Support staff are unsung heroes, he says
BDM in the Spotlight and State Manager in the Spotlight are a part of a regular series, giving brokers insight into the lives of some of the country’s leading relationship managers.
MPA spoke to ORDE Financial senior BDM Tim Lemon about his favourite part of the job, what brokers should be demanding from a BDM and lender relationship, and his take on how industry-wide changes could benefit brokers.
Before entering the finance industry, where he has worked for 18 years, Lemon worked in a variety of roles. Among the most notable was working as a seafood delivery driver in Alberta, Canada.
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According to Lemon, one of the attributes that sets successful brokers apart is having the backing of great support staff.
“Our jobs can be challenging, so without good people behind us, things can become almost impossible,” Lemon said. “I strongly believe that a broker’s support staff are sometimes the unsung heroes of our industry.”
Name: Tim Lemon
Years in the industry: 18
Company: ORDE Financial
Location: Sydney
- Briefly describe your role and how you support brokers:
As a senior BDM, my role is to ensure I am saying yes to the right type of applications for ORDE.
I support my brokers by workshopping every scenario to ensure we find that right solution for every customer.
- A goal that you aim to achieve in your role this year?
My number-one goal this year is to get as many brokers as possible to give ORDE a try, so they can see why I love working at ORDE so much.
ORDE has done a great job at putting together the best of the best in our industry to ensure every application has the great chance of success.
- What’s your favourite part of the job?
Helping a customer who has gone through a tough life event and getting them back on track financially. I get to do that every day at ORDE.
- What should brokers be demanding from a BDM and lender relationship?
Brokers should be demanding a mutually beneficial relationship from their BDMs and lender partners.
Without brokers, borrowers would have lack of choice and flexibility, requiring them to navigate the home buying journey without real help. This can be daunting – even for the most informed and well-prepared customers.
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- Are there any industry-wide changes that you think would benefit brokers?
I believe diversification is so important for brokers.
The brokers that have benefited the most are the ones who have embraced writing commercial, SMSF, alt doc and credit-impaired loans.
It has also made their customer base so much stickier, as they have been able to assist more customers with their diverse product range.
- What do you provide to brokers that makes you valuable to them?
A strong knowledge of non-prime solutions: I strongly believe I am a one stop shop for all non-prime scenarios.
Brokers also have access to the entire ORDE team, who are experienced operators.
- Describe your ideal weekend
Spending time with family is what I enjoy most; but I am always happy to take a broker’s call on the weekend.
