Jack Dona

Jack is a senior writer who specialises in loan and credit products, and leads Mozo’s coverage of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Since joining the team, Jack has developed expertise in home loans, general insurance products and the economic conditions affecting interest rates for borrowers. As a graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, with a Bachelor of Communications degree, he understands how important it is to make the language of personal finance accessible to everyday Australians. 

Jack’s stories have been quoted in AustralianBroker, the Sydney Morning Herald and News.com.au, and he has contributed to reports featured on Channel 7’s Sunrise program.  

How did you get into home loans and insurance? What experience do you have?

I joined Mozo as a uni graduate and have worked my way up from scouring insurance product disclosure statements to help our readers understand what makes a particular policy unique,  to covering the biggest stories affecting Aussie wallets.

My background in communications has enabled me to translate complex topics into easy-to-digest information.  

As someone with first-hand experience of how difficult it can be to get a foot on the property ladder, with the average mortgage size growing over 70% in the past decade alone, I understand the importance of the role I play in helping Aussies choose the right product for them. 

How do you keep up to date with the industry?  

With my morning coffee in-hand, you’ll find me catching up on the day’s top stories, often via the ABC, the Australian Financial Review, and the Guardian, but I also pay attention to what people are saying on social media. 

I’m subscribed to dozens of mailing lists from Australia’s biggest banks, to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), finance news publications, and property newsletters. But, far and away, Mozo’s Marketview (our database of product information) has been my go-to source of info when looking for finance product trends. 

Do you have any special awards, qualifications or memberships?

My qualifications include Tier 2 RG146 General Insurance and RG146 Generic Knowledge, which are ASIC-required licences for those who provide general financial product advice to retail customers. I also have a Bachelor of Communications (Creative Writing) degree from the University of Technology Sydney. 

What's your favourite savings tip?

Energy providers want to keep customers on their plans. So, take advantage of customer retention teams by comparing and signing up to a new retailer when there’s a better deal out there. You might find you get a call from your energy provider in the next day or two, offering to beat your new plan’s pricing. And if they don’t try to keep you, then you’ve got a lower price anyway – you can’t lose!