commbroker.com.au
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Read on
Award Winner
COMMONWEALTH BANK
Abby Dickinson
Social Media and
Marketing Specialist
Cam Sinclair
Mortgage and KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Leadership
Headquarters:
Sydney, Australia
Year founded:
1911
Number of employees:
43,000
Phone:
09 950 8800
Email:
rod@rsfa.co.nz
Website:
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/commonwealthbank
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
Rod Schubert has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry. His passion has always been numbers in general. Schubert has owned and sold several properties, been involved in major renovations and learned a great deal about property by being involved in it, let alone seeing simple to extremely complex finance scenarios land on his desk daily. He enjoys a good challenge.
While advising clients is his passion, Schubert also loves mentoring his adviser team and shaping the direction of RSFA to better serve its clientele.
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
Cam Sinclair grew up in Central Auckland and attended Mount Albert Grammar School, becoming a prefect and first 11 captain in his final year. He excelled in math and economics in high school.
Sinclair lived in the United States for four years on a football scholarship at the University of Indiana, completing a degree in finance while minoring in economics and graduating with an A average GPA. Post-university, he worked for a credit union for one year before returning to New Zealand.
Finding his niche with RSFA, Sinclair’s aim is to secure the best and most suitable finance terms, providing sound advice with the backing of experienced company director Rod Schubert.
Mortgage and KiwiSaver Adviser
Cam Sinclair
While on this side of the lending equation, Helen Grant gained 20 years’ experience in borrowing for her own homes, investment properties and renovations.
Her background is varied, ranging from IT project management to kinesiopractic wellbeing and coaching. There is a common thread: a clear intention and passion to empower others to create and live the lives of their dreams – becoming a financial adviser is one further step towards this intention.
On a personal note, Grant is Kiwi-born and raised in Christchurch. She lives north of Auckland with her two teen sons and three dogs. She has successfully navigated a relationship separation and emerged with financial independence.
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
Helen Grant
For the second year running, Shielded Insurance Brokers has claimed the number-one spot among IB’s Top Brokerages. In 2020, it was record-setting growth that drove the company’s impressive success. This year, says managing director Stuart Brady, the key ingredient behind the win is the Shielded culture. Brady is proud of the shared vision for constant improvement across all aspects of the business. “We are thrilled to take out the win again, and it’s hats off to the team for their hard work over the past year,” he says.
Anne Zablan-Balila
Mortgage Adviser
Anne Zablan-Balila, who was born and raised in the Philippines, had little knowledge of the New Zealand mortgage industry, as do the majority of first-time home buyers. Because of this, she rapidly became motivated to study and learn.
Zablan-Balila was formerly in the healthcare sector, working as a registered nurse in Saudi Arabia in a step-down intensive care unit for five years. She loves helping others, although she feels like this routine is not for her and seeks a more technical-based career path.
Since she started with a limited knowledge of industry jargon, Zablan-Balila can confidently help her clients. She also got a handle on general insurance underwriting, which can be useful in client conversations.
Mortgage Adviser
Anne Zablan-Balila
Helen Grant
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
It has been a privilege for Abby Dickinson to join the RSFA team at the beginning of 2022 to drive social media and marketing content, allowing advisers to share their industry insights and real advice in easy-to-understand terms. She was born in Christchurch and now lives in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. A background in multi-platform media and social media marketing has given her a range of experience with different opportunities. With Dickinson’s expertise, the RSFA team has released a range of videos, podcast episodes, and newsletters, as well as hosting in-person and online events throughout the year.
Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Abby Dickinson
Shay Sampang
Executive Assistant to
Rod Schubert
Chris Christon
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Stephen Swartley
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Micah Ponto
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Shay Sampang was raised in Davao City, Philippines. She has a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of the Immaculate Conception. Sampang spends a lot of time in front of her computer, honing her skills in HTML, Adobe Photoshop, video editing software and programming.
Sampang has worked in the BPO industry, taught English and worked as a training manager in a lead generation start-up company. In 2021, she joined RSFA as an executive assistant to the company’s director, Rod Schubert.
Some of Sampang’s qualities that make her stand out are her generosity and thoughtfulness. She is a determined and vigorous individual, yet pleasantly calm. In her leisure time, she practises yoga and meditates with her cats while drinking coffee.
