Referral app drives record volumes

Mr Bartlett was named Newcomer of the Year at the 2013 Australian Broking Awards and plans to compete for the Broker of the Year title in 2014.

He told The Adviser that volumes had jumped about 30 per cent since his win last August, mainly because of growth in his referral network.

He said he had kept building trust with his referrers so that they were now strongly promoting his business to their clients.

The referral relationships have been enhanced by an iPhone app he launched in 2012. The referrers feed data directly into Mr Bartlett’s system via the app – and data also flows back the other way so the referrers are kept in the loop about how he has been handling their clients.

That builds even more trust and provides an incentive for more referrals, he added.

Mr Bartlett recruited a loan processor earlier this month to go with the processor he hired 18 months ago.

He has also just signed a lease for new premises. The franchise's current site is 47 square metres, while the new office, which will be occupied in June, is 100 square metres, Mr Bartlett said. The three-staff franchise will add two more loan writers soon after the relocation, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bartlett and about 20 friends will take part in the Ride for Recovery cancer fundraiser over Easter.

He has set a fundraising target of $4,500 for the charity ride, which will travel from Adelaide to Melbourne. Click here to donate to the fundraising effort.

Submissions for the 2014 Australian Broking Awards are now open. Visit www.australianbrokingawards.com.au for more information.