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It’s simple — brokers come first. Always.
As CEO of First Federal, one of…
As CEO of First Federal, one of…
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James Angus shared this🚨 While the market’s reacting to the latest RBA move with rate increases, we’ve taken a different path by 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟬.𝟰𝟬%. Rates now starting from 6.34%! This is what backing brokers actually looks like. Stepping up with sharper pricing when your clients need it most, and giving you a real edge in a rising rate environment. Because at First Federal, we’re not just in the game. We’re in your corner. And here’s your reminder…final call on our $𝟬 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲 offer, which ends on Tuesday (31 March). What this means for your clients: 💥 $0 application fee 📉 More competitive rates 🤝 Flexible options for those outside the box Got deals sitting there? Now’s the time to act. Send your scenario before Tuesday to lock in the savings 👉 https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7rJames Angus shared this⏳ Only 6 days left. Rates are rising across the market, but your clients can still save upfront with our $0 Application Fee offer on First Choice Plus and First Freedom. Perfect for clients who don’t quite fit the bank box — whether they’ve had a few bumps in their history or just need a more flexible home loan option. 🤝 Send your scenario before 31 March to make sure your clients don’t miss the savings. https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r . . . . T&Cs apply. Offer available to First Federal accredited brokers when they settle First Choice Plus or First Freedom loans by 30/4/2026. Rates are variable and subject to change.
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James Angus shared thisI thoroughly enjoyed the recent Finsure PD Days. Great energy, great conversations, and even better engagement from Finsure brokers across the country. Credit to Simon Bednar, Noushig Megerditchian, Paul Song, Paul Gollan, Daisy Yu, Sev Isikli, Chitranee Williams, Vy Le and the entire Finsure team for putting together such a strong series of events. The venues, attendance and overall execution were first class. The response to First Federal joining the panel has been outstanding and we're now very much looking forward to building on that momentum. Let’s go!James Angus shared this🎉 And that’s a wrap on our Finsure PD Days across Australia! Thank you to the brokers who joined us - we loved connecting and sharing how First Federal helps you say YES more with Australia's Easiest Home Loan.™ A big shout-out to the team on the road: Euan Watson Zachery S. Devers Scott Unicomb Mitch ChestertonStephen Mackay Prasan Luchetti James Angus Nik Thurgood Kristy Nel If you’d like to keep the momentum going, you can submit a scenario here: https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r To get accredited, click here: https://lnkd.in/gahFjvRp Always here to back brokers nationwide. 💙
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James Angus shared thisSpeed isn’t a feature. It’s the difference between winning and losing the deal. This is a great example of what happens when credit, sales, and operations are aligned around one thing: getting outcomes for brokers and their clients. Tight timeframes, real-life pressures, and no room for delays. That’s the reality brokers operate in every day. At First Federal, we’ve built the business around that reality. Same-day assessment isn’t a headline, it’s the standard. Because when timing matters, certainty wins.James Angus shared this✈️ A broker recently came to us with an airline captain looking to purchase a home closer to his base — and timing was tight. With the $0 Application Fee on First Choice Plus, the client could move ahead without the upfront cost. ✅ Approval in under 24 hours ✅ $842,000 at 80% LVR ✅ Settled in 7 days Same‑day assessment. No delays. That’s First Federal. If you’ve got a scenario that needs quick answers and fewer upfront costs, we’re ready when you are. https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r #FirstFederal #BrokerFirst #FastResponse #HomeLoans #NearPrime #SettlementSuccess . . . . T&Cs apply. Offer available to First Federal accredited brokers when they settle First Choice Plus or First Freedom loans by 30/4/2026. Rates are variable and subject to change. Scenarios are for illustrative purposes only.
