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Mortgage broking’s next generation is not waiting for anything to be handed down to them. The country’s most promising young brokers need no invitation to step up and make a serious impact. In some cases, they are already reshaping how things are done and delivering off-the-charts numbers within two years of accreditation.
Now in its 15th edition, MPA’s Rising Stars 2026 report reveals several common threads among the best mortgage brokers under 35:
In a more than 22,000-strong broking community, the Rising Stars have distinguished themselves. Eligible nominees were aged 35 or younger and had settled more than $15 million in loans within the year ending 30 September 2025. Following company nominations, peer input and editorial review, 39 brokers earned a place on MPA’s prestigious list. Their progress and potential offer a preview of the professionals guiding the broker channel through its next phase.
The rise of this group of outstanding performers is unfolding in a mortgage sector operating at a historic scale with broking density greater than ever. Australia’s residential home loan market exceeded $2.41 trillion in November 2025, with banks’ housing loan books expanding 6.36% over the past year. Mortgage brokers facilitated 77.3% of all new residential loans in the September 2025 quarter, settling approximately $130.23 billion, according to the MFAA. This makes Australia one of the most broker-reliant markets globally.
Opportunity, however, arrives with tighter lending settings. APRA’s three-percentage-point mortgage serviceability buffer remains in place, and from 1 February 2026, banks will be limited to making no more than 20% of new mortgage loans to borrowers with a debt-to-income ratio of six times income or more, measured separately for owner-occupier and investor lending. Competition continues to intensify as the broker population has risen 3.66% since 2024, even as borrower trust remains strong, with 82% of clients reporting high confidence in the broker relationship, the FBAA’s 2025 Consumer Access to Mortgages report shows.
For young mortgage professionals, momentum is harder to win. Deals require increased structuring, credit appetite is less forgiving, and clients expect advice that remains sound as circumstances change. Early success now points to capability rather than favourable conditions. Industry leaders say the definition of emerging talent has evolved in tandem with these demands.
“A Rising Star today is someone who brings energy, curiosity and a strong work ethic into a highly competitive environment,” says XIN Mortgage founder and director William Xin. “They respond quickly, take ownership of outcomes and keep building their technical knowledge. Just as important, they show professionalism and a genuine commitment to helping clients make sense of more demanding lending decisions.”
Specialist Mortgage finance director Helen Avis agrees, noting that early differentiation has become critical.
“To stand out, brokers need to bring something different,” she says. “Without an established reputation, strong communication and technical knowledge matter even more. Success now comes from effort, consistency, persistence and disciplined work.”
Over the past year and a half, rising property prices have raised the entry bar for buyers at the same time that higher interest rates have cut borrowing power, making purchase enquiries harder to convert.
The environment has grown more contested, both within the broker channel and from banks’ direct channels, while frequent lender policy changes have raised the technical demands on new entrants. With cashback incentives removed and refinancing activity slowing, young mortgage professionals are creating opportunities rather than relying on deal flow coming to them.
“Overall, young professionals are facing fewer natural opportunities and greater difficulty in turning enquiries into settled outcomes,” says Xin. “This means investing time in personal branding, marketing and building strong referral relationships, while also delivering reliable, high-quality service.”
In her first 12 months as an accredited finance strategist, Ashlen McKenzie settled more than $126 million across 204 loans, eclipsing the roughly $6 million national benchmark for entry-level brokers.
She sustains a 98% lead-to-settlement rate, a perfect submission-to-approval record, frequent one-touch approvals and turnaround times measured in days, all while managing a pipeline exceeding 100 active clients. The figures point to a broker able to carry a substantial workload without weakening borrower confidence or decision quality.
“I've learnt that I need to set my expectations up front with my clients,” McKenzie says. “I am very open and honest with my clients, and I think that's why they are patient and honest with me.”
Her influence is most visible in difficult files. McKenzie regularly advances applications declined elsewhere, structuring deals within policy limits and negotiating exceptions where viable pathways exist. Clients navigating separation, high-interest debt, or age-related constraints feature prominently, each outcome shaped through preparation and lender advocacy.
“A lot of other brokers just put them in the hard basket because it’s not easy money,” McKenzie says. “It’s not about the money when you are able to help these people change their lives financially. You are making a difference to them.”
Industry recognition has followed. She received Infinity’s Young Gun Award in 2025 and was named a finalist for Young Gun of the Year at the Australian Mortgage Awards, alongside maintaining a five-star client rating driven by repeat business.
McKenzie’s approach to clients traces back, in part, to growing up in a single-parent household, an experience that shapes a style rooted in empathy as well as results.
Commercial traction arrived quickly for finance strategist Ayaan Ismail. In her first full year as an accredited broker, she settled more than $100 million in loans, placing her output at nearly 20 times the typical level for new brokers.
“What’s surprised me most is how quickly clients begin asking for advice that goes far beyond the transaction itself,” she says. “They open up about personal goals, family pressures and long-term wealth plans, trusting me to guide decisions that impact every part of their life.”
Ismail’s performance keeps pace with an increasing client base. She maintains a conversion rate above 80%, secures frequent one-touch approvals and retains every client, indicating borrower confidence.
Viewing her role as ongoing after settlement, Ismail offers strategies that start with a restructure to strengthen a client’s position, which often leads to an investment purchase that accelerates paying off their home loan.
