Financial Services Online Brokers

Financial Services Online helps Australians connect with qualified finance and insurance professionals who may assist with a wide range of personal, business and commercial needs. Whether you are looking for a home loan, business finance, vehicle or equipment finance, personal lending, debt consolidation, or personal and business insurance, working with an experienced broker or adviser can make it easier to understand your options and determine an appropriate next step.

Rather than relying solely on lender or insurer advertising, generic comparison tables or automated results, a broker can provide professional context based on the information you provide. Depending on the type of enquiry, this may involve comparing lending options, discussing borrowing structures, approaching lenders or insurers, explaining product features and requirements, or helping you through the application and approval process. Brokers and advisers can register to join our referral network and start receiving qualified enquiries.

What is a broker?

A broker is an intermediary who helps clients navigate financial products, insurance products or both, depending on their qualifications and authorisations.

A finance or mortgage broker may help you explore borrowing options from lenders suited to your circumstances. This can include home loans, refinancing, investment property finance, car loans, personal loans, business loans, commercial property finance, equipment finance and debt consolidation.

An insurance broker may help individuals and businesses assess risks and approach insurers or underwriting agencies for suitable cover. Depending on their expertise, this may include business insurance, public liability, professional indemnity, commercial property, cyber insurance, farm insurance and other specialist forms of cover.

The broker's role is not to guarantee approval, the lowest interest rate or the cheapest insurance premium. Rather, they can help you understand available options, requirements and important considerations so that you can make a more informed decision.

Why use a broker?

Financial and insurance products can be difficult to compare on price alone. Interest rates, fees, lending criteria, loan features, policy exclusions, excesses and eligibility requirements can all affect whether a particular product is appropriate for your circumstances.

A broker may help simplify the process by identifying relevant options and explaining the differences between them.

For borrowers, this could mean considering factors such as loan purpose, deposit or equity, income, credit profile, repayment structure and lender requirements. A mortgage broker may also help compare home loan options across different lenders rather than requiring you to approach each lender individually.

For businesses, a broker may assist with funding requirements such as working capital, equipment purchases, vehicles, property or expansion. An insurance broker may separately help identify risks associated with premises, employees, professional services, contracts, equipment, liability or other business activities.

Using a broker can also save time. Instead of trying to determine which lenders, insurers or products may suit your circumstances yourself, you can discuss your requirements with a professional familiar with the relevant market.

Cost remains important, but it is rarely the only consideration. The right loan is not necessarily the one with the lowest advertised rate, just as the right insurance policy is not necessarily the one with the lowest premium.

How we approve brokers

Financial Services Online takes participation in its referral network seriously. We aim to connect consumers with appropriately qualified and authorised professionals who operate within Australia's financial services and credit regulatory environment.

Our approval processes may consider relevant licensing or authorisations, industry experience, professional standards, business practices and the broker's ability to appropriately handle the types of enquiries they receive.

Depending on the services offered, this may include professionals operating under an Australian Credit Licence, Australian Financial Services Licence or other relevant authorisation or representative arrangement.

Participating brokers are expected to communicate professionally and transparently, handle personal information appropriately and comply with the regulatory and professional obligations relevant to the services they provide.

Our role is to facilitate connections between consumers and participating professionals. We do not approve loans, issue insurance policies or guarantee that a particular lender, insurer, loan or insurance product will be available or suitable.

How we assign your broker

When you submit an enquiry through Financial Services Online, the information you provide helps us identify a participating broker or professional who may be able to assist.

The matching process can take into account factors such as the type of finance or insurance required, your location and information relevant to the particular enquiry.

For finance enquiries, this might include whether you are seeking a home loan, refinance, car loan, personal loan, debt consolidation, business finance, commercial property finance or equipment finance.

For insurance enquiries, matching may consider the type of cover required, your occupation or industry, business activities, location and other relevant risk information.

The objective is to refer your enquiry to a professional whose services and areas of expertise are aligned with what you are looking for.

What you can expect from your broker

Once connected, your broker will generally contact you to discuss your enquiry in more detail and determine how they may be able to assist.