Executive Assistant to Rod Schubert
Shay Sampang
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/commonwealthbank
Website:
commbroker.com.au
Email:
rod@rsfa.co.nz
Phone:
09 950 8800
Number of employees:
43,000
Year founded:
1911
Headquarters:
Sydney, Australia
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
At CommBank, we bring you simpler processes, flexible policies and provide you with more transparency than ever before, so together we can support more customers to achieve their home ownership goals.
Why should you become accredited with CommBank?
We have simplified our accreditation criteria
We have removed the experience requirement, but remain committed to ensuring we work with qualified, accredited brokers. To be considered for accreditation, brokers should:
• have a diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking Management or another relevant degree or qualification
• be a current member of MFAA or FBAA
• be an employee, credit representative or director of a CommBank approved-to-recruit ACL
Six-month On-boarding Relationship Manager support
You will have access to one-on-one support from your specialised On-Boarding Relationship Manager to set you up for success as a newly accredited broker with CommBank.
Transparent pricing
We have enhanced and simplified our pricing and offer a broad and flexible credit policy to support more Australians on their home-buying journey. We provide more transparency around pricing by providing our accredited brokers with our pricing discount table available on CommBroker.
Unlimited access to CommBank’s broker training hub
Our accredited brokers and their support office staff have support and guidance every step of the way with access to our 24/7 training hub (interactive training workshops; recording workshops; on-demand, self-paced training modules) facilitated and designed by our two dedicated National Broker Training Managers. Since launching the training hub in January 2022, we have facilitated more than 74 workshops* with over 6,300 brokers and their support office staff. More than 90% of participants said they would recommend the interactive training workshops to a colleague.
CommBank’s new approach for customers considering external refinance
We have adopted a new approach for customers considering refinancing to another lender. Incorporating your feedback, we want to help you and your customers make informed decisions, with more clarity earlier in the process.
If a customer chooses to proceed to refinance after a review of their CommBank relationship, our team will help you (or them) initiate the process and will not contact the customer again after this decision has been made.
Our CommBank broker strategy is continually evolving based on broker feedback as we strive to build a strong and sustainable third-party channel,
so together we can support more customers to achieve their home ownership goals.
What are you waiting for?
Become accredited today. Speak to your head group or visit commbroker.com.au.
Things you should know
*At time of printing December 2022
Brigid Rauwhero
Claims Manager
John Hogan
Head of Claims
Meg Dempsey
Operations Manager
Shay Sampang
Executive Assistant to Rod Schubert
Abby Dickinson
Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Helen Grant
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
Anne Zablan-Balila
Mortgage Adviser
Cam Sinclair
Mortgage and KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Leadership
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Shay Sampang was raised in Davao City, Philippines. She has a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of the Immaculate Conception. Sampang spends a lot of time in front of her computer, honing her skills in HTML, Adobe Photoshop, video editing software and programming.
Sampang has worked in the BPO industry, taught English and worked as a training manager in a lead generation start-up company. In 2021, she joined RSFA as an executive assistant to the company’s director, Rod Schubert.
Some of Sampang’s qualities that make her stand out are her generosity and thoughtfulness. She is a determined and vigorous individual, yet pleasantly calm. In her leisure time, she practises yoga and meditates with her cats while drinking coffee.
Executive Assistant to Rod Schubert
Shay Sampang
It has been a privilege for Abby Dickinson to join the RSFA team at the beginning of 2022 to drive social media and marketing content, allowing advisers to share their industry insights and real advice in easy-to-understand terms. She was born in Christchurch and now lives in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. A background in multi-platform media and social media marketing has given her a range of experience with different opportunities. With Dickinson’s expertise, the RSFA team has released a range of videos, podcast episodes, and newsletters, as well as hosting in-person and online events throughout the year.
Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Abby Dickinson
While on this side of the lending equation, Helen Grant gained 20 years’ experience in borrowing for her own homes, investment properties and renovations.
Her background is varied, ranging from IT project management to kinesiopractic wellbeing and coaching. There is a common thread: a clear intention and passion to empower others to create and live the lives of their dreams – becoming a financial adviser is one further step towards this intention.
On a personal note, Grant is Kiwi-born and raised in Christchurch. She lives north of Auckland with her two teen sons and three dogs. She has successfully navigated a relationship separation and emerged with financial independence.
