When Mortgage Professional America set out to identify the world’s 100 most influential mortgage leaders for 2025, they were looking for something specific: professionals who weren’t just building successful businesses, but who were actively reshaping the industry’s future. Brendan McKay, Broker/Owner of McKay Mortgage Company and Chief Advocacy Officer of the Broker Action Coalition, fit that profile well.
The recognition comes during a transformative year for the mortgage industry – one marked by regulatory upheaval, shifting market conditions, and the kind of change that has the potential to separate leaders from followers. Now in its seventh year, the Global 100 report highlights individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to advancing their organizations while driving positive change across the broader mortgage sector.
Two Roles, One Philosophy
McKay’s path to the Global 100 reflects an unusual combination of hands-on lending expertise and strategic policy advocacy. At McKay Mortgage, he’s spent years building a client-first practice that has helped more than 1,300 families navigate the complexities of home financing, closing over $600 million in loans. His approach – prioritizing education over sales tactics – has earned him consistent recognition as a Top 100 Mortgage Broker nationwide and the #1 Mortgage Broker in the DC/Metro area for the last several years (2019 through 2024).
But it’s his work beyond individual transactions that caught the attention of the Global 100 selection committee. As Chief Advocacy Officer of the BAC, McKay has led what many considered an ambitious fight: taking on the credit bureaus to end predatory trigger lead practices. The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on September 5, 2025, represents a multi-year campaign of strategic coalition-building, relentless grassroots organizing, and targeted Congressional engagement.
“It’s not my job to sell you anything. It’s my job to educate you so you feel confident enough to make smart decisions,” McKay explained. “Whether I’m working with a homebuyer or speaking to Congressional offices, the goal is the same – provide people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future.”
From Grassroots to Legislative Victory
The numbers behind BAC’s trigger lead campaign tell the story of sustained, strategic advocacy. McKay organized nearly 400 mortgage professionals for two national fly-in events, coordinated 250+ meetings with lawmakers and their staff, and led grassroots efforts that helped generate more than 25,000 letters to Congress. This wasn’t about flashy press conferences or empty rhetoric; it was methodical, boots-on-the-ground advocacy that ultimately secured bipartisan support for landmark consumer protection legislation.
Rachel Clark, BAC’s Executive Director, sees McKay’s dual role as his greatest asset. “Brendan represents exactly what the Global 100 is meant to recognize – leaders who don’t just succeed within their own businesses, but who also actively shape the future of the industry,” she said. “His ability to bridge the gap between practicing broker and policy advocate brings a rare authenticity to our work in Washington.”
That authenticity matters in an industry often criticized for prioritizing profits over people. When McKay talks to policymakers about how regulations impact consumers and brokers, he’s not speaking theoretically – he’s sharing insights from real transactions with real families making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.
What Comes Next
The trigger-led victory, significant as it is, represents just one chapter in BAC’s broader advocacy agenda. With that campaign successfully concluded, the organization is turning its attention to other pressing issues: rising credit report costs that burden consumers, loan officer compensation rules that need modernization, and the ongoing challenge of protecting independent brokers from regulatory overreach that benefits big banks at the expense of choice and competition.
McKay and the BAC team are applying the same coalition-building model that worked with trigger leads – identifying aligned stakeholders, building bipartisan support, and mobilizing grassroots energy to create sustained pressure for change. It’s a proven playbook now, backed by a track record of positive results.
The 2025 Global 100 list recognizes professionals operating in challenging conditions – shifting interest rates, regulatory uncertainty, and rapid technological change. The selection criteria emphasized leadership qualities, measurable influence on key industry issues, and the ability to innovate in response to evolving market dynamics. McKay’s inclusion acknowledges both his business success and his role in advancing policy changes that benefit the entire industry.
For those who want to see more advocacy victories like the trigger lead bill, McKay’s message is straightforward: grassroots movements require grassroots support. The work continues, and success requires sustained engagement from the broker community – not just in celebrating wins, but in funding and participating in the fights still ahead.
About the Broker Action Coalition
The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) is the grassroots advocacy network representing independent mortgage brokers nationwide. The BAC works to level the playing field between independent mortgage brokers and retail banks, supports inclusive homebuying policy change, and advocates for Veterans, minorities, and underserved communities to make homeownership accessible to more Americans. For more information or to support advocacy efforts, visit www.brokeractioncoalition.com.
About McKay Mortgage Company
McKay Mortgage Company LLC is a family-owned residential mortgage brokerage based in Bethesda, Maryland, specializing in client education and trust-based lending. Founded in 2013 by Brendan and Tina McKay, the company focuses on providing transparent guidance that empowers clients to make informed financing decisions.
