Featured Stage 0: Maximisation Article

Whose side are Mortgage Brokers on?

Wondering if mortgage brokers work for you or the bank? Learn how mortgage brokers in NZ are paid, what they do and how they can help you find the right mortgage.

Zhiyang Cheng,
Commercial Director & Financial Adviser

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Stage 0: Maximisation FAQ

Do you only deal with mortgages?

No. We provide advice across mortgages, KiwiSaver, and insurance. Each affects the other, so we look at all three together. Your KiwiSaver strategy, your insurance cover, and your lending structure should all be working in the same direction.

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What's a Loan Structure Meeting?

Once we have your strategy in place, we walk you through our full recommendation — what we’re suggesting, why, and what the alternatives look like. We cover repayment approach, interest rate selection, any advanced facilities like revolving credit, the risks involved, and how the structure might change based on your preferences.

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How do you structure a loan — and why does it matter?

Structure determines how flexible your lending is, how fast you can repay, and whether you can move again when opportunity arises. We look at fixed vs floating splits, revolving credit, offset facilities, and repayment strategy — not just the rate. A poorly structured loan can cost you years.

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What's the difference between a pre-approval and a full approval?

A pre-approval gives you confirmed borrowing capacity before you’ve found a property. It’s conditional — subject to the property valuation and final checks. Full approval comes once you have a specific property and the bank has assessed everything. We manage both stages for you.

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What does the advice process look like?

We follow a clear eight-step process from first conversation to long-term partnership: 1. Fact Find: You complete your client profile through our secure online portal. This covers your income, assets, liabilities, goals, and employment — everything we need to assess your full financial position. No printing, no scanning, no back-and-forth emails. 2. Borrowing Summary We take what you’ve shared and prepare a comprehensive borrowing summary — including up-to-date property valuations using bank-level e-Valuations. This gives us a clear, accurate starting point before we sit down together. 3. Strategy Meeting We meet via Google Meet, phone, or face to face — typically 25 to 45 minutes depending on your situation. We walk through your options, answer your questions, and raise things you may not have considered. By the end, you’ll have an initial plan and a clear view of what we’re recommending and why. 4. Proposal We follow up with a written summary of our advice — what we’re recommending, the reasoning behind it, and what happens next. Nothing moves forward until you’re comfortable with the plan. 5. Application Submission Once you’re ready to move, we prepare your file and submit to the right lender. You’ll have a dedicated settlement specialist managing the process alongside your mortgage adviser. 6. Loan Structure Confirmation Before settlement, we hold a focused meeting to lock in the details of your mortgage structure — fixed vs floating splits, revolving credit, offset accounts, interest rate strategy. This is where the plan becomes real. 7. Settlement Legal documents are sent to your solicitor, who reviews and accepts them on your behalf. On settlement day, the bank releases funds and your solicitor distributes them to the relevant parties. You’re in your property. 8. Ongoing Support Settlement is the beginning, not the end. As your fixed terms come up, your situation changes, or you’re ready to make your next move — we’re involved. Reviews, restructures, equity access, and long-term planning. That’s the relationship we’re building.

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Where do I start?

With a conversation. We’ll get a clear picture of your goals, your current financial position, and where you want to go. From there, we can tell you exactly what’s possible and what we’d recommend.