007: The Birdie Group - Nathan Smith - Find Good People and Build the Job Around Them

Building a successful brokerage isn't just about writing more loans. It's about finding the right market, building the right team and creating a business that can grow beyond the principal broker. In this episode of Brokers in Progress, we sit down with Nathan Smith, Director of the Birdie Group. Nathan is approaching 10 years at Birdie and has grown the business from a solo brokerage into a team of around 40. Today, the Birdie Group spans mortgage broking through Birdie Wealth, as well as conveyancing, property management and law. Nathan shares how focusing deeply on the Sutherland Shire helped Birdie build a strong local brand and reputation, why the group expanded into complementary services, and how a people-first approach has shaped its culture and growth. In this episode: → Why Nathan chose to niche geographically rather than by client type → How Birdie expanded from mortgage broking into complementary services → How flexibility, regular one-on-ones and career paths help build loyalty → The leadership lessons that come with growing a larger team → How Birdie integrates its offshore team as part of the wider business → Why finding good people and protecting the brand guide long-term growth Whether you're building a brokerage, growing a team or thinking about how to create a business that can progress beyond your own loan writing, this conversation offers plenty of practical lessons on building for the long term. 📝Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Meet Nathan Smith of the Birdie Group 02:31 - From Solo Broker to a Multi-Service Business 03:52 - Why Birdie Chose a Geographic Niche 05:27 - Expanding the Brand Into New Services 06:41 - Building a Workplace People Want to Join 10:28 - Letting Good People Shape the Growth Plan 13:04 - Building the Next Layer of Leaders 16:12 - Why Good People Stay at Birdie 20:28 - Protecting the Brand Above Anything Else 22:00 - Making the Offshore Team Part of Birdie 23:26 - The Brokers Who Thrive at Birdie 25:27 - Solve the Problem, Not Chase the Tech 26:41 - Building Long-Term Partner Relationships 28:57 - The 10-Year Mindset Behind Birdie Wealth About the Guest Nathan Smith is the Director of the Birdie Group, a group of businesses spanning mortgage broking, conveyancing, property management and law. With around 20 years of experience as a broker, Nathan has spent the past decade building Birdie from a solo brokerage into a team of around 40, with a strong presence in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. Nathan’s approach is centred on finding good people, building roles around them and creating a workplace where they can grow. That includes regular one-on-one conversations, flexible working arrangements, clear career paths and a strong focus on long-term relationships. In this episode, Nathan shares what he’s learned from building Birdie over the past 10 years, from geographic niching and expanding into complementary services to developing leaders, integrating an offshore team, protecting the brand and continually improving the client experience. Connect with Nathan LinkedIn | Nathan Smith:   / mortgagebrokersmith   LinkedIn | Birdie Wealth:   / birdiewealth   Website | Birdie Wealth: https://www.birdiewealth.com.au/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Brokers in Progress for more real conversations about growth, systems, leadership, and what it actually takes to build a successful brokerage. 🎬Produced by Chris Bates and the studio team at www.alcove.com.au The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial, investment, or credit advice. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of the information to your circumstances and seek advice from a licensed financial adviser, mortgage broker, or other qualified professional before making any decision. Canopy Private Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence 558709.