In profile: Yellow Brick Road's Andrew Morello, the original Apprentice

Auctioneer and real estate agent Andrew Morello was catapulted into reality television stardom when he was crowned winner of the first season of The Apprentice back in 2009.

As his reward, he was won a 12-month contract at Yellow Brick Road (YBR) starting in January 2010.

It is now more than three-and-a-half years since he joined Mark Bouris and his team (transferring from Melbourne to Sydney), where he is head of business development.

Over that time YBR has expanded exponentially while striking up a mortgage funding partnership with Macquarie Bank.

As the final episode of Celebrity Apprentice goes to air on Tuesday night on Channel Nine and the final four contestants fight it out for the winner's crown, we caught up with Andrew Morello (pictured above) and asked him how he is enjoying his role in the mortgage and wealth management game:

Andrew, how long have you been in the property/mortgage/financial services industry?

I have been in property and finance since I was 17 or 18 - so 10 years now. 

 What’s happening in the area you specialise in?

I believe money is the cheapest it has ever been in my lifetime and yield on property is the highest I have seen in my career and growing. I believe property is the steadiest it has been since the GFC. Hence in my opinion I believe we will see an increase in market sentiment over the next 12 months in property although I think the retail sector is still 12 to 24 months away. 

 What's the most interesting aspect of your job?

As head of business development, I get to fly around the country and encourage people to step outside their comfort zone and open a local YBR branch. The most rewarding are the ones I signed up two to three years ago that are now successful branches. In some way I feel I contributed to them following their dreams and reaching their full potential.

What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?

 What tips have you picked up from working with Mark Bouris and his team?

- There is no magic dust just hard work and more figuring out of what not to do.

- Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

- Stay humble and true to your roots.

 What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?

Seeing the business grow month on month and the excitement of the constant evolution and change.

I'd be hedging my portfolio right now with a mix of residential and commercial property, some planned wealth investments and at least $100,000 in cash investments such as the Yellow Brick Road Smarter Money Fund which returned in excess of 6% to 7% last year and in which i have some money currently invested. 

 Which football teams do you support?

AFL – Essendon

NRL – Melbourne Storm

Soccer – Melbourne Victory

State of Origin – NSW

What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?

Shazzam –I love my music collection and love finding new tracks that get me pumped up at 4.30 or 5am in the morning. 

How do you use social media? 

I am on Facebook and need to get onto Twitter, as everyone keeps telling me.

You can also connect with Andrew Morello on LinkedIn.