Name: Miriam Agnos
Company: Smartline
Current role: Principal
Years in broking: Two-and-a-half years

Where has the majority of your business come from over the past six months?

A mix of investors and first homebuyers.

What was the highest selling product over the past six months?

Definitely the professional package.

Where do you intend to increase business over the next 12 months?

Commercial - a lot of my clients are keen to explore commercial property.

What is the most effective form of advertising for your business?

Direct mail - but it's kept to a minimum. My marketing budget goes into my clients, and that's where my business comes from.

The majority of my referrals come via:

More than 80% of referrals come from my clients, followed by financial planners.

No. of loans settled per month/year:

Between eight and 12 per month, but growing fast.

Record month:

17 loans

Average month:

10 loans

Average loan amount:

$280,000

Short-term goal:

To move into my own professional office premises

Twelve-month plan:

To expand my support staff. I want to increase my PA's hours to full-time and bring on another staff member.

Preferred lender and reason:

CBA - due to its flexible credit policy.

Biggest career challenge and how was this overcome?

My biggest career challenge has been to maintain a work-life balance. Being in the building phase of my business, it takes real discipline to make sure you take time out so that you don't burn out.

Every broker needs...

A PA, now that I have one!

In my spare time

I like to... Spend as much time with my kids - Krystina, nine and Jimmy, six - as I can. I've also taken up riding a motorbike, which is great fun.