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James Angus shared thisGreat to see this kind of feedback coming through 👏 Speed and communication aren’t “nice to haves”. They’re what win deals. When there are multiple moving parts, having a BDM who can keep things tight and responsive makes all the difference. Big effort from Zachery S. Devers here. At First Federal, this is exactly the standard we hold ourselves to and it’s what brokers can expect on every deal.James Angus shared thisWe love hearing feedback like this from broker Cherish French ⭐ Huge credit to Zachery S. Devers for keeping this deal moving with sharp communication and fast turnaround times — even with external parties involved. It’s exactly the kind of support brokers can count on when timing matters 🔥 Ready to move your next scenario forward? Click here to submit it: https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r #MortgageBrokers #BrokerSupport #BrokerPartners
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James Angus shared thisYou don’t have a talent problem. You have an activity problem. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. Rocky wasn’t the best fighter. Wasn’t the smartest. Wasn’t the favourite. But he showed up. Every. Single. Day. Early mornings. Long runs in the freezing cold. Punching meat in a freezer. Skipping rope until his lungs burned. Grinding reps in a rundown gym. Work hard when no one’s watching. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just reps. And here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear… 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. In business and sales: ✅ The one making more calls wins ✅ The one having more conversations wins ✅ The one following up when others stop wins It’s not sexy. It’s not clever. But it works. Everyone wants the result. Very few want the grind. Rocky didn’t win the fight because of talent. He won because he refused to be outworked. So here’s the question: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸... 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁?
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James Angus shared thisThis is exactly why First Federal exists. Not every deal is clean. Not every borrower fits a box. And not every lender is willing to lean in when it matters. Speed matters. Certainty matters. And in moments like this, so does having a lender who has the credit mindset to back good borrowers when others won’t. If you’ve got a deal that needs thinking, not just scoring, you know where to find us.James Angus shared this👷 A couple running a construction services business needed to consolidate ATO debts and refinance their home loan. Their usual lender couldn't help — so their broker turned to First Federal for a fast, easy and stress-free solution. • $1.49M loan • 73% LVR • ATO debts cleared • Settled in 10 days Have a client who needs a refinance solution that actually moves? Submit your scenario or contact your First Federal BDM — we’re ready when you are. https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r
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James Angus shared thisNot the biggest lender in the room. Not even close. But at the recent Finsure PD Days, something pretty clear happened… 👉 Over 400 broker accreditations 👉 Multiple applications lodged 👉 And a level of engagement that honestly far exceeded expectations That tells you everything. When you strip it back, brokers don’t want complexity. They want: ✅ Certainty ✅ Speed ✅ A lender partner that actually backs them That’s exactly what we’re building at First Federal. A huge thanks to Simon Bednar, Noushig Megerditchian and the broader Finsure team for the incredibly generous and genuine support. And credit where it’s due. This has been a standout series of PD Days so far. Great venues, exceptional attendance, and fantastic engagement. We’re just getting started but the response so far is a strong signal we’re on the right track. Let’s go! Scott Unicomb Kristy Nel Nik Thurgood Mitch Chesterton Euan Watson Zachery S. Devers Prasan Luchetti Stephen Mackay
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James Angus shared thisFirst Federal is growing and we’re hiring BDMs in Sydney and Melbourne. Over the past year or so we’ve quietly been building a non-bank lender focused on one simple mission: making life easier for brokers. The market has responded. Broker demand is accelerating and our home loan volumes are growing at triple-digit rates. We’re also expanding our distribution reach, recently joining the Finsure panel, giving thousands more brokers access to a lender designed specifically around their needs. What makes First Federal different? • No clawbacks • Same-day approvals • Soon to be launched real-time status tracking through our broker portal • A credit team that actually answers the phone and works with brokers to get deals done In short: a lender built for brokers, not around them. To support our growth, we’re now looking for exceptional BDMs in Sydney and Melbourne. If you’re a broker-first BDM who wants to be part of something special and help shape where we go next — let’s talk. Reach out to Scott Unicomb or me for a confidential chat.
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James Angus shared thisBloomberg’s survey of 30 economists points to a clear base case: 4.10% today, 4.35% by August. The logic is straightforward. The economy is still running hotter than the RBA would like. • Inflation remains sticky • The labour market is still tight • Demand hasn’t slowed enough For the RBA, the real danger isn’t tightening too much. It’s declaring victory on inflation too early. Add another complication: energy prices. Rising petrol costs risk pushing inflation expectations higher by influencing consumer behaviour and wage demands. Central banks know this playbook well. Which is why today’s move simply pushes policy deeper into restrictive territory. The real question now: Is 4.35% the peak… or just the next stop?
James Angus commented on a post
4d
Great summary. There’s a lot to like in how this has been framed. That said, there’s a bit more going on here than just Pepper backing itself.
