We find out the reasons why Ms Inglis established her online platform, her background with broking, and what else needs to be done to encourage women in the industry.
According to MFAA figures, the number of women in the broking industry is steadily falling. It's a stark realisation, but some in the industry have taken it upon themselves to address this internally.
Alycia Inglis is the broker, director and founder of Stoneturn but she’s also the creator of “Women in Mortgage Broking – Make it Happen” – a digital support network for women with 125 members on Facebook alone.
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How did you become a broker?
I was working in corporate tax originally, but a good friend of mine was a mortgage broker and he had fallen into broking at Wizard Home Loans when they were around. I was talking to him one day, complaining about how I didn't enjoy my job very much, and he suggested that I try mortgage broking.
He sold me on the flexibility, control over your time, and how you’re building your own business. I was at that age where I felt I could go and try different things – we were in our mid 20s at the time – so I started with him for a year and didn't look back.
You now run a team with a credit specialist and four processors, one of which is inhouse. How long did it take you to decide you needed to expand your business?
Admin support is something that I've always had. From the very beginning, the brokerage I first worked in, everyone had either a part-time or a full-time assistant, because it frees up time to spend with the client.
But I only had admin support until I was pregnant with my first child. And then I was in a position where I had to get another broker to essentially help manage the business, because there was no one who was able to give me the instructions or the step-by-step process for having a baby whilst running a business.
You’ve now started a facebook page, Women in Mortgage Broking – Make it Happen. Why did you decide to do this?
I'm very passionate about supporting women, gender equality, and helping women succeed – not just in broking. When I started out 15 years ago, I didn't see a lot of other successful women that I could look to and aspire to. And, particularly when I went on maternity leave, that was quite a scary time because I didn't have anyone I could turn to and ask questions.
I just wanted to help see some change and to help inspire other women within the industry or connect women so that we can help them be more visible and amplify our voices a little bit.
And so I felt like: If you want to see change, you need to be part of change. And one thing I thought I could do is set up a group.
What are some typical topics discussed in Women in Mortgage Broking – Make it Happen?
The purpose is less scenarios and more about celebration – or celebrating and sharing the wins of women.
Also, it’s things like hiring businesses to potentially assist and sharing strategies on how to be successful. I posted recently that I had a potential client who is a first home buyer eligible for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. That wasn’t something that I really have experience in, so I asked if there was anyone who could help this client, which allowed me to assist the client and help support other women.
Is there anything you think needs to still be done to encourage more women in the industry?
What I think we need to be doing is helping women in the industry who may be in support or admin roles understand how they can become brokers. Or how they can step up into other roles and have the confidence or support to do that. I mean, I only started my first business because my friend went and sold his business.
But I also think women in the industry need a lot more support and visibility, and they need to be able to see other women who've done it. That translates to not just hearing the voices of men in the positions of power or influence. You're also hearing the perspective and voices of women so that we do feel like we are also included or important or valued.
You can find out more about Alycia Inglis and how she runs her broking business and the Women in Mortgage Broking – Make it Happen group in The Adviser’s Elite Broker podcast.
Tune in to the episode with Alycia Inglis, Paving a way for women in broking, below:
