Franchisee and broker Evelyn Burton explains how she turned a gift for numbers and a knack for customer service into a successful broking and mentoring career
Q: Who or what inspired you to become a broker?
A: Right from the start, having achieved good results in maths at school I have always felt I was good with numbers. It seemed to come easy, and I enjoyed the challenge of searching for appropriate solutions. So when the opportunity came up to join a large bank I jumped on board and within a few short years became the head teller of their largest branch in Sydney. Whilst there I enhanced my financial skills and found a real passion for customer service, so when the mortgage business that my husband started had grown to the point where I could join him and have flexible working hours to suit our daughter, I dared greatly and left the safety of the full-time PAYG world. This is where I have since found my purpose, my true vocation.
Q: What’s one of your recent career highlights?
A: This year I was graciously nominated by one of my mentees for the MFAA’s Women in Finance awards, in the category of Mentor of the Year. I was absolutely delighted. It was only in late 2018 that I started a mentoring program for new brokers and support staff. Being named a finalist was more than I could have expected, but to me the biggest highlight was being able to celebrate with my fantastic staff and colleagues.
Q: If you won $1m, what would you do with it?
A: Well, this is a tricky one with so many possibilities, but I think I would ensure my family are all OK and managing, then I would want to donate a goodly sum to two charities close to my heart: Starlight Children’s Foundation, where I am a volunteer wish granter, and Aussie’s charity partner Oz Harvest, which provides food for the destitute and homeless. I would possibly want to save a small sum for myself and maybe buy a bigger motorbike too.
Q: What’s one thing, personal or professional, that you hope to achieve before 2020?
A: On a professional level I am working towards assisting my two new mentees to achieve $2m a month in settlements and then make this a consistent goal through 2020. On a personal level, I hope to have built my profile on social media such as LinkedIn, Google and Twitter to become a recognisable presence, and to utilise the skills that I recently acquired while attending the ANZ Doyenne program.
