This article shows how to build a multi-column report to display loan and credit card product scenarios. These scenarios help you:
Highlight products that match your client's needs
Compare key details side-by-side, such as fees, charges, and package features
Share clear, client-friendly reports that explain why a particular lender or product is the right choice
Use this tool to make your recommendations more transparent and more persuasive.
Contents
Prerequisites
None.
Video walkthrough
Craig takes you through product scenarios, including selecting and comparing products, and then customising the information that's displayed.
Shortlisting products
Open a lead or deal in full view mode.
Go to Strategy > Products.
Click the Find Products button. BrokerEngine displays a collection of lender products.
Go to the top menu and select Home Loan.
Click Filter to narrow the product list. (optional)
In the popup window, select one or more features the client wants (e.g. loan term, purpose, etc.).
Optionally, you can save a search and reuse the filters. Add a descriptive name to the Save search name field.
To add a product to your shortlist, tick the checkbox next to the product name. BrokerEngine displays your shortlist at the bottom of the page. Select up to five products for your shortlist.
To display a cross-product table, click the wrench icon and select Compare.
Click a pin to keep a favourite product at the top of the page.
BrokerEngine displays a product comparison table. The table highlights the best option for each category, such as the lowest interest rate or the lowest fees. Optionally, click the X icon to remove an option from the table.
Building a scenario
Now it's time to assemble that product information into a client-friendly presentation. Go to the top of the shortlist page and click the Build Scenario button. Click Auto Build to add your shortlisted product.
Click Add Loan under an option to select one of your shortlisted products. Click Add option to add another option column.
To delete a scenario, click the three-dot icon next to a product name and select Delete Option.
You can't delete a product if it's the highlighted scenario (marked with a blue checkmark). To delete it, first select a different scenario by clicking the grey checkmark.
Adding loan details and splits
To add or edit details, like the loan amount or loan term, click the pencil icon.
To copy the same loan amount across all options, click the three-dot icon and choose Apply to Current Row.
Click Calculate LMI to compare each lender's mortgage insurance premium quotes and select an insurer, or click Enter manually to add a figure.
Adding a split
To create a loan split for one product on the Products page, go to the three-dot icon at the top of the column near the product name. Select Add New Split.
In the popup window, click Select to choose a product.
A new window displays. Enter the required details, such as the amount, associated account, and features, to complete the split process.
Enter the information for this phase of the loan. If a rate lock is available for the product, switch on the Rate Lock toggle and click Save.
After you click Save, BrokerEngine adds the loan split to the column.
To add upfront or recurring fees for this phase, such as a discharge fee, expand the Fees folder and fill in the fields. To add loan feature information that only applies to this phase, expand the Features section.
Adding a reversion rate
A reversion rate is the interest rate charged on a loan after an initial period.
To enable a reversion rate, locate a loan split, click the three-dot icon, and select Edit. A new window displays.
Scroll down to the Reversions heading and switch on the toggle. Enter the product details for the reversion rate. Click Save.
The product scenario table displays the option's initial and ongoing interest rates, discounts, and repayments.
Adding an offer
Offers are deals usually related to fees or benefits that are not included in the lender's core product.
To add an offer to a scenario, scroll down to the Extras heading. In this section, BrokerEngine displays suggested offers, if available, that are compatible with the selected product.
Click Add to include the suggested offer in the scenario. To view other possible offers, click Add Offer. In the new window, enter the lender's name in the search bar and review the list of available offers.
Click an offer name and scroll down to read its terms and conditions. Click Add to include an offer in the scenario.
To edit an accepted offer, click the three-dot icon and select Edit. In the popup, add or update terms, conditions, fees, and descriptions. Click Save to keep the changes. Click the pencil icon to edit the offer name.
To change the value of the offer, go to the field, click the pencil icon, and enter a new amount.
Adding a fee
To add a fee to a scenario, scroll down to the Extras section. Click Add Fee. Enter a descriptive name.
Enter an amount in dollars.
Select a payment frequency.
The Show in Summary feature is enabled by default. That means the fee will appear in the Summary section at the end of the scenario and the published report. Untick the box to disable this feature.
Click Add Fee.
Preparing a product scenario for client presentation
When you have all the product scenario details in place, prepare the document for your client. Add descriptive option names, make the preferred option more obvious, and limit the presented information to the points your client cares about.
Rename the options
Click the pencil icon next to a scenario name. Change the name and click Save.
Highlight the preferred option
Click the tick icon next to a name to highlight it.
Reorder the options
Make it easy for the client to find the recommended product. Go to the recommended product, click the three-dot icon, and select Rearrange. Drag the options into the order you want. Click Done.
Managing fields
Add or remove fields to help ensure your client has the necessary data to make an informed decision without being distracted by irrelevant information.
Go to the top of the page, click the wrench icon, and select Edit Fields.
Click Hide Suggestions to hide offer details in the Extras row.
Expand a folder and uncheck boxes to hide fields. Scroll to the bottom and click Apply.
Setting default fields
Optionally, set the current display as the default display. Open the Scenario Settings window (see above), go to the bottom left corner, and click the three-dot icon. Select Save as default and then click OK in the popup. To go back to the original display, click Reset All.
Finalising and exporting the scenario
Once you're happy with the scenario, click Present above the scenario table. This removes the suggestions and pencil icons and makes the document more visually pleasing. Then go to the right side of the page and click the Download PDF report button.
Troubleshooting common issues
Here are some quick solutions to common challenges faced during loan adjustments:
Discrepancies in the lodgement funding tab: Double-check your input values and ensure all amounts match the funding entries.
Errors when adding splits: Ensure that pre-existing loans and allocations on the Products page are up to date before creating a split.