Record high attendance to AFC webcast

As the industry contemplates the fall-out from the Court of Appeal judgment, Friday’s AFC webcast has been extended to one and a half hours to cover all the topics AFC members want explored

Asset Finance Connect (AFC) will run its highest ever attended webcast this Friday featuring Wayne Gibbard from Shoosmiths; John Phillipou Chair of the FLA; and Jim Higginbotham, director general of the NACFB.

“Lenders and brokers want an independent voice to explain what has happened; how they should respond to it and what the short and long-term implications are for an industry which has become increasingly dependent on intermediaries; and which has in place a broker/dealer ecosystem which has a track record for delivering commercial success on which tens of thousands of people depend for their living” said Edward Peck, CEO of AFC.

The webcast will:

• Assess the FLA interpretation of the findings; and consider alternative interpretations which have emerged this week;
• Answer critical questions on implementation including timing on getting consent; what needs to be included in the disclosure; concerns around customer messaging as lenders consider how to deal with the vexed question of broker impartiality;
• Analyse the impact on broker impartiality and the potential changes to the balance of reward between lenders and brokers;
• Tackle the underlying concerns that focus on whether the overall pot is likely to diminish or whether this is likely to simply change the balance of reward between lenders and brokers.

The final part of the webcast will consider the mismatch between the urgency to sort this out, and the speed and expectation of regulators, law makers and Government. It will consider likely new models, and will provide Jim Higginbotham and John Phillipou an opportunity to talk about how they intend to work together to navigate a path which meets the needs of the industry’s customers in the best way possible and delivers an efficient, well ordered and prosperous industry which can help realise the Labour’s imperative of kick-starting the economy.

The session starts at 2pm and will end at 3.30pm. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions before, and during the event; with our editorial team ready to collate all questions into a comprehensive briefing document which will be published next week.

Webcast is free-to-attend and you can register for your place here.