Australian Broker's Spotlight Series — where we highlight standout players in Australia's finance and broking industries — is back.
This time we spoke with Chris Brown, the founder and chief executive officer of New Vision Group, parent company to 16 brands across finance, real estate, legal, insurance, property, technology and marketing, including Sydney-based brokerage New Vision Financial, where he serves as managing director and mortgage broker. Brown's firm works with clients nationwide across home loans, investment properties, refinancing, low-doc and self-employed loans, asset finance and business loans. He is also a real estate agent and property expert with nearly three decades of experience in the industry.
Australian Broker caught up with Brown to learn more about his journey into broking, what others can learn from his success and what he's seeing in the market at the moment.
"If there is something other brokers can take from my approach, it is that technical knowledge and personal service need to work together," Brown told Australian Broker. "Clients remember whether you explained things clearly, kept them informed and remained available when they needed help. The goal is to build relationships that last beyond one transaction."
The following interview has been edited for grammar and clarity.
CB: I’m Chris Brown, managing director of New Vision Financial Services and New Vision Real Estate, based in Sydney’s Hills District. My background is in banking, finance and the corporate sector. That experience gave me an understanding of how lenders assess risk and structure transactions. But it also highlighted how important it is for clients to have someone who can explain their options clearly and understand their broader goals.
Moving into broking was a natural progression. I wanted to bring that financial knowledge into a more personalised service, helping people navigate decisions that can have a significant impact on their lives. Working across both finance and real estate also gives me a broader perspective. I understand that a loan sits within a bigger picture, whether someone is buying their first home, growing an investment portfolio or managing a business.
CB: I wanted to build a business where personal service and a complete understanding of the client’s circumstances were central to the experience. Having worked in the corporate world for many years, I could see an opportunity to combine strong technical knowledge with a more accessible, relationship-focused approach. Establishing New Vision Financial Services gave me the opportunity to shape that service and the standards behind it. For me, the goal is to build relationships that last beyond one transaction. People’s circumstances change. They start families, change jobs, establish businesses and purchase additional properties. I want our business to remain a useful point of contact through those changes.
CB: In the current environment, I would be careful about describing any segment as 'hot.' My view is that the strongest need is for lending that improves affordability, provides appropriate flexibility and gives borrowers greater confidence about their cash flow. Refinancing and reviewing existing loans are particularly relevant when interest rates are elevated. Sometimes the right outcome is negotiating with the existing lender; sometimes it is moving to another lender. The decision needs to account for fees, features and the remaining loan term, as well as the interest rate.
The areas we assist with include first-time home purchases, owner-occupied and investment lending, and finance for self-employed borrowers. For self-employed clients, understanding the business and presenting the financial information clearly can be especially important. We have also seen an increase in commercial loan enquiries in the last six months.
CB: I put it down to understanding people, doing the preparation properly and following through. A client needs to know that you understand what they are trying to achieve. That means asking questions beyond the immediate loan amount: what their priorities are, what could change in their circumstances, and what repayments will realistically feel like within their household budget.
I also believe in being direct. If something is unlikely to work, I would rather explain that early and help the client develop a practical path forward. My experience across finance and real estate helps me consider how the lending decision connects with the property decision. That broader perspective is a valuable part of what I bring. If there is something other brokers can take from my approach, it is that technical knowledge and personal service need to work together. Clients remember whether you explained things clearly, kept them informed and remained available when they needed help.
CB: My interpretation of the current market is that affordability and financial resilience are becoming more important considerations than simply maximising borrowing. The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) latest assessment points to weaker housing activity alongside ongoing inflation and global uncertainty. In that environment, I expect borrowers to place greater weight on repayments, flexibility and the ability to manage unexpected expenses. That makes refinancing, loan reviews and comparisons between variable, fixed and split structures relevant conversations. The appropriate choice depends on the client’s circumstances. Certainty has value. But it needs to be weighed against features, restrictions and potential costs.
Self-employed lending is another area where careful lender selection matters. Different lenders assess business income differently. So understanding the financial position and providing suitable documentation are central to the process. I would avoid calling a particular loan type the most popular without supporting data. What matters most to me is whether the structure suits the borrower’s objectives and remains manageable if conditions change.
