Broker. February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

Magazine

Billion-dollar brokers Chris Bates and Christian Stevens set their sights on writing $10 billion a year – and they want brokers to join them.

8 INDUSTRY UPDATE

14 NAVIGATING AUSTRALIA’S 18 COVER STORY HOUSING MARKET

Kitty Parker offers strategies to empower mortgage brokers to navigate the complexities of Australia’s current property market, namely, unaffordability.

Billion-dollar brokers Christian Stevens and Chris Bates have joined forces to launch a new, techdriven national firm, Flint. They have ambitious growth goals, and are looking for brokers to join them.

32 FAMNZ LAUNCHES

42 DIGITAL TRENDS TO

46 BROKER IN BUSINESS

On February 5, FAMNZ opened its doors in New Zealand, offering mortgage advisers across the ditch the same advocacy, representation and professional support that FBAA offers Australian brokers.

2024 will usher in new technologies and digital trends that will shape the way we communicate, work, and live.

Starting her business Speck Finance in March 2020, Becky Baker has built a stellar reputation. In 2023, Becky was named FBAA Broker of the Year.

The FBAA continues engaging with regulators and decision-makers around settlement processes, digital discharge authority and bank retention teams, as well as focusing on strategic long-term projects.

CONTE Launches in New Zealand

WATCH IN 2024

should watch this year.

EDITOR & HEAD OF CONTENT Peter White AM MANAGING EDITOR Krystal Camilleri STAFF WRITER Rachel Licciardello

24 COMPLIANCE NEWS

28 MADD CHARITY BALL

Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, CEO of Financy says if 2023 wasn’t your year for seeing enough improvement on gender equity, diversity and inclusion, she guarantees 2024 will be better.

For the second year in a row, Madd was proud to host the Madd Charity Ball – Circus Spectacular, raising an incredible $200,000 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

WITH FINANCY

DOES IT AGAIN!

ENTS 31.

OUTSOURCE FINANCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

outsource Financial unveils its partnership with the Titans.

LAUNCHES 34. BEFOREULOAN.COM Contribute to the new consumer education website.

ACCEPTED! 40. CHALLENGE FBAA team conquers the Bridge to Brisbane.

MEMBER TRANSFER INITIATIVE 41. OUR Switching to the FBAA is easy. Here’s why.

BENEFITS PROGRAM 50. MEMBER Exclusive deals for FBAA members.

CREATIVE DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Krystal Camilleri Shayben Moussa ADVERTISING Krystal Camilleri TELL US WHAT YOU THINK We appreciate hearing from readers. If you have feedback, news or a story idea you would like us to cover, please contact us using the below details.

NEWS, ADVERTISING AND ADMINISTRATION e: editor@fbaa.com.au p: 07 3847 8119 w: www.fbaa.com.au

All information and images are subject to copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing to the Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited. The views and opinions of the authors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information at the time of publishing, the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for errors, omissions or subsequent consequences including loss or damage from reliance on information in this publication.

FROM TH Welcome to 2024 and best wishes to all FBAA members for a very successful year in what is currently a somewhat disrupted and twospeed economy. I am sure this year will bring its challenges and I know FBAA wants to be there for members as they grapple with change, complexity, and higher volumes.

The recently released FBAA consumer-facing website designed to educate consumers seeking information about loans – housing, vehicles, and other general consumer lending. Back in 2022, the Board identified a need to provide a level of finance understanding, so your clients of the future are informed and prepared with the necessary information when you commence working with them to bring about financing solutions, in the client’s best interest.

To support FBAA in keeping beforeuloan.com up-todate with the latest loan information, news, articles, and content, we invite all FBAA members to participate in the beforeuloan.com Content Contributor Program.

This is your opportunity to showcase your expertise and demonstrate to your customers that you’re equipped to offer them top-tier advice on securing a loan. FBAA members are welcome to submit their articles direct at the website beforeuloan.com. Please note, selection is at the website editor’s discretion.

In November 2023, the FBAA Board saw some changes to ensure we keep abreast of an everincreasing member base and diversity of work coverage. It is my pleasure to introduce three new Directors and a Company Secretary.

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HE CHAIR Jill Fleck is a Western Australian and held roles on the WA State Council as well as National Executive of FBAA as the WA State President. She has significant Board experience in the for-purpose area as well as charity. A welcome addition.

Brett Spencer, from Victoria, has also held roles on the Victorian State Council as well as National Executive of FBAA as the Vic State President. During Brett’s time in these roles, he was instrumental in bringing about the commencement of a stand-alone State Branch in Tasmania. Brett is exceptionally knowledgeable about the many aspects of the finance industry and a solid knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This experience will be a great assistance to FBAA over the coming years.

of compliance laws and rules as the company develops.

There are other major appointments at FBAA, however, I will leave Managing Director Peter White to welcome them to the team. From a Board perspective, I am confident the additional appointments will continue to add to the professionalism of the FBAA operational team in providing services to our members.

On behalf of the Board, I thank all members for their ongoing support of the work FBAA does for our members and the greater finance profession.

Tony Carter Chairman

David Traynor, a FBAA member of long standing who lives in northern NSW, has his own broker business and many successes over the years. The knowledge gained over more than 20 years in this industry will help balance out the Board.

Welcome to all three directors – I am confident you will be great assets to our members.

Nick Lane, the FBAA CFO has also taken on the role of Company Secretary. In appointing Nick to the role In July 2023, we have separated the Company Secretary role from the elected and appointed directors to ensure we have someone at the helm who has very sound accounting, compliance, and company secretary experience. As Company Secretary I am confident Nick will remain independent in his view and ensure the Board complies with an ever-expanding set

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Industry Update Ebbs and flows The FBAA continues engaging with regulators and decision-makers around settlement processes, digital discharge authority and bank retention teams. Managing Director Peter White AM says his team is focused on strategic long-term projects.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE

Ebbs and flows EBBS AND FLOWS It is very normal for our regulatory activity and responses to ebb and flow, with extremely busy periods and other times where we are able to focus more on being proactive rather than reactive. From a regulatory point of view, currently the FBAA is relatively quiet. We have no major issues with ombudsman beyond normal reviews and assessments, and we want to keep it that way. My advice to brokers during this time is to keep being diligent in your compliance and government obligations to keep us off the regulator’s radar.

“ We support

transition to one digital document for all lenders and brokers.

STRATEGIC FOCUS SETTLEMENT PROCESSES At present, every lender has their own paperbased process for settling loans. The FBAA’s position is that we support transition to one digital document for all lenders and brokers, that can be signed digitally. We continue engaging with Treasury as they look at digital discharge authority.

During the ebbs when we are less engaged in reactive regulatory work, the FBAA is able to focus on our strategic long-term projects to help broker members in your businesses. This includes projects like our New Zealand expansion of operations (read about FAMNZ on page 32), and the upcoming launch of consumer education website: beforeuloan.com (read more on page 34).

RETENTION TEAMS We continue the conversation with Treasury around retention teams and the grubby tactics they often deploy to lure a customer at the last minute. It is FBAA’s position that banks should be required to present their best offer to customers when first asked, not keep it in their pocket to pull out 24 hours out from settlement on a new load.

