First Mortgage Trust
Fund Manager based in Tauranga
About First Mortgage Trust
Non-bank lender specializing in first mortgage lending with 30 years track record
Location
Tauranga
FSP Registration
FSP31642
Established
1995
30 years track record
Funds Managed (1)
Investment Opportunities(1)
Key People (7)
Paul Bendall
CEO
Leadership
Joined First Mortgage Trust in August 2020 as General Manager, later became CEO. Over 20 years experience in financial and banking sector. Experienced specialist property financier with senior risk management and lending experience.
Andrew Western
CFO
Leadership
Chief Financial Officer overseeing financial operations. Managing over $1.65 billion in funds for 6,500+ investors.
Sam Burgess
Head of Lending
Operations
Head of Lending managing lending operations across FMT's national office network.
Geoff Newland
Head of Credit
Operations
Head of Credit overseeing credit assessment and risk management processes.
Matt Tucker
CTO
Leadership
Chief Technology Officer leading technology strategy and digital transformation.
Jayne Hunt
Head of Marketing and PR
Operations
Head of Marketing and PR managing brand communications and investor relations.
Sharon Weymouth
Head of People and Culture
Operations
Head of People and Culture overseeing HR and organizational development for 40+ staff.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a provider is legitimate and trustworthy?
Conduct thorough due diligence before investing with any provider: (1) Check FMA Register - Verify the provider is licensed or registered with the Financial Markets Authority (www.fma.govt.nz/compliance/entities), (2) Review track record - Research past fund performance, years in operation, total funds under management, (3) Check key personnel - Research investment team backgrounds, LinkedIn profiles, previous roles and experience, (4) Request references - Ask to speak with existing investors or portfolio companies, (5) Review documentation - Read Information Memoranda, trust deeds, audited financial statements thoroughly, (6) Understand fee structures - Ensure fees are clear, reasonable, and aligned with industry norms, (7) Check for red flags - Promises of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, unlicensed operators, lack of transparency. All providers on Wholesale Investor NZ are pre-screened for legitimacy, but always conduct your own due diligence.
What questions should I ask a fund manager before investing?
Ask fund managers these critical questions: Investment Strategy - What is your investment thesis? How do you source deals? What's your competitive advantage? Track Record - What returns have you achieved historically (gross and net)? What percentage of investments succeeded vs failed? Can I speak with investors in prior funds? Team - Who makes investment decisions? What's their background? Have there been recent departures? How is the team compensated? Risk Management - What was your worst investment and what did you learn? How do you handle conflicts of interest? What's your downside protection? Fees - Explain management fees, performance fees, and all other costs? What's the hurdle rate? Process - What's the investment committee process? How often do you report? What voting rights do I have? Exit - What's the expected timeline to liquidity? Have you returned capital to investors before? Get answers in writing and verify claims independently.
What is the difference between a fund manager and a platform?
Fund Managers directly manage pooled investment capital, making investment decisions, conducting due diligence, managing portfolio companies/assets, charging management and performance fees, and carrying fiduciary duty to investors. Examples include private equity firms, credit fund managers, property developers. Platforms provide infrastructure for accessing multiple investment opportunities, do not make direct investment decisions (investors choose from offerings), may conduct initial due diligence on providers, charge platform fees or take commissions from providers, and offer comparison and research tools. Examples include investment platforms, crowdfunding sites, syndication platforms. Some hybrid models exist - platforms with house funds. When investing via platforms, you still need to evaluate the underlying fund manager's capabilities, track record, and terms as if investing directly.