Barry Watkins - Clever Finance Solutions

Barry Watkins - Clever Finance Solutions Our primary goal is to showcase you in the best possible way to the most suitable lenders, ensuring an increased likelihood of approval.

Clever Finance Solutions listens to our clients needs and are committed to finding the best finance solution for their current and future goals. We aim to deliver exceptional customer service and are often told by clients that we have gone beyond their expectations. With access to over 30 lenders in the Australian marketplace, let us do the leg work for you to find the best finance solution and at

no cost to you, the client. We organize financing for:
*Owner Occupied & Investment
*Trusts & Companies
*Self Employed & PAYG

We do:
*SMSF Lending
*Business Finance
*Vehicle, Plant & Equipment Finance & Leasing
*Retail, Commercial, Industrial, Residential & Rural Properties

24/06/2026

A client asked us to find them a better interest rate on their investment property loans.

A few things to work through — they'd recently moved out of home into a share house, which ruled out one lender. They had a large HELP debt, and lenders don't all calculate it the same way.
And one of their original loans had Lenders Mortgage Insurance we didn't want them paying again.

Their existing lenders said no. So we kept looking.

Refinanced to Suncorp. Better rate, offset accounts, lower repayments.

Sometimes what looks simple takes a bit of doing. Happy with this one.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“Do you need a tax return every time?”For Australian business owners, it’s usually not about one specific document—it’s ...
23/06/2026

“Do you need a tax return every time?”

For Australian business owners, it’s usually not about one specific document—it’s about consistent proof of income.

Most lenders assess the pattern of your earnings, typically using a mix of:
• BAS/ATO activity statements
• business financials

And here’s the part that delays things: one missing, incomplete, or out-of-date doc can slow assessment more than the numbers themselves.

Want us to tell you exactly what your lender will ask for based on your structure?
Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

We see the same “almost the same” mistake every week: an offset account gets treated like redraw.Offset (daily): every d...
19/06/2026

We see the same “almost the same” mistake every week: an offset account gets treated like redraw.

Offset (daily): every dollar sitting in the offset reduces the interest charged on your loan, day by day, without you changing the loan balance.

Redraw (after you’ve paid extra): redraw is tied to what you’ve actually paid in advance. If your extra repayments aren’t there, redraw can’t magically appear.

Now for the tricky bit: if your income swings (bonuses, commissions, seasonal work), which feature fits your cashflow plan better—so you’re reducing interest without getting caught short?

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“Our deal looked too complex.”Multiple income streams. High-debt/serviceability pressure. And a commercial-to-residentia...
16/06/2026

“Our deal looked too complex.”

Multiple income streams. High-debt/serviceability pressure. And a commercial-to-residential mix that didn’t fit the usual playbook.

Then we mapped the capital structure and risk plan—so the next steps felt… readable.

The approvals didn’t come from guessing. They came from clear communication: one message to you, then the next actions, with timely updates that made the process feel predictable.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“We’ll just put you into the best loan.”Until we ask the questions that protect you.We don’t treat Best Interests Duty l...
12/06/2026

“We’ll just put you into the best loan.”

Until we ask the questions that protect you.

We don’t treat Best Interests Duty like a slogan. We treat it like a paper trail.
Before you sign, we build a 1-page BID summary that compares 2–3 suitable lenders/structures against your stated goals, risk tolerance, and serviceability.
Then we document why the final choice is the best fit—and why the alternatives weren’t.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to “go with the obvious option,” you’ll recognize the difference.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“Why did I get ‘requested more info’ after submitting?”That dreaded email usually comes from one of three things we see ...
09/06/2026

“Why did I get ‘requested more info’ after submitting?”

That dreaded email usually comes from one of three things we see all the time:

1) Your income evidence doesn’t match what was declared
If payslips, bank statements, or job details don’t line up with the figures in your application, approval pauses until we can reconcile it.

2) Rental expense details are missing or unclear (investors)
Common gaps: how expenses are calculated, what’s included, or whether the figures reflect the property accurately.

3) Property or loan purpose doesn’t match the application
Even small inconsistencies can trigger extra checks.

The fix within 24 hours: reply fast with the documents we ask for (and double-check the numbers match the application before sending). Speed here keeps things moving.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“Thanks for making it clear at every step—when the lender requirements changed, you kept our structure on track and hand...
05/06/2026

“Thanks for making it clear at every step—when the lender requirements changed, you kept our structure on track and handled the risk side, not just the paperwork.”

That’s the kind of client note we love to receive—especially in an APRA-era environment where details can shift mid-loan, and your financing plan needs to stay coherent.

If you want confidence through shifting rules, book a chat at cleverfinance.com.au.

That “small” 0.5% rate move? It shows up immediately in the interest charged.We see it all the time with split loans. Sa...
26/05/2026

That “small” 0.5% rate move? It shows up immediately in the interest charged.

We see it all the time with split loans. Say your variable portion is 0.5% higher. Your statement typically reflects a higher interest line, which can turn a comfortable cashflow month into a shortfall—especially if your interest-only period ends soon or you’re managing multiple properties.

Here’s what usually changes by loan type:

Variable: interest charged rises with the rate, so your repayments feel it first.
Fixed: repayments stay steady until the fixed term resets.
Interest-only: interest increases too—principal won’t, but cashflow still gets squeezed.

What to do when rates move:
- Review offset usage (don’t let cash sit idle).
- Keep redraw discipline tight.
- If you’re close to a refinance or fixed-term expiry, model timing before it forces a bad decision.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

Address

Suite 204, 250 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300889139

Website

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