M&FB Online: 12 August 2008
MFAA News
Participate in something beyond just an event
MFAA Tracker - What has the MFAA been up to recently?
MFAA Full Member Logo and Membership requirement
Participate in something beyond just an event
We'd like to thank you all for the valuable feedback we received stemming from the 2008 MFAA National Convention. We're listening to you and working through the feedback you've given across all this year's programs. We will be using this to once again develop a high quality, professional development agenda uniquely tailored to support you - our members.
Did you know?
94% of attendees surveyed at this year's Convention rated the quality of the speakers/presenters as either being good, excellent or outstanding
89% of attendees surveyed rated the quality of the speaker streams as either being good, excellent or outstanding
If you truly want to participate in something beyond ‘just another event’, something that will draw a 'line in the sand' for the mortgage and finance broking industry and deliver to you value beyond money, then mark your diaries for the 2009 MFAA National Convention on the Gold Coast from 3rd to 5th June 2009.
During August 2008 QANTAS passengers will be able to tune into Peter Switzer interviewing Phil Naylor, MFAA CEO on Talking Business, part of QANTAS’s in flight entertainment program. Phil is speaking on the current issues in the mortgage and finance areas effecting business and individuals and the work the MFAA is doing to help improve consumer perception of members.
Read the transcript of Phil’s interview here
On 2 July 2008 the MFAA held a Special General meeting in Sydney. The purpose was to change the Association’s Constitution to ensure that loan writers, broker businesses and mortgage management businesses dealing directly with the public are eligible to hold at least 70 per cent of all seats on the MFAA State Councils. The amendment was adopted and is now part of the MFAA Constitution. This will ensure that the Board better reflects the composition of the membership and that no single consolidated group can dominate any State Council.
MFAA Elections - your voice, your vote
“There are three kinds of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who ask, "What happened?"”
So, which one are you? If you are the kind who can make things happen, consider participating in the governance of your association. At the very least, make sure you know who is standing for election in your State and have your voice heard by voting for the person you believe will best represent your interests and the interests of the Association as a whole.
You will receive your instructions for all of this electronically, including eligibility criteria, so if your information is going to change prior to September of this year please email membership@mfaa.com.au with your new details.
Election Timeline:
Call for nominations 26 September 2008
Nominations close 13 October 2008
Ballots open 20 October 2008
Voting closes 14 November 2008
Results announced 17 November 2008
MFAA Tracker - What has the MFAA been up to recently?
So far this year MFAA has met with the:
- AUSTRAC - AML regulator,
- Staff at the Commonwealth Treasury,
- State and Territory Offices of Fair Trading or equivalent (most of) ,
- ASIC, and
- various other industry participants
And of course we’ve been having regular discussions with Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, the Hon Nick Sherry. MFAA is holding another of these discussions with the Senator on 12 August to discuss upcoming federal regulation for the mortgage and finance industry. Shortly after that, MFAA will be meeting with officials of the Treasury responsible for the recent Green Paper and the assessment of feedback to the federal government.
Serious about your Professional Development
MFAA CEO Phil Naylor, Executive Director, Governance and Administration, Calvert Duffy and Head of Professional Development, Micheal Eddy are in the process of visiting various PD Days around Australia to update members on MFAA activities and to respond to any questions. In the past few weeks visits have been made to Dubbo and Coffs Harbour and over the next few months similar visits are planned to Canberra, Darwin, Mildura and Launceston. If you would like MFAA to visit a particular place and/or assist in putting on a PD Day in your area please contact either your state MFAA office or Kerry McGregor at kerry@mfaa.com.au.
MFAA Full Member Logo and Membership requirement
MFAA has become aware of some in the industry using the MFAA Full Member logo when they are not current MFAA members. This is clearly misleading the public and MFAA takes immediate action against those who illegally or improperly use the MFAA logo.
We point out that it is not appropriate or permissible for a representative of an MFAA member to use one of the MFAA logos unless they are also an MFAA member. In fact members are reminded that it is a condition of membership of broking businesses and mortgage management businesses dealing with the public that all loan writers employed by, or contracted to, those businesses must be MFAA members (with at least AMC accreditation) or where that is not the case that the use of the MFAA logo is restricted. Failure to abide by this requirement means that such business are not entitled to use the MFAA logo or publicly hold themselves out as MFAA members.
How healthy is your business really?
This is what MFAA is about to help you discover. MFAA is partnering with Business Health to launch a diagnostic tool to help you pinpoint your firm's strengths and weaknesses, provide recommendations that show you how to you utilise the recommendations to your best advantage; capitalise on your existing client base; develop invaluable networks and alliances and increase your profitability.
Be one of three businesses to discover this tool pre launch! Sole operators also encouraged! Email your expression of interest to kerry@mfaa.com.au. We will take the first three businesses on a first come first served basis.
Business Health is an independent organisation specialising in advice and solutions to the financial services industry and is one of Australia’s leading practice management groups.
MFAA Member Benefits
Automotive Buying Service - VW Corporate Plus Program
Some great news for all prospective Volkswagen buyers! The MFAA is eligible for the Volkswagen Corporate Plus Program. This entitles members to a 10% discount off the List Price of most of the VW range of vehicles.
Paul Tyrrell from the Automotive Buying Service will make sure this process works smoothly by assisting members with the purchase of their new VW vehicle or any other vehicle you may wish to purchase.
Let us refer you to the Automotive Buying Team by completing this easy to complete
Auto Submit Form or by calling your MFAA Member Benefits Representative on 1300 663 902.
