As a mortgage broker, it’s important to keep up to date with the current consensus on which way interest rates might be heading over the next 6 to 12 months. And while no one can ever really predict what the Reserve Bank is going to do in relation to interest rates, or which direction the next set of employment figures or the CPI is heading, there are many experts out there who can offer an informed opinion.

And so that you can confidently answer the inevitable question from your next client, about interest rates and the benefits of a fixed rate mortgage or a variable rate home loan, it might be a good idea to find out who some of these experts are and read what they are saying about the trends for interest rates and the economy as a whole.

A good place to start searching for expert commentary is with any one of the major Australian financial services companies, as financial services companies employ a highly paid economist or three to keep abreast of what is happening in the Australian and international economies. This is especially true if the financial services company is a big player in the sharemarket. These economists are not usually publicity shy, and you can often see them on the market report on the nightly news, or appearing on any of the business shows. Some also provide comment fairly regularly in the weekend papers. So who are they, and where can you find what they have to say?

Saul Eslake – ANZ
Saul Eslake is probably one of the more recognisable faces in the world of Australian economics. He can often be seen providing expert opinion on TV news programs. He is currently the Chief Economist at ANZ, among other important posts. You can read speeches, articles and presentations, industry briefs and economic outlooks at ANZ’s corporate site at www.online.anz.com/corporate/.

Chris Caton – BT Financial
Chris Caton is another well known economist. He is the Chief Economist for BT Financial Group and before that at Bankers Trust. He has also held a number of government roles, including the Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister. You can read what Chris has to say about the latest market and economic developments at Caton’s corner on the BT website at www.btfunds.com.au/content/market/catons_corner.htm

Shane Oliver – AMP Capital Investors
Shane Oliver could be described as the public face of AMP. He is Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist of AMP Capital Investors, AMP’s funds management arm. Again, as with Saul and Chris, he is regularly seen on TV expressing his views about the economy. Shane Oliver offers a regular commentary on aspects of the Australian and global economies through Oliver’s Insights which you can download a PDF version of through the AMP website at www.amp.com.au

The expert commentary from these three economists is freely available and is written in a way that you don’t have to be an economist to understand. If you are providing a home loan service, it’s important to understand what is happening in the economy as you will inevitably be asked questions about interest rates, And spending an hour or so each week reading what these and other experts have to say is a great place to start.