This month’s Member Spotlight from Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and Industry showcases our diverse businesses community.
After 22 years in the finance industry, Fiona Erquiaga established Smooth Sailing Finance Consulting in 2020.
As a finance and mortgage broker, she assists clients to achieve their goals by offering strategic, tailored and competitive options for first and new homes, investments, business and equipment purchases, and self-managed super funds.
Having worked with the big banks for many years, Fiona wanted to do something more rewarding, something that allowed her to prioritise and spend time with clients.
With 70% of all home loans in Australia now written through brokers, more and more consumers are taking advantage of better service and the introduction of Best Interests Duty requiring brokers to act in the best interests of their clients.
Like many industries, new technologies and AI is changing finance, giving even more lending options and making it easier to do business.
Fiona also established Smooth Sailing to work for herself. Like most small businesses, she is enjoying the benefits of self-employed flexibility and faced the usual challenge of keeping up with demand while trying to find reliable and efficient support staff.
As an active Chamber member, Fiona enjoys the range of opportunities to network with other like-minded business owners which has been invaluable in expanding her business; as well as receiving resources and information on local and state developments, changing regulations, grants and opportunities that may otherwise be overlooked.
Her top tips for other business owners are:
• Outsource the tasks that you can. Stick to the tasks you are good at that generate your income. Focus your time on those things and let others do the rest.
• Keep a close eye on your cashflows and ensure you always have a buffer for large and/or unexpected costs, particularly ATO liabilities.
Fiona Erquiaga from Smooth Sailing Finance. Photo supplied
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