Home Loans for Financial Planners: No LMI Up to 90% LVR
Last updated: 8 May 2026 · Reading time: 9 minutes
Financial planners earn money in ways most lenders don’t fully understand — base salary, ongoing service fees, asset-based fees, trail commissions, bonuses and, increasingly, fee-for-service revenue. Stack a generic credit assessment on top of that mix and your borrowing power can shrink by hundreds of thousands of dollars overnight.
We’ve negotiated Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) waivers up to 90% LVR for eligible Australian financial planners — saving you anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000 on a typical loan, with full assessment of commissions and ongoing fees, and pre-approval delivered in as little as 48 hours.
Why Financial Planners Qualify for No-LMI Home Loans
Most major Australian lenders treat financial planners as low-default-risk professionals — alongside doctors, lawyers and accountants — for two reasons:
- Stable, evidenced income. Authorised representatives listed on the ASIC Financial Advisers Register operate under stringent licensing and compliance regimes that satisfy lenders’ verification requirements.
- High professional standards. From 1 January 2026 all financial advisers must meet the Legislated Education Standard administered by the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), reinforcing the profession’s risk profile in the eyes of credit teams.
The result: a small panel of lenders will waive LMI up to 90% LVR — and in some cases up to 95% LVR for higher-income earners and couples — provided you meet a few clear criteria. We see comparable settings on our home loans for accountants and finance professionals page, which often suits practice principals with mixed income.
How Much Can You Save With an LMI Waiver?
LMI is a one-off premium that protects the lender, not you, when your deposit is below 20%. It’s typically capitalised onto your loan, meaning you also pay interest on it for up to 30 years.
Indicative LMI savings on a 90% LVR purchase (figures vary by insurer and lender):
| Property Price | Loan Amount (90% LVR) | Approx. LMI Premium | Savings With Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $540,000 | ~$11,500 | ~$11,500 |
| $800,000 | $720,000 | ~$19,000 | ~$19,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $900,000 | ~$28,000 | ~$28,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $1,350,000 | ~$40,000+ | ~$40,000+ |
Figures are indicative; actual LMI is calculated by the insurer (typically Helia or QBE) based on lender, LVR, loan size and applicant profile.
Try our borrowing power calculator to see what you could borrow once commissions and fees are added back in.
Eligibility — Who Qualifies for No LMI as a Financial Planner?
To access the 90% LVR no-LMI offer through our specialist lender panel, you’ll generally need:
- Active listing on ASIC’s Financial Advisers Register as an authorised representative of an AFSL holder, or a recognised professional designation such as CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) or AFP® (Associate Financial Planner) issued by the FAAA
- At least 3 years’ professional experience providing financial advice
- Minimum 1 year of verifiable assessable income in the role
- At least 50% of total assessable income derived from financial planning activities (base, fees, commissions, trail)
- Clean credit file with no recent defaults
- Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder
Don’t quite meet 90%?
Most planners who narrowly miss the 90% criteria still qualify for 85% LVR with no LMI. We assess these case by case and can frequently structure a solution.
Self-employed planners and practice principals
Self-employed planners and practice principals are assessed on business financials, distributions and personal returns — see our self-employed home loans page for how we handle two-year averaging and add-backs.
How Commissions, Fees and Trail Income Are Assessed
This is where most planners lose borrowing power with mainstream lenders. Common issues we resolve:
- Trail commissions discounted by 20–50% — our specialist lenders typically count 100% of recurring trail backed by 12+ months of statements
- Bonus and incentive income excluded — we use lenders that include up to 100% of consistent bonuses
- Variable commissions averaged over too short a window — we secure 12-month averaging and, where strong, can argue for current-year run-rate
- Practice distributions treated as one-off — we present partner/director distributions as recurring where supported by 2 years of returns
The net effect: planners we work with regularly see their assessable income lift by 20–35% versus a direct-to-bank application — which directly increases the loan size you qualify for.
The 6-Step Home Loan Process for Financial Planners
- Free Strategy Session (Day 1). We review your AFSL authorisation, income mix, savings, debts and goals. No cost, no obligation.
- Pre-Approval (Days 2–3). We package your file with a lender that values your income structure and target the 90% no-LMI policy. Pre-approval typically issues within 48 hours of full documentation.
