19 Suicides in 1 Year: The Dark Side of the Mortgage Industry
Beyond The Numbers With Christian StevensShow Notes
Rhianna Farnan, Chief Communications Officer at Derwent Finance and mental health advocate, joins Christian Stevens on this week's episode of Beyond The Numbers.
As FBAA Tasmania State President, Artemis Ambassador, and the 2025 Better Business Awards Thought Leader of the Year, Rhianna shares the story behind building one of Australia's leading mortgage broking firms - starting from a bedroom at just 18 years old.
But the journey wasn’t smooth.From a failed Melbourne expansion that nearly brought the business undone, to pioneering TikTok for mortgage brokers and generating more than 150 leads a month, Rhianna opens up about what it really takes to build something over a decade.
She speaks candidly about the mistakes, the pressure, and the moment things almost collapsed - including a time when the business was struggling so much they couldn’t afford to buy groceries.
This episode is a raw look at resilience, rebuilding, and what it takes to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
If you're a mortgage broker, business owner, or anyone building something from scratch, this one's for you.
5:13 — The Melbourne Expansion That Nearly Destroyed Everything
8:17 — Running a Business With Your Partner: The Honest Truth
11:30 — Why She Founded a Mental Health Event for the Industry
19:07 — How TikTok Became Their Biggest Lead Source (150/Month)
22:29 — Viral ≠ Leads: The Content Strategy That Actually Works
31:42 — How the Back Office Is Structured (Offshore, Settlements, PA)
36:23 — The First Date Was a Disaster — Here's What Changed
39:19 — Balancing Ambition, Kids & Knowing When to Step Back
50:10 — Where the Mortgage Broking Industry Is Heading
Learn more about Flint: https://flintgroup.au/
Connect with Christian Stevens:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/propertyfinance/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmrstevens/
Connect with Rhianna Farnan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhianna-farnan-055a2716b/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rhiannafarnan/
More from Beyond The Numbers With Christian Stevens
Corey Goldby is the Managing Partner of Source Financial and the founder of the Fat Profits Podcast. In just three years, he’s grown his broking and accounting businesses to a team of 35 — and is now preparing for the next major stage of that growth.
Damien Roylance and Vincent Moore have spent the last decade growing Entourage from a small brokerage into a five-office business with more than 50 people and a multi-billion-dollar loan book.
Mackenzie Jones is a finance broker at Flint and one of the newest faces in the industry. After starting at CBA, she made the jump into broking at just 22, bringing the same discipline, competitiveness and consistency that made her a two-time martial arts world champion.
Ryan Sweeney is the Founder and CEO of Front Financial, and at just 25 he’s already gone from broker to running a fast-growing finance business.
*Content warning: This episode includes an open conversation around suicide and mental health, including personal experiences with loss. Viewer discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a support service.