PIPA Member Profile | Glenn Biggins, Focus Property Wealth
May 2024Karen Millers
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Glenn Biggins is the director and finance strategist at Focus Property Wealth in WA, but he started his career as an engineer.
| | CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? |
| Focus Property Wealth is a finance and property advice company that operates to assist clients in obtaining suitable finance, assist in developing a plan, and helping clients to execute that plan. Unlike many industry professionals we don’t sell property and this is our point of difference. Focus Property Wealth clients consist of a broad spectrum from aspiring first homeowners to experienced property investors. They’re looking for a trusted advisor to guide them and assist in all stages of the wealth creation process through property ownership. |
| | HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FINANCIAL ADVISER / MORTGAGE BROKER? |
| I’ve been a mortgage broker for many years now, first starting in 2008 after leaving a longstanding engineering career to follow a passion for wealth creation through property ownership. |
| | HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A QPIA? |
| My QPIA status was attained in 2010. |
| | HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE QPIA? |
| I joined PIPA in 2008 after searching for organisations that assisted property investors in obtaining the highest level of professional advice. As a member of PIPA, I was made aware of the QPIA course and so immediately enrolled, completing all modules in around a year and a half. |
| | WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN REASONS FOR BECOMING A QPIA? |
| I initially sought to complete the QPIA accreditation for my personal development as a part of my own continuous improvement. As a professional adviser, the qualification enables me to take our clients through a clear path to ascertain their best options and plans. |
| | WHAT WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES OF BECOMING A PROPERTY INVESTMENT ADVISER? |
| Good advice is hard to find in regards to property, particularly advice received from a business that’s also selling some form of property. We seek to offer the best advice and assistance possible and believe this can only be obtained if we work only for our clients. The key challenge is ensuring our clients are offered the best advice possible – the QPIA qualification enables us to follow a process to ensure this is the case. |
| | DO YOU CHARGE FOR YOUR PROPERTY INVESTMENT ADVISORY WORK? |
| No, not currently, as we offer our assistance as a part of our initial and ongoing property finance services. |
| | HOW DOES THE QPIA SUPPORT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISING / MORTGAGE BROKING BUSINESS AND ITS GROWTH? |
| We look to the longer timeframe and use our property investment advisor knowledge and qualifications to ensure our client’s ongoing needs are met. We’re the first contact called when our current clients have a question about their finance and property. We encourage this regular contact, questions, and scenario ideas. |
| | HOW DOES THE QPIA QUALIFICATION HELP YOU TO ATTRACT NEW CLIENTS OR DEEPEN EXISTING CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS? |
| Trust is highly sought-after in this industry and the QPIA qualification enables us to better service our Clients. Through meeting those requirements, we’re then able to develop a deeper level of trust. We find our clients are strong referral sources and keen to encourage others to contact us to assist in answering their property and finance questions. |
| | WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHER FINANCIAL ADVISERS / MORTGAGE BROKERS TO BECOME QPIAS? WHY? |
| Absolutely, it will deepen their knowledge and enable them to offer great advice. We have new clients seeking us through the PIPA website regularly. |
| | WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND BEYOND? |
| We’re a small business looking to increase our client base and service offering. Currently, our primary service is helping clients obtain finance and reduce finance costs on existing loans through correct structuring and negotiation with the banks. We’ll be looking to offer written property investment plans and provide our clients with increased support in property ownership, research, and acquisition. The future marketplace will offer some challenges and many opportunities. |
Originally Published: PIPA Adviser Issue #1