The structure around this should fall in line with other areas of financial services. I will update you as this conversation progresses.

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Peter White AM Managing Director

Imagine a community where you are not only able to hear other perspectives but also understand them.

Welcome to The Artemis Space, an FBAA supported women’s community to discuss the issues, challenges and needs you have in our industry.

The Artemis Space has been aptly named after the Greek Goddess of nature, women and archery. It symbolises reaching an objective with the greatest speed, accuracy and focus. Its intention is to create a safe and supportive community where women/womxn can have open-minded, matter-of-fact discussions to understand what holds you back in order to pave the way forward.

Join us and the women professionals in our broader industry to transform constructive discussions into practical change, wholeheartedly supporting you to connect, grow and thrive with excellence.

If you would like to be a part of the conversation, we meet monthly for 1 to 2 hours by video conference. To engage with a variety of views, we will rotate the composition of the groups, creating an opportunity for you to meet other likeminded people.

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Navigating Australia’s Housing Market Strategies for Mortgage Brokers in an Unaffordable Era

By Kitty Parker, Director, Kitty & Miles Buyers Agency

In the dynamic landscape of Australia’s real estate market, the past four years have witnessed a dramatic surge in housing prices, rendering affordability a formidable c h a l l e n g e. A s m o r tg a g e b ro ke r s , navigating these uncharted waters requires a nuanced approach to assist clients in achieving their homeownership dreams.

In this article, we delve into strategies that can empower Australian mortgage brokers to navigate the complexities of the current property market intelligently.

Understanding the Current Landscape According to Domain’s End of Year Wrap 2023, housing prices across the nation have largely recovered to their growth peak of early 2022. This surge has left many aspiring homeowners grappling with the daunting task of entering an increasingly unaffordable market.

C o re L o g i c ’s l a t e s t d a t a f u r t h e r reinforces this trend, indicating that major metropolitan areas like Sydney and Melbourne have experienced a staggering 28.9% and 25.1% net increase in median house prices, respectively, over the post-COVID period. As mortgage brokers, comprehending these statistics is paramount in formulating effective strategies for clients.

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Tailored Financial Solutions In the face of soaring property prices, mortgage brokers must adopt a bespoke approach to meet the unique needs of their clients. Customised financial solutions, such as flexible loan structures and creative financing options, can alleviate the financial strain on potential homebuyers.

One effective strategy is exploring shared equity arrangements, where buyers partner with investors to share the financial burden of purchasing a property. This innovative approach not only opens doors for clients who might otherwise be shut out of the market but also fosters collaboration between different stakeholders in the real estate ecosystem.

Educating Clients on Market Dynamics A crucial aspect of a mortgage broker’s role is to empower clients with knowledge about the market dynamics. By explaining the factors contributing to the rising housing prices, brokers can help clients make informed decisions and set realistic expectations.

Moreover, providing insights into potential market trends and fluctuations can assist clients in timing their property acquisitions strategically. While the current scenario may seem daunting, emphasising the cyclical

“

In the face of soaring property prices, mortgage brokers must adopt a bespoke approach to meet the unique needs of their clients.

”

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nature of real estate markets can instil confidence in clients to weather short-term challenges.

Leveraging Government Initiatives Mortgage brokers will benefit from staying abreast of current and forthcoming government initiatives aimed at promoting affordable housing. In recent years, various state and federal programs have been introduced to ease the burden on firsttime homebuyers, such as grants and concessions.

By proactively guiding clients through the eligibility criteria and application processes for these programs, mortgage brokers can substantially contribute to making homeownership a reality for a broader demographic.

By embracing tailored financial solutions, educating clients on market dynamics, and leveraging government initiatives, brokers can empower their clients to navigate the uncharted waters of an increasingly unaffordable housing market. In doing so, they not only fulfil their professional responsibilities but also contribute to fostering a more inclusive and accessible real estate landscape for all Australians.

Author bio: Kitty Parker is the Director of Kitty & Miles, a multi-award winning Buyer’s Agency that helps residential property buyers across the country buy with certainty (they have a 100% success rate to back this). Their services range from expert auction bidding assistance through to a complete end-to-end concierge service.

To get in touch visit kittyandmiles.com.au

As the Australian property market continues to present challenges, mortgage brokers play a pivotal role in guiding clients through these turbulent times.

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The Flint

Formula Leading the next generation of brokers

With a slew of individual successes under their belts, two of Australia’s leading brokers have joined forces to launch a new, tech-driven national firm, Flint. While newly-minted, Flint has the benefit of experience and a large established client base and team, opening its doors with 50 staff and more than 100 referral partners. We spoke to Flint founders Christian Stevens and Chris Bates about merging their businesses, the opportunity this offers brokers wanting to grow, and how they envision the future of mortgage broking.

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COVER STORY COVER STORY

Celebrating “ Together, Chris and I reach well ANNIVERSARY over a million people every month with our content.”

Years

- Christian Stevens

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In February, Christian Stevens and Chris Bates completed the merger of their mortgage broking businesses into a newly-structured national firm they’ve called Flint. The new brokerage launched with a team of 50 staff and has already signed on more than 100 referral partners across proptech, HR, CPA, FP, legal, medico and several large real estate brands.

“Our team for the launch will settle more than $1.5 billion annually,” says Christian, who is himself a billion-dollar broker. Chris is too, and collectively with Flint’s new team they have settled more than $3 billion in their careers.

“We intend to double our team to 100 in 12 months, and double our settlements in our second year,” Christian reveals of Flint’s ambitious growth plans.

“We are launching Flint to be that business of the future where brokers can break through $50 million to write $100 millions, as we provide everything that we built to get us here,” adds Chris.

“We see opportunity in large, independent brokerages that have comprehensive offers to help mortgage brokers grow their own businesses within a business by offering everything they need to scale,” Chris continues. “This doesn’t exist in broking now – it has been franchises, start your own brand or work under another brand with little value add.”

“The future of mortgage broking is broker-focused brokerages that allow individual brokers to truly scale their business to levels not seen before,” says Christian. “We believe there will be brokerages settling over $10 billion per year by 2030.”

“These numbers have not seemed possible in the past,” adds Chris, “but we believe $10 billion is achievable with technology, national clientele, and a brokerage’s ability to scale efficiently if they know how to get new clients. Essentially, Flint’s back-end process will allow any broker at any stage of their career to double their business.”

Flint is headquartered in Sydney with brokers located nationwide, assisting clients located throughout Australia and also expats working abroad, with clients already in Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, UK and US. The brokerage offers 24-hour loan processing and fast turnaround times (for example proposals and compliance documents within a day), with designated teams for credit analysts, back-office broker support, post-settlement and customer support.

“Regardless of how many leads we get, turnaround times don’t blow out,” says Christian.

While their growth plan is ambitious, both Christian and Chris have carved their own successful, accelerated career paths in the broking industry.

“Chris and I started talking more than five years ago, regularly sharing ideas we had learned to help each other grow,” recalls Christian. “We are big believers that collaboration happens at the top and competition at the bottom, and the conversation naturally moved to let’s do this together, rather than as a running partner.”

