Australia’s mortgage broking industry has reached a new milestone with the first group of MFAA members awarded the Mortgage Finance Professional Australia (MFPA) designation.
The six brokers – Jarrod Smith (Transact Finance, Perth), Kate Sadler (The Broker Society, Sunshine Coast), Varun Goyal (Trusted Financial Choice, Melbourne), Haydn Marshall (Lend Perspective, Sydney), Matt McLean (McLean Home Loans, Adelaide) and Spiro Kolokithas (What If We Finance, Melbourne) – have completed the Mortgage Finance Professional (MFP) Program developed by the MFAA in partnership with RMIT Online.
The announcement comes as the MFAA continues to expand, recently surpassing 16,000 members – a 9% rise in two years. Mortgage and finance brokers now account for more than 97% of its community, reflecting the growing importance of brokers in a market where they already settle more than three-quarters of new home loans.
The MFP Program is the first university-level qualification for mortgage brokers in Australia. It includes core modules on personal leadership, customer engagement and business management, with electives in either SMSF lending or financial analysis.
Brokers are awarded the MFPA designation for completing the program and demonstrating commitment to ethics, education and professional conduct.
Jarrod Smith (pictured below), the first broker in Australia to receive the MFPA, said the designation carried weight with both clients and colleagues.
“Achieving the designation shows my clients that they are dealing with a finance broker with experience and demonstrates to my teammates that I am always looking for ways to improve on my leadership skills,” Smith said.
He acknowledged the challenge of balancing study with business and family life but added: “However, I am proud to have completed the course and achieved the designation, and I would recommend participation to anyone looking to either refresh their leadership skills, or to any aspiring leaders in the mortgage broking industry.”
Matt McLean (pictured below) described the MFPA as more than a credential.
“It builds your technical knowledge, broadens your perspective, and sharpens the way you approach client outcomes and ethical decision making,” McLean said.
“Importantly, it also shows a clear commitment to lifting professional standards across our industry, which benefits clients, businesses and mortgage brokers alike. I’d encourage any broker considering it to take the step.”
Kate Sadler (pictured below) said the program encouraged her to think beyond her role as a broker.
“I started thinking differently about how I guide my team, how I share knowledge, and how I set up structures that empower new entrants to succeed in our industry,” Sadler said.
She added that the flexible learning format made the course achievable.
“Any broker who wants to invest in their personal growth and business growth should spend some time investing in the designation,” Sadler said.
Haydn Marshall (pictured below) said professionalism was increasingly critical as brokers dominate the lending channel.
“Competition, compliance and professionalism are key drivers in differentiating ourselves,” Marshall said.
“We do this through enhanced credibility, trust and being able to raise the bar on the future of industry standards. Clients and lenders now expect even greater levels of knowledge, insight and skill as we transition into an age defined by the uptake of AI.”
He added the MFPA gave him tools to have clearer conversations with clients about technology while reinforcing trust and credibility.
Spiro Kolokithas (pictured below) said the MFPA signalled how far the broking industry had come.
“Broking is moving away from just writing loans to being recognised as a profession built on trust, knowledge and service,” Kolokithas said.
“The designation reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and a genuine thirst for knowledge. As technology and tools evolve, we as brokers need to keep evolving too, always focused on service and our role as trusted advisers.”
Varun Goyal (pictured below) said the program helped him focus on ethics and client outcomes.
“It pairs data with a human-centred approach – listen first, then deliver clear, transparent advice in the client’s best interest,” he said.
“The MFPA also reminded me to better utilise my soft skills and servant leadership, so I can coach my team to also lead with empathy and deliver consistent, value-aligned outcomes for our clients.”
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek (pictured at top) congratulated the inaugural group of MFPAs.
“They have shown true leadership and commitment to professionalism in completing the MFP Program and receiving the MFPA. This is a defining moment for broking as a profession in Australia,” Pannek said. “The MFAA looks forward to many more experienced brokers investing in their career growth and becoming MFPAs.”
Entry requirements for the MFPA
Brokers who wish to pursue the MFPA must:
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