. We get into how market saturation pushed brokers to think beyond organic gr...
2025-12-1635 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#14: Aaron Ishac: From Exercise Science to Finance AllianceAaron joins us for a conversation that traces his journey from exercise physiology into the world of finance and broking. He talks about growing up in a tight-knit working-class family, the competitive streak that pushed him through sport and study, and the early values that shaped how he understands people today.Aaron opens up about burnout and the moment he realised the health industry was no longer the place he could grow. He shares how empathy became the thread that tied both careers together...
2025-12-0939 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#13: Shimon Shmerling: From Guiding Faith to Guiding FinanceBefore he was helping families secure finance, Shimon Shmerling was on a completely different path — studying to become a junior rabbi. His world revolved around purpose, service, and understanding human behaviour on a deeper level.In this episode, Shimon shares how that foundation shaped the broker he is today. We get into the shift from spiritual study to finance, the moment he realised he was meant to help people in a different way, and how perspective and self-awareness guide every decision he makes.It’s a story about contribution, unde...
2025-12-0239 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#12: Victoria Cakakios: From Fashion Racks to Loan StacksBefore she ever stepped into broking, Victoria Cakakios was chasing a very different dream, one built on runways, glossy shoots, and the idea of working in high fashion.She did the internships.She worked backstage at the Melbourne Fashion Show.She did everything you’re “meant” to do to break into the industry.And then she saw it up close.The stress.The competitiveness.The cattiness.The “who are you?” energy that hits you the moment you walk in the room.Very qui...
2025-11-2536 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#11: Sam Panetta: From Car Panels to Lender PanelsBefore he was coaching brokers on how to scale, Sam Panetta was on the tools — a spray painter who built his career from pure work ethic and grit.No finance degree. No contacts. Just discipline and a hunger to build something bigger.When he made the jump into broking, he didn’t ease in — he went all-in.In his first year, Sam wrote around $60 million in loans, learning the game the hard way and proving that hustle and structure can outperform pedigree.He then b...
2025-11-1837 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#10: Lewis Wigington: From Serving the Country to Servicing LoansLewis knew what he wanted before most kids even knew who they were.As a schoolboy, he dreamt of earning his place in Australia’s elite Special Forces.He did it. Became a Commando. Lived the discipline, the brotherhood, the pressure.But somewhere along the line, the fire shifted.In this episode, Lewis talks about what happens when the purpose that once defined you starts to fade — and how he found a new one in finance.It’s a conversation about...
2025-11-1138 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#09: Joseph Mascaro: From Posting Packages to Packaging DealsThis week we head down the South Coast to chat with Joe Mascaro, the friendly face behind Aussie Vincentia and Aussie Nowra — a husband, dad, and lifelong local who’s turned customer service into a superpower.Before he was helping families secure homes, Joe was running the Vincentia Post Office and helping out in his family’s grocery store, learning early that good business starts with good people. Those years serving the local community taught him how to listen, problem-solve, and genuinely care — skills that now make him the kind of...
2025-11-0434 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#08: Marcus Powell: From Stonegrill to SettlementMarcus’s career started under the hood — literally.As a teenager, he took on a mechanical apprenticeship, learning the value of precision, patience, and getting his hands dirty.From there, he jumped into car sales — first consumer, then fleet — where he swapped tools for talk and discovered he had a knack for reading people and closing deals.But when his parents packed up from Western Sydney to open a restaurant in Jervis Bay, Marcus followed — and stayed.For 20 years, he worked every corner of that family business: early morn...
2025-10-3145 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#07: Dan Bercolli: From Filling Roles to Settlin' LoansDan’s story isn’t linear — it’s layered.He grew up in his parents’ coffee shop, learning early that business starts with people, not profit.That lesson carried him through a career in law, a stint in recruitment, and eventually into broking — where all three collide.We get into the beauty and ills of recruitment: the high of helping someone find their fit, and the grind of dealing with people who don’t know what they want.Dan talks candidly...
2025-10-2858 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#06: Rory McGrath: From School Dropout to Schooling the IndustryThis one’s raw.Rory opens up about growing up tough, leaving school early, and making the call to walk away from a life that could’ve gone very differently.It’s not a highlight reel — it’s a reckoning.We talk about the moments that force you to grow up fast, the people who pull you forward, and the grit it takes to rebuild yourself from scratch.Today, he’s leading Aurelius Capital — sharp, grounded, and building something real. But the story behind that success? It’s all earned.A reminder that...
2025-10-2439 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#05: Peter Savage: From Machine Operator to Machine of a BrokerFrom factory floor to financial force — Peter Savage’s story is proof that mindset trumps background.Before founding his fast-growing brokerage, Peter was a machine operator who spent his nights learning about property and wealth creation. He didn’t come from money — he came from grit, curiosity, and a hunger to build something bigger.In this episode, we dive into how Peter went from working-class roots to writing hundreds of loans a year. We talk early days on the tools, how a few smart property plays changed his outlook, and the...
2025-10-2143 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#04: Katie Norbury: From Content Strategy to Portfolio StrategyBefore she was “Katie the Broker,” Katie was building brands, not broking deals.After eight years in marketing across London and Brisbane, buying her first home opened her eyes to how confusing the process can be — and it sparked a whole new career.Now, she’s helping first-home buyers feel confident, informed, and seen. We chat about her leap from marketing to mortgages, how storytelling became her superpower, and why leading with heart matters more than ever.
2025-10-1747 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#03: Jimmy Shepherd: From Flame-Grilled to Fully FundedIn this episode, we sit down with Jimmy Shepherd, who’s lived a tale of two SAs — moving from South Africa to South Australia by way of Melbourne, chasing opportunity, hard work, and a little bit of peri-peri heat along the way.Jimmy’s story starts behind the counter at Nando’s, where a casual job for “beer money” turned into a full-blown dream — owning five restaurants and building a reputation for leadership, grit, and good humour.He eventually swapped chicken for chapters in finance, joining Aussie Home Loans, despite openly...
2025-10-1430 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#02: Joseph Daoud: From Late Night Drives to Late Night DealsIn this episode, we sit down with It’s Simple Finance founder Joseph Daoud for a raw, heartfelt chat about life before, during, and beyond broking.We dig into upbringing, family bonds, and the moments that shaped both the man and the business — with a few unexpected cameos from Joseph’s young son, Charlie, along the way.(Quick heads up — the audio on my end isn’t perfect in this one, but the conversation more than makes up for it.)A grounded, human look at how fam...
2025-10-1044 min(Anything But) Banker to Broker#01: Mohammed Zahr: From Steel Caps to SettlementsAt 25, Mohammed Zahr was knee-deep in construction dust, chasing a paycheck but craving purpose. Weekends were spent studying property, finance, and the path to something more. One interviewer told him, “Broking is for you.”It took another year — and a few detours — before he made the leap. By April 2022, Mohammed started as a broker support officer, and just two weeks in, he knew he’d found his thing. Fast-forward to today and he’s the face behind Zahr Financial, helping first-home buyers, investors, and families navigate the lending maze with calm clarity.In this episode, we talk abou...
2025-10-0745 min