In this Woodrow Finance episode of Finance on Tap, Dan, “Back Star,” and Nathaniel kick things off the only way they know how: beers, banter, and a chaotic lender-guessing game that somehow turns into a full-on panel flex. Under the jokes, they unpack some genuinely important property and lending myths—especially the danger of “branch pre-approvals,” why “auction ready” is the real benchmark, and how quickly things can go wrong if your finance isn’t properly assessed. They finish by getting practical on fixed vs variable rate decisions, why “rate predictions” are mostly noise, and what borrowers should actually focus on (strategy, flexibility, and capacity) in a shifting market.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – 04:30 | Intro + beer lineup

“We love beers, we love finance…” sets the vibe.

Beer reviews: Mountain Culture “Status Quo” Pale Ale + the return of “Larry.”

Immediate debate: “It tastes like banana” vs “old Stone & Wood.”

04:30 – 22:30 | The lender guessing game (and escalating punishments)

Dan runs a “20 questions” style bank/lender game with rules that get bent constantly.

First round reveal: MyState Bank — “a great bank in the right circumstances.”

Second round reveal: Pepper (mortgage manager / specialist space).

Third round reveal: MOVE Bank (and a lot of “we should just move on… wait, I guessed it!”)

Running gag: punishments involving “a professional boxer” and stomach shots.

22:30 – 34:30 | Biggest property myth: ‘Just go to the branch’

Myth-busting rapid fire:

“I need a 20% deposit” → guarantors / structure already covered last episode.

Satire: “Go to the branch… better interest rates… everything is perfect.”

Real story: client told they were good to go, bought unconditionally at auction, then finance fell apart late.

They faced losing a 5% deposit on a $1.6m purchase.

MA Money shoutout for coming through “clutch” to save settlement.

Key takeaway: branch conversations ≠ fully assessed approval. Get properly assessed and be “auction ready.”

34:30 – 41:00 | Pre-approval vs ‘Auction ready’

They explain how agents and brokers are changing language:

Not “pre-approved,” but “Can you place an unconditional offer today?”

Old-school “loyalty” myth: banking somewhere for 20 years doesn’t guarantee anything now.

“Yin and yang of lending”: deposit and income must balance—big deposit doesn’t fix low servicing, and big income doesn’t remove LVR reality.

41:00 – 49:00 | Fixed vs variable + rate talk (and calling out ‘rate wizards’)

Their practical filter:

Want flexibility + extra repayments? Variable + offset.

Want repayment certainty? Consider fixed (or split for “best of both worlds”).

They call out the noise: brokers predicting rates with certainty are “cap.”

Discussion on fixed rates moving quickly (example used: CBA as a reference point), and why the client plan matters more than guessing macro moves.

49:00 – 50:00 | Wrap

Quick closing jokes, handshakes, and sign-off: “Whatever the market does, we’re ready to cook.”