Finding treasure

As we approach the end of another tumultuous financial year, it’s become increasingly difficult for borrowers to find their way through the lending landscape.

But this is where brokers truly come into their own and offer borrowers a guiding hand through uncertain terrain. With traditional banking channels tightening, the spotlight has firmly turned to nimble alternatives. That is why this month, we are casting a keen eye over the evolving non-bank sector to see who is truly stepping up for borrowers.

Our cover story, Mapping the market (page 28), takes a look at which non-bank lenders brokers have been turning to for different borrower needs, unpacking the results of the Non-Bank Product of Choice Survey 2026. In this feature, we showcase exactly which non-bank lenders are rewriting the map for borrower success. Make sure you check out which lender came out on top of each lender category and why they think they’re growing in popularity.

Complementing this focus on alternative lending spaces, this edition features our sector report on SMSF loans, sponsored by Thinktank (page 54). In this feature, Ben Squires reviews exactly why this specific segment of the market is absolutely booming right now and how savvy brokers are tapping into self-managed super fund lending to diversify their offerings.

Macro challenges and policy shifts are also front and centre this month. In Budget bust-up (page 20), we set out what was included in the biggest housing tax changes in a generation from the budget 2026–27 and what the broking industry thinks this will do for broker demand. Turn to page 4 to find out more from brokers on what they think the budget measures will do to the property market.

One big segment that is expected to boom as a result of the budget changes is new-build property. We look at the immediate road ahead for property structures and how the industry is Supporting the new-build market (sponsored by Deposit Power) on page 46, as we review how deposit bonds could become a practical tool in a broker’s toolbox this year.

If you are looking for practical ways to grow your footprint and attract more borrower profiles in the new financial year, we have you covered. Discover how to stand out in a crowded market using location-based targeting in Right place at the right time: How brokers can stand out with GEO marketing, sponsored by NAB (page 8), and get blueprint strategies for scaling your operations in Building a brokerage: Leading a high-performing branch, sponsored by Aussie (page 24).

Beyond the product updates, we are also celebrating the boots on the ground with our regular Elite Broker (page 14) and New Broker (page 16) profiles.

I hope you find this June edition of The Adviser an invaluable tool for expanding your product toolkit. As always, your feedback is useful, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything you’d like to see covered in future issues: [email protected].