Bernie Lewis joins major aggregator

The brokerage currently employs 20 mortgage advisers across South Australia, and was one of the first to diversify into the financial planning space through its subsidiary business, Bernie Lewis Financial Solutions.

“Our partnership with Choice Aggregation will allow us to better support clients by providing a more diverse panel of lenders, as well as helping to drive increased efficiencies in our business and improved delivery of customer service,” Bernie Lewis managing director Mark Lewis said.

“Choice’s use of the world-class CRM system SalesForce within their Podium software platform, as well as the collaborative approach of their staff to work with and improve on our existing business, were key selling points for us in making this decision,” Mr Lewis said.

Choice Aggregation Services chief executive Stephen Moore said the new partnership would align strongly with both businesses’ strategy for growth.

“We are delighted to be partnering with such a high-profile and high-quality business in Bernie Lewis Home Loans,” Mr Moore said.

“Bernie Lewis is one of the most recognised names in the local mortgage industry, with expertise and a very strong customer focus.

“We appreciate that this was a very well-considered decision by Bernie Lewis and are confident the support we provide through our award-winning technology platform, Podium 2.0, the flexibility of our full-service business model, and our comprehensive program of professional development and broker engagement, will allow Bernie Lewis to take their business to the next level in 2015 and beyond,” he said.

Choice achieved a 128 per cent increase in volumes over the 2014 financial year as well as winning the Australian Broking Award for Aggregator of the Year.

Mr Moore said the aggregator was strongly positioned to continue its growth trajectory over the coming year.

“We are committed to continuing to provide the kind of tailored support that saw our business model resonate so strongly in the market in 2014,” he said.

“Through partnering with brokers to improve and grow their individual businesses, we hope to be able to take on many more quality brokerages and members in the course of 2015.”

[Related: Aggregator reports strong growth in broker numbers]