“The real outcome isn’t just approval, it’s progress,” she says.
Structuring capability has become Ismail’s defining strength along with how she identifies workable routes through lender policy for borrowers initially declined elsewhere. In one case, she enabled clients running up against age and equity barriers to secure full-term lending and acquire multiple investment properties.
In another, she repositioned a household following renewed employment, supporting debt reduction and subsequent portfolio growth within a year.
She approaches each file with the client’s longer-term financial goals in mind. Repeat business continues to follow, reflecting the trust she builds.
“I can usually tell it’s going to be long-term when the conversation goes beyond the loan and into their life goals, family plans and future investments,” she says. “When a client trusts me enough to be open about their concerns and asks for my advice rather than just a rate comparison, that’s when the relationship shifts. It feels less like a transaction and more like becoming part of their financial journey.”
Working with borrowers ranging from trades to professionals and first-time investors, she delivers the same level of attention regardless of borrower profile. With Certificate IV completed and a diploma underway, Ismail’s technical development matches her sparkling on-the-ground performance.
Investment lending manager Naseem Rasekh has settled nearly $36 million in loans, becoming the youngest professional at The Australian Lending & Investment Centre (ALIC) to surpass that milestone within two years of accreditation.
His annual settlements have doubled, largely through referrals and repeat clients, pointing to trust built through consistent delivery. Rasekh’s portfolio spans residential, commercial and investment lending, with many files requiring structured guidance.
That judgement rests on an unusually broad foundation. Before accreditation, Rasekh progressed through roles in client service, credit analysis and transitional broking, developing fluency in assessment, compliance and lender expectations that now translate into strong approval outcomes.
He has also been an early adopter of ALIC’s AI-enabled client platform, using data-led scenario modelling to support faster assessments and more informed recommendations.
“Different roles have allowed me to see every aspect of the broking process and the client experience, which enables me to provide more tailored and strategic advice,” he says. “While technology assists with efficiently gathering and processing data, it has not replaced the need for human judgement in understanding clients, building strong relationships and structuring deals that align with their specific needs.”
Rasekh is frequently called upon to rework scenarios declined elsewhere, sequencing decisions to reopen borrowing pathways and position clients for future opportunity. More than 80% of new business arrives through referral, supported by a perfect five-star review record.
He also mentors junior colleagues and contributes market insight drawn from frontline experience.
Entrepreneurial drive defines the early career of Finance with Kobe founder and principal broker Kobe Clarke-Jacobs. In less than two years, she has built the company into a rapidly expanding brokerage, writing more than $48 million across 75 loans in 2025 while establishing a brand that resonates with emerging borrowers.
“From the beginning, I wanted something sustainable and bigger than just me,” she says. “Building a business with systems, values and a clear purpose meant I could support clients properly, grow without burning out and create something that lasts long-term.”
Clarke-Jacobs’ practice concentrates on clients often overlooked by traditional pathways, including first-home buyers, first-time investors, self-employed applicants and those navigating non-standard circumstances. Education anchors the model. Structured savings guidance, post-settlement resources and planning support position lending within a longer financial framework.
“Finance can feel overwhelming and exclusionary, especially if you’ve never been taught how it works,” Clarke-Jacobs explains. “Education matters to me because confidence changes outcomes. When people understand their options, they make better decisions and feel empowered rather than intimidated."
The brokerage’s growth has been propelled by a digital-first strategy that converts financial education into engagement. Social platforms generate more than 40 qualified leads each month, strengthening visibility with younger demographics.
Industry acknowledgement is already evident. Clarke-Jacobs won the 2025 FBAA New Broker of the Year award and was named Australian Broker Innovation Awards First Home Buyer Specialist.
She has also invested early in scalability, implementing structured systems, expanding operational support and beginning to build a team designed for sustained growth.
Each member of this year’s cohort has forged their own path, but there are similarities and shared skill sets that have enabled them to get to where they are.
Bluestone Home Loans is proud to sponsor MPA’s Rising Stars special report and celebrate the talented new brokers shaping the future of our industry. Our entire business is built around the broker channel, with 100% of our home loans written through brokers. We value the relationships, trust and expertise that underpin every partnership.
We’ve long believed that brokers play a vital role in helping customers navigate complex lending needs. The Rising Stars featured this year embody the innovation, commitment and customer-first mindset that keep the channel strong and evolving.
To all the finalists, congratulations. Your drive and achievements reflect the broker community’s bright future, and we’re excited to see where your careers take you. Bluestone is proud to stand beside you and support the next generation of industry leaders.
Tony MacRae
Chief Commercial Officer
Bluestone Home Loans
MPA invited the most impressive mortgage companies in the country to nominate high-performing achievers for the 15th annual Rising Stars list. All nominees had to be 35 years old or younger, had to have written more than $15 million in loans from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025, and worked as accredited brokers for no more than two years.
Brokers presented their submissions, detailing why each individual deserved to be considered, and recommendations were then taken from their peers to decide who made the final cut. After thoroughly reviewing all entries, the MPA team narrowed down the list to 39 Rising Stars who have made the most significant impact on the industry through their financial results, determination and drive.
The MPA Rising Stars report is proudly sponsored by Bluestone Home Loans.