The failed bid from Challenger really comes down to three things:
1. Shareholder support ultimately determined the outcome. Without alignment from long-term capital on valuation, the deal simply couldn’t proceed. Large super funds continue to play a decisive role in deals like this and they’re focused on long-term value, not short-term gains.
2. Repricing eroded confidence. Once the offer was reduced, momentum shifted and conviction weakened, making the deal harder to sustain.
3. Execution certainty is critical. When a deal is seen as “not reasonably capable of execution,” it signals too much uncertainty and insufficient alignment to proceed.
Pepper’s doing well but that’s only part of the story. This was about valuation gaps, buyer discipline, and shareholders holding the line. Bottom line: strategy might start a deal, but certainty and alignment are what close it.
James Angus commented on a post
1w
From a lender’s perspective, this aligns with what we’re seeing. Fraud in the broker channel remains low, but the real risk sits in process, not intent. Speed and flexibility are important, but without strong document control and verification, things unravel quickly. The brokers who win long-term are the ones who treat credit integrity as non-negotiable.
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James Angus liked thisReputation and doing right by people will always outlast short-term cash grabs.James Angus liked thisLast year I turned down roughly $500k in annual revenue. A property investor agency approached me to process loans for their clients. Seemed straightforward until I looked at what they were actually asking for. They wanted clients approved through trust structures, which is unregulated lending. Many of these clients were being pushed to borrow amounts that would leave them genuinely overexposed. The whole setup felt like a royal commission waiting to happen! My moral compass wouldn't let me touch it, regardless of the money involved. Living through the GFC in the UK taught me firsthand what lending overexposure does to people. I watched families lose everything because brokers and lenders prioritised volume over sustainable debt levels. The reputational damage across the industry took years to repair. Last quarter, several major lenders pulled out of this exact lending space. That tells you everything about where this is heading. After 25 years in mortgage broking, I've built my practice on client retention and referrals. That only works when clients succeed long-term, not when they're over-leveraged and one interest rate rise away from financial disaster. Protecting clients and my reputation matters more than short-term revenue. Always has. Some opportunities aren't opportunities at all.
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James Angus liked thisJames Angus liked this🚀 We’re Growing Across the Southern States – And We’re Hiring! I’m excited to share that our continued growth across the Southern Region has paved the way for three fantastic new opportunities to join our team. As we deepen our investment in Victoria and Western Australia, we’re looking for passionate, driven sales professionals who want to be part of our next chapter. We are currently hiring for: ✨ Business Development Manager – Victoria https://lnkd.in/gQZNKHZJ ✨ Business Development Manager – Western Australia https://lnkd.in/gtcdGYpa ✨ BDM Associate – Western Australia https://lnkd.in/gwM5R8mf These roles will play a key part in expanding our presence, strengthening our customer relationships, and supporting the momentum we’re building across the region. If you’re motivated, energetic, and excited by the idea of helping shape growth in a high-performing team, I’d love to hear from you. #hiring #sales #growth #businessdevelopment #careers #opportunity #melbourne #perth Sev Isikli Chitranee Williams André Ellis Daisy Yu Peter Jong Ellessa Demarco Isabelle Chan Jas Fazlic Damien Thompson John Lafferrairie Simon Bednar Agim Sherifovski
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James Angus liked thisJames Angus liked thisPepper Money ANZ has formally ended takeover discussions with Challenger Limited, drawing a line under a six-week process that had the market watching closely. The proposal, initially pitched at $2.60 per share, was revised down to $2.25 and labelled as a “best and final” offer. After reviewing the updated terms, Pepper’s Independent Board Committee determined the deal was not reasonably capable of execution and chose not to proceed. Discussions have now been fully terminated. The structure of the proposed transaction involved a joint vehicle with Pepper Group ANZ HoldCo Limited, with Challenger expected to hold up to 25% of the business. While strategically aligned, particularly around Challenger gaining access to fixed income assets, the revised pricing and execution risk ultimately proved to be sticking points. Challenger has since acknowledged the decision, noting the end of negotiations while confirming the intention to maintain its existing commercial relationship with Pepper. This suggests that while the acquisition won’t proceed, the strategic alignment between the two groups still holds value. Importantly, Pepper used this moment to reinforce its current position rather than defend it. The business pointed to strong operating momentum, with application flows up 21% year on year and originations increasing by 34% across mortgages and asset finance in the first two months of 2026. The decision to walk away signals confidence from the board in the company’s standalone growth trajectory. It also highlights a broader theme in the current market where pricing discipline and execution certainty are becoming just as important as strategic alignment in M&A activity. For the non-bank lending sector, this is a clear example of a lender choosing to back its own growth story rather than accept a revised offer that no longer reflects its perceived value or future opportunity.
