Profile
Sandeep Khanna arrived in New Zealand with around $100 to his name. For close to 14 years, he took whatever honest work he could find – farm work, apple picking, retail sales and taxi driving – to support his family. Today, he is the director and principal adviser of Sandeep Khanna Mortgages in Christchurch, and the distance between those two points is the story behind his advice.
His route into the industry ran through jobs most advisers never touch, and he treats each as part of his training. “Farm work taught me discipline. Retail and taxi driving taught me people skills. Banking taught me structure and lending knowledge. Mortgage advice allowed me to bring all those experiences together,” he says. Joining BNZ exposed him to lending and advice and confirmed how closely his own history overlapped with the clients he wanted to help.
Khanna considers building his career from scratch as his biggest achievement, alongside helping hundreds of families into home ownership. Many are migrants and first home buyers from a background like his and guiding them through the lending process gives his work meaning.
Resilience and empathy are the qualities he leans on most, and both come straight from his own journey. “I know what it means to start from nothing, work long hours, face uncertainty and still keep moving forward. I do not look at a client as just an application or a set of numbers,” he says. He presents each client’s story to lenders in a way that is both professional and human.
Khanna’s product knowledge rests on that banking grounding and years of close work with lenders, BDMs and credit teams. With every lender holding different policies and risk appetites, his focus is matching the right lender, structure and solution to each client, not chasing a headline rate.
Growth has come mainly through trust, referrals and word of mouth, much of it from migrants, first home buyers and self-employed clients. “I have always believed that if you genuinely look after people, the business will follow,” he says.
Delivery for Khanna means the right outcome reached transparently, with clear communication throughout. “The lowest rate is not always the best solution,” he says, pointing instead to structure, repayment plan and long-term suitability. The relationship does not end at settlement; he stays on hand for refixes, reviews, refinancing and future purchases.
Khanna’s strong run over the past 12 months came in a market of higher rates and tighter affordability. He credits consistency, hard work and a client-first approach, backed by a capable team. His own experience shapes the advice he gives newcomers. “Your first home does not have to be your forever home,” he says, urging first home buyers to buy something manageable and build equity over time.
Financial education is where he wants to do more, aiming to help more people reach financial confidence, home ownership and long-term security through good advice.
Unit 1, 54 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
021 208 3152
sandeep@skfinance.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/nick-brewerton-07183941
skfinance.co.nz
Sandeep Khanna
Director and Principal Adviser Sandeep Khanna Mortgages
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Pre-New Zealand
2005 onwards
Present
2021–Present
2019–2026
FMCG career background in India
Pre-New Zealand
Migrated to New Zealand: career across farming, retail, sales and customer-facing roles
Joined BNZ: banking, lending, credit assessment and customer service
Provide mortgage advice to first home buyers, migrant families, self-employed clients and property investors
2005 onwards
Director and Principal Adviser, Sandeep Khanna Mortgages
Named NZA Top Adviser 2026
Present
Recognised as a Top Mortgage Adviser for three out of the last four years in the industry
Awards highlight consistent high performance, client satisfaction and industry impact
Actively mentors new advisers and shares insights at industry events
Continues to innovate in lending strategies, staying ahead of market changes to deliver maximum value for clients
2021–Present
Honoured as one of NZ Adviser’s Top Advisers
2019–2026
Milestones
“At this stage in my career, I’m not trying to impress clients with technical language. I’m focused on helping them make better decisions”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
“A message is only as strong as the receiver’s ability to understand it. Good intent isn’t enough if the client can’t clearly see the benefits and trade-offs”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
youtube.com/@summitpw
facebook.com/summitprivatewealth
instagram.com/summit.wealth
x.com/SummitPrivate