Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
the adviser logo
Broker

Removing trail would turn brokers into ‘hunters, not farmers’

by Charbel Kadib11 minute read
Red whistle

The chairman of a major broking franchise has advised against changes to broker remuneration, stating that there is no evidence of “systemic issues” and warning of negative ramifications.

Speaking to The Adviser, the chairman of Loan Market, Sam White, said that the company plans to submit a response to the financial services royal commission’s interim report, outlining the potential impact of alternative remuneration models on the broking industry.

In his interim report, Commissioner Kenneth Hayne suggested that broker remuneration arrangements “might” be conflicted, stating that lenders paying value-based commissions to brokers may be breaching their obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP).

However, Mr White noted the potential impact of alternative remuneration models, including a move to a fixed fee, and the removal of trail commissions.

==
==

Mr White suggested that should a fixed upfront remuneration be introduced, banks may be monetarily disincentivised to lend to borrowers requesting smaller loan sizes, with the gap between interest returns and upfront commission paid tighter for smaller loans.

The group head also said that the broker-client relationship may become more transaction-based if trail commission is removed.  

“If there’s no trail, youre turning brokers into hunters, not farmers — it becomes a transaction,” the MD said.

“I think [if only] upfront commission [was paid], brokers could think, ‘If I dont get this client to borrow more money or change banks, I dont eat’. I think theres a lot more conflict around that.

“Were [Loan Market] looking at all these different models, and all of them have challenges.”

Mr White also questioned the suggestion made by Commissioner Hayne that higher average loan sizes and interest-only loans through the broker channel reflected greater credit quality risks.

“Were finding it hard to see where the systemic issues are, that are sometimes referred to,” Mr White added.

“Were not seeing any major complaints through the [Credit and Investment Ombudsman] — obviously, there are complaints and they need to be addressed, but theyre not systemic complaints.”

He continued: “Arrears are similar, so where is the systemic problem that the commissioner identified?

“The commissioner refers to higher loan sizes, but higher loan sizes often come about because brokers sit down with a client and say, ‘Heres the maximum amount you can borrow from these lenders’. If a client asks, ‘How much can I borrow?’, the broker will sit down with them and show them that list.”

Mr White added: “When interest-only and principal and interest are priced the same, then it can be a very legitimate strategy for a customer to reduce their payments and preserve flexibility, or they might want to have part interest-only, part principal and interest.

“There was no discussion [from the commission] about how many of those interest-only loans were also combined with a split loan with a principal and interest facility.”

Mr White said that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) may need to undertake another review on the broking industry, this time to assess the outcomes of reforms introduced by the Combined Industry Forum, and to ensure that clearer data is collected to help the industry “debate the issues properly”.  

The public is invited to respond to Commissioner Hayne’s interim report from the financial services royal commission, which covers the first four rounds of hearings.

Submissions in response to the interim report can be made on the royal commission website and must be received no later than 5pm on 26 October 2018.

[Related: Commissions ‘might’ breach NCCP: RC]

warn whistle ta

Charbel Kadib

AUTHOR

Charbel Kadib is the news editor on The Adviser and Mortgage Business.

Before joining the team in 2017, Charbel completed internships with public relations agency Fifty Acres, and the Department of Communications and the Arts.

Email Charbel on: [email protected]

magazine
Read the latest issue of The Adviser magazine!
The Adviser is the number one magazine for Australia's finance and mortgage brokers. The publications delivers news, analysis, business intelligence, sales and marketing strategies, research and key target reports to an audience of professional mortgage and finance brokers
Read more