A white paper released by the peak international mortgage broker body predicts personalised human advice will keep brokers at the centre of the profession as it enters a “decade of unprecedented change”.

The report from the International Mortgage Brokers Federation (IMBF) is the result of dialogue in Dublin earlier this year among mortgage brokers from the USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other European nations.

The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) is the only Australian association represented on the world body, which enables each global region to openly discuss their journeys with regulation and industry development, and consider how this may impact other regions.

FBAA managing director Peter White AM, who is also the current chair of the IMBF, said optimism about the future of broking underpins this year’s white paper which focused on the critical question of ‘How will we remain relevant in 2030 and beyond?’

“The FBAA will be using this paper at board level, and it will enable us to not only compare our progress and priorities to associations on other jurisdictions across the world, but better understand where the industry is headed,” he said.

While Mr White said that the white paper refers to “advice” and that Australia has “an assistance not advice model”, it was still highly relevant to the future of the local industry.

Stating that “artificial intelligence, embedded finance, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer expectations are transforming how—and where—advice is provided,” the white paper identified five signals that will shape the mortgage broker of 2030:

1.  Advice (professional guidance in Australian terms) is what sets you apart: in a world of embedded finance, mortgage brokers must prioritise personalised and ethical advice (guidance in Australia) as their core value.

2. Technology and trust must coexist; AI functions as support, not a replacement. Mortgage brokers should combine digital skills with human insight.

3. Education must evolve: Future-proof mortgage brokers need technological proficiency, emotional intelligence, and business insight—not just compliance expertise or training.

4. Inclusion fuels innovation: Gender diversity isn’t just a moral concern— it’s essential for reach, resilience, and relevance—and is increasingly demanded by many customers.

5. Mortgage brokers must be co-creators: Innovation, policy, and platform design must be developed in collaboration with mortgage brokers, utilising their unique insights into customer journeys.

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About IMBF:

The IMBF is the leading global forum for bringing the international mortgage broking community and its suppliers together to collaborate on shaping market practices, while influencing regulation and legislation through global advocacy.