For mortgage advisor and podcaster Willie Leota, his Samoan culture is at the heart of his finance career.
The recent winner of Best Business Podcast at the New Zealand Podcast Awards says the value of tautua, or service, is behind everything he does. It’s an ethos his parents instilled in him, by “encouraging us to serve to the best of our ability” even when they didn’t have much money.
It is this upbringing that sparked Willie’s interest in finance, and now fuels his passion for helping people understand daunting financial systems.
“Watching my mum and dad, who are both from Samoa, navigate hire purchases, personal loans, and car loans they didn’t fully understand was incredibly stressful,” says Willie.
“Their lack of financial knowledge had far-reaching impacts on us as children. Those experiences drove me to learn about finance - not just to help my parents and aiga, but the whole community and others who might be struggling in similar situations.”
“I think it's our Pacific values that hold us in good stead to do well in any industry.”
Now with over 15 years of experience as a mortgage broker and banker, Willie is proud to have guided hundreds of people through their home ownership journeys. He has extended that financial acumen to a wider audience through his podcast, Fresh Moni, where guests discuss their own financial journeys and challenges. Previous guests include broadcaster and te reo Māori advocate Stacey Morrison, Sharesies CEO Brooke Roberts, and former All Black Casey Laulala, who now works in real estate.
Through both his work as a mortgage advisor and through the podcast, Willie aims to see more Pacific peoples build their confidence and achieve financial security. He says home ownership has a special role to play in maintaining Pacific communities and culture.
“For Pasifika, home ownership means so much more. Yes, it is stability and it can create financial wealth, but as Pasifika we pray and sing together in our homes, we mourn together in our homes for funerals – it has wide ranging implications.
“When the home is disrupted, so are a lot of our customs. This disruption flows onto our identity and then to how we interact with the world. Home ownership helps us nurture our beautiful cultural wealth,” he adds.
The Fresh Moni podcast came from Willie’s desire to normalise talking about personal finance.
“The talanoa about money was a taboo subject, so starting a healthy conversation around money, both the good and bad, was a great way to break down some of those barriers so we can get better with money.
“Talanoa is our first step and part of the answer to financial literacy for our Pacific people,” says Willie.
Willie believes having strong Pacific voices in conversations about money can provide connection and relatability.
“It shows that people from the Pacific with similar backgrounds can achieve financial success as well as learn and be better with money.
“I'm here to inspire and bring hope to our people that there is more, and they don't have to accept their lot in life or the current statistics and narrative.”
Still buzzing from Fresh Moni’s recent win at the New Zealand Podcast Awards, Willie is recording the podcast’s next season and planning more ways to increase financial literacy. Find out more about Willie and listen to the podcast at Fresh Moni, and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.