FAMNZ

The Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAMNZ) recently described its meeting with the new minister of commerce and consumer affairs, Scott Simpson, as “very constructive.” The discussions centered around the Commerce Commission’s recommendations, which have sparked significant concern within the industry. FAMNZ’s Leigh Hodgetts highlighted the minister’s receptive attitude, noting his understanding of the potential chaos that requiring mortgage advisers to provide three actual offers per application could cause for consumers, advisers, and lenders. Read the full article 👇 #FAMNZ #MortgageAdvisers #FinanceNZ #AdvisersNZ

The country’s biggest adviser network NZFSG says banks are acutely aware of pain points for advisers. The Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAMNZ) has again slammed banks for slow approval times. FAMNZ country manager Leigh Hodgetts says she has heard reports that real estate agents are telling buyers to deal with banks direct. “This is unacceptable and anti-competitive and if the Commerce Commission is serious about competition, it needs to divert its focus away from advisers, who are doing all they can to ensure consumers are being looked after, to the banks who clearly see delays as a way to increase their profits.” She says many of the association’s members are solo advisers and “this directly impacts their income and ability to write new loans”. “Some are struggling emotionally as they see their income drop through no fault of their own.” Read the full article 👇 #FAMNZ #MortgageAdvisers #FinanceNZ #AdvisersNZ

The Finance and Mortgage Advisers Association of New Zealand (FAMNZ) has once again voiced significant concerns over the slow processing times for mortgage applications by banks, stating that these delays are now adversely affecting the mental health of mortgage advisers. Leigh Hodgetts (pictured), FAMNZ’s country manager, emphasised the severity of these delays, which often exceed 10 working days, noting that real estate agents are increasingly recommending that buyers bypass advisers and deal directly with banks. In November, FAMNZ called on mortgage advisers to unite against “anti-competitive bank practices” that harm both advisers and consumers, criticising the longer wait times for adviser-submitted home loan applications compared to direct applications, branding the situation “unacceptable.” Read the full article 👇 #FAMNZ #MortgageAdvisers #FinanceNZ #AdvisersNZ

Welcoming Epic People as Our Newest Business Partner! Running a business while managing a team is no small feat! You're juggling sales, operations, finance, marketing, and customer service—often leaving little room for HR. That’s where Epic People come in! They’re here to simplify workplace HR and training with: ✅ Epic Workplaces – Making people management stress-free and risk-free. ✅ Epic Leaders – A leadership program that equips team leaders with essential management skills. ✅ Epic You – Personal development workshops covering time management, stress management, and resilience. We’re thrilled to welcome Epic People to the FAMNZ community! 📍 Find us at www.epicpeople.co.nz 📧 Email us at stephanie@epicpeople.co.nz #FAMNZ #EpicPeople #FinanceAdvisers #NZFinance

Join Us for the Final Adviser Elevate Event of the Series in Tauranga! Following the success of our 2024 Auckland and Christchurch events, we’re bringing the last Adviser Elevate in the series to Tauranga! This is your chance to connect with industry peers, gain valuable insights, and explore new ideas to grow your business. 🗓️DATE: Tuesday 8th April 2025 🕓TIME: 10.00am – 2.00pm 🌏WHERE: Trinity Wharf, Tauranga 🥪CATERING: Morning tea and lunch provided Founder of Polish, Melissa Frerk helps professionals refine their brand, master storytelling, and ultimately stand out. With 20+ years in leadership and business growth, she delivers high-energy sessions on communication, resilience, and strategy. A Business Growth Advisor with 15 years of experience, Julia Roberts turned her own salon chain into a thriving business before shifting to helping others scale and succeed. Now running a marketing agency in NZ, she trains business owners in cutting-edge strategies and AI-driven growth. We will also have a non-bank lender panel discussion and a business finance panel discussion. Who Should Attend Finance and mortgage advisers looking to network, learn and grow their business with tools we share on the day.
 Why You Should Attend - Non-members can find out more about FAMNZ - Members can network with other FAMNZ members in the region - Discover how FAMNZ are supporting advisers with advocacy - Learn new skills by hearing from our panel guest speakers - Grow your business! To REGISTER visit https://ow.ly/p4C050Vevkt #FAMNZ #AdviserElevate2025 #AdviserElevateTauranga2025 #TaurangaAdvisers #FAMNZevents

Last week, FAMNZ’s Leigh Hodgetts had the opportunity to welcome a special visitor to our office—the newly appointed Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Scott Simpson. We discussed the vital work FAMNZ is doing in response to recommendations made by the Commerce Commission in the recent Report into Personal Banking Services. Our conversation focused on: 🌱How we can support positive consumer outcomes in the financial sector. 🌱Collaborating with the Commerce Commission to implement practical solutions. 🌱 FAMNZ’s role, our connection to FBAA, and our vision for the industry. Minister Simpson also shared insights from his first weeks in office and his commitment to continuing the work of his predecessor. It was a productive and engaging meeting—laying the foundation for a strong working relationship moving forward. #FAMNZ #MinisterforCommerceandConsumerAffairs #CommerceCommission #FinanceAdvisers #NZFinance

We’re getting closer to the New Zealand Adviser Awards on Thursday, April 10, and the excitement is building! FAMNZ is proud to be presenting the Aggregator of the Year award, recognising excellence in leadership, innovation, and support within the industry. A huge congratulations to this year’s outstanding finalists: 🏆 Finsure NZ 🏆 Kiwi Adviser Network 🏆 Link Financial Group  🏆 NZ Financial Services Group (NZFSG) Best of luck to all nominees—see you on the big night! 

FAMNZ is a proud to sponsor the IMBF World Summit 2025, bringing together leading advisers and experts to delve into the critical issues shaping the industry. 🗓️When: 20th & 21st May 2025 ✈️Where: Dublin, Ireland Join us for two days of thought-provoking discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and actionable insights. This is an exceptional platform to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the finance industry across different countries. For more information or to REGISTER, go to https://lnkd.in/gGWxFZka #FAMNZ #IMBF25 #Dublin #IMBFDublin #Advisers #FinanceAdvisers

Welcoming Ignite Business Finance as Our Newest Business Partner! Ignite Finance Group is a shareholder-owned and managed business, allowing for prompt, common-sense decision-making rather than rigid rule-based processes. They specialize in loans under $300,000 within the second-tier lending space, offering: 🔥Invoice Finance – Specialists in single invoice and whole ledger financing solutions. 🔥2nd Mortgage Business Loans – Funding up to 80% of property value on second mortgages, considering both business and real property value to offer more than many other lenders. As a registered Financial Services Provider and a member of the Financial Disputes Resolution Service, Ignite Finance Group operates in full compliance with New Zealand’s statutory requirements. Welcome, Ignite Business Finance, to the FAMNZ community! #FAMNZ #IgniteBusinessFinance #FinanceAdvisers #NZFinance

🇳🇿 FAMNZ at Astute Product Day – Auckland! 🇳🇿 Our Country Manager, Leigh Hodgetts, was on the ground at the Astute Product Day at Remuera Golf Club, Auckland—the first of three PD days across New Zealand this week! A fantastic day of networking and learning with lenders, mortgage advisers, and an insightful economic update from Kiwibank Economist Sabrina Delgado Leigh also had the opportunity to share more about FAMNZ, our advocacy work, upcoming events, and how we’re supporting advisers across the country. Next up: Hamilton tomorrow, Christchurch on Friday! #FAMNZ #AstutePD #Advisers #MortgageAdvisers