Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
Zebunisso Alimova is a nationally recognised mortgage adviser, business leader and advocate for financial capability. Based on the Kāpiti Coast, she leads a high-performing lending practice and has helped hundreds of families, investors and entrepreneurs build enduring wealth through property.
Her reputation is built on results, integrity and lifting industry standards. Known for her clear advice and client-first approach, Alimova is deeply committed to raising professionalism within the advice community. She serves in leadership roles with Financial Advice New Zealand, mentors the next generation of advisers and actively champions greater representation of women in the industry.
Her personal journey shapes the way she serves. Arriving in New Zealand as a migrant and building a career while raising four children, she understands firsthand the courage, resilience and planning it takes to achieve financial security. That lived experience underpins her practical, strategic and deeply empathetic approach to advice.
Alimova is also the host of That Home Loan Hub. Through the show, she breaks down complex lending concepts into clear, relatable conversations, empowering listeners to take confident, informed steps towards their goals.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief: true success is measured by the strength of the people you lift and the futures you help create.
The Waikanae Hub, 46 Main Road, Waikanae 5036
027 731 0713
zebunisso.alimova@mikepero.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/zebunisso-alimova
mikepero.co.nz/mortgage-broker/wellington/team-zebunisso
Zebunisso Alimova
Franchise Owner
Mike Pero Mortgages Wellington Kapiti
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Milestones
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
2003–2004
2004–2014
2014–2024
2021
2025
Associate broker, commercial property excess and surplus lines accounts at CRC Insurance Services
2003–2004
Joined Amwins 2004 and built a large book of property (real estate focused), becoming a coverage and manuscript policy form expert
2004–2014
Led property practice for Amwins’ large Atlanta brokerage office
2014–2024
Received the Gene Eisenmann Award, Amwins’ highest honor for mentorship
2021
Named Amwins’ national real estate practice leader – property
2025
Milestones
Milestones
ELITE WOMEN 2024 JUDGE
“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.