Chris started out as a financial advisor in 2007 before launching his business Blusk (previously Wealthful) in 2014, which he positioned as a specialist mortgage and property portfolio investment advisory. Chris was awarded Best Broker at the 2023 Australian Broking Awards, and is host of Australian Property Podcast and The Elephant in the Room property podcast.

Meanwhile, Christian joined the broking industry only six years ago, quickly building a reputation as the biggest broker at Shore Financial and achieving $1 billion in settled loans within his first five years broking. Christian was named FBAA Australian Broker of the Year – Residential at the 2023 Australian Mortgage Awards, and created online communities such as the First Home Buyers Australia page on Facebook, the Finance & Property broadcast channel for Instagram and a newsletter for LinkedIn. Both Chris and Christian harnessed social media and consistent posting to build their personal brands and businesses, generating many of their leads organically.

“Building my personal brand didn’t just happen,” points out Chris, “it was years of posting daily on LinkedIn, educating myself, releasing podcasts weekly and constantly looking at ways to get out of my comfort zone to grow my personal knowledge and network.”

“Collaboration happens at the top, competition at the bottom.”

– Christian Stevens

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COVER STORY

“Together, Chris and I reach well over a million people every month with our content,” shares Christian. “We will build Flint into a household name by leveraging our combined audience of hundreds of thousands of followers.”

Chris’ business partner from Blusk, Ben Sum, is also part of Flint, bringing with him his tech edge in his new role as COO. “Christian and I are big-picture, highly driven, opportunistic and optimistic, but view opportunities differently,” offers Chris. “This allows us to collectively open each other’s minds to different ways to approach our plans. Often, however, we are so aligned in our thinking that this gives each of us the confidence to make certain moves. Ben is much more practical, pays attention to detail and is less emotionally driven. He is the centre of the seesaw and will calm us down if we get too excited by our ideas.”

Chris and Christian will focus on growing the business and leading brokers to grow their own businesses within Flint, while Ben will lead delivery of the business’ backend. Also driving Flint will be Craig Bigelow (Advice Partnerships), Alex Pagonis (Digital Partnerships) and Adam Mostrosa (Real Estate Partnerships). There are 19 founding brokers who are all experts within their niches. Heading up the back-office support team of 25 will be Tisha Pradham and Ariane Rose, both have been with Chris and Christian for more than five years.

DAILY HABITS FOR SUCCESS

As well as consistently posting content on social media and creating podcasts, both Chris and Christian have enlisted regular routines to accelerate their success.

For Chris, strict diary management has kept him focused. “Limited face-to-face meetings, limited video calls and short phone calls run via booking software. I run a tight diary, with almost everything locked in well

“Tech will be the foundation of our brokerage,” says Christian. “As the industry transitions into fintech in the next five years, we want to be at the forefront of that change.”

in advance.”

Already, Flint’s team is working with a panel of lead AI experts to map out inbound sales funnels, marketing automation, lead nurturing and instant credit decisions that will allow Flint to offer a better user experience for clients.

the year is non-negotiable.

“Our broker value prop is the best in the market, the amount of support each broker gets is significant and this allows them to focus on front-end business generating activities,” says Christian.

“There’s power in scale, and we offer the best process and strategy advice for any brokerage in the country. We can, and want to, help any broker double their business at any stage of their career.”

Learn more about Flint at www.flintgroup.au

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For Christian, 100 days of health (including no alcohol) at the start of

“This is now my sixth year of doing this and it changed my life. You are a different person after 5-6 weeks; you have better motivation, incredible time management, are more productive and sleep better too. It is the best thing I have ever done, I strongly recommend it to anyone serious about getting ahead.”

“ Flint’s backend process will allow any broker at any stage of their career to double their business.”

– Chris Bates

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Compliance News with Financy

By Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, CEO Financy Pty Ltd

If 2023 wasn’t your year for seeing enough improvement on gender equity, diversity and inclusion then I guarantee you 2024 will be better with Australian businesses on notice to keep up with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) compliance.

the publication date is an important next step in the process of ensuring that employers have the tools and resources they need to be able to use this moment to drive progress on gender equality.

3. Amended Respect At Work legislation is also demanding organisations take proactive measures to eliminate workplace harassment. Businesses will now have to show they are taking these proactive steps.

4. Investors and Boards are increasing demanding that companies consider ESG factors and reporting.

5. Amended Work Health and Safety Regulations (effective from 1 April 2023) state that employers must adhere to a new Code of Practice on managing ‘psychosocial hazards’ has been implemented across Australia affecting all businesses. These are aimed at supporting employee wellbeing.

The past 12 months have been challenging with business and household spending having to be reined in due to rising interest rates — with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) leaving the cash rate at 4.35% for 2023.

It was by no means surprising that businesses reported having to tighten budgets on DEI initiatives in Australia and in many ways we continue to lag most developed countries on this front.

But 2024 is a year for getting compliant with regulatory changes underway and the best signal yet that DEI compliance will become a necessary part of doing business in a competitive world.

Here’s what happened and what to be aware of: • Economic equality progress got real. According to our Financy Women’s Index quarterly report, progress to gender financial equality rebounded in 2023 from its Coronavirus slump and data distortions. In the latest September quarter report, we reported on the following improvements: gender pay gap narrowed to 13% from 13.3%, the number of women occupying ASX 200 board positions rose to just over 36% and the gender gap in unpaid work improved as men increased their hours in housework and care.

•

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Regulations affecting DEI compliance became super charged with many things for business to be aware of, including: 1. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has started issuing fines and has commenced a program of work examining greenwashing of financial products.

2. Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is putting increased pressure on companies to take action on gender equity with public disclosure of Gender Pay Gaps by reporting entities from 2024. WGEA will be publishing these gaps on 27 February 2024. Announcing

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•

Employees became more vocal and are looking for better places to work. According to a survey

by Glassdoor, 80% of people under 50 years say that diversity, equity, and inclusion are very or somewhat important to them. Another survey by Benevity, called The State of Workplace DEI, found that 95% of people weigh a prospective employer’s DEI efforts when choosing between job offers with similar salary and benefits and that 78% would not consider working for a company that fails to commit significant resources to DEI initiatives.

With all of these things changing the way individuals and business think and feel about social impacts, what’s clear is that for organisations to remain competitive in a tougher economic environment, they must consider diversity and inclusion and the impact it’s likely to have on their business.

Financy covers gender finance, diversity, inclusion and ESG issues. We advocate for gender equity change through the Women’s Index report and help businesses take action on DEI through tech solutions like IMPACTER.

“It was by no means surprising that businesses reported having to tighten budgets on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Australia and in many ways we continue to lag most developed countries on this front.”

- Bianca Hartge-Hazelman

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ADVERTORIAL

The Madd Charity Ball 2023

Circus Spectacular

For the second year in a row, Madd was proud to host the Madd Charity Ball – Circus Spectacular. In one night, in one room at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Madd and 512 guests, many of whom were customers, friends, family and people from our local community, were able to raise an incredible $200,000 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The ball, themed Circus Spectacular, transformed the Grand Plaza Ballroom into a magical night filled with enchanting entertainment and an amazing amount of generosity from every single guest wanting to make a difference for an incredible cause (that is exactly what MADD stands for Making A Difference Daily). There were circus games, stilt walkers, Australia’s best illusionist, Matt Hollywood, MC Vince Sorrenti, Amici Band, Killer Queen and the company of many supporting businesses.

