After a decade in banking, many professionals look for the next logical step. For Rocky Lim (pictured), founder and managing director of RL Financial Group, that next move turned out to be mortgage broking – a path that started with uncertainty but evolved into a deeply rewarding career anchored in fundamentals, support, and mentoring.
Lim, an Excellence Awardee at the 2025 Australian Mortgage Awards, didn’t enter broking with a grand plan. Instead, it was a considered yet uncertain shift.
“I moved into mortgage broking six years ago after spending a decade in banking," he says. "At the time, I was not entirely sure which direction to take, but broking felt like a natural next step where I could continue helping people while learning something new.
“The early days were challenging and there was a lot to figure out, but with time, patience, and persistence, it became a very rewarding path.”
Today, Lim specialises in all areas of home lending, from guiding first-home buyers to supporting families with property investment and complex lending structures, working with “over 30 lenders to choose from” to find suitable solutions for clients across Australia.
Looking back over his six years in broking, Lim points to a clear positive shift: brokers today are better supported than ever.
“The introduction of better systems and AI-based tools has made the process more efficient and manageable. When I first started, these supports were limited,” he says.
“The shift toward digital processes, especially during COVID, has also helped make things smoother for both brokers and clients.”
For Lim, these changes don’t replace the broker’s role; they amplify it. With better tools and systems, brokers can spend more time on what really matters: understanding clients, structuring deals properly, and guiding people through complex decisions.
Despite improved technology, Lim is clear that broking is not a plug-and-play career.
“A challenge I see is that some brokers enter the industry without a strong finance background, which can make the learning curve steeper,” he says.
Broking, he says, ultimately comes back to mastering the basics.
“Spending time learning the fundamentals, working closely with clients, and having a supportive mentor can make a big difference. Guidance and experience are invaluable, especially in the early stages,” Lim says.
Lim’s emphasis on fundamentals and deeper questioning is rooted in real experience.
“I once worked with a client who was self-employed and had complex income, which made the loan assessment more difficult than expected," he says. "What seemed straightforward at the start required multiple revisions and additional documentation.”
The situation became a practical reminder that no two clients are the same – and that assumptions can be costly.
“The experience reinforced the importance of asking deeper questions early, setting realistic timelines, and being patient with both clients and lenders throughout the process,” Lim says.
When asked what he would say to aspiring or new brokers, Lim comes back to the same core ideas: support, mentoring, and long-term commitment.
“Get the right support and find a mentor who is willing to guide you properly," he says. "Broking is not easy at the start, but it is incredibly rewarding if you commit to learning, stay patient, and focus on doing the right thing for your clients.”
For him, the difference between burning out and building a sustainable career is who you learn from and how seriously you take the basics. In a fast-evolving, tech‑driven market, the brokers who last combine strong fundamentals and mentoring with a genuine commitment to client outcomes.
Lim’s journey shows that while tools evolve, the essentials don’t: master the fundamentals, lean on good mentors, and do right by the client.
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