It’s that time of year where all the brokers and agents get together for… well some might call it a massive party… the annual CAAMP conference. Although I’m sure most will say they go to find out what the new product offerings are from the various lenders in attendance. Meet the underwriters they’ve only ever spoken to over the phone. etc. etc.

I equate this to the equivalent of folks who say they buy certain men’s magazines “for the articles”. (insert your own rim shot sound effect here)

But seriously folks…(Take my wife…. PLEASE -Rodney Dangerfield)

In the previous broker office where I worked, there were two camps (not CAAMP, no pun here). Those that looked forward to this event as a chance to get away for a few days and see all their old buddies or make new friends. They’ve worked hard all year and this is a form of reward for them. On the flip side we had folks that viewed CAAMP as… well how can I put this nicely… a tax with no form of representation that does little to improve their bottom line or their market perception.

In the new brokerage office I’m in, I see a very different attitude. I see from the start one of our own who wants to get elected to the board in order to effect changes for the good of all brokers. I’m glad to see there are people willing to work with and within the system in order to improve it, rather than sit around and complain about it and get nothing done. It’s the only national body we have we can either work to fix what is broken with it or let it continue to flounder. Strong leadership is the correct solution. At least I don’t see any other organization trying to form a national presents to compete.

I think, or at least have to hope, that CAAMP is changing or evolving. It was and mostly still is a collection of bankers and the brokers that worked for those institutions. The past presidents have all been a senior bank executives. I’m not sure who the new president is, but I’m thinking that eventually if we get a president who is not a career banker and has been in the broker business for a couple decades then we might start to see some real changes to the organization. Things that will benefit all brokers in the business.

I have to hope that this is the vision for Mortgage Alliance and they understand that in order to get someone that could become president that first you have to show you are part of the team by having people on the board and then you have some hope of having an experienced broker become president. I like it when people have a plan. They tend to succeed.

As for me, I try not to complain to loudly. I have a list of things I would like to see changed and if I manage to build my business to the point where I can put the time in to be in the place to effect change, then I will certainly do so. Until then, I pay the tax and watch to see what my company does and follow their lead and hope for the best.

While I’m hear, I also want to throw in that I’m starting to see all kinds of FUD marketing (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). On the one hand we have the bank of Canada re-stating that all is well (not really, but that’s what they have to say as they can’t raise their prime without killing the entire economy) and that they wont be raising prime until at least next summer (some are speculating much longer as growth has barely started). In contrast with advertisements saying that these low rates wont last forever, renew now before you get caught. OR rates have never been this low before it can’t last much longer. Act now before it’s too late! I almost fully expect them to say, “and if you call in the next 15 minutes, we’ll throw in a car loan at 0% interest”… “how about a lovely clap chopper” … “don’t pay for a year”… “operators are standing by” (please let them sit down ).

When all else fails in advertising, why do they still move to fear based selling? Low rates didn’t work, how about building a brand that people will come to know and trust? Guess that’s too much of a concept for advertisers. Short term pain, long term gain. Doesn’t fly with our instant microwave culture.