The recognition of Brendan McKay, broker and owner of McKay Mortgage Company and chief advocacy officer of the Broker Action Coalition (BAC), on Mortgage Professional America's 2025 Global 100 list highlights significant developments with implications for human resources vendors. McKay's dual role as a practicing broker and policy advocate underscores how industry leadership in one sector can influence broader business environments, including human resources and talent management.
McKay's operational philosophy emphasizing education over sales has guided more than 1,300 families through home financing, closing over $600 million in loans. This approach to client relationships mirrors trends in HR technology where education and transparency in benefits administration are increasingly valued. His recognition as a Top 100 Mortgage Broker nationwide and the #1 Mortgage Broker in the DC/Metro area from 2019 through 2024 demonstrates business excellence that HR vendors can study when developing financial wellness programs for corporate clients.
As BAC's chief advocacy officer, McKay transformed grassroots energy into legislative victories, most notably leading efforts that resulted in passage of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act. This landmark legislation will end abusive trigger lead practices when it takes effect in 2026. Rachel Clark, executive director of the BAC, noted, "Brendan represents exactly what the Global 100 is meant to recognize – leaders who don't just succeed within their own businesses, but who actively shape the future of the industry." For HR vendors, this demonstrates how advocacy in one industry can create regulatory changes that affect employee financial situations, potentially impacting financial stress levels and productivity.
The 2025 Global 100 honorees were selected based on their ability to lead through complexity, including navigating shifting interest rates, evolving regulations, and accelerating digital transformation. McKay's advocacy work included mobilizing nearly 400 mortgage professionals for two national Advocacy in Action fly-in events, facilitating 250+ Congressional meetings, and orchestrating grassroots campaigns that generated more than 25,000 constituent messages to lawmakers. This level of industry mobilization provides a model for HR vendor associations seeking to influence policy affecting workplace regulations and benefits administration.
With the trigger lead victory secured, BAC is expanding its policy agenda to tackle rising credit report costs, loan officer compensation reform, and protecting independent brokers from regulatory overreach. These issues directly intersect with HR vendor concerns, as credit reporting affects employment screening processes, compensation models influence talent acquisition strategies, and regulatory compliance represents a significant challenge for HR technology providers. The organization continues building on the successful coalition-building approach that proved effective with the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act.
For HR vendors, McKay's recognition and the advocacy work it represents signal several important trends. First, successful policy advocacy in financial services creates regulatory changes that affect employee financial health, which in turn impacts workplace productivity and benefits utilization. Second, the coalition-building approach demonstrated by BAC offers a model for HR vendor associations seeking to influence workplace regulations. Third, the emphasis on consumer privacy protection in mortgage lending parallels growing concerns about data privacy in HR technology. The complete 2025 Global 100 list and detailed honoree profiles are available at https://www.mpamag.com.
The mortgage industry's advocacy successes create indirect but meaningful impacts for HR vendors. Regulatory changes affecting consumer finance ultimately influence employee financial stress, which HR vendors address through financial wellness programs. Privacy legislation in one sector often establishes precedents that spread to other industries, including human resources. Additionally, successful advocacy models in mortgage lending provide templates for HR vendor associations seeking to shape policy affecting workplace technology and regulations. As industries become increasingly interconnected, developments in mortgage advocacy offer valuable insights for HR vendors navigating their own regulatory landscapes and developing solutions for corporate clients.
