Jodi McKeown's (pictured) path into mortgage broking was not planned. After spending years as a lender at one of Australia's big four banks, a corporate restructure made her role redundant. It was Stuart Wemyss — whose clients she had been managing within her lending portfolio — who offered her a way forward. She joined his team, and from that first day, she says, it felt like the right fit.
That was 2007. Nearly two decades later, McKeown is now associate director ProSolution Private Office, holds a Diploma of Financial Services, and brings more than 30 years of banking and finance experience to her clients. Her perspective on the industry is direct, grounded, and shaped by a career that has crossed both sides of the lending desk.
Before addressing where the industry is heading, McKeown is clear about how far it has come. The Royal Commission reforms of 2019 and the legislative changes that followed were, in her view, among the most consequential developments the sector has seen.
"The legislative changes introduced in 2021, particularly around duty of care, acting in the client's best interests, and the removal of conflicted remuneration, have largely achieved what they were designed to do," she says. "Clients receiving advice they can trust, with their interests placed firmly first – ultimately, that's what matters."
For McKeown, a higher standard of advice across the board is not just good for consumers — it makes it easier for quality brokers to differentiate themselves. That context matters when considering what comes next.
McKeown does not sidestep the automation question. Simpler transactions, she says, are already moving toward AI and online lenders, and that trend will continue. The brokers who will remain relevant are those who lean into complexity.
"Where we remain highly relevant is in working with more complex clients – those who value tailored advice and trust the process we bring," she says. "That's where we can add the most value."
On the practical side of broking, McKeown is equally direct. Strong preparation, she argues, is what separates successful applications from avoidable declines.
"If an application is incomplete, missing key information or supporting documents, it becomes very difficult for a credit manager to assess it properly," she says. "In most cases, strong preparation and a well-presented application will significantly improve your chances of success."
But preparation alone is not enough. Confidence matters too — especially when a lender pushes back.
"If a lender declines an application and you genuinely believe there is a deal there, it's worth backing your judgement and pushing for a better outcome," she says. Equally, she adds, knowing when not to proceed is just as important. "Saying no is not a weakness — it's often the right outcome."
For brokers building their practice, McKeown's advice is straightforward: stay curious, maintain regular contact with clients, conduct ongoing reviews, and never stop learning credit policy. The brokers who do those things consistently, she says, are the ones who will still be standing when the simpler end of the market has been absorbed by technology.
Get the hottest and freshest property and mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
