The MFAA Member Breakfast series has laid out a clear 2026 playbook for mortgage brokers, emphasising technology, trust, and deeper client relationships.
At the events, brokers heard how smarter use of data and digital tools can help first-home buyers and property investors navigate borrowing capacity, serviceability, and mortgage rates while still receiving highly personalised advice.
That focus comes as mortgage brokers facilitated 76.7% of all new residential home loans in the December 2025 quarter, 4.9 percentage points higher than in December 2023, underscoring borrowers’ growing preference for the channel.
Attendance was strong at the February–March events in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, and Hobart. This reflected brokers’ appetite to make 2026 their strongest year yet for growth and client outcomes.
Speakers and broker panellists highlighted that digital platforms are now central to lifting efficiency and improving the end-to-end borrowing experience. Tech providers showed how tools such as Quickli and Copilot are streamlining processes, while open banking is cutting data collection time and improving accuracy and trust in loan recommendations.
The forums reinforced that brokers’ roles are shifting from one-off, transactional support to ongoing advisory relationships. Training and team culture were flagged as critical to adopting artificial intelligence responsibly so that efficiency and compliance progress together rather than in silos.
That emphasis on advice and responsible technology use aligns with fresh research showing many Australians feel confident heading into 2026 but are turning to brokers for advice-led support amid cost-of-living pressures and more complex financial choices.
Sydney attendee Karis Churchill, founder and director of Real Time Finance & Mortgage, said the peer-to-peer discussions were a standout feature.
“These events bring out real conversations with your peers,” Churchill said. “You've got people of different levels of the industry, and they bring with them a lot of knowledge and expertise that's very valuable.”
For Churchill, 2026 will be about faster turnaround times and more structured client engagement, including annual reviews and stronger strategic partnerships with referral stakeholders to support a broader range of client needs.
Mortgage Choice franchise owner Richard Brown said regular MFAA events remain an important source of ideas and professional development. Calling the sessions worthwhile, Brown noted: “I learn every single time.” He added that brokers in the room were united in aiming to grow their businesses while delivering “amazing service to their clients”.
Brown said his 2026 focus is to build on his experience while keeping clients at the centre of every decision, including how technology is deployed.
“I know that my clients are going to continue to use me and refer me because of my trust and expertise,” he said.
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek (pictured) said the breakfasts underscored the strength and professionalism of the broker community as it heads into 2026, and that this momentum is being backed by a refreshed national consumer campaign.
She also pointed to the MFAA’s 2026 consumer push and enhanced Find a Broker website, which are expected to direct thousands of Australians to MFAA-accredited brokers seeking guidance on borrowing capacity, refinancing and property investment strategies.
The refreshed 2026 campaign, running from 17 March to 30 April, builds on last year’s effort, which generated more than 324,000 visits to the Find a Broker website and an estimated 21.4 million impressions across digital and social channels.
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