With a passion for helping others, industry veteran Deb Hutchings (pictured above), founder of REFS Australia, a mentoring provider endorsed by the MFAA, uses her 30 years of financial services experience to mentor new brokers.
Hutchings began her career at 23 as a bank manager before transitioning to mortgage broking.
“Finance is something that I've always been in,” she said.
Hutchings launched REFS Australia to provide full-time mentoring, driven by a desire to pass on her skills to the next generation.
New brokers seek professional, competent mentors.
“MFAA endorsement has lifted that standard,” Hutchings said. “It’s a good strategy for ensuring understanding of the requirements and standards mentors need to meet.”
For Hutchings, mentoring is about being a brains trust for a new broker, but not doing the work for the mentee.
“It’s someone who's walked their path, someone who understands exactly what they're going through,” she said.
Hutchings advised new brokers to find a mentor who is a good fit.
“The personality type of the mentor, finding someone that is going to be your first port of call that you can talk to, communicate with effectively, and teach you what you want out of the mentoring program,” she said.
Experienced brokers considering mentorship should focus on guiding and supporting new brokers.
“Put your thoughts around how wonderful it is to support your mentees,” Hutchings said. "To be that person they can lean on as someone who's walked their path.”
See LinkedIn post here.
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