A Queensland/Northern Territories BDM tells MPA about teaching, processing, and financing some unusual assets
A Queensland/Northern Territories BDM tells MPA about teaching, processing, and financing some unusual assets
BDMs can make or break a broker-lender relationship. In our new series we ask top BDMs the same eight questions, ranging from the serious to bizzare.
This week Darren Stratford, QLD/NT BDM for Bluestone Mortgages, told us about his role. Stratford has been in the industry for 28 years, entering finance after a year studying teaching, and also having a 10-year stint as a broker.
How often do you see brokers in a week?
As a BDM my role requires me to be visiting brokers daily. Face to face contact is critical in developing relationships and broker product knowledge.
What do brokers want most from you?
Brokers want me to be accessible and provide assistance that is both accurate and timely.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Assisting brokers in taking a difficult scenario onto application, approval and ultimately settlement.
What distinguishes the best brokers you deal with?
They have consistency in their attention to detail, accuracy in loan submission and realistic expectations of the complete loan process. They are highly proactive in mitigating concerns and overcoming obstacles. They seek and use advice from their BDM and have respect for the lending staff processing their applications.
Describe your ideal weekend:
As long as it includes plenty of sleep, backing some winners at the races, my sporting teams all winning, dining out on great food and wine and spending quality time with my wife and daughter then anything else is a bonus.
What’s the strangest lending scenario you've ever encountered?
A scenario for a broker with a client wanting a debt consolidation. Pretty normal until the broker advised his client didn't wish to include the payout of his ATO debt, but rather release equity to pay for his girlfriend he had met on-line to have a breast implant operation!
How do you like your steak done?
Medium rare and on still on the bone.
Darren Stratford
BDM - QLD / NT
e: [email protected]
p: 0419 333 993
Every Wednesday we’ll feature a different BDM from across Australia. If you’d like to be included, please email the editor.