The Madd Ball wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing generosity of our sponsors. Thank you to our platinum sponsors: Motorlend, VMS Town Planning/PropCheck, The Coffee Club, Big Michael’s, and O’Shea & Sons. We are grateful that we have such generous partners like you to support such an incredible cause. To our Gold sponsors we can’t thank you enough, thank you to Patrick Ivey from Harcourts, JD Lighting | JD Lighting Electrical, M&D Zeremes & Precision Tools & Technology. We are proud to call you, our partners.

The ball was an absolute success, founder of Madd George Samios proudly spoke, “without you saying YES, we would never have been able to achieve what we achieved. We as the Madd Ball Committee still can’t believe that together as a community, we raised $200,000! Thank you for saying yes to being a sponsor, yes to donating a prize, yes to making a pledge, yes to being there, yes to supporting us, for believing in us and for entrusting us. We are forever grateful.”

George Samios continued to say, “if you have the ability, then you have the responsibility, if you can, then you should, and that’s why we were committed to helping and doing the Charity Ball again in 2023.

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We know we are so blessed with good health and that’s why we want to continue on this path. I was first inspired to do a charity ball when I attended The Coffee Club’s 2019 Charity Ball. It was amazing, the lights, the entertainment, the people, the venue, the food, the atmosphere and honestly just seeing 1000 people (an entire community) in a room pledging and making a difference, it inspired something inside me.

I realised if I was ever in a position to do something like that, to help someone, to inspire other businesses, to come together as one, that is what I would do.

And in 2022, we were able to do our first charity ball where we raised $121,612 and to see that number get to $200,000 in only it’s second year, that was truly incredible!”

Madd Marketing Manager Velecia Antonarakis (Director of The Coffee Club John Lazarou’s daughter) was especially proud to see something close to her heart continue on. “As part of The Coffee Club family seeing the Charity ball passed on to such capable and caring hands warms my heart. I’m so proud to see something my Coffee Club family started 25+ years ago continue on to our own generation. It truly feels full circle to be part of Madd which is an amazing business and to know we work every day to make a difference is something I’ll forever be grateful for.”

Director of The Coffee Club John Lazarou was astonished at the generosity in the room: “To see over 500 people raise $200,000 is an incredible feat.

We ran The Coffee Club Charity ball for 25+ years and over the years we raised millions of dollars to go towards the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and it makes me so proud to hand the baton over to George Samios and the Madd Ball Committee who I know will continue our legacy and will only make the ball a bigger and better event every single year.

We will proudly support the Madd Ball as it is and will forever be something close to our heart.”

Madd Operations Manager and Executive Assistant to George, Tia Niarhos, explained that, “this year surpassed all our expectations. We had a bigger team but approximately the same amount of guests but so many more sponsors and donations.

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ADVERTORIAL “It was honestly the most amazing result, we couldn’t be more proud. To know that all the work we as a committee had put into it was worth every hour, every late night, every weekend task, is an amazing accomplishment. I am so proud of the team and what we’ve achieved. And I know this has just inspired us to go bigger, better and harder for the next ball which is just what we will do!”

To all our silver sponsors, we never imagined we’d have this much support. Together you helped us reach an amazing amount of sponsorship funds and we are so proud that we had you on board.

Thank you to you all, JJ’s Waste & Recycling, Hello world Travel, IT Integrations, GANT Constructions, Flagstone Property Group, Taste My Bean, Campaigns you love, Skyline Drive Pty Ltd, Kaisha Investments, Unica Stone & Tile Boutique, Cozee, EPM Pest Control, Carina North Quality Meats, Chez Nous Catering, Resicert, Shield Electrical & Air, Amafa, Sabo, Fish Boy, Inspire Wellness, DZ Architects, Nobel Realtors, PMC Property Buyers, Airport Retail Group, Brisbane Prestige Property Developments, Kilmartin Knyvett Lawyers, First Asset Management, LJ Hooker Commercial Brisbane, GOC. To all those donations that were given, without the generosity of these people and businesses we wouldn’t have been able to raise the $50,000+ in silent auctions and live auctions! What an

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incredible achievement. Thank you to the kind individuals who donated prizes and thank you to the businesses that gave so much including: Perides Art Projects, Rabbit hole, Superstars, Tsg Golden Casket Rochedale, F45 Carina, Sabo, Glam Box, Antonarakis Brothers, The French Beauty Academy, The Calile Hotel, Yolk, Insurance Solved, SeaFuel, Anastasia Manias, Morning After, Hellenika, Black Jacket Suiting, Nisi, Muscle Nation, The Coffee Club, Ping Pong, Lady Buttercream, Fish Boy, Cheeky Poke, Tsok & Co and so many more. Your donations were amazing and we are so proud to have you all on this journey with us.

Madd as a business, was proudly able to also donate a car to go towards the raffle. Offering this as a donation from Madd is our way of giving back on behalf of all our madd clients. By purchasing the car from Madd and offering this as an upfront donation and prize, meant that every dollar raised from raffle tickets would go straight to the charity thus raising $39,400 directly for the charity from the car alone!

The Madd team are so proud of what the Charity Ball was able to achieve. We are so excited to continue this philanthropic journey of ours, and we know with the support of our community, clients, friends, family and fellow businesses, we are only going to grow this amazing charity!

OUTSOURCE FINANCIAL EXPAND TITANS NRLW INVESTMENT WITH NEW MAJOR PARTNERSHIP outsource Financial unveils its major partnership with the NRLW Gold Coast Titans for 2024 and beyond.

Having been a key supporter of the club’s women’s program since 2022, the award-winning aggregator for brokers and referrers has increased its support in the new year after being part of the team’s 2023 success, culminating in an inaugural grand final appearance. outsource Financial CEO Tanya Sale is excited to be expanding the aggregator’s support to feature on the front of the Titans jersey in the new season.

“I’m a passionate advocate for women in sport and have known Karyn Murphy for many years; she’s a true legend of women’s rugby league, so when she told me she was joining the Titans as NRLW coach and director of female rugby league, it was a no brainer for outsource Financial to come on board,” says Tanya.

“Joining in 2022, we really wanted to be part of the journey that Karyn was going to take this team on, and here we are today, two years later, ‘upping the ante’.

“At outsource Financial, we believe the development of athletes being empowered both on and off the field is paramount. As such, we want to be involved in the development pathways of young women coming through.

“The rising popularity of women’s sports within Australia’s cultural sporting identity is well and truly

on the rise and outsource Financial is immensely proud to contribute to this trajectory by becoming the official major partner of the Gold Coast Titans NRLW Team in 2024 and beyond.”

Having accompanied Tanya and witnessed her passion at several NRLW games in the past two seasons, Titans CEO Steve Mitchell is proud to have outsource Financial expand their partnership with the Gold Coast.

“I’m not sure you could find a bigger supporter of our Titans NRLW side than Tanya and her team, and I’m really excited to see outsource Financial grow their commitment to become the major partner of our female program,” says Steve.

“Their values and beliefs closely align with ours – especially with their vision to help develop young female athletes on and off the field – and their immense passion for success is as strong as ours, which is why I feel this alignment is a great fit for both organisations.

