In the latest episode of Finance Specialist, hosts Liam Garman and Trent Carter examine how brokers should prepare for and respond to a cyber attack, as data breaches become an increasing risk for SMEs in financial services.

The discussion focuses on practical steps brokerages should have in place before an incident, including documented response plans, tested backups, and multi-factor authentication, before outlining what to do in the critical first 24–48 hours following a breach.

Garman and Carter also explore communication strategies with clients and regulators, the role of cyber insurance, and the importance of conducting a thorough post-incident review to prevent repeat attacks.

In this week's episode of Business Accelerator, Alex Whitlock and Jason Back unpack the mechanics of effective lead generation for modern brokers.

The conversation explores why word of mouth remains the highest-quality source of new business and why most brokers fail to systemise it. Back outlines how to activate referrals intentionally, identify "super referrers", and avoid relying on one-off asks at settlement.

They also examine the limits of unfocused social media, the ROI potential of well-run live events, and the importance of positioning yourself as the guide through structured, high-value content.

Finally, the episode tackles the operational side: speed to lead, inquiry handling, qualification, and the critical difference between a lead, an inquiry, and a prospect.

A practical discussion on reducing friction, improving conversion, and building a lead funnel that actually performs.

In this episode of Broker Daily Uncut, host Alex Whitlock is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to examine the apparent contradiction shaping Australia's property market: expectations of further rate rises alongside renewed lender confidence and resilient buyer demand.

With auction clearance rates holding firm across several capital cities and investor activity broadening, including younger entrants leveraging buyer's agents and family pledge structures, the trio explore why the market continues to defy traditional economic signals. The discussion highlights the return of 95 per cent LVR lending for investors, shifting fixed-rate pricing, and what these moves reveal about bank risk appetite.

The episode also delves into mounting concerns around rental appraisal accuracy, the accountability gap between brokers and buyer's agents, and lenders' tightening controls on income verification and servicing buffers. Rounding out the conversation is renewed competition in the SMSF lending space, with AMP's re-entry signalling cautious, but growing institutional confidence in long-term property fundamentals.

In the latest episode of Finance Specialist, hosts Liam Garman and Trent Carter examine the recent cyber breach of fintech platform youX and what it means for brokers handling sensitive client data.

With threat actors reportedly accessing borrower and broker information, including loan applications, credentials, and communication logs, the pair explore how breaches can fuel long-tail fraud, from email hijacking to AI-driven impersonation.

Carter says cyber security must be treated as a core business risk, not an IT afterthought. The episode outlines the "minimum viable security" brokers should implement – including multi-factor authentication, password management, patching, and staff training – and warns that in a trust-based industry, basic cyber hygiene is critical to protecting clients, reputation, and long-term viability.

On this special episode of Broker Daily Uncut, Broker Daily senior journalist Julian Barnes sits down with Cyber Daily's deputy editor, David Hollingworth, and Momentum Media's managing editor for mortgages, Annie Kane, to unpack the cyber incident that has rocked fintech platform youX.

youX, an asset finance technology provider used by thousands of brokers and aggregation group Viking Asset Aggregation, has confirmed that a threat actor has released data allegedly obtained from its platform.

The breach is reported to involve the personal and financial information of more than 400,000 borrowers, along with data linked to 797 broker organisations.

In this episode, the discussion looked at how the incident unfolded, what it means for brokers and their clients, and the broader implications for the mortgage and fintech sectors. They also discuss the steps brokers can take now to mitigate risk and strengthen their cyber resilience.

Tune in to find out what's at stake and what happens next.

In this week's episode of Business Accelerator, Alex Whitlock and Jason Back examine the hidden cost of neglected business hygiene, from outdated branding and inactive social channels to inconsistent messaging across platforms.

As consumer behaviour shifts from word-of-mouth discovery to word-of-mouth validation, they discuss why brokers are increasingly judged on what clients see online before making contact. Dormant LinkedIn profiles, stale websites, mismatched imagery, and fragmented branding can quietly erode trust, and you may never know you lost the deal.

The episode outlines how to conduct a practical business hygiene audit, assess whether your digital presence builds confidence, and decide which platforms genuinely deserve your focus.

Tune in to learn how tightening up the small details can protect credibility, support referrals, and ensure your business remains visible and relevant in 2026.

In this episode of Broker Daily Uncut, host Alex Whitlock is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos to unpack the strong start to the year across Australia's property markets, with auction clearance rates across the capital cities reflecting sustained buyer urgency despite tighter borrowing conditions.

While supply remains constrained and investor activity is accelerating, the discussion turns to the practical impact of reduced borrowing capacity, with brokers noting that clients on the same income today can access less than they could two to three years ago. The trio explore how that shift is influencing structuring decisions, lender selection, and turnaround priorities, particularly as some lenders deliver rapid approvals, while others lag in service and communication.

The episode also examines ASIC's tightening expectations around best interests duty, with brokers facing more detailed compliance reviews and increasing requirements to clearly justify product selection, especially where a chosen loan is not the cheapest available option. Rounding out the discussion is the growing use of AI tools in mortgage broking, from policy search and complex scenario analysis to SMSF servicing calculations, and whether automation enhances broker efficiency without displacing the human judgement central to complex lending advice.

In the latest episode of Finance Specialist, hosts Liam Garman and Trent Carter examine the major banks' aggressive push into business lending and what it signals for brokers operating in the SME and commercial credit space.

With latest data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority showing the top 10 banks' business lending books closing in on $1 trillion, the discussion unpacks why commercial credit has become such a priority for lenders. Carter explains how tightening margins in residential lending have driven banks to focus on higher-yielding, relationship-based business banking, where risk-adjusted pricing and cross-selling opportunities create stronger returns.

The episode also considers what this competitive shift means for brokers. Garman and Carter break down how familiarity and trust keep many SMEs with major banks, while challenger banks and specialist lenders carve out space through flexibility and faster decision making. For brokers, the message is clear: understanding lender segmentation, defining a niche, and knowing which funder suits which scenario is increasingly critical as competition intensifies across Australia's commercial credit landscape.