Cara Julian is reshaping the way women approach finance.
The founder and director of Melbourne-based brokerage Brava Finance – and author of "Why You Should Date Your Bank, Not Marry Them" – knows firsthand what it's like to deal with financial uncertainty. With more than a decade of property investing experience, Julian combines professional expertise with lived experience to challenge outdated financial norms. Her mission is clear: to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to take control of their mortgage journey.
For Australian Broker's latest Spotlight Series – which highlights standout professionals in Australia's mortgage broking and finance industry – we caught up with Julian to hear more about her perspectives as a female broker and founder.
The following interview has been edited for grammar and clarity.
CJ: I’m not your average mortgage broker. And honestly, that’s the whole point. I didn’t come from a finance background. I didn’t grow up talking about money at the dinner table. I grew up in an era where men looked after the finances in a family or relationship. So, as an adult I naturally passed the responsibility on to my partners. As a result, I had very little financial knowledge or confidence of my own.
When both my long-term relationship and my marketing business didn’t survive COVID, I found myself feeling very financially vulnerable. The full weight of building financial security – not just for me, but also for my young daughter – was resting on my shoulders. It was an awful place to be and was determined to never feel that powerless again.
So, I retrained and became a broker. Now, my purpose is clear: to help improve women’s financial literacy, confidence and curiosity so they can take charge of their financial future. To me, financial literacy is ground zero for change. And I’m working with the industry to help rewrite the narrative.
CJ: Because the traditional mortgage world felt outdated and disconnected. I wanted to create something that felt human, empowering and actually helpful. Brava Finance was born out of the desire to make finance less scary and more strategic. I wanted a space where women could be curious and ask questions without being talked down to, feel supported (not sold to), and walk away more confident and in control than they started.
CJ: We’re a small team with a big mission. And thanks to Zoom and digital tools, we work with clients all over Australia. From Brunswick to Broome, we help people get clear on their numbers, confident in their decisions and connected to the right loan for them.
CJ: Home loans are our bread and butter: first home, refinancing or investing. But our superpower is helping women who are navigating major life transitions, like separation, rebuilding after financial uncertainty or entering the property market for the first time. We’re not about transactional broking. We focus on transformation. That means embedding empathy and education at every stage of the journey, so our clients feel supported, informed and in control.
Through trusted collaborations with specialists in commercial and asset finance, as well as financial planners, accountants, buyers advocates and family lawyers, we’re able to offer a complete, wraparound service. So no matter what your goals are, everything you need is available under the Brava Finance umbrella.
CJ: This book isn’t polite, and that’s exactly the point. It’s not just a mortgage guide; it’s a bold call-out of the outdated belief that men should handle the money and banks deserve your blind loyalty. (They don’t. And never did.) It's for every woman who’s been talked down to, shut out or made to feel like finance isn’t her territory. It’s direct, a bit cheeky and designed to shake things up. Because it’s time to build financial knowledge, grow confidence, spark curiosity, and start making smart money moves.
CJ: My lived experience is my biggest asset. I know what it feels like to start over, to feel overwhelmed and to want someone to just make it make sense. That insight helps me connect with clients in a way that feels safe and empowering. I bring empathy as a result — real empathy, not the scripted kind — because I’ve walked in those shoes. I know the fear, the doubt and the strength it takes to rebuild. And that makes all the difference in how I show up and support the women I work with.
CJ: We need more women, not just in the industry, but leading it. We need more decision-makers, more visibility and more space for diverse perspectives that reflect the real lives of the people we serve. Finance impacts everyone, yet leadership across the sector still skews heavily male. That lack of balance shapes how products are built, how advice is given and who feels seen or heard.
