BRISBANE, AU / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2026 / Finance Differently Director Kat Marsalek is calling for greater public scrutiny of Australia’s mortgage industry structure, arguing that the current lending model commercially rewards long-term debt retention rather than faster debt reduction for borrowers.
Marsalek, who has spent more than 22 years working within the finance and mortgage sector, said rising mortgage stress and cost-of-living pressure have exposed broader structural issues in how home lending is positioned and managed across Australia.
“Most Australians don’t actually have a mortgage problem,” Marsalek said. “They have an interest problem. And the reality is the lending system generates more revenue the longer people stay in debt.”
Marsalek has settled more than 3,000 home loans during her career and worked with over 10,000 Australians on lending and debt reduction strategies. She said the industry’s commercial structure naturally incentivises loan origination and retention over accelerated repayment outcomes.
“Banks earn more interest the longer a loan exists, and brokers receive ongoing trail commissions while those loans remain active,” Marsalek said. “That is not about blaming individual brokers or lenders. Most people in the industry are operating ethically inside a structure that was designed this way. But the commercial incentives are still tied to long-term debt.”
According to Marsalek, much of the public conversation around home lending remains focused on interest rates, while far less attention is given to loan structure, repayment mechanics and long-term interest exposure.
“People are encouraged to focus almost entirely on repayment affordability and rate comparisons,” she said. “Very few borrowers are shown how the structure of a loan can dramatically change the total amount of interest paid over time.”
Through Finance Differently, Marsalek has built a lending and debt reduction model that pairs home loans with tailored Debt Reduction Plans focused on repayment strategy, account structuring and interest minimisation.
The business currently uses more than 45 repayment and loan structuring approaches designed to help clients reduce overall interest exposure and shorten loan terms without requiring major lifestyle sacrifices.
“We’re not talking about unrealistic budgeting or extreme financial restriction,” Marsalek said. “We’re talking about helping people understand how interest behaves inside their loan and restructuring things so their money works harder against debt.”
Finance Differently reports that some clients who fully implement their strategies have modelled projected interest savings averaging approximately $550,000 over a standard 30-year loan term. Outcomes vary depending on loan size, repayment behaviour, interest rates and individual financial circumstances.
Marsalek said one recent client was originally projected to pay more than $1.39 million in interest over a conventional 30-year structure before implementing a revised repayment and loan strategy that significantly reduced the projected loan term and total interest payable.
She believes growing financial pressure across Australian households is creating increased demand for more transparent conversations around debt reduction and long-term financial planning.
“The issue is not that Australians are borrowing money,” Marsalek said. “The issue is that many borrowers are never shown that there may be a faster and more strategic path out of debt.”
Marsalek said the response from clients and broader audiences since speaking publicly about industry incentives has highlighted a growing appetite for alternative approaches to mortgage management.
“Once people properly understand how interest accumulates over decades, it completely changes how they think about their financial future,” she said.
Finance Differently continues to work with Australian borrowers on mortgage strategy, debt reduction planning and long-term financial structuring focused on reducing interest costs and accelerating home ownership outcomes.
To learn more about Finance Differently, visit financedifferently.au.
About Finance Differently
Finance Differently is an Australian mortgage brokerage and debt reduction business led by Director Kat Marsalek. The company specialises in home lending, loan structuring, and personalised debt reduction strategies designed to help Australians reduce interest costs and achieve home ownership sooner. Through its strategic framework and ongoing client support model, Finance Differently focuses on long-term financial outcomes rather than transactional lending alone.
Finance Differently Pty Ltd ABN 64 681 725 235 is a credit representative (565454) of Specialist Finance Group, ABN 48 612 422 178, Australian Credit Licence 387025. Kat Marsalek is a credit representative (454531) of Specialist Finance Group. MFAA Member 294337. AFCA Member 94489.
Contact Details:
Business: Finance Differently
Contact Name: Kat Marsalek
Website: https://financedifferently.au
Email: hello@fdly.au
SOURCE: Finance Differently
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
