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Experienced brokers are steering Australia’s mortgage market, drawing on years of refinement and the momentum that comes with mastery.
MPA’s Top 100 Brokers for 2025 survey data confirms a sector operating at peak efficiency. The following highlight the brokers’ key performance achievements:
These figures show a competitive field in which productivity, trust and operational scale determine who stays in contention.
The best mortgage brokers in Australia are writing more loans, settling higher volumes and refining processes that deliver results. The upper tier of the market has never been more precise or more performance driven.
The surge in lending isn’t confined to the Top 100. According to the MFAA, mortgage brokers facilitated a record 77.6% of all new residential loans in the June 2025 quarter, the highest share ever recorded.
That’s up from 76.8% in the March 2025 quarter and 73.7% in the same period last year. The total value of new loans written through brokers reached $121.6 billion, a 21% increase year-on-year.
This sustained rise shows how borrower trust continues to shape the market. Consumers are turning to brokers for structure, transparency and genuine choice, and the outcomes speak for themselves.
“It probably comes back to creating really amazing outcomes for our clients,” says Darren Little, general manager of lending and executive director at Viridian Financial Group. “When I look at MFAA market share continuing to grow quarter-on-quarter, clients are choosing to use brokers, and it’s by choice. Brokers provide genuine choice.”
He adds that since the best interests duty and related reforms were introduced, brokers are working with a wider range of banks and lenders to deliver better options.
“For me, what defines a top broker is an outstanding client experience and the use of a wide variety of banks to achieve those outcomes.”
Through a period of constant change, leading industry experts agree that the best brokers combine technical expertise with genuine care.
“It’s the broker that makes it easy to do business and someone who delivers on promise every time,” says Mario Borg, business success coach at Masters Broker Group.
“The best brokers are embracing technology without losing the human touch. We are in a relationship business, and those who think they can replace relationships with technology will struggle to remain relevant. It’s that simple.”
Now in its 16th year, the Top 100 Brokers list recognises Australia’s highest-performing mortgage professionals, ranked by the total value of residential loans settled between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.
For the second consecutive year, Catalyst Advisers managing director Stephen Michaels holds the top ranking on MPA’s Top 100 Brokers list, with settlements rising to $558 million, up from $381 million a year earlier. The result sets a new benchmark for excellence and demonstrates how the best performers continue to widen the gap.
Michaels attributes the win to teamwork, consistency and a daily habit of showing up prepared. What distinguishes him is his practical, measured view of success. He doesn’t see himself as exceptional, just deliberate.
“We do things differently, not because we’re special. It’s just how we’ve built our business.”
The brokerage’s rise reflects that mindset, with a methodical, collaborative approach built for longevity. Michaels credits much of Catalyst’s stability to process discipline and a culture in which every broker understands both the ‘why’ and the ‘what’ behind client outcomes.
Each morning, he focuses on setting the tone, mentoring others and reinforcing the brokerage’s client-first ethos.
“Discipline beats motivation every day of the week. You can be motivated to do something, but motivation will fade. If you’re disciplined, you’ll outshine motivation every time,” he says.
Across the Top 100 group, the average loan size sits at $724,227, with a conversion rate of 82.57%, proof that strong pipelines are converting to results.
These numbers reflect an agile industry in which top performers have turned consistency into scale. Experience remains the foundation, but the competitive edge now depends on how brokers apply it.
What defines the modern broker advantage:
These are the forces sustaining performance year after year.
While residential brokers are driving record lending volumes, commercial specialists are setting a new standard for performance in their space.
“For commercial brokers, it’s all about service, but technology is the enabler,” says Jean-Pierre Gortan, managing director at multi-award-winning brokerage Simplicity Loans & Advisory.
“Our tech isn’t just a CRM. It’s sophisticated cash flow modelling tools and platforms that help manage multilayered deals. We’re not just collecting payslips; we’re analysing entire businesses. But the tech just gets you to the table. The real work – the serve – is high-level strategy.”
He adds that commercial brokers act as capital advisers rather than intermediaries.
“They’re not just brokers. They have deep industry knowledge. They understand the difference between funding a childcare centre and a pub, or a 30-unit development. They are financial strategists who can look at a client’s entire business structure, P&L and five-year plan, then build a funding structure to match.”
The experts noted several challenges over the past 12 to 18 months that put brokers to the test.
Borg sums up the mood of the year: Rates moved, serviceability tightened, and lender policies kept shifting. Clients grew cautious and price-sensitive, which meant more time explaining trade-offs and resetting expectations. The admin load rose as compliance and credit checks got heavier. The brokers who held their line did three things well: they adapted quickly, kept communication simple and treated education as part of the service.
Gortan describes a tougher grind on the commercial side: Deals could be perfectly structured, then a valuation landed 20% short and blew the LVR. Lenders pulled back from whole sectors such as construction and discretionary retail. Teams found themselves re-cutting deals and renegotiating terms as risk appetites changed from week to week. The work became equal parts structuring and steady diplomacy.
