Buyer's Agent Institute

Online education company for people buying property as a career. 

Powered by community. Fuelled by fun. Transformational education.

Founder

Cohen Handler

Every successful business has a unique story to tell and the Cohen Handler journey is distinct indeed. 

What began as a chance meeting between Ben Handler and Simon Cohen at a Halloween party in California in 2009, quickly developed into a like-minded business journey. Underlined by the founders’ combined passion to solve a fundamental problem in the Australian real estate market – to provide fair representation for the buyers in real estate – Cohen Handler was born. 

It very quickly started growing, which developed into Australia’s largest Buyers’ Agency, with offices across Australia and California and expanded to 70+ people. 

Ben served as the CEO and exited the company in 2018.

CEO & Co-Founder

Charter Hall

As a specialist property funds management and development company, Charter Hall Group have extensive reach through offices based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland and Chicago. Established in 1991 and listed on the ASX in 2005 as a stapled security, the Charter Hall Group has achieved a successful track record in managing wholesale and retail capital and now owns and/or manages over $10 billion in real estate assets, making it one of Australia's leading property fund managers.

Assisant Development Manager

Helping people turn buying property into a career

Getting made redundant from my corporate career was in retrospect one of the biggest gifts from the universe. 

Four of the best decisions I have made in my life:
- quitting alcohol 11 years ago
- changing my environment (with respect to where I live - getting out of the city)
- becoming a founder
- building a life with Rachel (my wife)

Over the last decade I’ve built 5 companies and also exited. I’ve worked across service and product business models. 

I am the first and only dude to build from scratch:
- Australia’s largest Buyers Agent biz 
- Fastest growing online education platform for Buyers Agents

I am currently the founder of Buyers Agent Institute - the community is like no other. 

My results:

- 4.200 + students 
- 1 x business exit 
- Bootstrapped multiple 8 figure businesses from scratch
- Helped 36 + founders launch a 7 figure career 

If you are a Buyers Agent and want to join Everest, a high performance coaching program:

→ GO HERE: https://buyersagentinstitute.com.au/program/

If you want to become a Buyers Agent you can join the BAI Accelerator Program:

→ GO HERE: https://buyersagentinstitute.com.au/program/

If you are a founder or Buyers Agent, & want to explore coaching or consulting with me:

→ GO HERE: https://yourchief.au

Instagram: @benjaminhandler
YouTube: @benhandler
Twitter: @handlerben
TikTok:@bennyhandler

11 years ago, I made a huge decision.

A decision that greatly impacted my life.

I quit alcohol.
For good.

I realised alcohol serves no purpose in my life.

Every time I had 'a drink'—
> I was waking up foggy,
> My sleep was terrible
> I was staying up late and talking shit
> My eating habits changed the day after I drank

And all my productivity for my work was being affected.

And no—
I don't miss a single bit of it.
Being sober doesn't make me boring.

In fact, since I stopped drinking—
My life became significantly better.

Developed a high level of self-awareness. I have a stronger self-discipline.
And I look younger.

And here's the thing—
The decision to quit was simple because the trade-off was so worth it.
But it wasn't easy.

There's a lot of social pressure to drink.
You can get alcohol everywhere, and most people drink.
And yes, that also means you can lose friends.

But, at the end of the day…

Are you making a decision for yourself?
Or for others?

Ben Handler

The only way to escape competition is through authenticity.
I love this quote by Naval.

Listen—
If you want to stand out
Stop trying to be someone else.

Authenticity is owned.
You can’t replicate it.
You can’t fake it.

You’ve got to live it.
Breathe it.
And most importantly, believe in it.

People can’t copy you. That is your competitive advantage! 

Get it? 

You are truly unique.
Don’t get caught up in the status game.
Stop chasing the next shiny thing.

Instead, invest in understanding who you are.
Dive deep.

What do you love?
What makes you, you?
What do you believe in?

When you build from this place of authenticity, 
you're not just another face in the crowd.
You become the only option for those who resonate with your message.

You see…
This is not about being better than others—
It's about being different in a way that matters.

People connect with people.
When you're genuine, others feel it.
And they become part of your journey.

The world doesn't need more noise.
It needs meaningful, true voices.

Are you ready to drop the act and be the real you?

I've been on LinkedIn for a good while.

Yet, I've never thought of introducing myself properly.
To let you see more than just 'appropriate posts' and 'company milestones'.

So, here we have it… 
My story.

