Find out more about the BDM at one of Australia's top neobanks
BDM in the spotlight asks a different BDM the same questions – giving you regular insights into the lives of some of the top BDMs in the country.
Name: Ben Hutton
Years in the industry: 8 Years
Company: 86 400
Location: Brisbane, QLD
- What did you do before entering the industry?
Prior to entering the finance industry, I was finishing up my university degree. To be honest I just fell into finance. I am from a small country town so when I finished my university degree I needed to find employment somewhere. After applying for roles in Sydney across a fairly broad spectrum I had the opportunity to interview for an operations role in a private bank. I was offered the role and the following week moved to Sydney to start my career.
- How often do you see mortgage brokers in a week?
It would normally be between 15-25 meetings per week. I try to keep face to face with brokers as much as possible as it helps me keep focused during the day with key meeting agendas. This also means that I need to make sure my days and weeks are effectively planned out ahead of time.
- What do mortgage brokers want most from you?
To pick up the phone. This has been the biggest feedback I have had from brokers across mortgage, commercial and asset finance. The biggest frustration brokers have indicated to me is when their BDM isn’t contactable. I attempt to make sure I always get back to my broker partners as soon as possible on the same day they call. I even update my voicemail every day to hold myself accountable to this and let the broker know I am accessible.
- What is your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is the relationships you build across the industry. Not just with the brokers I have the pleasure to work with but also the other BDMs.
- What distinguishes the best brokers you deal with?
The best brokers I have worked with have been those willing to and are excited by diversifying their offering to their clients. This to me indicates a real drive to better understand their clients overall position and how to help them across a wider spectrum.
- What’s your ideal weekend?
My ideal weekend is a nice drive out of the city to some of the great smaller communities around Brisbane. Going for a hike and then dropping into a local café or pub afterwards really reminds me of my time growing up in a small country town. It’s just a nice relaxing way to spend either a Saturday or Sunday.
- What’s the strangest lending scenario you’ve ever encountered?
Not so much the strangest but certainly the most complicated. During my time in private banking we undertook the finance of a commercial premises for a specialist client. They were a three-way partnership purchasing a multitenancy commercial premises under SMSF. The shear amount of trusts needed to complete the deal was astounding compared to most settlements I had completed in the past.
- What's your top time-saving tip and how much time does it save you?
I really like to pre make my breakfast. On a Sunday I will make up some overnight oats to cover the whole week. It’s simple to do and saves a surprising amount of time in the morning so that you don’t need to worry about cooking and then cleaning up before I start the work day.
- What’s your favourite meal?
Tacos. People who know me well have seen how passionate I can be about tacos. Particularly when it comes to the debate as to which is better, soft or hard shell. The answer is hard shell by the way 😊
