Get up to speed with FAIS telematics conferences
The FAIS Department of the FSB ran an industry survey in November last year, looking at how a sample of randomly selected financial service providers and compliance officers made use of the Department’s available resources.
The findings showed that these resources are not being used as widely as they could be. For example, some 36% of respondents said they had not made use of the department’s telematics conferences, while a full 22% didn’t know about the conferences.
The conferences came about for a couple of reasons. First, the FSB made some site visits and found that the level of regulatory knowledge was not up to scratch; and second, people outside the major cities have found it challenging to gain access to the knowledge they need to pass exams. Every financial service provider registered with the FSB needs to pass designated regulatory exams on the FAIS and FICA Acts, so these conferences can offer the necessary support.
Richard Rattue, MD of Compli-serve, says that the nice thing about these conferences is you can dial in from various centres around the country and ask questions around the FAIS regulatory environment such as disclosures, advice and so on. “The best part is reaching a large audience from one location,” says Rattue, who is one of those on hand to field questions.
These conferences are ideal for advisors located outside the main centres and will also benefit new entrants who are finding their feet and need to brush up on their regulatory knowledge levels and pass their industry exams.
Conference dates
The telematics conferences are interactive and able to host 600 participants remotely at the same time from the University of Stellenbosch’s telematics division (www.sun.ac.za/ite). The FAIS Department started offering these workshops in 2009 and has hosted 40 to date. If you can’t attend the preparation workshops for level 1 Res in person, each of the following workshops will be broadcast at 9am:
· 20/2/2013 Port Elizabeth
· 21/2/2013 Cape Town
· 22/2/2013 Satellite broadcast
· 25/2/2013 Durban
· 26/2/2013 Pretoria
· 27/2/2013 Cape Town
To register, visit the FSB website, click on the FAIS link and go to ‘FAIS Events 2013’.
There is no charge for attending the telematics conference.
Editor’s thoughts:
Is your regulatory knowledge up to scratch? Let us know by commenting below or emailing fiona@fanews.co.za