From the very beginning—
1984 - I was granted a human life

2003 - I started a bachelor's degree with zero interest

2006 - I entered the corporate slavery at Charter Hall 
(thankful to be surrounded by sharp minds)

2009 - I was made redundant: a true gift, really

2009 - I left for California 
(new people and ideas sparked a fire in me)

2010 - I launched my 1st service-based biz, 
which became the largest in Australia in its sector (all bootstrapped over 10 years. I generated 8 figures)

Hell, yeah.

2011 - I quit the booze— one of the best decisions of my life

2012 - I realised I was a workaholic

2017 - I met Rachel, my wife, who transformed me into who I am today

2018 - I exited my company and launched another.
Just as powerful.

This time, an online education biz. 
Bootstrapped and 8 figures again.

Fast forward to today…
I'm committed to living a lifestyle by design.

For me, freedom is everything. 
What I believe in and live by.

Life has taught me that curiosity is a powerful skill. 
And I thrive to be the most curious dude in the room.

So, I'm here to share my learnings. 
To pass all the knowledge I’ve gained to you. 
And hopefully— inspire you to find your freedom.

So, if you're up for real shit and want to learn 
to work less and earn more. Tune in.
No BS.

This is me building Benny 3.0. Tag along.

PS: What are you here for?

“The team you build is the company you build.”


This quote from Vinod Khosla stood out for me.
And it’s something I 100% believe in.
Building A-player teams.

Here’s what to look for—

→ high integrity:
The most important quality in an A-player.
This is what brings the vision together for all the team members.

→ high energy:
Look for people who have the drive and stamina to keep on going

→ high intelligence:
This isn’t only about a high IQ, but also—
Social intelligence.
Creative intelligence.
Strategic intelligence.


→ high work ethic:
Being smart ain’t enough.
Look for people who are committed to winning.
It’s common to be smart, but lazy.

All of these, mixed are the recipe of an A-team.
And ultimately…
An A-business.

If I had to start over from scratch tomorrow.

This is what I'd do—

I'd build a business that fits my lifestyle.

(not the other way around)

I'd carefully choose what I work on 
and who I work with. 

No more hustling for the sake of hustling.

I'd focus on a passion that solves 
a real, pressing problem. 

I'd aim for a business that's scalable and online. 
Something that can create a huge impact.

I'd surround myself with top mentors 
and even get a life coach. 

I'd make sure that whatever I'm doing, 
it's something I deeply care about. 
Something I can pour my heart and soul into.

I'll do it all with intention.

Because what truly matters—

It's to create not just a business 
But an impact that resonates deeply 
and fulfills your purpose.

90% of people are stuck.
Their life is designed by someone else.

Working a 9-5 I realised I wasn’t free.
I understood very early in my journey…
Working for someone means no control over my time.

No freedom to create.
No freedom to think.

I felt stuck.
That was the moment I knew I need to change something.
To create a way that I can feel free, fulfilled and inspired.

In 2009 I was made redundant.
A true gift, really.

This is when I started entrepreneurship.
And built my first business.

No more:
Restricted time
Asking for time off
Lacking creative freedom

And here’s the thing—
When you start working on your craft.
You’ll ironically spend more time working than in a 9-5 job.

The difference?
You’re working on building YOUR ideal life
And not someone else’s dream.

You have the autonomy to create.
To turn ideas into reality.

You become the creator.

And the hours you put into your desired life?
They feel different—because they are different.

So…
Are you gonna take control and start living a life designed by you, for you?

The education system is broken.

Think about it—

You've been taught old-school lessons that don't really prepare you for life outside the classroom.

And you followed it.

Because it's the only option you were aware of. 
And the only option you had available.

Instead of outdated subjects that aren't useful in real life…

They should teach you—
-How to be happy 
-How to properly sell 
-How to manage money 
-How to market effectively 
-How to manage emotions

These are far more powerful skills. 
They allow you to navigate life more effectively and resiliently.

This is what I call decentralised education. 
The norm doesn't teach you that.

Entrepreneurship is the best way to escape the rat race.

Breaking free from the system was a huge turning point in my life. 
It started by getting out from the norm.

More hands-on learning through trial, error and valuable lessons gained from each experience.

Through 'doing' instead of 'knowing'.

Expose yourself to more experience. 
And use curiosity to lead the path to discovery.

You need to embrace struggles to grow.

(call me a Stoic if you wish)

I like to look at challenges as opportunities.

Struggles, challenges, obstacles. 
They are new ways to grow and learn.

And I believe the struggle is the gift. 
Literally.

