P.O.W.E.R Property Ownership Wealth and Everything Related

The property market is shifting, the budget has dropped, and women in the industry are still working against a confidence gap that has nothing to do with their capability. This week we're joined by Melissa Gielnik — Owner, Managing Director and Senior Mortgage Broker of Smart Lending in Melbourne, and a female thought leader with over two decades of experience in the mortgage broking industry. The...

Asset finance is one of the most practical funding tools available to SMEs — but it’s often misunderstood or overlooked when businesses are planning their next move. In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa Ashcroft is joined by James Ross from Jayar Finance , an asset finance specialist with more than 20 years’ experience across the industry. James breaks down where asset finance fits i...

Motus Transport founder Andy Harris joins P.O.W.E.R. for an honest conversation about building and scaling a modern transport and distribution business - from the early days when the entire team consisted of himself and his wife, to leading a growing operation delivery from Huskisson on the NSW South Coast to Hervey Bay in QLD. Andy and Melissa talk about what it takes to stay nimble in a challeng...

Women retire with around 28% less super on average - and that gap doesn’t close on its own. In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa Ashcroft sits down with Lucy Kough, the creator and founder of start up Tap the Gap, a platform designed to help women build wealth for retirement through incremental behaviour: small, consistent contributions that add up over time. With International Women...

AAA’s newest accredited broker Monique Henderson joins Melissa for an honest chat about her path into broking, what brought her to AAA, and why she’s really clicked in her role working with people all day, thinking on her feet, and finding smart solutions. She talks about the accreditation process, the support that she received, and what she learned along the way. They also chat about the importan...

John Macalyk — Four Decades in Finance AAA’s founder (est. 1988) and MFAA Life Member John Macalyk joins Melissa to reflect on 40+ years in lending: the cycles he’s navigated, why he moved into commercial deals, and the lessons that endure. It's a fascinating conversation on building a business, staying customer-first, and finding balance along the way from someone that has done it, and done it co...

Carly Chant is a CFO in a male-dominated role and industry. But the CFO seat is changing - less backward-looking, more about strategy, culture and decision-making - and she’s here for it. Melissa speaks with Carly about building confident, high-trust teams, partnering on strategy, practical ways to adopt AI without losing human judgement, and why she left audit to drive real change. They also talk...

In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa sits down with Blake Buchanan from Specialist Finance Group (SFG), AAA’s aggregator, to unpack how aggregation works, what SFG does differently, and why the right partner can lift service, scale, and client outcomes. They explore: * What an aggregator is, how it supports brokers day-to-day, and the systems behind the scenes * What SFG provides spe...

Commercial Valuations 101 (with Matt Wallace) - What lenders look for, how values are set, and how to prepare Most people have a feel for what a residential valuer does. But on the commercial side, the brief is broader, the data is thinner, and the stakes can often be higher. In this P.O.W.E.R. Podcast episode, Melissa sits down with Commercial Valuer Matt Wallace to unpack the role of a commercia...

In this fascinating episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast Melissa talks with Angela Priestley, co-founder of Women’s Agenda, about how news is made, why representation in media matters, and what leaders and families can do to create fairer access to information. They cover the impact on work, policy and everyday decision, plus practical ways to build better media habits and amplify women’s voices. Hos...

In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa sits down with financial planner Ben Wise to talk about what a great planner really does - and why it matters. Ben shares how objective advice, a clear decision-making framework, and tailored investment strategies can help you build long-term financial security that actually aligns with your goals, life stage, and dream retirement. We also explore...

In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, we sit down with newly accredited broker Dale Walsh from AAA Mortgages to talk about his journey into the world of lending, and why he's passionate about finding smart, strategic solutions for clients with complex situations or specific goals. Dale shares insights into his area of specialty - Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) - and explains what borrowers...

In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa Ashcroft sits down with Kirsten Steedman from Shelter NSW, a passionate advocate for housing affordability, equity, and long-term solutions to break the cycle of insecure housing. With a background in corporate retail and shopping centre development, Kirsten brings a unique lens to the housing conversation, shaped by years of observing how built e...

In this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa sits down with Kevin Parker - a former civil engineer turned buyers agent - to talk about what really matters when buying property. Specialising in helping owner occupiers find their ideal home within a 10km radius of the CBD, Kevin brings a unique perspective to the process. With a background in structural engineering and development, he knows ho...

With decades of experience in the property world - and three boys keeping her on her toes - Jo brings a wealth of knowledge and real-life insight to the table. In this chat, Jo and Melissa cover everything from building an investment portfolio to buying your first home (or your next one), and the strategies that make it possible in today’s market. Whether you're an investor, first home buyer, or s...

In this powerful episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast, Melissa Ashcroft sits down with Zoë Robinson - lawyer, human rights advocate, and the youngest person ever appointed NSW Advocate for Children and Young People. Zoë shares real insights into the challenges and hopes of young Australians aged 0–24, from housing affordability to delayed life milestones. But this isn’t a conversation about despair -...

Need fast funding without the hassle? This episode unpacks when private lending makes sense — and when it doesn’t. Melissa Ashcroft sits down with Adrian Dracopoulos, BDM at Msquared Capital, to explore how private finance can be a powerful tool for bridging loans, development projects, and accessing equity for commercial use. It’s flexible, fast, and less restricted than traditional lending — but...

In this episode, Melissa chats with Joseph Daoud - broker, podcaster, and founder of It's Simple Finance - about the lending landscape, the impact of the federal election, and why brokers work best when they work together. Joseph also shares the personal story behind starting his business and his passion for helping everyday Australians get into property. A must-listen for anyone navigating today’...

In this brand new episode of the P.O.W.E.R. podcast (yep, Season 2 is finally here!), Melissa Ashcroft shares her top insights from decades in the lending industry breaking down how to make your mortgage work harder for you. She dives into one of the most powerful tools available to homeowners: the offset account. Learn how this simple strategy can save you tens (or even hundreds) of thousands ove...

Episode 9 of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast brings Melissa to her happy place, talking all things construction with Mitchell Brandtman Partner, Tass Assarapin. Tass has seen many changes in his years working as a Quantity Surveyor, and he chats to Melissa about why now is such a challenging time for builders and developers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast episode, Melissa chats to Bob Masalkovski from the MFAA about the evolving landscape of the mortgage broking industry, discussing the increasing number of professionals from diverse backgrounds who are transitioning into broking. They explore the importance of experience and mentorship for new entrants, highlight the need for more women in the industry, the unique opportunitie...

Listen to Melissa's very interesting chat with Victoria Coster, CEO of Credit Fix Solutions, about why understanding your credit score is so important, how it can impact your borrowing power, and how to repair it if needed. You do not want to miss this episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Melissa chats with Brad Seeto, a Chartered Accountant and Registered Tax Agent from Bramelle Partners. Listen to them chat about why Brad chose to enter the finance industry and how it intersects with the mortgage and lending space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're super excited about this episode of the P.O.W.E.R. Podcast! In ep 5, Melissa chats with NSW BDM for Orde Financial, Craig Meale, about the changes he's seen over his time in the industry, and the role that Brokers and non-bank lenders play today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Melissa chats with the newest member of the AAA Mortgages team Dale Walsh. Listen to them chat about Dale's industry experience, philosophy, and what he plans to bring to AAA. Contact him on 0426 822 547 or dale@aaafinancialgroup.com.au to solve all of your (finance) problems! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.