_Source: [Good Returns](https://www.goodreturns.co.nz/article/tella-widens-crm-platforms-capabilities)_

Better tools behind the scenes mean better advice experience for clients.

That's the thinking behind Tella's latest upgrade to its custom-built CRM platform, [myDash](https://www.mydash.co.nz/) v2, designed to make everyday tasks for advisers more connected and efficient.

## MyDash v2 : What’s New?

### 1. Introducing Stella, built-in AI assistant
Tella has built its own AI agent, **Stella**, into the platform after finding advisers were using external AI tools in their day-to-day work.

That meant advisers could be copying and pasting information into external tools without always knowing where that data goes, how it’s stored, or whether it could be used to improve or train other AI models.

<u>That highlighted an important gap: </u>
Advisers wanted the benefits of AI, but needed a way to use it within **a more controlled environment.**


### 2. All-in-one smarter admin tools
Integrated with platforms such as Quotemonster and Akahu, **myDash v2** is designed to reduce manual desk work and create time efficiencies for advisers, 

The latest version brings more of the tools they need into one place, including built-in:

- document management
- e-signing, DocuSign
- note-taking, 
- form-filling and record keeping 

With fewer disconnected tools to manage, the bigger benefit is what that can free up time for: **the advice itself.**

_More is coming over the next few months, including investment advice tools, quality assurance, and improved compliance checks._

## Is financial data safe with an AI-powered mortgage adviser?
With myDash v2, the focus includes greater control over where its data is hosted and stored when using AI.

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  According to Chambers, client data is not used to develop other AI models as it stays securely within Tella's own systems.
</blockquote>


## Will this actually change for clients’ home loan experience?
Probably not directly. 

But with better systems behind how advisers work, they can stay focused on the people in front of them.

**Less time buried in admin and more attention for conversations that matter to their clients.**

Read the full feature [here](https://www.goodreturns.co.nz/article/tella-widens-crm-platforms-capabilities).

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<p style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.85em; color: #555;">
  This article is for informational purposes only. It does not consider your personal financial situation or objectives. Please consult with Tella mortgage and financial experts before making any decisions regarding your mortgage or debt strategy.
</p>


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Built-In AI & Smarter Admin: Tella’s Latest Upgrade for NZ Mortgage Advisers

Our CEO, Andrew Chambers, was recently featured in [NZ Adviser](https://www.mpamag.com/nz/specialty/aggregators/slower-market-pushes-advisers-towards-diversification-efficiency-and-scale/586949), discussing how a quieter lending market is reshaping the mortgage advice industry

## Why Your Mortgage Adviser Relationship Shouldn't End at Settlement

For years, mortgage advice could be fairly transactional: get the loan approved, move on to the next client. 

Chambers pointed to a different pattern among the strongest adviser businesses right now—staying present with clients well after settlement, not disappearing once the deal closes.

<u>**What this means for you:**</u> 

The adviser who helped you buy could be the same person who helps you refix, restructure, or plan your next move years later—instead of starting from scratch with someone new each time.

## NZ Mortgage Advisers Are Offering More Holistic Financial Advice

Chambers also highlighted a shift toward ‘holistic’ advice, with more advisers moving into risk and investment advice alongside lending, rather than sticking to one narrow lane.

<u>**What this means for you:**</u> 

Instead of juggling separate relationships with a mortgage broker, an insurance adviser, and an investment adviser, more advisers can now look at your full financial picture in one place.

## How AI Is Changing Mortgage Advice in NZ

Chambers pointed out that when AI and better systems reduce the time advisers spend on admin and paperwork, the real opportunity is reinvesting that time into client relationships—not just processing more files faster.

**<u>What this means for you:**</u> 

Less time your adviser spends buried in forms is potentially more time actually spent understanding your situation and options.

### The takeaway
An industry becoming more relationship-focused, more diversified, and more efficient isn't just good news for advisers.

Advice that grows with you is what good mortgage advice should've always looked like.

  
  <a href="https://calendly.com/tella-adviser" 
     style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #10059f; padding: 14px 28px; border-radius: 50px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px;">
    Get in touch with Tella mortgage adviser today
  </a>
</div>

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<p style="font-style: italic; font-size: 0.85em; color: #555;">
  This article is for informational purposes only. It does not consider your personal financial situation or objectives. Please consult with Tella mortgage and financial experts before making any decisions regarding your mortgage or debt strategy.
</p>

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Why NZ Mortgage Advisers Are Doing More Than Just Home Loans

Andrew shared his thoughts on a shift a lot of Kiwi families are quietly living through: adult kids sticking around at home much longer than previous generations did.