It’s the most profound form of transformation. 
The moment when you feel completely broken inside

That’s when you need to break through the pain.

To reinvent yourself. 
And create a new version of you. 
A better version.

Hardship is a true blessing.

The more challenges you go through. 
The more resilient you become. 
The faster you adapt and integrate change.

Looking back, I see that challenges 
helped me turn adversity into possibility.

To move further from the struggle 
And closer to opportunity.

So, next time you face a problem. 
Ask yourself— How can I grow from this?

Instead of fearing struggle 
Look at it as a true gift.

Because the truth is… 
No one can give you that inner transformation.

Not your coach. 
Not a seminar. 
Not a personal development book.

PS: What’s a challenge that helped you grow stronger?

No one talks about this—
Yet, it’s huge.
Loneliness as a founder.

When you start building a company, 
no one tells you how isolating the journey can be.

And, ironically—
The bigger the company grows, 
the more intense the feeling becomes.
The larger the team you put together, the more lonely you’ll feel.

That’s why I believe that community is what gives you life.
It’s super important to build a solid one.
A tribe of like-minded people.

A support network that can hold space for you.
Where you can feel understood and seen.
Where you can be vulnerable.

This is what allows connection.
And connection allows belonging.

Build community while preserving relationships.
Remember to keep your family and friends close too.

You’re not alone.
You need a tribe to thrive.

Any founders who can resonate with this?

This is the biggest lesson life's taught me—

Realising how small I am in this vast world.

And the profound freedom
that comes when you let go of your ego.

It's liberating to understand that the world
doesn't revolve around you.

It shifts something profound inside.
It changes you.

Suddenly, you're free to live authentically

To experience life without
the heavy weight of self-importance.

And this isn't about diminishing your value—
Quite the opposite.

It's growing past the human condition.

Breaking free from the chains of ego that hold you back
from truly connecting with others and
the world around you.

Stop thinking you are the centre of everything.
You're not.
None of us is.

See yourself as a part of something bigger.
Let go of the ego.

See how it changes your perspective, interactions,
and even your chosen paths.

You'll find a freedom you never knew existed.

This is the biggest hidden risk—

Getting too comfortable.

You see…
Comfort is sneaky.
It makes you think you’ve made it.
That you should just sit back and chill.

But you know what’s riskier than trying and flopping?
Not trying at all.

Think about it—
When was the last time you did something that made you a tad nervous?
Something that wasn’t part of the everyday routine?

We all love that spot on the couch that’s molded just for us.
But too much couch time, and you’ll start sinking deep.
Blending in.

Most are staying in the comfort zone because it’s just easier.
But every time you pushed past it, that’s when magic happens.

Challenge yourself.
Because on the other side of comfortable?
There’s growth.

We're all thrown into the deep end at some point.
It's sink or swim.

And in my experience, there are two ‘muscles’ you need to train 
to progress—
Curiosity and humility.

I was there, doing this mental detox that made me question 
everything.
And it was painful, not gonna lie.

But it was also the moment when everything shifted.
I started to look around with fresh eyes— curious, you know?

Asking questions, digging deeper.
It was no longer about finding blame.
It was about discovering something new.

Every. Single. Day.

And humility…
Man, that was a game changer.

Seeing how tiny your problems are in the grand scheme?
It's a breath of fresh air.

It’s not self-deprecation…
It’s self-evolution.

Ditch the ego.
It’s not serving you.

When you really embrace how little you know, you open doors.
You learn.
You grow.

Curiosity and humility step in when the ego steps out.

So, here’s your takeaway:
Train that curiosity.
Flex that humility.

Every day, these muscles get stronger.
Use them.

Stay curious.
Stay humble.

That's the stuff that counts.

I think the education system is backwards.

Everyone was granted a human life to create.

Welcome to Founder life. 

Peace
BH

Ben Handler on LinkedIn • 2 min read

Why are you here ?

I’m sorry to be the bearer of truth. 

This may be a slight reality check. 

How many people do you know who sucked at school, or who don’t have a high “IQ” that are totally crushing it in business?

Have a think… 

I know f’king heaps!

Listen up - 

What you choose to work on and who you choose to work with, is far more important than how hard you work. 

Get it?

This is where most people go wrong - they choose the wrong thing to work on. 

If you get it right… working on the right thing, you have nailed it - you have already won!

If you can then practice doing the same old boring habits every day, you are ahead of 90% of people on this planet - this is your unfair competitive advantage.

Distraction is the thief of focus. 

Be OK with having the title of ‘Captain Boring’- this gets the results!

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