- Property Search. Make offers subject to finance with confidence. We can review contracts and brief your conveyancer.
- Full Application & Valuation. Once you have a property, we lodge the formal application and order the valuation. We brief the lender directly on any complexity in your income.
- Unconditional Approval. Typically 5–10 business days after valuation.
- Settlement. Loan documents are signed, funds disbursed, you collect the keys.
For a deeper walkthrough, see our complete home loan process guide.
Documents Checklist — Financial Planner Specific
Have these ready before your strategy session and we can fast-track pre-approval:
Identity & accreditation
- Driver’s licence + passport (100 points of ID)
- Evidence of authorisation under an AFSL (representative number, dealer group)
- Professional designation certificate if held (CFP®, AFP®, FChFP)
Income
- Last 2 payslips (if employed/salaried)
- Last 6 months of commission statements showing base + ongoing fees + trail
- Most recent PAYG payment summary or income statement
- Last 2 years’ personal tax returns and Notices of Assessment
- For self-employed: last 2 years’ company/trust financials and tax returns
- Practice or employer letter confirming role, tenure and income split (we provide a template)
Assets & liabilities
- 3 months’ transaction account statements
- 3 months’ savings/offset statements
- Existing loan and credit card statements
Want a printable version? Grab our free LMI waiver checklist.
First-Home-Buyer Financial Planners — Stacking the Schemes
You don’t have to choose between professional LMI waivers and government schemes. Eligible first-home buyers can often combine the two.
The 5% Deposit Scheme (the renamed Home Guarantee Scheme) was significantly expanded on 1 October 2025 — income caps and place limits were removed and property price caps were lifted (Sydney $1.5M, Melbourne $950K, Brisbane $1M, regional caps lifted across the board).
The Help to Buy shared-equity scheme launched on 5 December 2025, with the federal government taking up to 30% (existing homes) or 40% (new builds) — although it is means-tested, so high-earning planners will usually find the 5% Deposit Scheme or our 90% no-LMI offer a better fit.
For a full breakdown of grants, stamp duty concessions and scheme stacking strategies, see our first home buyers guide.
Loan Features Worth Asking For
Beyond the LMI waiver itself, our specialist financial-planner package typically includes:
- 100% offset account (one of the most powerful tools for high-income, lumpy-cashflow earners)
- Free unlimited redraw
- Split fixed/variable structures to hedge rate risk on bonus-heavy years
- Repayment pause of up to 6 months for parental leave or business transitions
- Investment-loan add-on for planners building a property portfolio
- Refinance reviews every 2 years to keep your rate competitive
Run the numbers with our home loan offset calculator and extra repayment calculator.
How We Compare to Going Direct to Your Bank
| Direct to Bank | Professional Home Loans | |
|---|---|---|
| Lenders compared | 1 | 30+ |
| LMI waiver knowledge | Generic policy only | Specialist policies from 5+ lenders |
| Commissions/trail assessment | Often discounted 20–50% | Typically 100% included |
| Pre-approval turnaround | 2–4 weeks | As little as 48 hours |
| Cost to you | $0 | $0 (lender pays our commission) |
We hold our Best Interests Duty obligations seriously — under legislation effective 1 January 2021, mortgage brokers must act in your best interests, not the lender’s.
Why Choose Professional Home Loans
- 10+ years specialising in professional-borrower lending
- Hundreds of financial planners placed with no-LMI loans
- 5-star rated brokers Michael Nguyen and Tom Luu
- Australia-wide — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and every regional postcode
- No cost, no obligation — we are paid by the lender on settlement
- FBAA + AFCA member with full ACL coverage
Read client testimonials from professionals we’ve helped — including financial planners, accountants, doctors and lawyers.
About the Author: Tom Luu
Tom Luu is a specialist mortgage broker and the founder of Professional Home Loans. With over 9 years of experience in the Australian mortgage industry, Tom specializes in complex lending scenarios, particularly for medical professionals, expats, and temporary visa holders. He is dedicated to helping clients navigate the nuances of Australian credit policies to secure the best possible financial outcomes.
