Andrea McNaughton outlines Loan Market's growth plans and explains why female brokers are more important than ever before
Over the course of her career Andrea McNaughton has worn many hats, from those of state general manager and then CEO at Ray White, to state director for Victoria at Loan Market.
At the start of this year she moved into another corner office when she took on the role of Loan Market executive director, working directly to support the group’s brokers.
“All business owners want the same thing. It’s all about what are the systems, processes and structures that I need, where do I find good people, and how do I manage growth and cash flow,” she says.
McNaughton’s remit to 2020 will see her focus on productivity, tech and customer relationships, supporting new-to-network and existing brokers through technology – from investments in the CRM to automated marketing tools – in addition to onboarding support staff and efficiency in processes.
“The next six months will be a bit more back-to-business, and the results will come for those who haven’t dropped the ball during all this uncertainty. The customer needs us more than ever,” she says.
There are hard targets in place too, specifically to increase the number of business owners across Australia by 100 before the end of the year.
“It’s a pretty strong target, and we are bringing on some really large businesses at the moment, so that has been exciting. Our pipeline is strong,” she says
Not only is McNaughton at the top of her game as a woman in the industry but she’s also leading Loan Market’s work to support other women in broking and finance.
This year saw the third instalment of the group’s Leading Ladies event, which took place in Byron Bay in late May.
There are some hard-hitting reasons as to why it is important for women to enter – and excel in – broking.
Not least the fact that clients often seek assistance from brokers who reflect their social and cultural background; and, with one in three women retiring without super, it’s imperative that female representation in finance remains strong.
“There’s never been a better time to be a broker and never a better time than now to be a female broker with regard to the position of trust that they are in with their clients and the state of financial health of women in Australia,” McNaughton says.
“We are giving them the skills to run local workshops on financial wellness and really get them advocating for their female clients.”
In turn, McNaughton is a strong advocate for female brokers, advising her peers to work together to generate results.
“It’s very hard to achieve a lot in business on your own. It’s important to surround yourself with a quality team, but also to enjoy what you do. It’s too hard if you don’t.”
