Interview: Tim Boon, Director: Total Lifestyle Credit
After noticing a gap in the medical finance sector, Mr Boon’s credit service has gone from strength to strength.
3 min
What are Total Lifestyle Credit’s (TLC) goals for the consumer?
TLC’s goal for the consumer is to provide a quick and easy financial platform that allows them to break their upfront payment into smaller more manageable payments over a longer period.
This allows them to have their product or service now, rather than having to wait months or years by giving them an array of options and opportunities to choose a payment plan that suits their specific needs and personal goals.
Having a broader funding option also gives TLC a greater opportunity for the client to get the right approval result.
What makes it different from other finance providers?
With a range of underwriters, we are able to provide the best financial product for the client based on their personal situation. This is alongside real people who listen and talk to the client through the process at each step of the way. Making their otherwise uncomfortable transaction very comfortable and hassle-free.
Additionally, TLC has over 1800 professional partners on board, this gives clients the opportunity to get that extra reassurance and expert opinion before they make what can be seen as a life-altering decision.
A big invoice can be daunting for clients and can often be a deal-breaker. When funding is easily accessible and affordable it is a “win-win” for both business and client.
How did you build the business in its early years?
I am hugely passionate about the medical sector and noticed a lack of funding options available to the public, in 2004 I started MacCredit a patient funding platform and grew it to the largest medical loan business in Australia, successfully selling to a Private Equity firm in 2016.
It definitely was a very hard sell to the medical and cosmetic sector, however after 24 months a lot of businesses saw the service and integrity I was delivering. I started Total Lifestyle Credit (TLC) in 2019 my new consumer lending platform that commenced in 2019.
What’s the reasoning for the pillars of medical, dental, lifestyle and wedding?
At TLC we hold the utmost importance at looking after our clients in relation to their specific needs. For example a client who is looking at a financial payment plan for a wedding will have a very different needs compared to an individual who is seeking finance for a medical procedure that their child needs. This allows us to personalise our interactions with the client based on the service they seek. TLC aspires to help every individual that we can, if there is a client that is in need of funds for a dental procedure and their friend needs funds for a holiday, we are happy to say that we can help both of those individuals, with the same level of service and enthusiasm.
Roughly what percentage of the business does each pillar represent?
Medical – 60%
Broker – 10%
Lifestyle – 20%
Wedding – 10%
You’ve alluded to the fact that TLC goes beyond cosmetic procedures including IVF programs, eye surgery and more — you note a shift away from private health insurance. Why?
The reason individuals are shifting away from private health insurance is that they do not see the value in it anymore. Young individuals are less likely to choose to continue their private health insurance after their family coverage no longer applies to them. TLC offers the opportunity to receive funds almost instantly, rather than having to wait until the benefits of private health insurance kick in. We fund all treatment costs for all medical/cosmetic fees and with little to no early payout fees so the patient can control their repayment timeline.
Australian citizens are spending about $1 billion on cosmetic procedures every year — per capita, around 40% more than Americans do – why do you think it’s so high in Australia?
There is less of a stigma in Australia when it comes to having cosmetic procedures. Social media marketing in reference to cosmetic procedures are increasingly common, creating an inviting space for individuals to be able to seek professional advice on their personalised goal.
How has the market been affected by COVID (if at all)?
Covid has affected the industry quite significantly. Clients have had to opt to have their procedures within Australia instead of the choice of overseas treatment. It has also provided the time and space for patients to focus on themselves. This has increased the demand for TLC during Covid and people are able to have their procedures with minimum downtime from work.
What do you think the future of cosmetic procedures going forward?
TLC is excited to see the growth of the cosmetic world as we see great potential. Already in the past years, TLC has been operating we have seen a reduction of Brazilian butt lift procedures coming through and an influx of breast augmentation. Cosmetic procedures are evidently becoming more popular and desirable to individuals, with an array of talented surgeons coming on board. This ensures us to believe that the cosmetic industry only has one way to go and that’s up!
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“Only with competition can we become stronger and allow the industry to remain healthy,” Ma said
2 min
Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma said competition will make the company stronger and the e-commerce giant needs to trust in the power of market forces and innovation, according to an internal memo to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary.
“Many of Alibaba’s business face challenges and the possibility of being surpassed, but that’s to be expected as no single company can stay at the top forever in any industry,” Ma said in a letter sent to employees late Tuesday, seen by The Wall Street Journal.
Once a darling of Wall Street and the dominant player in China’s e-commerce industry, the tech giant’s growth has slowed amid a weakening Chinese economy and subdued consumer sentiment. Intensifying competition from homegrown upstarts such as PDD Holdings ’ Pinduoduo e-commerce platform and ByteDance’s short-video app Douyin has also pressured Alibaba’s growth momentum.
“Only with competition can we become stronger and allow the industry to remain healthy,” Ma said.
The letter came after Alibaba recently completed a three-year regulatory process in China.
Chinese regulators said in late August that they have completed their monitoring and evaluation of Alibaba after the company was penalized over monopolistic practices in 2021. Over the past three years, the company has been required to submit self-evaluation compliance reports to market regulators.
Ma reiterated Alibaba’s ambition of being a company that can last 102 years. He urged Alibaba’s employees to not flounder in the midst of challenges and competition.
“The reason we’re Alibaba is because we have idealistic beliefs, we trust the future, believe in the market. We believe that only a company that can create real value for society can keep operating for 102 years,” he said.
Ma himself has kept a low profile since late 2020 when financial affiliate Ant Group called off initial public offerings in Hong Kong and Shanghai that had been on track to raise more than $34 billion.
In a separate internal letter in April, he praised Alibaba’s leadership and its restructuring efforts after the company split the group into six independently run companies.
Alibaba recently completed the conversion of its Hong Kong secondary listing into a primary listing, and on Tuesday was added to a scheme allowing investors in mainland China to trade Hong Kong-listed shares.
Alibaba shares fell 1.2% to 80.60 Hong Kong dollars, or equivalent of US$10.34, by midday Wednesday, after rising 4.2% on Tuesday following the Stock Connect inclusion. The company’s shares are up 6.9% so far this year.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
