Who are the industry's shining stars?
Is there a mortgage adviser, lender, brokerage, BDM, aggregator or service provider whose achievements, best practice or leadership skills deserve to be recognised?
Nominations for the annual New Zealand Mortgage Awards, to be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Auckland War Memorial Museum, are now open. The fourth annual awards evening will be held as a cocktail-style ceremony, starting at 6.30pm.
The awards showcase the best of the best in the New Zealand mortgage industry. A symbol of authority and credibility, they provide an opportunity for outstanding performers to be honoured and celebrated by peers and colleagues.
There are 16 awards categories, including First Mortgage Trust New Adviser of the Year, Pepper Money Adviser of the Year – Residential, which is a new category, Adviser of the Year - Regional and BDM of the Year (Banks, Non-Banks, Aggregators).
Other awards include Avanti Finance Adviser of the Year – Specialist Lending, Prospa Advance Broker of the Year – 6+ Staff, Brokerage of the Year – 1-5 Staff and Resimac Home Loans Best Customer Service of an Individual Office.
New award categories this year include Innovator of the Year, Loan Administrator of the Year, Lender of the Year (Major/Non-Major Bank), Non-Bank of the Year, Aggregator of the Year and Regional Brokerage of the Year.
Winners reflect on award benefits
Lending Choice director and mortgage adviser Adam Shepherd (pictured above left) was awarded First Mortgage Trust Young Gun of the Year at the 2023 New Zealand Mortgage Awards.
Shepherd said the awards held significance within the industry as they offered recognition and validation to individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions.
“The act of nomination alone serves as a valuable tool for reflecting on what has been achieved in the last 12 months, and it also provided me with added motivation to continue working hard,” Shepherd said.
Reflecting on his win, Shepherd said it was a “fantastic moment” which he was able to enjoy with his wife by his side and that he was grateful for the support and assistance from family, clients and referrers.
“Going into the night, I had no expectations, so it was a wonderful surprise to hear my name called,” he said. “Once it finally sank in and I had a chance to celebrate, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and validation, knowing that my hard work had made a significant difference for my clients.”
The NZMAs was his first industry event, and Shepherd said that he noticed how tight knit the New Zealand adviser community is.
“It became evident the moment the doors opened, and people started to filter in, that spirits were high. When the awards began, it was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm from everyone involved,” he said.
Loan Market mortgage adviser Sanjeev Jangra (pictured above right) was awarded Bluestone New Brokerage of the Year at the 2023 NZMAs.
Jangra said that the New Zealand Mortgage Awards also served as a platform to share best practices and raise the industry’s standards.
“By participating or nominating, you're not only recognising excellence but also inspiring continuous improvement and innovation, which benefits the entire industry and ultimately, our clients,” Jangra said.
He described winning the award as “an incredible honour”, which felt like a validation of all of the hard work and dedication put in by himself and his colleagues.
“I am truly grateful for the support and trust of our clients, as well as the hard work of our dedicated team,” Jangra said.
Professionally, winning the award boosted the credibility of his business and its reputation within the industry, attracting new clients and opportunities with referral partners, he said.
“This award is a reminder that we are on the right path, and we are excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,” Jangra said.
Organised by Key Media and supported by NZ Adviser, Avanti Finance, Finsure New Zealand, First Mortgage Trust, Pepper Money, Prospa and Resimac are award sponsors and Basecorp Finance is the associate sponsor.
Mortgage industry professionals are encouraged to nominate their peers who have shown excellence over the past year and can also self-nominate.
To place a nomination for the 2024 New Zealand Mortgage Awards, please visit the NZMAs website.
How important is it to recognise and celebrate success with in the New Zealand mortgage industry? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