For a finance enquiry, your broker may ask about your income, expenses, assets, liabilities, deposit or equity, borrowing requirements and the purpose of the loan. They may explain different loan structures, lender requirements, rates and fees and, where appropriate, assist with an application.

For a business or commercial finance enquiry, the discussion may also cover business turnover, trading history, assets, cash flow and the purpose of the funding.

For an insurance enquiry, your broker may ask about the risks you want to insure, your business or personal circumstances, existing cover and other information required to obtain or compare quotations.

Your broker should explain their role, the information and documentation they require and any relevant fees, commissions or other remuneration disclosures applicable to the service they provide.

A good broker relationship should be professional, transparent and practical. Brokers cannot guarantee approval, pricing or outcomes, but they can help you understand your options and navigate what can otherwise be a complicated financial decision.

Finance brokers

Finance brokers can assist with many different borrowing requirements, including:

• Home loans and mortgage refinancing
• Investment property loans
• Car and vehicle finance
• Personal loans
• Debt consolidation
• Business loans and working capital
• Commercial property finance
• Equipment and machinery finance
• Truck and commercial vehicle finance
• Farm and agricultural finance
• Specialist and non-standard lending scenarios

The lenders and products available will depend on the broker, the nature of your enquiry and your individual circumstances.

Insurance brokers

Insurance brokers can assist individuals and businesses with a broad range of insurance requirements, which may include:

• Business insurance
• Public liability insurance
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Farm insurance
• Cyber insurance
• Management liability insurance
• Motor and commercial vehicle insurance
• Plant, machinery and equipment insurance
• Other specialist personal and commercial risks

Available cover, insurers and policy terms will depend on your circumstances and the broker's areas of expertise and authorisation. Insurance brokers looking to grow their client base can sign up here to start receiving qualified leads each month.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What does Financial Services Online do?

A: Financial Services Online is a referral service that helps connect Australians seeking finance or insurance with participating brokers and financial services professionals. We do not directly provide loans or issue insurance policies.

Q: Can a broker help me compare loans?

A: A finance or mortgage broker may compare options from lenders available through their lending panel and explain differences in rates, fees, features and lending requirements.

Q: Can I use Financial Services Online to find an insurance broker?

A: Yes. Insurance enquiries may be referred to participating insurance professionals with experience relevant to the type of cover you are seeking.

Q: Can a mortgage broker help me refinance my home loan?

A: Yes. Mortgage brokers commonly assist with refinancing by reviewing your current lending arrangements and comparing potentially suitable alternatives, subject to lender criteria and your circumstances.

Q: Can a broker help with business finance?

A: Yes. Depending on their expertise, finance brokers may assist with business loans, working capital, equipment finance, commercial property, vehicles and other business funding requirements.

Q: What if I have had credit problems?

A: Lending options depend on your individual circumstances and lender criteria. Some brokers work with lenders that consider a broader range of credit profiles. A broker can discuss your circumstances and determine whether potentially suitable options may be available.

Q: Can a broker guarantee that my loan will be approved?

A: No. Loan approval is ultimately determined by the lender and is subject to lending criteria, assessment and verification. A broker may help identify potentially appropriate lenders and assist you through the application process.

Q: Does Financial Services Online choose which loan or insurance policy I should take?

A: No. Our role is to facilitate a referral to a participating professional. Any recommendations, comparisons or advice provided after the referral are the responsibility of the appropriately authorised professional providing those services.

Q: Is there a cost to submit an enquiry?

A: There is generally no charge to submit an enquiry through Financial Services Online. Any fees, commissions or remuneration associated with services subsequently provided should be disclosed by the broker where applicable.

Connecting Australians with finance and insurance professionals

Financial Services Online provides a connection point between Australians looking for financial solutions and professionals who may be able to help.

Whether you are buying or refinancing a home, financing a vehicle, consolidating debts, funding a business, purchasing equipment or looking for insurance protection, our referral network is designed to help connect your enquiry with an appropriately matched professional.

You can submit an enquiry online to be connected with a participating broker. Finance and insurance professionals interested in receiving qualified enquiries can also explore our Leads Tour to learn more about joining the Financial Services Online referral network.

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