Will Hamer | Director at Hamer Asset Finance

🎙️ Someone You Should Meet | Will Hamer – Director at Hamer Asset Finance From working as a mechanic and rebuilding diesel engines underground in the Kalgoorlie gold mines to launching his own finance business during COVID, Will Hamer's path has been anything but conventional. In this episode of Someone You Should Meet, Rex, Jesse and Daniel sit down with Will Hamer, Director at Hamer Asset Finance, to unpack the career changes, risks and unexpected opportunities that ultimately led him into the world of asset finance. Growing up in Eltham, Victoria, Will initially followed his passion for cars into a mechanic apprenticeship. But by his early twenties, watching experienced mechanics deal with the physical toll of decades in the trade made him question whether it was the future he wanted for himself. That realisation led him into telephone parts sales before an opportunity took him across the country to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, where he worked on diesel Cummins engines deep underground in the gold mines. The money was good, but the conditions were relentless. After two and a half years of extreme heat, demanding work and life underground, Will returned to Melbourne physically and mentally exhausted. What followed was an unexpected introduction to finance. Through a family connection, Will landed a role with Esanda, ANZ's vehicle finance division. Starting in customer service before moving into writing loans, he quickly discovered that his automotive background translated naturally into the world of vehicle and asset finance. After moving through finance, insurance and broking roles, Will eventually found himself at a major crossroads. He was unemployed, COVID was beginning to unfold and his wife was three months pregnant. Rather than waiting for the next job, he decided to build one himself. Will fast-tracked his accreditations and launched Hamer Asset Finance, developing a business around helping individuals and companies fund the assets they need to operate and grow, from cars and trucks to machinery, tools and equipment. He shares how Hamer Asset Finance grew through relationships rather than relying heavily on paid leads, why partnerships with mortgage brokers became such an important part of the model and how understanding a client's wider business can uncover financial solutions that aren't always obvious. Will also breaks down the world of asset finance, including how businesses can unlock equity held in equipment they already own to improve cash flow, restructure debt or create additional breathing room. The conversation explores the finance industry more broadly, including regulation, professional standards and the responsibility that comes with structuring increasingly complex commercial finance deals. And then, of course, there are the cars. Will talks about returning to his automotive roots with the purchase of a Ferrari 348 and why driving an analogue Ferrari, complete with its quirks, heavy steering and old-school character, reminded him why he fell in love with cars in the first place. From there, the conversation moves into the rapidly changing automotive landscape, the rise of EV manufacturers like BYD and Zeekr, the Tesla Cybertruck and why Will believes classic performance cars will continue to hold a special place as modern vehicles become increasingly digital. From mechanic to miner, finance broker to business owner, Will's story is a reminder that careers rarely move in a straight line, and sometimes the moments that force you to change direction become the ones that define where you end up. This is Will Hamer on Someone You Should Meet.