He spoke candidly as a parent, not just an industry expert. With two adult kids of his own, he's seen firsthand how different the path to a first home looks today compared to when he was their age, even for kids who've done everything 'right'. 

Andrew speaks from experience too—his own generation has felt squeezed from both sides, facing a very different economic reality than those before and after them.

**His broader thought?**

We might be heading toward a future where community living and multigenerational households become far more common. Not as a fallback, but as a genuine, lasting way families choose to support each other, in both directions, over time.

It's a good reminder that the housing conversation isn't just numbers and mortgage rates—it's about how Kiwi whānau are adapting, together.

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_**For the full story and Andrew's comments in context, check out the OneRoof feature linked [here](https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/what-if-the-kids-never-move-out-experts-say-kiwi-families-should-prepare-for-housing-shake-up-49904).**_


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  <h3 style="margin-top: 0; color: #ffffff; font-size: 22px;">Thinking about financing a granny flat, renovation, or extra space for the family?</h3>
  
  <p style="color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 1.5;">
    Let's talk through your options.
  </p>
  
  
  <a href="https://calendly.com/tella-adviser" 
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    Book a free, no-pressure chat with our home loan adviser.
  </a>
</div>

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Multigenerational Living in NZ: Tella CEO Shares His Story

Andrew Chambers, our Tella CEO, recalls a moment from the late 1990s during the onset of the Asian financial crisis. A senior colleague remarked, “You don’t know what recession is—you weren’t in banking in ’87!” That comment stuck with him. Now, having weathered a recession roughly every decade since, Chambers has come to a key realization: while recessions are inevitable, their causes and consequences are never the same.

Drawing on the metaphor of tectonic shifts, he describes the current downturn as a slow-moving quake—less dramatic in the headlines, but deeply disruptive beneath the surface. Here are some of his observations:

- **A Quiet but Deep Impact**: Unlike the sharp shocks of past recessions, this one has unfolded gradually. Its slow burn has made it less newsworthy, yet it has significantly eroded household financial security.

- **A New Banking Ethos**: Today’s banks have evolved into more responsible corporate citizens. The absence of widespread mortgagee sales—a hallmark of past recessions—is a testament to this shift. Chambers commends the industry for this progress.

- **Latecomers Hit Hardest**: Those who entered the property market late are bearing the brunt of the downturn, facing devaluations of 10–20% that have wiped out their equity.

- **Auckland vs. South Island**: Auckland has felt the recession more acutely, due to inflated property prices and higher job losses. In contrast, South Islanders have weathered the storm relatively well.

- **Infrastructure Neglect Exposed**: The recession has highlighted decades of underinvestment in infrastructure. Chambers urges both central and local governments to learn from this and prioritize long-term resilience.

- **Regretful Covid Spending**: Many households spent freely during the pandemic—on renovations, vehicles, and other big-ticket items. Now, those decisions are proving burdensome.

Chambers shared these insights in a brief conversation with Ryan Bridge on *Herald Now* morning TV. His reflections invite readers to consider not just the economic data, but the human and structural stories behind it. 

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Reflections on Recession: Lessons from the Long Grind

It’s that time of year where our team get out to the beach, or out on the mountain biking tracks spending time with our family and friends.

We'll be soaking up the sun and recharging our batteries, but let's talk about our wins for this year.

Before we dive into holiday mode, we want to thank you for being a part of our journey. This year, we've celebrated countless homeownership victories with you.

### **Here are a few highlights:**
- **Global Homeownership:** We helped a New Zealand family based in Timor-Leste secure a home loan for an investment property in New Zealand to return back too (one day). We’ve helped clients all over the world, but Timor-Leste was the most surprising request. 
- **Age is No Barrier:** Our oldest client to be approved a home loan with a bank was a remarkable 72-year-old. 
- **The Next Generation of Homeowners:** We’ve helped many young individuals and couples into home ownership. It seems 25-years old is the average starting age for our first home buyers embarking on their property journey.
- **Rural NZ has been busy:** Timaru, Tokomaru, Taumarunui, Marton, Mangawhai, Kaiaua, Hikirangi and Renwick to name a few places, we have definitely seen more purchases this year outside the main centres. 
- **Most unlikely approval:**  It started with an email: “Its a proceeds of crime sale, and is selling as is where is by the court appointed lawyer.  It needs ‘some’ work but they are selling quite a bit below CV. All offers must be in tomorrow by 10am”. We got them approved, with 90% lending for first home buyers and they moved in a bit over a month later, ready to start the work.  

