AMI Blog

Robert Sinclair
Director of AMI, AIFA and the AFB

Let Brokers Unite

As the dust settles from the FSA mortgage conference, and the sound-bytes and rhetoric end up in office bins, the hard work star

June will see AMI commence its detailed dialogue with the FSA on what is being proposed. We are issuing a member survey to find out what the important issues are in members minds. I encourage all who have an interest in the future of our industry to contribute.

If our experience of the past is anything to judge by, this will be a long road with many twists, turns, frustrations and set-backs. We will not reach the end of the debate and get the final new rules of the game for well over a year.

So AMI will listen, will plan, will discuss, will agree our priorities. AMI will be at the heart of the debate with the FSA. Members need to engage, and tell us what is important to them. We will argue the broker case robustly. We will fight for a fair market. We will champion that we are the customers’ natural choice and work in the customer’s best interests.

Lenders will also have their say and we will work with them where we can but there will be issues where we differ. That is why we have an FSA who will ensure a solution that works in the best interests of customers and the wider market.

I am asking all our members to engage, and tell us what they think are our key issues. For example, we may have to fight to retain procuration fees and if that is our most important issue, I need to know that. Working groups will be established and we will agree policy positions though the Board. Members must frame this future and we are committed to making sure all voices are heard. Crucial to this is participation.

Chris Cummings and I are committed to protecting the interests of our members. What we need is full engagement through all classes of members to make sure we are very clear what those interests are. By being clear, united and speaking with a single voice on the issues that are critical, we will win the day.