Little points to the macro setting: Fourteen rate rises left a mark, even as some relief has started to flow. Conditions differ by state, so brokers are operating in uneven markets. Day to day, the job has been balancing credit policy, pricing and stock on market while staying ready for the next turn.
In a Top 100 packed with achievement, meet four mid-career standouts leading from the front.
Ranked No. 2, House of Finance managing director Laith Hana entered finance to make a difference in people’s lives, and every career move was part of building something meaningful.
“Founding House of Finance was the natural progression of that journey – a way to simplify lending and deliver real value to clients through trust and education,” he says.
The brokerage’s growth has been rapid but deliberate. Hana balanced expansion with consistency, ensuring that service quality and culture remained intact as the team grew. He focused on leadership, systems and people, investing heavily in training and structure so the client experience never slips.
Hana and House of Finance earn loyalty through:
“We measure success not by volume but by trust, and by the lasting relationships that come from doing things the right way,” he adds.
As the business continues to grow, his focus turns to innovation, sustainable leadership and culture. The goal is to keep setting the benchmark for what clients should expect from a modern brokerage.
Jonathan Valentino has built his reputation as the broker who finds solutions others miss.
Ranked No. 7 in the Top 100, the Catalyst Advisers’ director for Sydney’s Northern Beaches is known for finding pathways through the most complex scenarios.
“I’ve pretty much been noted now as that kind of broker where, if they can’t get it done, go to Jonathan, and if he can’t get it done, no one can.”
That problem-solving mindset is driven by process and awareness. “We pride ourselves so much on education,” he says. “Really trying to understand and do a deep dive around lender policies allows us to open up that conversation with so many different referral partners.”
It’s an approach built on consistency rather than volume-chasing, and one that has earned him a growing base of referral partners and loyal clients who see Catalyst as a long-term partner.
Valentino grew up around broking, as his father was a mortgage broker. His 16-year career spans the full banking stack:
That journey gave him a rare view from both sides of the lending equation, including how credit decisions are made and how to manage the operational hurdles that can follow settlement.
Valentino’s holistic perspective is one reason for his clients’ loyalty. “As much as everyone wants an approval, if you can confidently explain to a client what’s happening and why it’s not approved, they appreciate that just as much as getting the approval. If it’s a no, you educate the client on what to do to make it a yes.”
The other reason is discipline. At Catalyst, a system of structured client interactions enables him to stay connected. “We’re constantly touching base with our clients,” he says. “Our CRM and systems mean we’re speaking to our clients every three months.”
That regular cadence, he adds, keeps clients engaged and returning, and ready to refer friends and family without the need for constant marketing noise.
Valentino calls it a simple formula that too many overlook. “Rather than being motivated, demotivated, motivated, demotivated, it’s being really disciplined and just doing the same thing regardless of how you feel.”
The payoff is stability in a crowded market where broker numbers and competition continue to rise.
Reflecting on what’s to come, Valentino says his focus is on expanding into business lending. “With the way social media works and how easy it is to start an e-commerce business, that space is underutilised,” he says. “We’ve got such a great panel of non-bank lenders with products that can take a business from zero to $100 million in turnover, and we can guide them through the process.”
Valentino’s rise reflects a broker who measures success by follow-through, education and endurance. But his working principles stay the same:
Michael Killiner has redefined what it means to be a client-first mortgage broker.
As director of Tusk Finance, he ranked No. 47 in the Top 100 in the business’s first full financial year. With a background in real estate and an unwavering belief that “finance is about people, not just numbers,” he founded the brokerage with his wife, Jemima, in November 2023.
He has steered Tusk through rapid growth while keeping service deeply personal and genuine, driven by the mission that every client deserves to feel understood and empowered.
“Creating Tusk Finance with my wife is the single greatest achievement of my career,” he says. “Together, we’ve built a business that not only thrives in performance but truly makes a difference in our customers’ lives.”
His client-first mindset is more than talk; it’s embedded in everything Tusk Finance does, from tailoring loan options to guiding first home buyers, refinancers and investors alike.
Killiner’s distinctive blend of authenticity, warmth and industry know-how sets him apart in a crowded market. In his podcast, That Backyard Property Pod, he shares real-world property insights, emphasising that great finance starts with the right questions and the correct support.
His success in Tusk’s inaugural year is proof that big results can be achieved while staying genuinely client-centred. Killiner shows that the highest standards of service and outstanding business growth are not mutually exclusive. They’re entirely compatible when driven by purpose and people.
Jason Daniel Wylie built his mortgage broking career on hard work, dedication and a client-first philosophy that helps people reach financial milestones with peace of mind.
Ranked No. 87, the Loan Market Capital director is now part of MPA’s Top 100 – recognition he believes is due to consistency and a commitment to achieving great results. Every interaction is guided by transparency and trust, principles that have shaped both his personal reputation and the brokerage’s standing in the industry.
“My greatest strength lies in building lasting relationships and creating solutions that truly work for my clients,” he says. “Every deal should be structured to achieve the best possible outcome.”
His model blends service and structure that includes regular client updates, ongoing reviews and post-settlement support, measures that keep relationships active long after the initial transaction. Referrals and returning clients now account for most of his pipeline, the product of trust and careful execution.
