Profile
A declined application is where many lending journeys end. For Joyce Ram, it is often where the real work begins. The director and adviser at Aroha Mortgages has built her reputation on refusing to give up on clients, a persistence that has earned her a place among NZ Adviser's Top Brokers 2026, a title built on client nominations and top service ratings.
“I have never been someone who accepts a decline at face value,” Ram says. “I take the time to understand the reasons behind a decision, work closely with lenders, and explore every available option for my clients.”
That tenacity is backed by deep industry knowledge. Ram has spent her entire career in banking, lending and financial services, working closely with borrowers and seeing firsthand the challenges people face when trying to secure finance. The more experience she gained, the more she wanted to work directly for clients rather than a single institution, advocating for them across multiple lenders. “Looking back, it feels like the role I was always working towards,” she adds.
That advocacy matters the most when conditions are tough. Ram says the biggest challenge in her role is managing client expectations when bank policies, interest rates and lending criteria can change quickly, often during stressful periods in clients’ lives. Her answer is proactive, transparent communication. “Even when the news isn’t what a client wants to hear, I believe they deserve honest advice and clear guidance,” she says.
That approach has fuelled the growth of her business, built primarily through referrals, repeat clients and community relationships rather than sales or advertising. “There is no greater compliment than a client returning years later or recommending their family and friends because they trust you,” Ram says. She counts helping hundreds of people into homes, investment properties or better financial positions as her proudest achievement.
For Ram, the relationship never ends at settlement. She stays in touch throughout clients’ homeownership journeys, from reviewing lending structures to refinancing and investment purchases. “I’m not interested in being the adviser who helps a client once and never speaks to them again,” she says. “I want to be the person they call when they buy their first home, refinance, invest in property or need advice years down the track.”
Ram believes satisfaction comes from more than approval. She says clients often remember how they were treated more than the interest rate they received and are most satisfied when they feel informed, supported and genuinely advocated for.
Looking ahead, Ram aims to establish Aroha Mortgages as a trusted name in the communities it serves, with a focus on first home buyers, families and client education. Her philosophy remains simple: be honest, work hard, communicate clearly and treat every application as if it were her own. “Success for me is not measured solely by loan volumes but by the number of clients who confidently refer their family and friends because of the experience they received,” she says.
Level 1, 41 Taharoto Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622
0212 030 040
joyce@arohamortgages.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/joyce-ram-0a158813a
arohamortgages.co.nz
Joyce Ram
Founder and Principal Adviser Aroha Mortgages
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Bio
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2005–2019
2019–2022
2022–2023
2023–2025
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Loan Officer/Branch Accountant at Bank of Baroda, Fiji
2005–2019
Banking Specialist at Kiwibank NZ
2019–2022
Home Lending Specialist/Mortgage Adviser at Tella NZ
2022–2023
Mortgage Adviser at Swift Mortgages
2023–2025
Founder and Principal Adviser at Aroha Mortgages since 2025
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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.
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