Two-day event welcomed hundreds of mortgage professionals to Vancouver
The Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – BC (CMBA-BC) wrapped up its annual conference in Vancouver yesterday, with president Marci Deane (pictured) hailing this year’s event as the biggest it has ever hosted.
Over 550 mortgage professionals flocked to the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver for a two-day conference featuring expert guest speakers, an extensive trade show and a series of industry panels aimed at helping brokers gear up their business during a challenging time for the mortgage market.
Deane told Canadian Mortgage Professional that the conference agenda had proven a clear hit with attendees – illustrated by a rapturous reception for Monday’s keynote speaker, resiliency and workplace wellness expert Robyne Hanley-Dafoe.
“It feels like we’re hitting the topics and the themes [people] wanted to hear,” Deane said. “We spent a lot of time on this agenda and the panels, and Robyne clearly hit the nail on the head, which is fantastic. It’s a tricky time. She talked resilience, and it hit home for a lot of people.”
Hanley-Dafoe’s keynote address ended with the message that “We can do great things” – words that resonated with mortgage professionals present, Deane said, as a welcome rallying cry for eking out success in a turbulent market.
The Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – British Columbia (CMBA-BC) annual conference is fast approaching, featuring an all-star lineup of the mortgage industry’s top names.https://t.co/PZDvWydkoJ#mortgagenews #mortgageindustry #mortgagemarket
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) April 2, 2024
Heavy focus on resilience, personal wellbeing and relationship-building
The theme of resilience in the face of adversity continued into a following panel, with a host of BC mortgage professionals sharing their own rousing stories of triumphing against the odds despite recent personal and professional setbacks.
For Deane, that discussion served as an important reminder to those present to prioritize their own personal wellness as well as the success and growth of their business.
“We were keeping with the same theme and intent,” she said. “Being an All-Star isn’t just about getting your client the best rate. You need to build the business and you should take care of yourself, and your family, and have a plan. We’re not order takers… there’s a lot of different sides to that. So we wanted to touch on that.”
Other sessions on Monday saw broker Kyle Green walk attendees through updates on the fixed-vs-variable question, before B-, MIC (mortgage investment corporation) and alternative lenders took part in a panel discussion on the current outlook for those sectors.
On Tuesday, keynote speaker and former Canadian Football League (CFL) coach Wally Buono delivered an address on forging a championship mindset through leadership, with a subsequent panel discussing how mortgage professionals can “supercharge” their marketing.
Broker Jill Moellering delivered a workshop on winning the transfer/switch game, followed by the MB Awards presentation over lunch.
Rounding out the event was an economic update presented by BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) chief economist Brendon Ogmundson and a lender panel convening some of the industry’s most prominent lending executives to discuss the latest market developments and trends.
Event underscored value of in-person interactions between mortgage pros
More than 50 of the industry’s leading lenders and suppliers were out in full force, meanwhile, for Monday’s trade show, presenting brokers with the opportunity to mingle with industry counterparts, expand their book of contacts and have face-to-face discussions about the current market and what they should be keeping top of mind.
The enthusiasm shown by attendees for the trade show component, according to Deane, proved that industry members are “dying” to have those in-person interactions, with the All-Stars social event on Monday evening also proving a big hit.
“The business panel talked about that, and the MIC panel talked about that: [the purpose of] business is to build relationships, but it’s not just to get relationships with our clients,” she said. “That’s really important – you have to build a relationship with your client.
“But we have another client and it’s our lender, and the supplier, and the lawyers – they’re all here. That’s where this is really important: you build relationships a lot faster when you’re face to face.”
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