At just 17, Dylan Khal walked into Mortgage One for a week of work experience – and never looked back. Today, he’s a rising mortgage broker with a passion for helping clients navigate life’s biggest financial decisions.
From high school graduate to trusted adviser, Khal’s journey is proof that the right mentorship and mindset can launch a lasting career.
Khal’s journey into mortgage broking began early – and decisively. In 2017, while still in high school, he spent a week doing work experience at Mortgage One. It was an opportunity that turned out to be more than just a glimpse into the industry.
“It was set up by an older relative who thought I would be suited to the finance game,” he says. “I spent the week shadowing my mentor Michael Khoury who has been in the industry for a long time. After a small taste, I knew straight away it was an industry I wanted to forge my career in.”
Khal was drawn to the variety of people and problems the job presented – and the satisfaction of helping clients through financial milestones.
“There was the appeal of dealing with different customers from a variety of industries almost on a daily basis,” he says. “After my week ended, I was offered a full-time administration role which I accepted and started as soon as I graduated high school.”
For Khal, one of the most rewarding industry developments has been the growing trust Australians place in mortgage brokers.
“In my opinion, the substantial increase in broker market share that I’ve been able to witness is a testimony to the rising trust and dependency on our expertise,” he says.
This growth has reinforced his decision to pursue broking as a long-term career.
“The fact that more customers than ever are choosing a broker to assist with their finance gives me the confidence and comfort that I have chosen the right industry to build my career in,” Khal says.
While Khal acknowledges the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the mortgage process, Khal is cautious about becoming overly reliant on technology.
“The integration of AI and becoming too digitised may pose a threat to mortgage brokers soon,” he says. “Those who don’t adapt to the new technology may not be able to maintain the same level of certain services but on the other side an overuse of technology may start to make some parts of the industry redundant.”
Khal believes the solution lies in balance.
“By integrating AI effectively, clients can benefit from the peer-to-peer relationship aspect whilst improving efficiency and maintaining a competitive edge, a healthy balance between the two,” he says.
One of Khal’s most powerful memories as a broker came from helping a woman rebuild her life after fleeing a traumatic situation overseas.
“She had only recently arrived in Australia with her infant daughter seeking safety from a traumatising divorce with her ex-partner overseas,” he says.
“Not only was this one of my most difficult loans to get approved as her business was only just transitioning to Australia, it was also a highly emotional transaction as I could see how much this new start would mean to this young family after all they had been through.
“It was such a grounding experience that reminded me why I do what I do, knowing that I brought a ray of joy into a dark situation for this woman and her young daughter.”
For those starting out in the industry, Khal emphasises the importance of building trust and human connection.
“Seek to build a relationship with your clients rather than just providing a service that can be easily replaced,” he says. “These relationships will pay dividends in their loyalty and trust in you and will significantly increase the likelihood they refer you to others.”
Khal also reminds brokers to look after themselves to ensure longevity in the industry.
“Prioritise a work-life balance to sustain long-term success and avoid burning out,” he says.
