How Kirsty McKinnon writes a loan a day from a cottage office

Ditching the salon for the spreadsheet might not seem like a traditional career path, but for Kirsty McKinnon of Flair Finance, it was the stepping stone to building one of regional NSW's most successful brokerages. Having recently taken home the Editor's Choice Award for NSW/ACT at the Better Business Awards 2026, the Dubbo-based broker has built a high-volume business based entirely on customer comfort and deep community connections. In this episode of Elite Broker, host Annie Kane sits down with McKinnon to find out how she transitioned from an admin role to running a booming brokerage, why she operates her business from client-friendly cottage, and how she manages a team of five to write nearly a loan a day. Tune in to find out: How she structures a five-person support team, including a dedicated full-time compliance manager. Why she bypasses traditional marketing entirely to rely solely on word-of-mouth referrals. Her long-term vision to build a true "one-stop shop". And much more!