“We’ve entered a really exciting phase of our women’s program with a playing group and coaching staff who are motivated to avenge last year’s maiden grand final heartbreak, and with outsource Financial’s expanded commitment, I am full of confidence that Karyn and her team will go one better in 2024 and deliver the Gold Coast’s first NRLW premiership.”

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“

Geographically speaking, it’s the obvious next market for Australian businesses or operators to venture into, and vice versa.

Launches in New Zealand On February 5, FAMNZ opened its doors in New Zealand, offering financial advisers across the ditch the same advocacy, representation and professional support that FBAA offers Australian brokers.

The Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAMNZ) was announced in November, and cut the ribbon on its operations February 5.

Since announcing FBAA would expand its operations across the ditch, Managing Director Peter White AM says he has received positive feedback from both New Zealand advisers and Australian brokers.

“We were initially asked to expand into New Zealand by a large group preparing for similar expansion.

We did due diligence over about eight months, and looked into the NZ market to get a better understanding of how their brokers – called mortgage advisers in NZ – are represented,” explains Peter.

“We found the current representation is for broader financial services professionals, so we identified opportunity for NZ advisers to benefit from our expertise as an advocacy group specialising in mortgages. We believe our skillset can deliver great value for NZ advisers and their loan customers.

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“Essentially, FAMNZ will do for New Zealand financial advisers what FBAA does for Australian brokers.

FAMNZ exists to represent the interests of financial advisers. It’s a professional association run by advisers, for advisers.”

New Zealand is a forward-thinking nation with a strong financial system. While New Zealand and Australia each have their own nuances and cultural identities, overall our two countries are much aligned.

“Geographically speaking, it’s the obvious next market for Australian businesses or operators to venture into, and vice versa,” says Peter. “For those on Australia’s east coast, travelling to NZ is closer than travelling to Perth. For Australian brokers looking to expand their footprint into NZ, we are a professional support to help you navigate the differences, and the same goes for NZ businesses looking to move into Australia.”

For more information about FAMNZ, visit famnz.co.nz

Leigh Hodgetts - Country Manager FAMNZ has announced the appointment of its first NZ country manager, Leigh Hodgetts.

Leigh is highly regarded across the finance and mortgage sector, having previously held senior roles at Astute Financial Management NZ, ANZ, BNZ, Kiwi Adviser Network, and more recently with Financial Advice New Zealand. She also spent time with the FMA as manager, retail operations.

Peter White said the appointment of Leigh was “testimony to the positive way FAMNZ is being viewed across the nation and also highlights the standard we want to set within the sector.”

In her new role, Leigh will immediately be providing members with access to high quality professional development and educational initiatives.

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Initiative

New consumer education website to launch This month, beforeuloan.com will launch to Australian loan customers. This new consumer website is designed to help loan customers access the information they want to know before they borrow. There are also opportunities for FBAA members to become content contributors to the site.

Beforeuloan.com is a consumer website designed to educate and empower borrowers with the information they want, when they are starting out on their borrowing journey. Today, the internet has made researching information all the easier, with a computer in the hands of every new borrower wanting to know what the jargon means and how they can get the best loan.

FBAA Managing Director Peter White AM says this website has been a few years in the making. “Through our own research, we came to understand borrowers want that one-stop hub to clearly explain loans in simple language, and isn’t selling them one product, overwhelming them with credit policies or appear to have bias to any one lender.

“We researched what customers are searching, what they want to know, and we set out to create genuine value in what consumers are looking at online.”

“As well as the website’s base content, we will also be powering the content with contributor articles, submitted by brokers just like you. This is an opportunity to use the platform to position yourself as a a reliable source of advice to prospective borrowers.”

Any interested contributors can submit articles direct via the website. Content submissions are reviewed by the site’s editor, and then selected for publishing based on the quality of content and need for content on that topic.

The website also includes a searchable directory to find a broker based on location or area of expertise.

This has the potential to generate leads for FBAA members listed in the directory.

Check out the website at beforeuloan.com

Beforeuloan.com offers opportunities not only for loan consumers seeking answers and understanding, but also for FBAA members brokers.

“We will be powering the website’s content with contributor articles, submitted by brokers just like you.”

Help us educate Aussie loan customers about loans, before they borrow. beforeuloan.com is the starting point for new borrowers researching loans online. As a finance or mortgage broker, we invite you to offer your expert insights into the loan process, types, challenges, opportunities and more.

We want your written submissions for: • Explainer articles • Educational articles • Case studies • Industry commentary

• News • Opinion pieces • Other – have an idea?

We’d love to hear it!

For more information and to download our ‘Content Contributor Guidelines’:

VISIT OUR SITE HERE

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“If we didn’t have the insurance in place, it would have been a lot tougher.

There would have been a lot less money and a lot more stress.

It absolutely saved us”.

Sea, 44 - Tasmania Claim amount: $47,741 Claim reason: Bowel Cancer

WATCH SEA’S STORY HERE

HELP PROTECT YOUR CLIENTS’ HOMES, LIFESTYLES AND FUTURES. BECOME AN ALI GROUP AUTHORISED BROKER. *The current My Protection Plan has been available since 5 April 2021. The above is an example of a customer claim paid on a similar product distributed by Australian Life Insurance Distribution Pty Ltd ABN 31 103 157 811 AFSL 226403. Any advice provided is general in nature and does not take into consideration personal objectives, financial situation and needs. Consumers should consider these and the information in the Product Disclosure Statement (available along with the Target Market Determination, from www.aligroup.com.au) or speak to a financial advisor before making a decision about the suitability of the product. (c) ALI Group January 2023.

MENTORING PROGRAM

Helping mentors inspire & challenge the next

Generation of brokers As a Mentor:

The FBAA Mentoring Program will provide you with the necessary tools to ensure the mentee achieves the skills and knowledge to be a competent and responsible finance broker.

As a Mentee:

The FBAA Mentoring Program will enhance your skills and provide specific knowledge and tools to help you excel as a finance and mortgage broker.

Learn More ONLINE PLATFORM

Now Available

Challenge accepted!

Course conquerors (left to right): Judith Hocking, Senior Membership Officer; Angela O’Neil, Administrative Support Officer; Shara Iriks, Executive Assistant; Nick Lane, Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary; and Kirrily Jones, Operations Manager.

In a display of unwavering camaraderie and determination, the FBAA HQ team recently undertook the Bridge to Brisbane challenge.

The Bridge to Brisbane is a fundraising challenge, in which participants dedicate their race to a charity close to their heart. In October, five FBAA team members conquered the 10-kilometre course together while they each raised funds for their personally-selected charity,.

hot morning conditions but managed to complete the course in an impressive two hours.

The course started at the southern end of Brisbane’s iconic Gateway Bridge at Murarrie, continued along the bridge and descended to the Brisbane Showgrounds.

In true Queensland style, the FBAA team confronted

“The last 3km were during the hottest part of the day,” recalls Shara. “We helped pull each other along with the lure of positive reinforcement – a late breakfast together after we crossed the finish line.”

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Executive Assistant Shara Iriks said the team did well the first 7km, but the last leg of the course hurt more.

