News

Etanans and Etana brokers are on a roll with RE exams

5 April, 2011

Etanan Charl Swarts passed the RE exam.

More and more brokers and Etanans are passing the RE exams because brokers are amazing and so are Etanans. We hesitate to brag, but the truth is the truth!

Quite a few have done more than simply pass. They have scored 80% and more, and these are the people we have asked to pass on some valuable tips because they know a thing or three about passing the RE exams with flying colours.

“It’s no secret how much Etana supports and stands by brokers and these exams are a perfect example because they are so important for the reputation and service delivery of our industry,” says Carel Nolte, head of People and Brand at Etana . 

“We’ve got the Etana Academy’s fabulous Fatima and Teshania touring our ‘local is lekker’ branches with an RE Summer School to replace ‘scared’ with ‘prepared’. Their goal is to give everyone the insight to make them confident and motivated to win this necessary challenge.

“All important advancements include fears of the unknown, hiccups and disappointments. We have to brave our way through. But we’re a smart, courageous and indispensable industry – vital to the entire economy and financial stability of every South African. Circumstances require us to up our game. So let’s buckle down and become even more awesome in the way we serve our clients. Write again if you have to – the Etana Academy team is gearing up to help people who need to do just that.”

“To the ones who’re nailing it we say: Congratulations! You’re incREDible!”

Tips from high scorers

Cape Town
“I was vrek bang as it is many, many years since I last wrote an exam,” says Charl Swarts, Etana Cape Town’s branch manager. 

“My first look at the course material reinforced this panic, but what a relief it was to attend the Etana Academy Summer School and have the subject matter demystified and contextualised. I was then able to approach the course material with confidence and discovered that the content was very relevant and not terrifying at all.

“But make no mistake! It is an exam. If you don’t prepare and don’t know your stuff, you will battle. However, it is not the nightmare it is being portrayed to be. Attending the Etana Academy sessions and examining the material through their eyes gave me the knowledge and the right approach to do the exam and achieve a satisfying result.

“The most important thing to remember is to read the questions very carefully and focus on answering only the question as it is asked and avoid going off into stuff that’s not in there. It is great that so many of my colleagues and friends have done so well. I hope that everyone who has yet to commit to the process realises that with a little help, some determined application and a positive attitude, it is achievable.”

Charl shares the sentiments of Louise Powell, an Etana broker in the Cape. Louise scored 80% and says: “Read the questions really well and look for negatives and double negatives, taking your time to understand the exact meaning. If you prepare properly it is not as bad as all the naysayers would have it.”

Another Cape broker, Lynette Adams of Glenrand MIB, says, “I felt so much better after attending the Etana Academy workshop. I must say that Fatima was fantastic in addressing the ‘monster of exams’ we were all facing. She was great.”

Charl explains how preparation gives confidence. “Those who attended said they were far more confident after the Summer School. There was lots of enthusiasm. The first Cape Town Etana Academy session attracted brokers from as far away as Paarl and Wellington and the turnout was phenomenal. We had to scramble for extra chairs. Well over 120 people enthusiastically packed in.

“Since then there has been a steady stream of enquiries about when the next course will be. Clearly the reputation of the Etana Academy is spreading. We have even had people from competitor companies asking if they could attend! Now that’s what I call a successful operation!”

Pietermaritzburg
Kevin Pillay, who was recently appointed branch manager in Pietermaritzburg, was another high RE achiever. Admittedly he has the gift of a terrific memory, but he gives credit to the clarifying Academy sessions. 

“I remember what I hear, and the course put it all out there and got us thinking in the right direction. That’s what made the difference – having everything clarified in advance. That also helps the study process.”

George
Travis Maclachlan, a deputy branch manager in George, claims to have the “magic” key to passing the RE challenge.

“The secret to success is: RTFQVC!”
His translation of this “magic” key is: Read The &%$#@*% Question Very Carefully.

“There were obviously some difficult questions but not to the level that I – and everyone around me – had hyped them up to be. The questions are worded in a way that necessitated reading them very carefully. Anyone who does the RTFQVC, attends the Academy to get clarity and confidence, and cracks the books, will do just fine. I found that the INSETA study material on the Etana website is simple and powerful. It is cleverly simplified and helped a lot. Knowing that is more than enough to pass these exams.

“Personally I think that everyone is psyching themselves out. So listen, everyone, just relax! It’s just an exam and you have more than one shot. And, once you’ve got it, you’ve got it forever – so do the graft now and get it over and done with.

“I also think it’s terrific for the industry because it raises the bar on the standard of delivery to all our clients. And that’s good for the industry.

“Even if a person hasn’t written exams for a while it’s not impossible to get back into the swing of things with a positive and open mind. People who are really nervous can even treat the first write as a practice run. Just keep your eye on the end result and do as many writes as it takes.”

Travis spoke to Gillian Lombard, owner of SAPCOR, about the exams. “She wrote at the Etana organised exam at Damelin in George. She said the Summer School put everything into perspective for her. She had no idea what to expect and the knowledge material and Summer School made it that much easier to comprehend. She also mentioned that she found she had to read the questions VERY carefully.”

Reminder of the reason

The FSB has explained that they know of “countless” key individuals and representatives who do not understand their regulatory roles and responsibilities despite many valuable years of experience in the industry, which is of course indispensable and greatly valued. They point out, however, that depth of experience does not guarantee knowledge of the FAIS Act and its requirements. This is why all providers are expected to complete the RE exam.

According to the FSB, “A general perception exists that the compliance officer is responsible for ensuring the provider’s compliance with the FAIS Act. This is not correct. The key individual or a provider is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the provider’s compliance with the FAIS Act. And each representative must know and understand his/her duties relating to compliance with the Act.”

Final words from fabulous Fatima

Wise words of warning from Etana Academy Head Fatima Maharaj: “Before you allow yourself to become involved in any of the current debates around the Regulatory Examinations (RE), make sure that you have all the facts. Take time to read the latest Financial Services Board (FSB) publication on the RE as it addresses the most common complaints and questions I am asked as I journey around South Africa with the Summer School. This will enable you to separate fact from fiction and rumour.”

Fatima congratulates all those who have passed, but points out that very smart people are failing the first write, including compliance officers! So she says, “Don’t be hard on yourself if you didn’t pass the first write because I’m working on a backup plan!

“You can look forward to receiving mock examinations which I am working on to help with the second write. I am finding that some people just don’t realise how much preparation is required for these examinations. But don’t panic! It was recently pointed out to me by a colleague that some of you are battling to pass because you have too much information in your heads. Your challenge is to focus only on the question asked. What you don’t need is more information. You really only need to know the material you have been given at the Summer School. Know it well and you will nail it.”