Experience: 9+ Years in Mortgage Broking
Credentials: Credit Representative Number 486574
Expertise: Visa Home Loans, Professional LMI Waivers, and Expat Finance.
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FAQs - Financial Planner Home Loans
Do financial planners qualify for no-LMI home loans up to 90% LVR in Australia?
Yes. Financial planners with at least 3 years’ experience, active authorisation under an AFSL (or a recognised CFP®/AFP® designation), and at least 50% of income derived from financial planning typically qualify for our 90% LVR no-LMI offer.
Do I need to personally hold an AFSL?
No — and this is a common misconception. Individual financial planners are typically authorised representatives operating under an AFSL holder (the dealer group or licensee). Lenders verify your status via your listing on ASIC’s Financial Advisers Register, your representative number and your dealer group.
How are commissions, fees and trail income assessed?
Our specialist lenders include 100% of base salary, plus consistent commission, fee-for-service and ongoing service fee income — supported by 6 months of commission statements and 1–2 years of tax returns. Trail commissions are typically counted in full when backed by 12+ months of statements.
How long does pre-approval take for financial planners? Pre-approval can be issued in as little as 48 hours once we have your full document pack. The priority is a complete file — our checklist (above) covers it.
What if I earn less than 50% of my income from financial planning?
You may still qualify for 85% LVR with no LMI, or a 90% offer if your secondary income is also from a recognised profession (e.g. accounting, legal). We assess each application individually.
Can self-employed and contractor financial planners apply?
Yes. Self-employed planners and practice principals are assessed on business financials, dividends/distributions and personal tax returns. Two years of trading is the usual benchmark, but we can sometimes work with one year plus a strong forward pipeline.
How much will the LMI waiver actually save me?
On a typical $800,000 loan at 90% LVR, the waiver saves approximately $19,000. On a $1.5M Sydney purchase the saving can exceed $40,000. Use our borrowing power calculator for a personalised estimate.
Are there any catches — higher rates or fees in exchange for the waiver?
No. The LMI waiver is offered as a professional-package benefit. Rates and fees are typically the same as — or better than — standard professional-package home loans, because the lender views you as a low-risk borrower.
Can I use the waiver for an investment property?
In many cases, yes — particularly for planners with strong incomes and clean credit. Eligibility narrows for investment purchases above 90% LVR, so we structure the application carefully.
Can first-home-buyer financial planners combine this with government schemes?
Yes. The 5% Deposit Scheme (formerly the Home Guarantee Scheme) had income caps and place limits removed on 1 October 2025, with higher price caps in every capital city. We can model whether the federal scheme or our 90% LVR no-LMI offer suits you better — and in some scenarios stack both.
What rates can financial planners expect right now?
Variable rates from our financial-planner panel start from approximately 5.75% p.a. as at May 2026, with discounts for higher loan sizes and offset packages. Rates are reviewed daily — contact us for a personalised quote.
Getting a home loan was really simple with Professional Home Loans.
“We went overseas during settlement and it was not a problem for them, everything went smoothly and I’m writing this from my new home! “
Jack Clancy
Well done you made it easy with no BS.
“Couldn’t ask for a better job – until next time (although no time soon, moving was awful). “
Accountant, Mick and Vanessa Renton
No LMI for building home in Sydney as well as 90% LVR no lmi for investment proerpty off the plan in Newcastle.
“Professional Home Loans has provided us with a very professional service, communicating all the available options to us and in the process he has literally saved us $75k that we would have otherwise paid. They certainly go beyond the call of duty. “
Hamilton (Accountant) & Nyari (Doctor) Sydney
Working for QLD Health achieved 90% LVR no LMI at normal rates - From UK. Sunshine Coast, QLD
“We were able to get a loan at a good rate and avoid paying LMI which saved us several thousand dollars that we can now put towards other things. Very helpful and informative about all aspects of the process, not just the loan, which we really appreciated as it made the whole thing a lot easier for us.”
Craig and Louise (Medical Registrars)
On a contracting basis – she got paid roughly 70% of what she billed.
“We assisted Arlyn with a 90% Mortgage with No Lenders Mortgage Insurance payable so she could buy a house and land package Thanks so much. All credits goes back to you as you helped me make all this happen. I couldn’t thank you enough for the job excellently done. “