Small and Mighty: How Brendan McKay and the Broker Action Coalition are Proving Independent Mortgage Brokers Can Lead the Industry
Brendan McKay represents a new generation of independent mortgage brokers who aren’t just competing with big institutions – they’re outmaneuvering them. His own track record at McKay Mortgage speaks volumes: with an average credit score of 760 and loan amounts typically ranging from the high $500,000s to low $600,000s, he and his fellow independent brokers are winning prime business away from major lenders by combining deep expertise with personalized service. That success has given him a powerful platform as Chief Advocacy Officer at the Broker Action Coalition (BAC), where he champions the interests of independent brokers nationwide.
McKay’s competitive edge starts with a lean cost structure. By staying small and efficient, his operation avoids the overhead of expensive office space, marketing costs, and extensive employee benefits that burden larger institutions. This operational efficiency combines with deep expertise that larger institutions often struggle to maintain. “Their loan officers, while wonderful people, are oftentimes newer to the industry,” McKay explains. “Eventually the really good ones are going to work for different companies or open up their own brokerage.” The result is an unwavering focus on client service. By keeping overhead low and leveraging targeted automation, McKay can match or beat the giants on pricing while providing more personalized service.
Far from seeing technology as the exclusive domain of large institutions, McKay has embraced innovation on his own terms. “A lot of this technology is far more accessible than people think, and it’s less complicated than people think,” he explains. “When I am implementing automation, I’m still in touch with borrowers on a regular basis. I believe that I have a much better insight into what kind of communication problems exist at the borrower level than executives at these large companies who are five steps removed from the borrower.”
McKay’s confidence comes from nearly two decades of hands-on experience. Starting in 2005 at American Brokers Conduit’s regional operations center, he quickly mastered every aspect of the business from closing to secondary markets. “I didn’t want to work for my mom,” McKay recalls with a laugh about joining his mother’s operation. “And then she was like, ‘well, here’s what I’ll pay you.'” That decision launched a career that would see him weather the 2008 financial crisis, briefly explore financial planning, and ultimately return to mortgage lending with a determination to control his own destiny. Eight years ago, that determination led him and his mother to launch McKay Mortgage together, where they’ve built a thriving operation that plays to both their strengths – with Tina handling the business operations while Brendan focuses on origination.
This same determination to prove the value of independent operators led McKay into industry advocacy. His first victory came when he successfully challenged a Maryland law that prevented mortgage brokers from working with the same client twice within two years on the same property. This taste of advocacy sparked a passion that has grown into his current role with BAC, where he fights tirelessly for independent mortgage brokers and consumers alike.
His approach to advocacy is characteristically straightforward: “What is best for the consumer is best for the mortgage broker,” McKay asserts. This principle drives BAC’s current legislative priorities, including their fight against trigger leads – the practice of credit bureaus selling consumer data without permission. “The real problem is that credit bureaus are allowed to sell consumer data without their permission. That is wrong. Consumers should have control of their financial data,” McKay emphasizes.
Looking ahead to 2025, McKay is intensifying his advocacy efforts. After trigger lead legislation came tantalizingly close to passing last year, he’s determined to push it across the finish line. “We’re going to be coming out the gates flying a lot more aggressive this year,” he promises. He’s also closely monitoring the development of a comprehensive housing package, seeing opportunities for organizations like BAC to contribute meaningful solutions to industry challenges.
McKay’s passion for the independent mortgage broker model is infectious. Through both his thriving practice and his advocacy work, he’s proving that smaller operators aren’t just surviving – they’re leading the way in combining operational excellence with consumer protection. As the industry continues to evolve, his success offers a compelling blueprint for independent brokers who refuse to concede ground to larger institutions.
