Top broker named

North Shore mortgage broker Sue Tierney (pictured) has been named Mortgage Broker of the Year by the NZ Mortgage Brokers’ Association.

Tierney, who works for Mortgages By Design, also won the Northland-North Harbour regional award at the association’s conference in Rotorua at the weekend.

Other regional winners were:

• Geoff Bawden, Bawden and Associates (Auckland)


• Grant McFlinn, Mike Pero Mortgages (Counties-Manukau)


• Michelle Towersey, Mike Pero Mortgages (Waikato-Bay of Plenty)


• Craig Seton, Mortgage Link (Taranaki-Manawatu-Hawkes Bay)


• Warren Rule, Mortgage Choice (Kapiti-Wellington)


• Les McKay, Mortgage Link (Nelson-Marlborough)


• Rob Parsons, Mortgage First (Canterbury)


• Charlie Reid and Gary Burton, Mortgage Link (joint winners Otago-Southland).

Association chairman Rob Tucker said the judges commented that high levels of competence and professionalism and the passion all finalists showed towards their work made selection extremely difficult.

Tucker said the awards recognised the performance of individuals, raised the industry’s profile, and reinforced the professional standards and ethics set by the association.

Judging criteria included lending and product knowledge, client relationships, client management, marketing initiatives, courtesy, level of client and lender trust, and contribution to the mortgage broking industry.

Lenders had a strong influence in scoring nominees, especially in the areas of lending knowledge, quality of application, ability to select the most appropriate lender and general professionalism.

All finalists were put through a detailed interview and a selection of their clients were surveyed. The judges were reassured by the finalists’ high level of experience, professionalism and general business acumen.

Tucker said mortgage brokers’ personal approach, experience and knowledge enabled them to provide clients with the most appropriate loan products, a clear understanding of what borrowing is all about and a guiding hand throughout the process.

"All finalists put client service at the top of their priority list. Without that ethic you do not have a business," Tucker said.

He said the association saw the level of excellence achieved by finalists as a benchmark for all members and was working in conjunction with the industry to achieve this. Mortgage brokers account for 26% of all mortgage business.