Coffee With Brett & Jessie from Cultivate Finance
By Kym Arnold & Bec Pauley
Cultivate Finance is a relatively new name in the Great Southern finance space, but behind the scenes the team brings deep experience, strong local relationships and a clear point of difference in how they work with clients.
The business was born out of conversations between Lincolns and Successiv, where a clear gap in the market emerged: business owners needed access to high-quality finance advice from people who were experienced and genuinely interested in clients. Many brokers were either Perth-based or lack business experience, while local clients were looking for rural and regional expertise and proactive support across all areas of finance.
That idea gained momentum when Brett and Kylie (who co-own a farm consultancy business – Successiv) were approached about purchasing an existing broking business. While the deal didn’t proceed, it was the catalyst that made them realise they could build something better themselves — and do it well.
A team built around clients, not transactions
From day one, Cultivate Finance was designed differently. Rather than relying on a single broker covering everything, the business deliberately built a specialist team — including dedicated business writers and a home loan specialist — with a strong focus on relationships and long-term outcomes.
Today, Cultivate works with a broad mix of clients including:
Agriculture
Manufacturing and light industrial
Professional services
People looking to invest in property (commercial, residential and SMSF)
Businesses requiring equipment finance and working capital
Clients typically come to Cultivate when they’re seeking better clarity, more proactive support or a different approach to finance — often prompted by uncompetitive pricing, slow or unclear lending decisions or a lack of alignment between the advice they’re receiving from different professionals.
What really sets Cultivate apart
Ask Brett and Jessie what makes Cultivate different, and the answer is consistent: they are solutions-focused and prepared to do the hard work.
Rather than taking the easiest path or settling for a “no”, the team looks at the client’s entire financial position — not just the transaction in front of them — and structures solutions that support both immediate needs and long-term plans.
They also operate proactively. Loans and pricing are reviewed regularly without clients having to ask, and relationships are treated as ongoing — much like working directly with a bank, but with the client’s interests firmly at the center.
Culture matters too. Cultivate has been intentional about building a modern, values-led business culture — one that prioritises inclusivity, trust and strong client rapport — and this is reflected not only in how the team works internally, but in the experience clients have when working with them.
Turning complex situations into real wins
The impact of this approach is best seen in the outcomes Cultivate achieves for clients.
One outcome the team is particularly proud of involved a farming client who had refinanced with their bank with a clear goal of expanding their operation. Despite repeated assurances that funding would be available, progress had stalled and access to working capital had become increasingly restricted — making it difficult for the client to plan and move forward.
Cultivate stepped in to help the client reassess their position and gain clarity on what was genuinely achievable. By taking a holistic view of the business and restructuring their finances more strategically, the client was ultimately placed in a far stronger position and able to move ahead with their expansion plans with confidence.
Another example involved a relatively new business that had been operating for less than two years. With only one full year of financials — which showed a loss due to significant upfront investment — multiple lenders had declined funding when the client wanted to build a home on recently purchased land.
By working closely with the client and their accountant to clearly explain the financial position and future capacity of the business, Cultivate was able to secure an appropriate lending solution. Importantly, this outcome avoided the need for the significant upfront costs the client had previously been told were unavoidable.
These outcomes reflect Cultivate’s focus on cutting through uncertainty, advocating strongly for clients, and creating sustainable financial solutions that support long-term goals — not just short-term transactions.
Looking ahead
While Cultivate Finance is still growing, the vision is clear: continue spreading the word about a different way of doing finance, deepen their impact across the Great Southern and South West, and expand their presence into surrounding regions.
More than anything, Brett, Jessie and the rest of the team are excited about staying closely connected to the community they work in — and continuing to help clients move forward with confidence, clarity and the right financial structures behind them.
