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A new consumer-facing website that links borrowers with FBAA members and the establishment of a new arm in New Zealand have been announced by the broker association.
The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) has revealed its plans for the future at its national conference Think Forward at the Gold Coast on Friday (3 November), highlighting a range of new moves as the association prepares for continued growth.
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Managing director Peter White AM told broker members gathered at the RACV Royal Pines Resort this morning that the association will launch a consumer-facing website, BeforeULoan.com (currently in beta testing) in early 2024 that aims to provide resources and broker contact for “people who are just looking to find answers about their loans”.
The website will provide consumers with content on financial literacy (including contributions from FBAA members) and will connect users with brokers in their local area.
Speaking at the conference on Friday morning, he said: “It’s the most exciting initiative that we have been planning for so long. The construct of it is brilliant. The design is fantastic. We’ve researched this and we will deliver content that consumers want, not what we think they want.
“One of the beautiful things that this does is drive leads back to our members [via a Find Your Broker function], which links consumers up with brokers in their local area,” noting that brokers can be included on an opt-in basis.
According to the FBAA MD, brokers will be able to contribute content to the website to ensure borrowers have “trustworthy” resources and tools, which could further benefit broker members by improving their SEO, increasing traffic to their websites through backlinks, and increasing brand awareness.”
Mr White encouraged broker members to help contribute to the content being published and showcase the great things FBAA members and the industry are doing.
“It’s there for borrowers and it’s there for you; to drive leads to you to support you in your business, which is part of our purpose as an association,” Mr White said.
FBAA to open a branch in NZ
The FBAA has also revealed that it will be “going across the ditch to New Zealand”.
The Finance Brokers Association of Australia Limited will therefore become the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia Limited, with two trading names underneath it for each country.
The Finance Brokers Association of Australia will continue to be the brand in Australia while a new NZ branch will be established for Kiwi mortgage advisers. The name of the NZ brand has not yet been finalised, but will reportedly have its own “look, feel and balance”.
However, FBAA brokers will be able to adopt a trans-Tasman membership should they so wish, and vice versa.
The move has been in the works for the past eight months after the association saw the “opportunities for brokers” in New Zealand and for those in Australia who want to expand into other markets.
“There are Australian brokers already who have a footprint over there, and we’re here to support you and your businesses in those kinds of initiatives. So if this is on your radar, then we’re going to be there with you,” he said.
“We’re not turning our back on Australia, not even close.”
It is expected that the NZ association will be finalised in the coming months.
Mr White said: “It’s very exciting times and we’re very much looking forward to that and supporting you further, supporting our neighbours [in NZ] who are not that far away from us … we’ve always got to look to what is next and I’m always looking forward to what is next.”
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