Former BEN area manager opens brokerage

The move marks a return to broking for Mr Virmani, who was principal and franchise owner at Smartline Mortgage Advisers in Adelaide between 2014-19.

He had previously spent nearly 10 years with the Westpac Group, in a range of bank management roles.

Speaking of his move back into broking, he told The Adviser: “Every entrepreneur has a different story. For me, my career move was from corporate to business, then business to corporate, and now fully back to being an entrepreneur. I had truly missed the business side and having full control of my destiny.

“It is extremely satisfying when I say: ‘I am a business owner’. It is a great feeling to be able to step back and say: ‘This is my company’ and hold my head up with pride. 

“There is a lot of hard work involved in a start-up, but it is creating my brand and legacy,” he added.

“I am extremely passionate about helping and supporting my clients and being back in my business gives me the opportunity to turn my passion and beliefs into a business.”

The Think Mortgage broker said he hoped to help make the home buying experience “breezy and stress-free” for clients, support them to “prudently climb the property ladder” and “streamline the process to make [his] customers’ dream a reality”.

The new office, which opened on 1 March 2022, is based in Adelaide, with Mr Virmani stating that he hopes to have eventually have “pop-up offices” all around Adelaide, led by a team of “experienced mortgage advisers”.

“No business is a one-team show,” he told The Adviser.

“A great team is what makes any business successful. We will be a team to commit to the promise made to the client: to make their dream come true of being a homeowner.”

[Related: Brokers optimistic despite economic uncertainty]