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
Helen Grant
Anne Zablan-Balila, who was born and raised in the Philippines, had little knowledge of the New Zealand mortgage industry, as do the majority of first-time home buyers. Because of this, she rapidly became motivated to study and learn.
Zablan-Balila was formerly in the healthcare sector, working as a registered nurse in Saudi Arabia in a step-down intensive care unit for five years. She loves helping others, although she feels like this routine is not for her and seeks a more technical-based career path.
Since she started with a limited knowledge of industry jargon, Zablan-Balila can confidently help her clients. She also got a handle on general insurance underwriting, which can be useful in client conversations.
Mortgage Adviser
Anne Zablan-Balila
Cam Sinclair grew up in Central Auckland and attended Mount Albert Grammar School, becoming a prefect and first 11 captain in his final year. He excelled in math and economics in high school.
Sinclair lived in the United States for four years on a football scholarship at the University of Indiana, completing a degree in finance while minoring in economics and graduating with an A average GPA. Post-university, he worked for a credit union for one year before returning to New Zealand.
Finding his niche with RSFA, Sinclair’s aim is to secure the best and most suitable finance terms, providing sound advice with the backing of experienced company director Rod Schubert.
Mortgage and KiwiSaver Adviser
Cam Sinclair
Rod Schubert has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry. His passion has always been numbers in general. Schubert has owned and sold several properties, been involved in major renovations and learned a great deal about property by being involved in it, let alone seeing simple to extremely complex finance scenarios land on his desk daily. He enjoys a good challenge.
While advising clients is his passion, Schubert also loves mentoring his adviser team and shaping the direction of RSFA to better serve its clientele.
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
Read on
IB Top Brokerages
Award Winner
SHIELDED INSURANCE BROKERS
Award Sponsor
COMMONWEALTH BANK
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“It is a priority for us to continue to tap the unmet needs of our clients and grow with them to understand how to service them properly and give them what they need in this ever-changing landscape"
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
As an award-winning mortgage brokerage company with time-tested results, XIN Mortgage strives to be on top of the game. The company offers independent advice, develops personalised and customised solutions, and ensures that customers receive a lifetime customer service experience backed by customer reviews.
To leave no stone unturned, XIN Mortgage employs its in-house CRM X-Online, which focuses on transparent reporting and analytics system between the company and brokers to develop a healthy and pleasant competitive atmosphere.
Unlike traditional systems, XIN Mortgage’s platforms provide transparency and confidence by enabling brokers to have a complete overview of their customer portfolio at any moment, including property details, home loan details, application histories, home loan health check reminders, annual rate review tasks, leads management functions, and much more. A key breakthrough feature is to introduce new brokers to intensive and careful mentoring to work towards success, using the client service team to assist brokers and marketing teams to build their personal brands and drive high levels of customer satisfaction.
As a leading company, XIN Mortgage offers ongoing professional training and case study to its whole team, which helps the brokers develop highly effective solutions and guarantees the best interest of customers.
Micah Ponto
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Chris Christon
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Stephen Swartley
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Shay Sampang
Executive Assistant
to Rod Schubert
Abby Dickinson
Social Media and
Marketing Specialist
Helen Grant
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
Anne Zablan-Balila
Mortgage Adviser
Cam Sinclair
Mortgage and
KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Leadership
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/commonwealthbank
Website:
commbroker.com.au
Email:
rod@rsfa.co.nz
Phone:
09 950 8800
Number of employees:
43,000
Year founded:
1911
Headquarters:
Sydney, Australia
Read on
COMMONWEALTH BANK
Award Winner
Micah Ponto serves as senior vice president, head of financial services for Arch Insurance, a position he’s held since 2021. He joined Arch Insurance as an assistant vice president in the large commercial department in 2009. His prior roles at Arch Insurance included senior vice president, national manager of the large commercial department, regional vice president – central region, head of employment practices liability and head of the real estate investment trust group. Ponto previously worked at The Hartford in their financial products division, where he focused on management liability risk in both financial institutions and large commercial D&O. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance, investments and banking from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Financial Services
Micah Ponto
Chris Christon is a senior vice president at Arch Insurance where he oversees the large commercial group and transactional risk portfolio nationally. Christon has nearly 20 years of experience specializing in directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability. Prior to joining Arch in 2009, Christon held various roles at Hartford Financial Products. He has a BA in English from Emory University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.
Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance, Large Commercial Group
Chris Christon
Stephen Swartley is the chief underwriting officer and senior vice president of executive assurance at Arch Insurance. He has over 20 years of experience in management liability and product line expertise in directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, fidelity, kidnap and ransom and cyber liability. Prior to joining Arch Insurance in June 2009, he served in a variety of underwriting and managerial positions in management liability at The Hartford and as an underwriter at Reliance National. Swartley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Chief Underwriting Officer and Senior Vice President, Executive Assurance
Stephen Swartley
Shay Sampang was raised in Davao City, Philippines. She has a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of the Immaculate Conception. Sampang spends a lot of time in front of her computer, honing her skills in HTML, Adobe Photoshop, video editing software and programming.
Sampang has worked in the BPO industry, taught English and worked as a training manager in a lead generation start-up company. In 2021, she joined RSFA as an executive assistant to the company’s director, Rod Schubert.
Some of Sampang’s qualities that make her stand out are her generosity and thoughtfulness. She is a determined and vigorous individual, yet pleasantly calm. In her leisure time, she practises yoga and meditates with her cats while drinking coffee.
Executive Assistant to Rod Schubert
Shay Sampang
It has been a privilege for Abby Dickinson to join the RSFA team at the beginning of 2022 to drive social media and marketing content, allowing advisers to share their industry insights and real advice in easy-to-understand terms. She was born in Christchurch and now lives in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. A background in multi-platform media and social media marketing has given her a range of experience with different opportunities. With Dickinson’s expertise, the RSFA team has released a range of videos, podcast episodes, and newsletters, as well as hosting in-person and online events throughout the year.
Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Abby Dickinson
While on this side of the lending equation, Helen Grant gained 20 years’ experience in borrowing for her own homes, investment properties and renovations.
Her background is varied, ranging from IT project management to kinesiopractic wellbeing and coaching. There is a common thread: a clear intention and passion to empower others to create and live the lives of their dreams – becoming a financial adviser is one further step towards this intention.
On a personal note, Grant is Kiwi-born and raised in Christchurch. She lives north of Auckland with her two teen sons and three dogs. She has successfully navigated a relationship separation and emerged with financial independence.
Mortgage Adviser and Coach
Helen Grant
Anne Zablan-Balila, who was born and raised in the Philippines, had little knowledge of the New Zealand mortgage industry, as do the majority of first-time home buyers. Because of this, she rapidly became motivated to study and learn.
Zablan-Balila was formerly in the healthcare sector, working as a registered nurse in Saudi Arabia in a step-down intensive care unit for five years. She loves helping others, although she feels like this routine is not for her and seeks a more technical-based career path.
Since she started with a limited knowledge of industry jargon, Zablan-Balila can confidently help her clients. She also got a handle on general insurance underwriting, which can be useful in client conversations.
Mortgage Adviser
Anne Zablan-Balila
Cam Sinclair grew up in Central Auckland and attended Mount Albert Grammar School, becoming a prefect and first 11 captain in his final year. He excelled in math and economics in high school.
Sinclair lived in the United States for four years on a football scholarship at the University of Indiana, completing a degree in finance while minoring in economics and graduating with an A average GPA. Post-university, he worked for a credit union for one year before returning to New Zealand.
Finding his niche with RSFA, Sinclair’s aim is to secure the best and most suitable finance terms, providing sound advice with the backing of experienced company director Rod Schubert.
Mortgage and KiwiSaver Adviser
Cam Sinclair
Rod Schubert has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry. His passion has always been numbers in general. Schubert has owned and sold several properties, been involved in major renovations and learned a great deal about property by being involved in it, let alone seeing simple to extremely complex finance scenarios land on his desk daily. He enjoys a good challenge.
While advising clients is his passion, Schubert also loves mentoring his adviser team and shaping the direction of RSFA to better serve its clientele.
Company Director
Mortgage, Life and Health Insurance
and KiwiSaver Adviser
Rod Schubert
SPECIAL REPORT
Home
Bio
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
“Our long-term vision is to reimagine our customer and partner journeys to deliver a simple, efficient and highly pleasing experience supported by empowered teams and enabled with leading digital capabilities”
Vivianne Gauci,
HomeEquity Bank
Medals
Overall service level
Construction
Product innovation
Product range
Turnaround time – claims
BDM support
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
BDM support
Medals
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Product innovation
Product range
Construction
Medals
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Product innovation
Product range
Construction