Join more than

11,000 finance professionals

And make the switch to the FBAA with the Member Transfer Initiative • Significantly cheaper per year than other associations* • Interest free payment option* • 10% discount off renewal when you refer a new member* • Exclusive access to the FBAA Member Benefits program with over 4,500 products and services • Joining is free, quick and easy.

Join Now *Terms and apply *Terms andConditions Conditions apply

Digital Trends to Watch in

2024

2024 will usher in new technologies and digital trends that will shape the way we communicate, work, and live. Let’s take a look at some of the most significant digital trends small businesses should watch this year.

By Dinesh De Silva: CEO & Founder - netStripes

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2024 brings new technologies and trends shaping how we communicate, work, and live.

Here are some of the most significant digital trends to watch this year.

AI Trends 1. Chat GPT Updates: The platform transforms AI interactions with a voice feature. It offers efficient customer support for businesses, saving time and redirecting resources. Additionally, Plus and Enterprise subscribers can now access image input in chats.

2. Image Creation: OpenAI’s DALL·E can design logos, banners, and promotional content, offering cost and time savings. DALL·E 3 is available for free via Microsoft’s Bing Image Creator and for ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscribers. Businesses should combine AI capabilities with human creativity for the best results.

Google Bard 1. Real-time Data Access: Bard offers real-time data integration from Google apps. If opted-in, the “Bard Extensions” provides Bard access to personal Google data like emails and calendar entries. Users can request Bard to scan their Gmail for specific information, offering concise summaries of crucial discussions.

2. Double Check Feature: The new “double-check” button allows users to validate Bard’s accuracy.

The tool highlights passages in response aligning or conflicting with Google Search results — this addresses AI “hallucinations” — confident but unsupported claims.

Cyber security Cybersecurity is crucial for small businesses since hackers frequently target them due to limited cybersecurity awareness or funds. Businesses must update software, enforce robust password rules, train employees on phishing threats, back up and encrypt data, and collaborate with reliable IT support.

Voice Search Voice-enabled assistants are expected to grow by 8 billion, highlighting voice search’s significance. Areas to watch include: 1. Localised Voice Search: Beneficial for local businesses, optimising for voice search boosts visibility and attracts customers.

2. Routine Voice Commands: With tools like Amazon, Alexa and OK Google, voice commands simplify daily updates on schedules, news, and weather. Google Docs even offers voice typing. The rise in dictation and voice commands will transform content creation and consumption. Implementing voice search or voice-activated tools can be cheaper than creating extensive apps or software.

Social Media Trends 1. W hatsApp Developments: • Business Channels: WhatsApp expands beyond messaging to include business channels for enhanced customer engagement.

• Dual Account Access: Users can now access a personal and business WhatsApp account on one device, with separate privacy and notification settings. This convenience ensures a clear distinction between personal and work communications.

2. Social Audio: Facebook Rooms and Twitter Spaces lead the social audio movement, allowing voicebased group chats. These provide businesses with an opportunity for real-time engagement with their audience.

3.Nano Influencers: 2024 will spotlight nano influencers, who, despite smaller followings, offer authentic connections due to high engagement rates.

4. Ephemeral Content: Short-lived content like Stories addresses the contemporary user’s short attention span and preference for up-to-the-minute updates.

5. LinkedIn’s Evolution: Beyond its job-centric roots, LinkedIn is becoming a platform for sharing personal experiences, such as multitasking and mental health.

Success will hinge on balancing genuine, personal content with a professional demeanour.

User-Generated Content (UGC) UGC will be vital for businesses seeking online authenticity. Build trust by prompting customers to share reviews and experiences. Genuine content is perceived as more trustworthy, reducing the need for expensive advertising.

Data Privacy Privacy becomes even more critical as Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 aligns more with Europe’s stringent GDPR rules. Small businesses prioritising data privacy can differentiate themselves, cultivating customer trust, loyalty, and repeat business.

Contact netStripes digital specialists to help get your business on the right track in 2024.

Author Bio: Dinesh De Silva is the CEO & Founder of netStripes, a digital and marketing solutions business in Sydney. He is a leading authority on small and medium business digital innovation and is regularly called upon to share his insights as a thought leader.

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Seize the moment.

Save the day.

For many businesses, in-depth documentation, long turnaround times and mounting fees mean loans through the big banks are simply not an option.

Strive Financial provides a range of loan solutions to Australian businesses, so whether your client is investing in new equipment or sealing the deal with short term funding – whatever their purpose, we’re there when it matters.

No financials | Minimal fees | Fast settlement, quick commission | No credit checks

1300 478 748 loans@strive.financial www.strive.financial 44

Broker Magazine

The FBAA Consumer Access to Mortgages 2023 report The FBAA Consumer Access to Mortgages 2023 report provides us with detailed information that we can use to ensure that the broker channel is not only leading the way for consumer lending, but that our customers value and trust us.

Use this report to supercharge your marketing, enhance your service, and make your borrowers trust you even more.

DOWNLOAD REPORT Broker Magazine

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Broker in business Becky Baker

Starting her business Speck Finance in March 2020, Becky Baker has built a stellar reputation and solid following. In 2023, Becky was named FBAA Broker of the Year. We spoke to Becky about starting out, growing her business and what’s in store for 2024.

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“ The inception of Speck Finance was driven by my realisation that many brokers overlook or are hesitant to handle selfemployed individuals.”

Like many brokers, Becky Baker found broking later in her career. Before launching her business Speck Finance, Becky and her husband Corey owned a Telstra store where Becky honed her finance and administrative skills, handling payroll, invoicing and reconciliations. When the Bakers sold their business, Becky took the opportunity to return to school and pursue a finance degree.

“I was driven by my passion for numbers but with no desire to become an accountant,” admits Becky.

“I was more interested in the investment side. Upon completing my degree, I stumbled across brokering and felt it aligned with my skills. Intrigued, I delved into the field, obtaining my diploma and officially commencing my broking career in March 2020.”

Just as Becky launched her business, COVID landed on our shores. “I had invested in courses, set up with my aggregator, and covered expenses like insurance and monthly subscriptions, and then faced looming uncertainties. Despite that initial disheartenment, this challenging period turned out to be a blessing,” recalls Becky. “It provided me with the time to complete accreditations with lenders on my panel, thoroughly delve into policies, and engage with learning resources on my aggregator’s website. In essence, the lockdown became an unexpected opportunity for learning and growth that I might not have had otherwise.”

For Becky, the appeal of mortgage broking was broad.

She was attracted to the entrepreneurial nature of the industry, as well as the customer-centric focus of brokers with the opportunity to establish genuine connections and guide clients through one of the most important financial decisions in their life – purchasing property.

“The inception of Speck Finance was driven by my realisation that many brokers overlook or are hesitant to handle self-employed individuals. Having been selfemployed myself for the past 15 years, I intimately understand the challenges and frustrations in securing a loan. I established Speck Finance to help navigate clients through these complexities,” says Becky.

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“The privilege of helping transform clients’ aspirations into reality is extremely rewarding. I’m fuelled by that lightbulb moment when I secure the perfect financing solution for my client.”

Becky has built her business through referrals, which she says is due to her approaching each client with respect, attentive listening, free from judgement and delivering results.

