How Matthieu Olo-Whaanga Built a Brokerage Across the Tasman
Sam Panetta sits down with Matthieu Olo-Whaanga from Tasman Finance Partners to unpack how he built a dual-market brokerage operating across both Australia and New Zealand.
Matthieu built a dual-market brokerage across Australia and New Zealand by spotting a gap in trans-Tasman advice, then scaled it with coaching, a strong team, diverse lead generation and AI-driven fulfilment.
1) A brokerage built for two markets
Tasman Finance Partners operates across both Australia and New Zealand. Matthieu explains what it takes to build a brokerage that serves both sides of the Tasman.
- One brokerage, two markets.
- Australia and New Zealand under one roof.
2) The trans-Tasman niche
Matthieu saw a lack of specialised financial advice for people moving or investing between Australia and New Zealand, and built the business to fill it.
- Find the gap others ignore.
- Serve people moving or investing across the Tasman.
3) Niche down in a competitive market
In a crowded market, Matthieu argues that niching down is what makes a brokerage stand out.
- Specialise to stand out.
- A clear niche cuts through competition.
4) Pillar 1: Invest in coaching and mentoring
Matthieu credits coaching and mentoring as one of the three pillars behind his rapid growth.
- Learn from people ahead of you.
- Coaching speeds up growth.
5) Pillar 2: Build a high-performing team
The second pillar is the team, including his business partner. The right people let the business grow faster than one broker can.
- Great people multiply output.
- The right partner matters.
6) Pillar 3: Master lead generation
The third pillar is lead generation across several channels rather than relying on one.
- Paid ads.
- Organic content.
- Referral partnerships.
7) AI runs fulfilment in New Zealand
Matthieu uses AI systems to automate fulfilment in New Zealand, which frees him to focus on high-level sales and strategy.
- Automate fulfilment.
- Spend your time on sales and strategy.
8) AI is already ahead on parts of credit assessment
Matthieu believes AI is already outperforming human credit assessment in certain technical aspects.
- AI handles the technical detail well.
- Brokers who adopt it gain an edge.
9) Consistency builds trust
Consistent content creation, even when it feels uncomfortable, is how Matthieu builds trust and attracts clients. The internet rewards steady, long-term effort.
- Post even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Consistency compounds.
- Play the long game.
10) The goal: the premier brokerage across the Tasman
Matthieu’s aim is to make Tasman Finance Partners the premier brokerage operating across the Tasman. His advice to younger entrepreneurs is to stay in their lane.
- Stay in your lane.
- Don’t rush the process.
The biggest lesson from Matthieu Olo-Whaanga
Find a niche others overlook, build on coaching, a strong team and diverse lead generation, let AI handle fulfilment, and stay consistent for the long game.
