"Advisers are busy. Sometimes it's just about being the person who stays on their radar," he says
The annual New Zealand Mortgage Awards are right around the corner.
This year's celebration — scheduled for April 10 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Auckland War Memorial Museum — brings together the nation's top talent in the mortgage world, as the industry shines a light on best practices and leadership over the last year.
Attendees include commercial mortgage advisers, lenders, aggregators, business development managers, brokerages, loan administrators and service providers, all of whom come to mingle, learn about new trends in the mortgage space and hopefully take home one of the coveted awards.
The 2025 celebration includes an appearance by New Zealand's own radio and television host Jeremy Corbett, who will serve as MC, and DJ Venetia supplying the tunes.
Non-bank lender Liberty Financial will once act as event partner. Sponsors include Avanti Finance, Basecorp Finance, Bizcap, FAMNZ, Finbase, Finsure New Zealand, First Mortgage Trust, Kiwi Advisor Network, Link Financial Group, NZFSG, Pepper Money, Prospa and XCEDA.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Ahead of this year's event, New Zealand Adviser is talking to past winners and sponsors for their thoughts on the market, why it's important to attend and what others can do to stand out.
New Zealand Adviser sat down with Slow to find out what others can learn from him, how he best works with advisers and his thoughts on the market. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.
NZA: What is the secret to your success? Why do you think you won?
Slow: Honestly, it comes down to the team and the product we’ve built. I’m just the one out there talking about it. But the real work happens behind the scenes. We’ve got an incredible group of people making sure advisers have the best tools and support to grow their businesses. If I had to pinpoint a secret, it’s just showing up every day with a genuine desire to help advisers succeed.
NZA: How did your company help support you throughout the year?
Slow: I couldn’t do what I do without the backing of a great team. Whether it's refining our software, improving our compliance support or just making sure advisers get the answers they need, everything I do is a reflection of the work happening behind the scenes. It’s easy to be passionate about what you’re selling when you know it genuinely makes advisers’ lives easier.
NZA: What makes Kiwi Adviser Network special in the advisory space?
Slow: It’s the mix of technology, compliance support and community. We’re not just an aggregator. We actually care about helping advisers run better businesses. We’ve got leading-edge tech that simplifies processes. But beyond that, we’ve built a culture where advisers feel supported and part of something bigger. That’s hard to replicate.
NZA: What can competitors learn from your firm?
Slow: I think the biggest thing is not just selling a service, but actually investing in advisers' success. It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about understanding what advisers need to grow and then delivering on that, consistently.
NZA: What are some of your best practices as a sales manager? What are you doing as a BDM that others are not doing?
Slow: I spend a lot of time listening rather than talking. Every adviser’s business is different and you can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. A big part of my role is making sure they feel heard and that we’re actually solving their problems, not just selling them a product.
NZA: What kind of advice would you have for BDMs who are hoping to be recognized in the year ahead?
Slow: Focus on relationships, not transactions. If you genuinely care about helping people succeed, the results will come. And don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups. Advisers are busy. Sometimes it’s just about being the person who stays on their radar.
NZA: What are some of your best practices for working with advisers? And lenders?
Slow: For advisers, it’s about making things as easy as possible, whether that’s helping them navigate compliance, streamlining processes, or just being available when they need support. With lenders, it’s about clear communication and making sure everyone’s on the same page. When advisers and lenders work well together, clients win.
NZA: What are your thoughts on New Zealand's loan and property markets as we enter into the back half of 2025?
Slow: We’re seeing a lot of movement, with interest rates stabilizing and buyer confidence improving. There’s still a bit of hesitancy. But advisers who focus on educating clients and guiding them through the process are in a strong position. It’s a market that rewards proactive engagement.
NZA: What trends are you seeing in the market at the moment?
Slow: There’s a push towards efficiency. Advisers want to spend less time on admin and more time with clients. That’s why technology is playing such a big role. We’re also seeing more mortgage advisers diversifying into areas like KiwiSaver and personal risk insurance to add more value to their clients.