“My goal is to discover solutions for each client, which is why I’ve obtained accreditation with every lender on the panel. I believe each lender has a unique offering, having identified specific market gaps. It’s my responsibility to comprehend their strengths and match them with clients when the right opportunity arises.”

When it comes to daily routine, Becky says she isn’t rigid. “I do all my thinking in the morning – all my number crunching and finding a lender to suit, while afternoons are for follow ups and pipeline review. But I don’t have a set routine, I like to mix my days up as no two days are ever the same.”

Becky’s business had initially handled a number of personal and asset finance loans but grow to manage mostly residential mortgages. “I’ve recently diversified, and established a separate arm of my business, managed by Corey, dedicated to personal and asset finance.

“This strategic move allows me to channel my attention towards addressing the residential, commercial, and business lending needs of my clients while never passing up a deal, I want all my clients’ business, not just their home loans.”

In November last year, Becky was named FBAA’s 2023 Broker of the Year and 2023 Queensland Broker of the Year.

“It is an incredible honour to be named FBAA’s 2023 Broker of the Year. Receiving this award is extremely humbling and motivating. It inspires me to raise the bar even higher and continue being an innovative leader in the industry.”

Her advice to up and coming brokers wanting to grow their business this year: “Embrace continuous learning; welcome every opportunity, even those beyond your comfort zone,” says Becky. “Personal growth fuels business expansion. Treat your clients with the respect you’d desire, tackle challenging cases – they become your staunch advocates, organically promoting your business.”

“ Embrace continuous learning; welcome every opportunity, even those beyond your comfort zone.”

- Becky Baker

FBAA BROKER OF THE YEAR: Becky Baker accepted her award at the 2023 FBAA Awards of Supremacy, dressed in costume as Barbie.

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What's on

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FEB 22 NETSTRIPES DIGITAL TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2024 Prepare for a transformative year in the digital landscape as we delve into the most impactful trends shaping the future.

Technology constantly evolves, and business owners must stay informed about the latest digital trends.

This webinar will share the significant digital trends we expect in 2024 and how you can prepare for them.

REGISTER NOW

Time: 11:30AM – 12:30PM AEDT Click the register now button to register.

feb 27 FBAA TASMANIA LAUNCESTON EVENT This event is an information session with Warren Hogan, Chief Economic Advisor at Judo Bank and the Managing Director and Founder of EQ Economics.

Tasmania

LAUNCESTON EVENT

This is our first event for Launceston 2024 - a day before the cup!

Time: 6.00PM – 8.00PM AEDT Location: The Sebel, 12-14 St John St, Launceston Click the register now button to register.

REGISTER NOW

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mar 08 FBAA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY International Women’s Day is a global day on Friday March 8 celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

Join us for an empowering event dedicated to the incredible achievements of women in the finance industry. We’re coming together to highlight the remarkable contributions, resilience, and success stories of women like you.

Time: 10.00AM – 2.00PM AEST Location: La Belle Vie, MacGregor Terrace, Bardon

REGISTER NOW

Click the register now button to register.

MAR 20 Q&A WITH WHITEY - NOMIKI GEORGIADIS This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE!

Q&A With Whitey SAVE THE DATE

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MAR 21 BROKER ELEVATE SERIES BRISBANE Welcome to Broker Elevate Brisbane 2024 a well received event tailored to those in the brokering field.

Elevate your brokering business by gaining valuable insights into business acumen, presented by some of the most inspiring speakers in brokering.

This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE

MAR 21 LIVE: NETSTRIPES FROM GOAL SETTING TO RESULTS: YOUR DIGITAL CHECKLIST All successful businesses are built around a long-term strategy, but developing a customised strategy to meet your needs is something even experienced business owners need help with.

So, what do you do when you’re not seeing the desired results from your website?

Click the register now button to register.

REGISTER NOW

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APR 04 PRE-RECORDED: NETSTRIPES FROM GOAL SETTING TO RESULTS: YOUR DIGITAL CHECKLIST All successful businesses are built around a long-term strategy, but developing a customised strategy to meet your needs is something even experienced business owners need help with.

So, what do you do when you’re not seeing the desired results from your website?

REGISTER NOW

Click the register now button to register.

APR 09 FBAA & PLATFORM FINANCE WEBINAR This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE!

SAVE THE DATE

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APR 10 BROKER ELEVATE SERIES ADELAIDE Welcome to Broker Elevate Adelaide 2024, a well received event tailored to those in the brokering field.

Elevate your brokering business by gaining valuable insights into business acumen, presented by some of the most inspiring speakers in brokering.

This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE

APR 17 Q&A WITH WHITEY - BETH CAMINO This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE!

Q&A With Whitey SAVE THE DATE

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APR 18 BROKER ELEVATE SERIES PERTH Welcome to Broker Elevate Perth 2024, a well received event tailored to those in the brokering field.

Elevate your brokering business by gaining valuable insights into business acumen, presented by some of the most inspiring speakers in brokering.

This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

APR 19 FBAA GOLF DAY HOBART This event including details will be available to register for on our website soon!

SAVE THE DATE

GOLF DAY

HOBART

SAVE THE DATE!

SAVE THE DATE

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2024

STATE PRESIDENTS Graham Doessel

Justin Delanty

Queensland - State President

Tasmania - State President

Mortgage Now Mobile: 0414 628 111 Email: qld@fbaa.com.au

Lending4U Mobile: 0458 031 569 Email: justin@lending4u.com.au

Paul Biddle New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory - State President Mortgage Rate Finder Mobile: 0450 573 336 Email: nsw@fbaa.com.au

Marios Rokka Victoria - State President Lending Centre Australia Mobile: 0400 880 880 Email: marios.rokka@ loanmarket.com.au

Luke Bray Western Australia - State President Purely Finance Mobile: 0430 036 857 Email: lbray@ purelyfinance.com.au

Kym Russell South Australia & Northern Territory - State President Nieuvision Financial Planning Mobile: 0402 201 510 Email: sa@fbaa.com.au

Would you like more information on an FBAA event or PD Day thats happening in your local area?

Maybe you have some feedback or an issue you would like to discuss?

Finance Brokers Association of Australia Level 1, 1 Miles Platting Road, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Post: PO Box 4792, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Phone: (07) 3847 8119 / Email: info@fbaa.com.au / Web: www.fbaa.com.au

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Tony Carter

Peter White AM

Chair | Director

Managing Director | FBAA Life Member

Cert IV Finance, Graduate Management Qualification (GMQ) – UWA

MAICD

Tony Carter has been involved with the motor and finance industry for more than 40 years.

The last 20 years he has been Dealer Principal and Director of three motor dealerships. He has been engaged with finance since his early career days at AGC and was a licensed finance broker in WA from 2004 to 2013, ending as an ACL holder when he resigned from the motor dealership position. Today, Tony holds a credit representative role under his son’s company and runs his own vehicle and finance brokerage in WA. Over the past 20 years Tony has been on three not-for-profit boards; BIZLINK (Chairman), Asthma Foundation WA (Chairman), and Asthma Australia (Director).

