Mel Bender’s Vision

Mel Bender founded The Money Broker Inc. in 1982 with the seed of an idea, and a vision for the future. Mel foresaw a friendly, independent deposit broker firm that would provide clients with excellent service and competitive GIC rates. Busy people in industrious Kent County wouldn’t have to travel to Chatham, London, or Windsor to get excellent interest rates that were available in the city.

Roots

Mel’s idea took root in the fertile soil of Chatham-Kent. While building the firm through referrals from satisfied clients and professionals during the early1980s, Mel heard from many families, individuals and small business owners who had additional financial needs and questions.

“How do I plan for my future?”

“Is there a way to create a financial plan for my family to follow?”

“How can my wife and I make the most out of estate planning?”

“How can I protect and grow my business assets?”

Seeing an opportunity to assist, he deepened his firm’s commitment to keep ‘our interest in your best interest’ and The Money Broker Inc started providing mutual funds*, banking products and even mortgage referrals to meet the needs of his fellow community members.

In tandem with The Money Broker Inc, Mel founded the Mel Bender Insurance Agency Incorporated firm, designed to provide clients with necessary insurance and insurance investment products. This partnership ensured that the two associated firms could provide clients with a complete financial plan, and services that met all their needs.

In addition to his commitment to the success of the firm, Mel contributed his executive leadership abilities to a number of community associations and non-profit organizations devoted to giving back to the community. His investment of time was the measure by which he was known.

Branches

Even at a time when big banks began to appear in rural Ontario, Mel’s company grew strong.

The early 1980s saw branches grow in Ridgetown, Leamington, and Tilbury, and true to the company’s good neighbour ethic that Mel encouraged at the flagship branch in Blenheim, town and rural community members through three counties could choose to receive financial planning services and a range of financial products through their local The Money Broker Inc.

Fruit

Mel watched as his firm flourished under the helm of his daughters, Lisa Lucio, CEO, and Luanne Jamieson, COO. Altogether, five of Mel’s six children and several of their spouses work in the financial services industry from Toronto to Calgary, mostly helping people achieve their financial goals and peace of mind, just as their dad did.

Roots and Seeds for Tomorrow

Today, MBI Financial (amalgamation of The Money Broker Inc. and Mel Bender Insurance Agency Incorporated) is thriving. With four branches throughout Essex and Chatham-Kent in 2015, our advisors continue to provide ‘just right’ financial services like insurance, mortgages, GICs, mutual funds, and other investment products as well as expert planning services for our clients, just as Mel envisioned over 35 years ago.

From our family at MBI Financial to yours, we look forward to meeting with friends and clients both new and old. As always, stop in and see us or call your local branch to set up a meeting with a member of our advisor team.