Joseph Khalil isn’t your typical mortgage broker; he’s a former DJ and construction worker who realized his knack for de-escalating angry neighbors was actually a superpower for client management.
Launching “With Finance” with a borrowed $10,000 and a massive vision, Joseph has managed to triple his business and team size in the last year—all while welcoming a new baby. Here, he opens up about the chaos of rapid scaling, the link between financial health and physical wellbeing, and why learning to forgive yourself is the most important skill a founder can have.
You’ve gone from construction sites to DJ decks to directing your own finance firm. Looking back, what drew you to mortgage broking? How did those early experiences shape how you run your business today?
In everything I did, the common theme was connecting with people and helping them, or gifting them. As a DJ, I loved feeding off the vibe on the dancefloor, getting to know the party, and creating something I thought they’d enjoy. When I was working on construction sites, it turned out I had a knack for de-escalating arguments from frustrated neighbours. I found a love for dealing with other humans.
An opportunity in finance fell in my lap, and I honestly took to it like a fish to water. I love connecting with my clients, hearing their stories, and being a part of such an integral point of their lives. I love imparting my wisdom to truly help people. It might sound corny, but I genuinely believe I can change the world one conversation and tiny action at a time.,
In just a year, you’ve tripled your business, expanded your team, and welcomed a new baby. What does balance look like for you right now? How have you learned to manage those competing demands?
I honestly don’t know if I have really mastered the lesson yet. Every day I keep getting better. It’s definitely a juggling act, but the rapid growth in my business and having a baby at the same time gave me no other choice but to prioritise and trust my team. I had to borrow $10,000 off a friend when I started, so financial stress is a very real concept to me.
My motivation for balance is rooted in my core belief that life is worth living. A big cause of illness is stress, and the biggest cause of stress is often money. Balancing my life means I can better help my clients balance theirs. I know time management has been my biggest weakness but I am actively working on it by investing in leadership coaching and NPL training to become a more effective leader and get a handle on those 20 things I want to do at once.
Parenthood has a way of changing how we think about time and priorities. How has becoming a dad influenced the way you work and lead your team?
Parenthood clarified my vision for the business culture. It’s not just about me. It’s about empowering others and creating a healthy, supportive environment. My desire to achieve personal freedom (which is why I traveled every year before finance) has translated into a desire to help my team achieve their own. I want to build a business where the team (now 6 strong) feels supported and equipped, allowing me to step away and delegate with confidence. It’s also made the “Why” behind my client interactions even stronger. I want to help clients avoid the stress money can cause, and give as many children as possible the chance to grow up in an environment where finances aren’t a source of conflict.
Mortgage broking can be intense, with long hours and client pressures. What habits or boundaries help you stay present both at home and in the business?
I am huge on health and living life to the fullest, and I think holding that belief so strongly is the boundary that lives unwavering inside me. I know that if I am not well, I cannot serve my clients well. I was a DJ for 10 years and had a strong social life; I want to retain that. I actively ensure that every moment I spend with my family is present.
You’ve built a business centred on helping people find stability through home ownership. What lessons about patience, communication, or trust have crossed over from your work into your personal life?
I don’t think anything can really teach patience quite like having children. From the endless questions of my 5 year old stepson, to the tears of a baby who literally doesn’t need anything but is just overtired. The endless questions have only helped me be a better broker in guiding people who may have never done this before or are taking a massive leap in their financial journey to buy that next property or bigger home. Patience is a virtue. Communication is a must in parenthood and that carries over to building out a team.
By communicating we are not only across what the other is thinking whether that be a team member or a partner but can offer support and guidance along the way, lightening the load, the pressure, and achieving the desired outcome sooner. And just like communication, there must be trust. We can’t do it all ourselves so trusting that our team is going to handle something and handle it correctly is the only way. Just like a family, you are a team there to support each other.
For other founders or new parents juggling growth and family, what advice would you give about setting realistic expectations and keeping perspective when life feels full on?
It’s not always going to be easy, nor will it go to plan, but the key is to keep moving forward. Don’t be rattled by making a mistake due to exhaustion or sleeping through an alarm for the same reason. Forgive yourself and move on. Otherwise, you will spiral. Remember that you literally can’t give 100% to more than one thing even when we think we can, so be fair to yourself and set realistic expectations. Having a plan gives you guidance but understanding that you need to be adaptable is priceless and when things don’t go to plan, you must adapt and keep moving forward. With this approach, you can make 1000 mistakes and still win in the long run because you didn’t give up.