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James Angus liked thisJames Angus liked this🚨 Your Alt Doc clients could be leaving money on the table. If they're sitting on a higher rate but can't face another income assessment — there's a solution. Rate Money's Dollar-for-Dollar Refinance lets eligible clients refinance simply by proving 12+ months of strong repayment history on their existing mortgage and liabilities.* No income assessment. No headache. Potentially down to 5.81% p.a.* If you have Alt Doc clients stuck on a rate that no longer serves them, let's talk — I may be able to get them moving without the usual hurdles. 📩 Drop me a message or comment below. *Terms and conditions apply. Rates are variable and subject to change. #AltDoc #HomeLoan #RefinanceStrategy #ClientFirst #BrokerLife #RateMoney #SmartRefinance #AustralianMortgage #BrokerTips #PropertyFinance #HomeLoansAustralia
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James Angus liked thisJames Angus liked thisCase Study | Leisure & Tourism Finance With existing short-term facilities approaching expiry, our client reached out to AMF Finance to deliver a refinance solution that unlocked capital while preserving strategic flexibility. The objective was to refinance existing facilities and release equity to support working capital needs and investment across other development projects, while allowing time to review and consolidate broader group holdings. AMF sourced a lender with strong appetite for a complex leisure asset, a holiday resort and 18-hole championship golf course spanning 20 separate titles. Delivering a $12M facility against a $30.5M security, at a 39.35% LVR. The 12-month, capitalised interest structure provided liquidity today, breathing room for portfolio strategy and funding capacity for future acquisitions, without forcing long-term decisions prematurely. This is structured commercial finance designed around assets, timing and intent. Not rigid templates. If you or your clients have facilities that are nearing expiry, early planning creates better options. Contact David Reed at AMF Finance today!
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James Angus liked thisJames Angus liked this🎉 And that’s a wrap on our Finsure PD Days across Australia! Thank you to the brokers who joined us - we loved connecting and sharing how First Federal helps you say YES more with Australia's Easiest Home Loan.™ A big shout-out to the team on the road: Euan Watson Zachery S. Devers Scott Unicomb Mitch ChestertonStephen Mackay Prasan Luchetti James Angus Nik Thurgood Kristy Nel If you’d like to keep the momentum going, you can submit a scenario here: https://lnkd.in/gG5RZF7r To get accredited, click here: https://lnkd.in/gahFjvRp Always here to back brokers nationwide. 💙
Experience & Education
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First Federal
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Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Councillor & Ringmaster
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
- Present 10 years 3 months
As the Ringmaster of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW since 2021, I lead the Sydney Royal Horse Show, one of Australia's largest equestrian events, overseeing diverse disciplines such as breed and riding classes, Showjumping, Campdraft and Rodeo. Additionally, I hold leadership roles as Chair of the Outside Ring and New Councillor Recommendation Committees, actively contributing to the Society's activities. I'm also a valuable member of the Horse, Audit, and Disciplinary Committees.
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Volunteer
Mini-Mos Community Fun Run & Fair
- 2 years 1 month
The Mini-Mos Community Fun Run & Fair is one of the Mosman community’s premier events, raising funds for Mosman Public School (MPS) and its nominated charities.
Honors & Awards
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Best Third Party Lender
2017 Australian Lending Awards
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Ranked first in the Brokers on Non-Majors 2015 survey by Australian Broker for the third year
Australian Broker
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Best Non-Major Lender
Australian Broker - 2015 Survey of Bokers on Non-Major Lenders
Best Non-Major Lender for the third year running.
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2015 iSelect Partner of the Year
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Lender of the Year - Tier Two
MFAA
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SMSF Loan Provider of the Year
SMSF Adviser
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2014 Best of the Best Awards
Money Magazine
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2013 Best of the Best Awards
Money Magazine
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2012 Best of the Best Awards
Money Magazine
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#1 Service Provider
Mortgage Professional National Lender Survey
Languages
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
Organizations
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AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE of COMPANY DIRECTORS
Member
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