Profile
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth that we’re striving for”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
It is not often that growth is a problem for a business.
But the enormous volume of applications handled by boutique brokerage Ortus Financial in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last fiscal year risked throwing the firm’s private banking ethos off balance.
In the year to June, Ortus settled 50% more loans than the year prior with principal Adam Rakowski writing over $160m worth.
“Having worked in the broader finance industry since 2001, it was certainly a year of unprecedented growth,” he says.
“The sheer volume of applications is likely something we won’t see again for some time.”
This gangbuster 12-month period resulted in a total loan book of over $400m in just three years since launching the business.
To be sure, the achievement is part of a wider story as the value of home loans settled by mortgage brokers collectively rose to new records nationally.
But Rakowski doesn’t want the business to be just about money or to treat customers like a number, which is a real danger when a brokerage is doing all it can to funnel applications to lenders as fast as humanly possible.
“We didn’t want to fall into the trap that many businesses do when growth becomes a singular focus,” says Rakowski.
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth that we’re striving for.”
Remarkably, Ortus lost no customers with zero refinances over the period other than existing clients selling property to re-purchase again with the firm. With zero defections, it’s hard to argue that customers had reason to be dissatisfied with the service.
The strong growth was powered partly by the property boom brought about by ultra-low interest rates. Ortus focuses primarily on residential lending with around 90% of loans placed at major banks. Rakowski also has a background in commercial lending and the firm has the potential to ramp up this line further in future.
Level 2, 98 Riley Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
0407 455 553
adam.rakowski@ortusfinancial.com.au
linkedin.com/in/adam-rakowski-78360037
ortusfinancial.com.au
Adam Rakowski
Principal
Ortus Financial
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Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2001–2011
2011–2016
2016–2016
2016–2019
2019–present
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Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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2001–2011
2011–2016
2016–2016
2016–2019
2019–present
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2022
2016–2019
2016–2016
2011–2016
2001–2011
2019–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Principal and founder at Ortus Financial
Rakowski was recognised as one of MPA’s Top 100 Brokers in 2021 and 2022
Ortus was a finalist for New Brokerage of the Year at the Australian Mortgage Awards in 2020 and 2021
2019–present
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2016–2019
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Co-founder and director at Constantia Finance Partners
(Vow Commercial Broker of the Year)
2016–2019
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2016–2016
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Division director at Macquarie Bank and #1 salesperson in settled loans
2016–2016
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2011–2016
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Associate director at Macquarie Bank, where he was state head of
industry lending and consistently #1 salesperson in settled loans
2011–2016
1997
2001–2011
human resources | key media
Graduate at Macquarie Bank through to senior manager
2001–2011
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Milestones
2019–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
Principal
Ortus Financial
Adam Rakowski
Currently, residential is keeping Rakowski busy. Ortus now has three employees, and a new broker will shortly be joining the team.
Despite the media fixation with rising central bank interest rates, Ortus clients are weathering the tighter lending environment with ease as the firm posts yet another record quarter to September in terms of volumes settled.
But Rakowski says that the loan process has become more time-consuming of late.
“This is borne out in more questions from credit assessors, [or a] more conservative application of credit policy,” he says.
“With increased rates comes lower borrowing capacity and that has a multitude of flow-on effects for existing and new clients alike.”
The changing environment is another chance to shine for Rakowski and to ease customer anxiety as the economy changes speed.
“We see this as an opportunity to thrive as we have 20+ years’ experience across many cycles. We back our knowledge and expertise to be able to negotiate on behalf of our clients better than our competition, given that we’ve had to operate in tough times before.”
Helping customers through thick and thin is a key motivator for Rakowski who loves listening to people’s stories and helping solve their problems.
He has high hopes for the years ahead and looks forward to finding like-minded people to go on the journey with him to help customers feel valued as part of the Ortus private banking experience.
“We want to grow sustainably to a loan book of $1bn in the next three years,” he says.
“This will be achieved by a laser-like focus on client retention first and foremost, [and] secondly by hiring the right people who fit our brand and client ethos.”
“We back our knowledge and expertise to be able to negotiate on behalf of our clients better than our competition, given that we’ve had to operate in tough times before”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
It is not often that growth is a problem for a business.
But the enormous volume of applications handled by boutique brokerage Ortus Financial in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last fiscal year risked throwing the firm’s private banking ethos off balance.
In the year to June, Ortus settled 50% more loans than the year prior with principal Adam Rakowski writing over $160m worth.
“Having worked in the broader finance industry since 2001, it was certainly a year of unprecedented growth,” he says.
“The sheer volume of applications is likely something we won’t see again for some time.”
This gangbuster 12-month period resulted in a total loan book of over $400m in just three years since launching the business.
To be sure, the achievement is part of a wider story as the value of home loans settled by mortgage brokers collectively rose to new records nationally.
But Rakowski doesn’t want the business to be just about money or to treat customers like a number, which is a real danger when a brokerage is doing all it can to funnel applications to lenders as fast as humanly possible.
“We didn’t want to fall into the trap that many businesses do when growth becomes a singular focus,” says Rakowski.
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth that we’re striving for.”
Remarkably, Ortus lost no customers with zero refinances over the period other than existing clients selling property to re-purchase again with the firm. With zero defections, it’s hard to argue that customers had reason to be dissatisfied with the service.
The strong growth was powered partly by the property boom brought about by ultra-low interest rates. Ortus focuses primarily on residential lending with around 90% of loans placed at major banks. Rakowski also has a background in commercial lending and the firm has the potential to ramp up this line further in future.
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth
that we’re striving for”
Adam Rakowski, Ortus Financial
“We back our knowledge and expertise to be able to negotiate on behalf of our clients better than our competition, given that we’ve had to operate
in tough times before”
Adam Rakowski, Ortus Financial
It is not often that growth is a problem for a business.
But the enormous volume of applications handled by boutique brokerage Ortus Financial in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last fiscal year risked throwing the firm’s private banking ethos off balance.
In the year to June, Ortus settled 50% more loans than the year prior with principal Adam Rakowski writing over $160m worth.
“Having worked in the broader finance industry since 2001, it was certainly a year of unprecedented growth,” he says.
“The sheer volume of applications is likely something we won’t see again for some time.”
This gangbuster 12-month period resulted in a total loan book of over $400m in just three years since launching the business.
To be sure, the achievement is part of a wider story as the value of home loans settled by mortgage brokers collectively rose to new records nationally.
But Rakowski doesn’t want the business to be just about money or to treat customers like a number, which is a real danger when a brokerage is doing all it can to funnel applications to lenders as fast as humanly possible.
“We didn’t want to fall into the trap that many businesses do when growth becomes a singular focus,” says Rakowski.
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth that we’re striving for.”
Remarkably, Ortus lost no customers with zero refinances over the period other than existing clients selling property to re-purchase again with the firm. With zero defections, it’s hard to argue that customers had reason to be dissatisfied with the service.
The strong growth was powered partly by the property boom brought about by ultra-low interest rates. Ortus focuses primarily on residential lending with around 90% of loans placed at major banks. Rakowski also has a background in commercial lending and the firm has the potential to ramp up this line further in future.
“We don’t have a ‘grow at all costs’ mentality – it is sustainable growth that we’re striving for”
Adam Rakowski, Ortus Financial
“We back our knowledge and expertise to be able to negotiate on behalf of our clients better than our competition, given that we’ve had to operate in tough times before”
Adam Rakowski, Ortus Financial