Getting To Know Your Mortgage Adviser

From my last name, you can easily tell I am Vietnamese. In fact, almost 40% of Vietnamese people share the same surname.

True story: the other week, I submitted a mortgage application for a client from Wellington, who also happened to be a “Nguyen.” The bank came back and asked me to clarify our “personal relationship.” My answer? I sent them the statistics. (For the record, my parents also had the same surname before their marriage, but don’t worry, they weren’t closely related. In Vietnam, it is pretty common!)

More than a decade ago, I packed a suitcase, took with me a handful of broken English phrases I had learned in high school, and borrowed $3,600 from my mum. That was it: no friends, no relatives, no job waiting on the other side. Just one promise to myself: to survive and to succeed in a new country.

Now, here is a part where most of my friends laugh: I didn’t actually realise how far away New Zealand was when I booked my flight. I honestly thought I would land somewhere near England, Ireland, or Scotland. Turns out, it was the complete opposite direction! But maps aside, I was not bothered. All I wanted was a fresh start in a Western country, and wherever that was, I was determined to make it work.

Like many new migrants, I did a whole range of jobs: fruit picker, factory worker, cleaner, housekeeper, waiter, concierge, receptionist… you name it, I probably tried it. Each role taught me something about resilience and hard work. Eventually, I landed my dream job in banking as a teller at ASB. From there, I worked my way up to be a Mortgage Adviser at TSB, Senior Mortgage Consultant and then Branch Manager at The Co-operative Bank, and later as a Relationship Manager with HSBC Australia, an international bank that gave me a new challenge and perspective.

But I have always carried a dream of building something of my own. My parents, who were business owners back in Vietnam, inspired me a lot. In early 2024, after years of preparation, I launched Smarmortgages.co.nz Limited. My mission is simple: to take the often overwhelming mortgage process and translate it into something clear, simple, and stress-free for my clients.

Apart from my husky boy, Simba, Smartmortgages.co.nz Limited is truly the love of my life right now. I also believe in giving back: supporting the community is something close to my heart, and I hope as the business grows, I will be able to support even more causes and people around me.

At the end of the day, my role is about helping you achieve one of the most important goals in life: home ownership. Whether you are buying your first home, refinancing, or investing, I would love to be part of your journey.

Give me a call on 022 398 5140, and we will have a chat today. 

Thanks for reading my story.