Young Gun: Asha Long

MPA speaks to Asha Long and discovers why the future of mortgage broking is in good hands

Asha LongAsha Long
Loan Market, Campbelltown, NSW







Why did you move into mortgage broking?

I’ve always wanted to have my own business, and coming from an accounting/finance background my friends and family were always asking for my help on their finances. After building my house and purchasing an investment property, I understood the process and enjoyed helping others with it – so this was the perfect opportunity. 

What were you doing before moving into mortgage broking?

I have a degree in business, majoring in accounting and management, and spent the last 10 years working in finance across a number of roles at Woolworths Ltd. My most recent role prior to commencing my business was as a senior finance analyst for the Liquor Group (Dan Murphy’s, BWS and supermarkets).

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt on the job so far?

You need to follow your clients up because everyone is busy, and sometimes the clients may have questions but not have the time to call you to clarify. I try to call all my clients weekly during the loan submission stage to ensure they are updated on the status and know what’s going on. I’ve had great feedback from clients on this, as it means they don’t need to worry about what’s happening.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge was getting a good client database. Being new to the industry I didn’t have an existing database, so utilised social media to let everyone know of my new business. Word-of-mouth referrals then spread and I’ve found that these are the best leads, as you have been recommended by someone the clients trust.

​What has been your biggest achievement?

Setting up the company and exceeding my expectations of settlements in the first six months! When I decided to change careers, I knew that the first 12 months would be difficult and income would not be consistent. Getting through that initial stage and seeing my business grow above budget has been my biggest achievement.

What are the key strengths a person needs to make a go of mortgage broking?

They need to be able to manage their time well and set their own goals. As you work on your own, you don’t have someone pushing you to achieve anything, so you need to have the drive and motivation to do that.

What advice would you offer to others who are considering moving into mortgage broking?

Have a plan and stick to it! You need to treat the job as if you were getting up and going to work for someone else every day. I set myself daily targets the night before, so I know what I am working on for the day.

How do you go about generating leads and turning them into satisfied customers?

I use a variety of marketing tools, my most regular being social media (Facebook and LinkedIn), referrals from existing clients and referrals from local businesses.

Go back to MPA's Young Guns feature