You might not realise it but these two organisations have been associated with each other for many years and have successfully been helping clients with all their business needs. This month we sit down with Wayne Leslie, Managing Director of HLG, to understand more about how these businesses can help you and to hear some views from Wayne – everything from being Prime Minister for a week through to some good practical finance advice.

  1. Housing Loan Group [a Bendigo Bank franchise in Ringwood, Boronia & Bayswater] and McPhail & Partners have had a long association, why is that?

Our mortgage origination and management business (Housing Loans Group – HLG) for the best part of 40 years was a part of the McPhail & Partners Accounting Practice.

In the late 80’s it was agreed that some changes would be made to coincide with many changes in the Banking and Mortgage Industry.

To cut a long story short, HLG could see many benefits to joining Bendigo Bank in terms of helping clients and the community.

Fast forward two years to 1999 and HLG opened the first of its 3 Franchise Branches.  The Ringwood branch started operations in 1999, Boronia soon followed (2001) and Bayswater opened for business in February 2008.

Both Ross and Brian McPhail sit on the Board of Directors (Ross as Chairman and Brian a Non-Executive Director) of the Franchise Companies ensuring the HLG and McPhail & Partners connection continues.

  1. In three words, how would you describe the difference between one of the big four banks and Bendigo bank?

Three words, that’s a little hard.  Let me put it this way.  We (HLG and McPhail & Partners) understand small business and what business needs from their Bank.  We are small business.

  1. When you are out of work, how do you answer the question, “What do you do for work?”

We own and operate a boutique financial services business encompassing an Accounting Practice, a Mortgage Origination and Management business and operating 3 private franchises of Bendigo Bank.

  1. What is the most common misconception about Bendigo Bank?

I feel that it is viewed as a mum and dads bank.  Far from it.  It is the fifth largest bank in Australia and has a product offering that competes very well with the other banks.  The difference is the people.

  1. Wayne, you have been part of the local community for many years, what is one thing people might not know about you?

I have a passion for “making a difference”.  I love country music, especially songs about this great country of ours.  Two of my favourites are John Williamson and Sara Storer.

  1. If you could give one piece of advice to people who have a mortgage, what would it be?

Be disciplined to pay off non-deductible debt (your owner occupied home loan) to enable the spare cash to be productive in building an asset base.  (this is not advice just a general principle I have).

  1. If you could give one piece of advice to people who own a business, with debt, what would it be?

Always consult experts in relation to your business and debt.  Have the phone number of your accountant in your contacts list.

  1. You know the team at McPhail & Partners extremely well, why do you believe clients use their services [and for so many years too!]?

The McPhail & Partners team are well credentialed, expert in their field and have solid values.  Good people is about good business

  1. What do you believe is the future of banking in Australia?

Banking is a changing landscape and the landscape is changing rapidly.  Customers are in control and they expect to be able to access information and advice at a time that suits them.  Mainly this can be done remotely and via an electronic device.    What we (our branches) need to do is to be able to provide an avenue for the customer (when they want to) to seek and obtain advice as to their individual needs.  Our 3 branches are badged “Banking Solution Centres”.  We need to listen, analyse and provide solutions for what the customer needs and when they need it.

  1. If you were Malcolm Turnbull for a week, what would you do?

Facilitate a meeting of all of the political parties to clearly explain that if we don’t look after the budget problems now, we won’t be able to provide what is needed for our children’s children and beyond. We need to learn to live within our means.

We live in the greatest country on earth, let’s keep it that way.

Thank you Wayne for your candid and wonderful answers.