Day 1 - Thursday, September 25, 2008

8:00 - 8:45  Registration open

8:45 - 9:00  Welcome and opening remarks

Yza Canja, general manager of finance, Ark Total Wealth

9:00 - 9:45   You, Inc. - How to double your business and work less hours
In 1989 John McGrath launched his real estate business from the lounge room of his home.  Since then, McGrath Estate Agents has grown to one of Australia's largest property groups. Listen to McGrath as he discusses motivational concepts that may assist you in your role as a mortgage broker.

• You and your business - Essential mechanics of any world class business
• You and your leadership - How to build a world class culture and keep it
• You and your sales performance - The foundations of sales success

John McGrath, managing director, McGrath Oxygen Home Loans

9:45 - 10:30 Credit crunch: The myths uncovered
Hear Weston delve below the rhetoric to uncover what is really happening with recent credit crunch developments, why it is happening and current and likely future impacts on Australia. Be better placed to plan your own business strategy, and be more informed to address the needs of your customers. 

• Exploring the US sub-prime crisis
• Global impacts to the availability and pricing of credit
• Current and future impacts to the Australian mortgage industry and home loan interest rates
• Forecast how long the current conditions may continue

Steve Weston, general manager residential and commercial lending, Challenger Mortgage Management 

10:30 -11:00  Refreshments and networking break 
   
11:00 - 11:45    Diversification in action: Spot the opportunity
Leading brokers are stepping outside of the residential box. Learn strategies and success stories on diversifying services and expanding into new sectors to meet the evolving needs of clients.

• New pathways for building sustainability & success
• Remove the need for clients to go to competitor financial institutions
• Create extra revenue streams
• Consolidation
• Commercial finance, insurance, financial planning and superannuation

Matthew Nolan, managing director, Provident Cashflow

11:45 - 12:30  A view from the top
Leading residential and commercial brokers tell how they sold millions of dollars worth of loans in a down market.

• Perspectives on 07-08: products, competition, regulations
• Lessons learned
• Forecasts for 2009

Danny Masri, general manager, Mortgage One Australia 
Katrina Rowlands, director and principal, Mortgage Success 

12:30 - 2:00  Luncheon reception (conference delegates only)
    
2:00 - 2:45   Understanding and selling to the Australian consumer 2008

• Update on the latest consumer trends
• Improve branding and marketing traction
• Sell the way your customers like to buy
• Generate new business

Paul Eldridge, ceo, Intellitrain Pty Ltd
Andrew Hetherington, director, Intellitrain Pty Ltd

2:45 - 3:15    Refreshments and networking break

3:15 - 4:00 Building competitive advantage: Raising your profile and brand to attract more clients
Company image: There are 14,000 brokers out there - how are you standing out?

• Point of difference
• Profile raising
• Brand alignment

Law of attraction: Attracting to create sustainability in your business

• Attract more clients     
• Attract referral partners 
• Attract brokers 

Chris Bockisch, managing director, Myshare

4:15 - 5:00 Creating wealth through property diversification 
Property is an essential cornerstone of a balanced investment portfolio, and research indicates residential property is a preferred asset class in Australia. Find out why diversified property should be part of your investment portfolio and wealth creation strategy.

Troy Latter, national sales manager, Defence Housing Australia

5:00 - 7:00  Networking drinks function 
Hosted By: Defence Housing Australia
 

Day 2 - Friday, September 26, 2008

8:00   Registration open

8:00 - 8:45 VIP closed door think tank meeting
Restructuring commissions to reflect increased funding costs 
(By invitation only)

8:45 - 9:00 Opening remarks from the Chair:
Driving High Perforamance in the Broker Business

Yza Canja, general manager of finance, Ark Total Wealth
 
9:00 - 9:45 Keeping ahead of the curve: How the latest economic forecasts effect the Australian broker business

• Can the expansion continue?
• How the US sub-prime crisis has impacted Australia
• The outlook for interest rates and inflation
• Uncovering opportunities in volatile markets
• How this translates for the broker business today

Craig James, chief equities economist, Commonwealth Securities  
 
9:45 - 10:30 The latest strategies and tools for brokers
PANEL DISCUSSION

• Issues and challenges facing brokers
• Selecting the right partners and products
• Solutions and strategies for avoiding pitfalls
• Effective dispute resolution strategies
• How COSL builds bridges with brokers

Moderator:
Raj Venga, CEO and ombudsman, Credit Ombudsman Service Limited
Panellists:
Gerald Foley, managing director, National Mortgage Brokers Pty Ltd
Gregory J. Fisk, director, City Mutual Finance Group
Maria Rigoni, director, Universal Wealth Management

10:30 - 11:00  Refreshments and networking break

11:00 - 11:.30 Navigating the regulation supermarket

• Understanding the details that are affect your business in one of the most regulated industries in the world
• Reviewing updates on national finance broking legislation
• Discussing proposed Privacy Act changes
• Ensuring compliance and avoiding problems: what you should be doing now

Jon Denovan, partner, Gadens Lawyers 

11:30 - 12:00  Evaluating the impact of up front fees

• What is the average cost per loan from the change of commissions?
• How much of this can be recouped from a fee-for-service format?
• How big of an impact on business volume would a broker fee have?
• What would be the best way to implement a fee to maintain volume?
• Educate consumers as to the value of brokers if fees become the norm?

Peter White, president, FBAA

12:00 - 12:30  Best practices: Building a sustainable broker business

• Mortgage broking in the future - threats and opportunities
• How best to position yourself to maximize your business's value
• Five essentials to build a sustainable business model

Mathew Ivers, director, Vision Home Loans

12:30 - 1:30  Luncheon reception (conference delegates only)

1:30 - 2:15   Securing your shareholder value

• Gaining rewards commensurate with effort and risk
• Salesperson advocacy
• Where do you aim to be in seven years and beyond?

Paul Ryan, managing director, Opportune Home Loans 

2:15 - 3:00 Reverse mortgages: What's next for lenders, brokers and customers

• A review of the past 12 months: providing choice for customers
• Product options for customer solutions
• How the product can help build a mortgage business
• What's next for the product and the market?

Martin Lynch, head of reverse mortgages, financial markets, ABN AMRO

3:00 Conference adjourns