TV

[00:00:07] Kylie Speer: 
Hello and welcome to Australian Broker TV. I'm Kylie Speer and my guest today is Rachael Howlett, Senior Finance Strategist and Team Leader at Infinity Group Australia. Infinity Group has been recognized as one of the fastest growing brokerages in Australia in this year's Australian Broker Fast Brokerages special report. Welcome to you, Rachael. Kudos to you and the team. And thank you so much for joining us today. 

[00:00:38] Rachael Howlett: 
No, thank you so much for having me, Kylie. I'm very excited to be here. 

[00:00:43] Kylie Speer: 
Well, firstly, Rachael, with Infinity Group being named one of Australia's fastest growing brokerages, what do you think has driven this incredible growth from your perspective on the ground? 

[00:00:57] Rachael Howlett: 
Honestly, I think it really comes down to the fact that what we do really works. Infinity as a whole is not just about getting clients a loan and sending them on their way. It's about changing how they manage their money long-term and ongoing past having that loan and helping them take control of their financial future. So we combine education, structuring and accountability, and clients really see the difference that makes in their everyday lives. So that'll come down to things like having a relationship manager that they get to work with ongoing as a point of contact to help them manage a budget and do very large repayments into their home loan to pay that home loan down very, very quickly. It's a very niche offering in the market. And I think that's what's helped us grow very quickly because the more people we reach out to to show them that service offering, the more people want to work with us. So that kind of impact, I think, builds trust and trust then drives that growth. 

[00:01:52] Kylie Speer: 
How does this recognition reflect the vision and values that the leadership team has instilled across the business? 

[00:02:00] Rachael Howlett: 
Well, it's such a proud moment because it really shows that the vision Graeme and Bec have set out with when they first started to genuinely help Australians become financially free is being lived out every single day across the entire team. The leadership team at Infinity leads from the front. We're approachable, passionate, constantly reminding us of our client successes is our success as a whole. 

[00:02:26] Kylie Speer: 
Rachael, Infinity takes a bit of a unique approach, combining financial coaching with brokerage services. How has that worked out for your clients and for you and your role as a finance strategist and team leader? 

[00:02:43] Rachael Howlett: 
So what definitely is what makes us stand out and what makes my job so rewarding. As a finance strategist, I get to see firsthand how that coaching side completely changes the client's relationship with money and how they manage a loan. They don't just get a mortgage and we walk away, as I mentioned before. They're guided every step of the way to reduce their debt faster and build financial confidence. It's incredible watching our clients pay off, take years off their loans early and achieve goals that they once thought they'd never be able to achieve. So seeing that transformation and actually seeing it firsthand is what makes me love what I do. Because, you know, and having that relationship manager ongoing contact, we get to see it every day. Whereas we're not, you know, checking in years later. It's all on the ground all the time. 

[00:03:30] Kylie Speer: 
From your point of view, how is service quality and culture maintained as the team grows so rapidly? 

[00:03:38] Rachael Howlett: 
So Infinity's culture is really something special. So even as we grow, we still ensure that we stay connected. So there's constant communication, team support, that real sense of that everyone has each other's back. We celebrate wins together, we share learnings and the leadership team always keeps the Y front and center, which is, of course, helping everyday Australians pay out their debt really quickly and build wealth. 

[00:04:03] Kylie Speer: 
What kind of support, training or initiatives have helped you thrive in your role at Infinity? 

[00:04:11] Rachael Howlett: 
So Infinity really invests in its people. So we have ongoing structured training, coaching, continuous learning built into everything that we do. But what's just as valuable is the mentorship as well. So being surrounded by experienced, passionate leaders who are always willing to share their knowledge. There's a real focus on personal growth as well, building confidence, communication skills, and mindset. I think also promoting within as well is really important because I know for myself personally, I started in the business as a relationship manager. So I was working with the clients one-on-one with their budget. And as I kind of went through my journey, I was able to gain more skills through the mentorship programs that we have to be able to then get to where I am as a senior finance strategist and team leader that's now passing that wisdom on. 

[00:04:58] Kylie Speer: 
That's lovely. And finally, Rachael, looking ahead, what excites you most about Infinity's long-term goals and future direction? 

[00:05:08] Rachael Howlett: 
Oh, Infinity is growing and we're never losing sight of our purpose. We're expanding, we're embracing new technology. Technology is a big one for us. We're reaching more families as well. But at the heart of it all is we're still maintaining what we do best, helping Australians live debt free and financially empowering their lives, which of course passes it down to future generations as well. It's very inspiring to be part of a company that's not just growing for growth's sake, but growing to actually make a huge difference as well in the country. 

[00:05:40] Kylie Speer: 
Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Rachael, and congratulations once again on this well-deserved recognition. 

[00:05:49] Rachael Howlett: 
Thank you so much, Kylie. I really appreciate you giving us a platform to be able to share our story. 

[00:05:55] Kylie Speer: 
And thank you, of course, to our viewers for watching the latest episode of Australian Broker TV. We look forward to seeing you again soon.