Show Notes
Lauren Franzmann is a finance broker at Flint, based in Newcastle, and a founding member of Sheinvest.
At 23, she's already five years deep in an industry where most people take a decade to see what she's seen in two. She fell into broking through a Facebook ad for a loan processing role while studying economics at Newcastle Uni, and is now working alongside one of Flint's top brokers, handling first home buyers, investors and everything in between on a team processing over 1,000 applications a year.
This conversation covers how she got here, and where she's taking it. Lauren breaks down what she's learned seeing "everything there is to see" in two years, why time management (not knowledge) is the biggest challenge at this volume, and how Flint's Newcastle office is structured across local and offshore teams aiming for a billion-dollar book.
She talks about her own property strategy, targeting blue-chip growth areas with development potential, working alongside a builder partner who can add value most investors can't, and why she tells every first home buyer the same thing: this isn't your dream home, it's your worst one.
She also opens up about Sheinvest, the initiative she co-founded to get more women into property investing, why retention, not entry, is the real issue for women in broking, and what the next 12 months of events, webinars and content look like.
If you're a young broker wondering what's possible early in your career, or a woman thinking about property but not sure where to start, this one's for you.
1:49 — Two Years, Everything Seen — The Variety That Took Her From 0 to 100
3:19 — Time, Not Knowledge — The Real Challenge at This Volume
8:17 — What Is SheInvest — Inspiring Women Into Property Investing
13:18 — The Property Strategy — Blue-Chip Growth, Development Potential and a Builder Partner
20:50 — FY27 Plans for SheInvest — Webinars, Events and a Daily Content Push
23:13 — Women in Broking — Why Retention, Not Entry, Is the Real Problem
26:02 — Advice for Women Starting Out — Connection Over Competition
28:05 — The $1 Billion Target — Flint Newcastle's Growth Plan and Team Culture
32:33 — Becoming an Advisor, Not Just a Broker — SMSF, Commercial and Equity Strategies
47:03 — Why Your First Property Should Be the Worst One You'll Ever Buy
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 Lauren Franzmann:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-franzmann4010999/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenfranzmann/
More from Beyond The Numbers With Christian Stevens
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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.