He approaches leadership in the same way he approaches lending, being:
As the firm grows, Wylie puts time and resources into systems and training so every file meets the same standard. The plan is to scale with intention, develop brokers, keep tightening processes and make sure every client feels looked after. It’s a simple strategy built on service that earns trust year after year.
With record market share, rising loan values and expanding professional standards, the mortgage broking sector is now the dominant distribution channel in Australian housing finance. The data points to an industry that is larger and more adaptive. Experience, education and technology are converging to drive performance at every level.
Australia’s mortgage industry continues to expand, with brokers now arranging more than three-quarters of all new residential loans. Borg says the Australian market was built for brokers. Clients value choice, independence and advice, and that’s exactly what brokers deliver, he explains.
With nearly 78% of all home loans now written through brokers, he sees no reason for the trend to slow.
“As an industry, we can do more by educating consumers, maintaining high professional standards and investing in long-term client relationships,” Borg says. “The future of lending in Australia is broker-led, driven by trust and client outcomes.”
Little agrees that growth is set to continue. “Clients are voting with their feet,” he says. “As long as we stay focused on delivering outstanding client outcomes and keeping their best interests at heart, market share will keep rising. You only have to look overseas to see broker share growing in the same way; it’s not slowing down.”
For Gortan, the commercial opportunity is still wide open. “The market is crying out for commercial brokers,” he says. “Unlike residential, our share is still small, which means the upside is huge. Most businesses are tied to a single bank relationship, while we can take their deal to every major bank, non-bank and private funder to create competitive tension and deliver better outcomes. The community just needs to keep educating businesses that the old-school relationship manager model is broken. We’re the new model.
According to the MFAA Industry Intelligence Service 19th Edition report for the period April–September 2024, the sector supported 22,265 active brokers, generated $4.1 billion in economic activity and sustained over 37,000 jobs.
Over the year to September 2024, brokers settled $378.9 billion in home loans, the largest total ever recorded and only the second time settlements have surpassed $370 billion. Commercial diversification is also climbing, with 31.5% of brokers now writing business loans alongside residential deals.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s September 2025 update shows an economy regaining balance after two years of rate tightening. Inflation has eased into the 2–3% range, and rates, reduced earlier in the year, remain steady as the RBA monitors early signs of stronger private demand and housing activity.
For borrowers, the outlook is mixed. Credit remains accessible, but household budgets are still absorbing higher repayments and living costs. Many are refinancing, repricing or locking in fixed terms to stabilise their position.
Despite the affordability strain, nonperforming loans remained below 1.2%, and loans 30-89 days past due remained below 0.6% in the June 2025 quarter – evidence of sound credit standards and prudent broker work.
For brokers, this translates into heavier workloads, including more repricing reviews, renewed purchase activity, and clients seeking guidance through uncertain conditions.
The Cotality Home Value Index shows that home prices are still rising:
While the rate of deterioration has eased, the national housing shortfall remains between 200,000 and 300,000 dwellings, keeping structural demand high, even as affordability stabilises. These conditions sustain strong broker engagement as borrowers seek expert guidance through complex rate environments and brokers remain the primary link to structure, choice and competitive lending.
The MFAA’s Value of Mortgage and Finance Broking 2025 report highlights a channel that’s more trusted, educated and efficient than ever.
Key findings:
But sustaining that professionalism is an ongoing test. Industry leaders estimate that as many as two-thirds of new brokers leave within their first year, while 15% of accredited brokers remain inactive.
Aggregators, such as National Lending Group, are tackling this with structured induction and mentoring programs to improve early-career resilience and strengthen industry standards.
Digital transformation continues to reshape how brokers work, from client onboarding to credit assessment. The 2025 Mordor Intelligence Australia Fintech Market Report identifies several trends indicating a move from innovation to industry standard:
For brokers, these tools translate to faster approvals, lighter workloads and better engagement, efficiencies that underpin the results seen across the Top 100 Brokers 2025.
MPA’s data shows that Australia’s Top 100 are skewing younger and more agile, as mid-career professionals dominate performance rankings.
CommBank is proud to continue our sponsorship of MPA’s Top 100 Brokers for 2025. We want to congratulate you on setting the standard of excellence within the mortgage broking industry and delivering exceptional customer outcomes. We are dedicated to giving you more confidence with CommBank, empowering you to achieve more for your customers.
At CommBank, we strive to deliver reliable, accessible, transparent and adaptable products and services, helping you to continue delivering excellent customer outcomes. We would like to recognise all the Top 100 Brokers. Thank you for your incredible commitment to your customers and for providing them with the best experiences possible.
Congratulations once again, and good luck for the rest of the year and into the next.
Baber Zaka
General Manager of Third-Party Banking
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
To find the Top 100 Brokers in 2025, MPA asked brokers across the industry to submit the total value of loans they had written over the last financial year. Brokers were also asked to state the number of loans they had written so MPA could determine their average loan size.
The Top 100 list was determined and ranked based on the value of loans written between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.
MPA’s 16th annual Top 100 Brokers list is proudly sponsored by Commonwealth Bank.