Special Responsibilities Chair of the FBAA Board of Directors | Member of Finance, Audit Investment and Remuneration Committee | Member of Governance and Risk Committee | Chair of Nomination and Membership Committee | Member of Education Development Committee | Leader of State President Liaison Advisory Group | Member of Concierge Advisory Forum Principal Broker Brokerage WA Phone: 0418 911 220 Email: tcarter@fbaa.com.au

Peter White AM has vast experience in banking and finance, spanning more than four decades.

He is highly engaged with government and industry regulators, ensuring and protecting the future of our industry and dealing with regulatory matters of the day.

Peter’s activities with FBAA include representation on the Advisory Board of the Small Business Association of Australia, as Chairman of the Global Board of Governors for the International Mortgage Brokers Federation (IMBF), and the industry’s passionate advocate for mental health awareness. Peter was awarded as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the June 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for his significant service to the finance sector and to the community.

Special Responsibilities Government, media and strategy | Leader of Concierge Advisory Forum | Leader of Combined Industry Forum | Leader of International Mortgage Brokers Federation | Leader of Education Platform Steering Committee | Member of Finance, Audit, Investment and Remuneration Committee | Member of Governance and Risk Committee | Member of Nomination and Membership Committee | Member of Education Development Committee | Member of State Presidents Liaison Advisory Group | Member of Equity Release Advisory Forum Phone: (07) 3847 8119 Email: pwhite@fbaa.com.au

Clive Kirkpatrick

STEPHEN RASMUSSEN

Director

Treasurer | Director | FBAA Life Member

BEc, MBA, GAICD, Grad Dip FP, Grad Dip App Finance & Investment

B.Com (Prof Acct), Cert IV (FMB),CPFB, MAICD, FBAA Life Member

Clive Kirkpatrick is a successful executive with more than 30 years’ experience in banking and financial services both in Australia and offshore.

He is experienced in strategy formulation and execution, business management, sales management and people leadership. Clive’s generalist background and sound understanding of marketing, product development, legal and compliance is supported by an MBA (Master of Business Administration). Clive has developed governance and directorship skills through GAICD and memberships and has a specialist knowledge and demonstrable capability in distribution.

Stephen Rasmussen has been involved in the finance and banking industry for more than 40 years. He started in a branch environment, acquiring broad lending experience across retail and SME sectors, before starting his own broking business in 1995. Stephen joined FBAA as a member in 2000, was appointed Queensland and Northern Territory State President in 2009 and was elected to the Board as a Director in 2016.

Special Responsibilities Member of Finance, Audit, Investment, Remuneration Committee | Member of Governance and Risk Committee | Member of Dispute Resolution Service | Member of Concierge Advisory Group Director Kircon PTY LTD Mobile: 0439 564 885 Email: ckirkpatrick@fbaa.com.au

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Special Responsibilities Finance, Audit, Investment and Renumeration Committee | Leader of Equity Release Industry Advisory Committee | Member of Governance and Risk Committee | Member of Combined Industry Forum Principal Tailored Lending Concepts Mobile: 0412 295 875 Phone: (07) 4637 0836 Email: srasmussen@fbaa.com.au

Felicity Heffernan

Barry Honey

Director

Director

DipFMB, DipBA

Felicity Heffernan has been a business owner for 22 years, and run her own mortgage brokerage since 2007. Based in Newcastle, NSW, she is also the author of two books and speaks publicly on assisting people who want financial freedom. Felicity has served on the FBAA NSW State Council and as past NSW State President.

She holds a strong advocacy position for the improvement of financial competencies to be lifted in Australia.

Special Responsibilities Member of Dispute Resolution Service | Member of Nomination and Membership Committee | Member of State Presidents Liaison Advisory Group CEO Property Loan Advisor Mobile: 0417 024 300 Email: fhefferman@fbaa.com.au

An experienced board director, Barry is a Chartered Accountant whose roles have included chairing HBF Health, Bethanie Group and Bethanie Housing as well as Churches of Christ in WA. He was a board member with Plan B Group Holdings Limited, Plan B Trustees Ltd, HBF Health, HBF Insurance, Westcare, together with various committees of the Uniting Church in Australia and major not-for-profit sports associations. Formerly the Partner in Charge of the Corporate Recovery Division of KPMG in Perth, Barry is presently a partner at Chartered Accountants, Honey & Honey. Barry brings a high level of governance and financial analytical skills as well as expertise in the oversight of undertakings in a ‘for-purpose’ environment.

Special Responsibilities Member of Governance & Risk Committee Honey & Honey, Chartered Accountants Phone: (08) 9382 3902 Email: bhoney@fbaa.com.au

Broker Magazine

63

Nick Wormald

JILL FLECK

Director

Director

Nick Wormald is a certified mortgage finance professional and business finance specialist, working with Australia’s up and coming entrepreneurs to unlock growth with the right application of finance. Based in Sydney, Nick is a speaker, author and youth mentor.

Jill commenced her Company Director journey in 2007 and has over 27 years’ experience in the finance sector.

Accumulating over 22 years experience in business investment, business strategy and management, Nick currently leads a team of finance professionals in his own business. Nick has served on the FBAA NSW State Council and as past NSW State President.

Special Responsibilities Member of Dispute Resolution Service Grow Capital Mobile: 0488 810 555 Email: nwormald@fbaa.com.au

She is a visionary with a deep commitment to advancing the FBAA mission. She volunteered on the FBAA WA Council with her final year holding the role of State President.

Continuously fuelling her professional growth Jill is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jill reflects unwavering enthusiasm for innovation and ethical governance and is a dedicated advocate for social causes.

Email: jfleck@fbaa.com.au

BRETT SPENCER

David Traynor

Director

Director

I have served the FBAA as State President for Victoria & Tasmania the last 4 years to give back to the industry that has given me so much, to support a team that I respect and to help shape a better industry for all its participants. I am passionate about meeting people and hearing their stories, but most passionate about helping them achieve their goals.

David Traynor is a successful finance executive with nearly four decades of industry experience across international, national, regional and customer owned banks.

As a board member of the FBAA, I can expand on these traits and help lead the best association for Australian finance professionals.

I am a second-generation mortgage stalwart, having been actively involved in the Mortgage & Finance industry for over 30 years after starting my career working at the family-owned lender Interstar (now NAB Advantedge). I then went onto to run the Stargate Group where I pioneered outsourced mortgage processing services by creating the first BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) operation for Mortgage Brokers and was instrumental in introducing the first Mortgage Broker CRM Systems in the early 2000’s (SymmetryCRM), used by over 5000 mortgage brokers prior to its acquisition by then ASX listed Rubik Financial Limited (RFL).

I also serve on the Board of an advisory services firm, a responsible lending technology firm, a new to market fintech lender specialising in loans to Australia’s front-line responders and have been an investor and advisor to lenders, aggregators and regulators in Australia and abroad.

Email: bspencer@fbaa.com.au

His roles have included Executive Management roles in sales, leadership, credit management, asset management, consulting and contract roles.

David’s recent roles have been around developing business growth strategies while maintaining sound credit disciplines. In 2005, in recognition of David’s skills and experience he was awarded a Fellow of Finance by the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

David joined the Board of FBAA in 2023.

Email: dtraynor@fbaa.com.au

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” ~ Peter Drucker Management consultant & educator