### **Let’s make 2025 your best year yet.**
Need help with your home loan? Contact us on 0800 4 TELLA (0800 4 83552) when you’re back into the swing of things or [book a free, no-obligation consultation](https://calendly.com/tella-advisors/chat-with-ben) for the New Year. We're here to help you achieve your homeownership dreams.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. Here’s hoping for a sunshine summer, plenty of BBQ’s and a time filled with laughter, love, and relaxation.  

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That's a Wrap

A new digital portal that allows people to apply for home loans via the OneRoof property website has been launched by New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) and home loan provider Tella.

The portal sees OneRoof broadening its offering, meaning Kiwis can now use the real estate platform to see out their entire property journey from start to finish. Whether it’s reading all the latest real estate industry news, seamlessly search for their new home, finding out what it could be worth, or arranging home loan financing, it will now be available all under the one roof.

Chief of OneRoof, Greg Hornblow, says: “As one of the country’s leading property portals, OneRoof continues to innovate and simplify the property journey for Kiwis. The property industry is constantly evolving and we are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in this space. Since launching just a few weeks ago, we’ve seen a large number of users interacting with the calculator and completing the home loan application process.

“We’re pleased to be offering a new tool that aims to simplify the property buying process for home buyers, homeowners, and investors, providing a quality user experience and opening the door to a new era of property purchase and investment in New Zealand.

“OneRoof empowers consumers by equipping them with the right insights so they can make informed decisions. By combining our company values and goals with that of our home loan partner Tella, we believe we can positively revolutionise the property sector for Kiwis,” says Hornblow.

Tella CEO, Andrew Chambers, says: “Having a strong real estate platform as a partner was always on the cards, and over the last couple of years, it’s been a pleasure building that relationship with OneRoof. The two businesses are both market leaders in tech innovation within their segments and look forward to a successful partnership in bringing the two together for an amazing user experience.”

OneRoof Home Loans, powered by Tella, can be accessed at [OneRoof.co.nz](https://www.oneroof.co.nz/advice/home-loans).

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OneRoof and Tella launch new digital home loans portal for Kiwis

We're excited to announce the arrival of our newest member to the Tella family! 

Please join us in warmly welcoming [Jose George](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkgeorge/) as our newest Mortgage and KiwiSaver Financial Adviser.

**Expanded Services at Tella**

Many of you know Tella as your go-to source for expert home loan advice. We're excited to share that we've expanded our services to include comprehensive KiwiSaver guidance. With Jose on board, we can now help you navigate both your home ownership and long-term savings goals.

**Meet Jose George**

Jose brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served as the General Manager of Canstar New Zealand and with a strong background in banking. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to provide exceptional service to our customers.

**KiwiSaver Expertise**

Whether you're looking to optimise your existing KiwiSaver plan or just starting your savings journey, Jose can help you:
Choose the right KiwiSaver provider based on your goals and risk tolerance.
Develop a personalised savings strategy to maximise your future financial security.
Understand how KiwiSaver contributions can work alongside your mortgage plans.
Accredited with Milford, Pathfinder, Kernel, and Generate, Jose has the expertise to advise on a wide range of KiwiSaver options.

**Get in Touch**

Looking to discuss your home loan and KiwiSaver goals in one convenient place? Jose is here to help!  Reach out to him to schedule a free, no obligations chat [here](https://calendly.com/jose-tella/chat-with-a-homeloan-kiwisaver-expert).

**Jose George**
<br>Mortgage and KiwiSaver Financial Adviser
<br>Email: jose@tella.co.nz
<br>Phone: 021 1405 293

Once again, a warm welcome to Jose! We're excited for him to share his knowledge and expertise with all of you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Jose with any questions or to [schedule a meeting](https://calendly.com/jose-tella/chat-with-a-homeloan-kiwisaver-expert).

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Tella gets the Canstar treatment

_**Please Note:** This podcast was originally published on 13th May 2024. While the information presented here may still be valuable, some aspects may be outdated._

Today's episode covers:

- **Interest rates falling:** While you're not seeing this so much in published rates, negotiated rates continue to ease off. 
- **Cash is king:** Banks are all using cash incentives to both drive new business and also to hold existing customers. We don't see this very often and it shows the competitive nature of the market we're in. Now is not the time to just roll over your fixed-rate loan.
- **Auctions vs negotiated sales:** Auctions causing pain for first-home buyers with low deposits.
- **Creative agents:** Agents are getting creative with marketing costs to close the deal and get the sale done. 

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Falling interest rates and cash incentives

Today I'm talking to Max Oliviero, founder of Umanest. Max comes from the world of residential property management and was inspired to build Umanest by seeing his team deal with the emotions of clients and tenants on a daily basis. Having visibility about what clients and tenants are feeling drove him to develop a software solution for recording and measuring issues and tensions between parties.

Check out Umanest here: https://www.umanest.com