Fintech Hunting

Is the mortgage industry ready to break free from the status quo?

In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Raveen Phifer, founder and CEO of She Mortgage Consultants, to unpack the real challenges—and opportunities—facing lenders today.

From rising rates to the myth vs. reality of AI, Raveen brings an unfiltered perspective on:

• Why lenders must think beyond short-term fixes when evaluating technology

• The biggest roadblocks keeping borrowers from the seamless experience they demand

• How her team helps lenders vet vendors and cut through the noise of “AI hype”

• Why people—not just platforms—still matter in a tech-driven world

• Where the balance lies between automation and the irreplaceable human touch

Whether you’re a lender, vendor, or mortgage professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about digital transformation, competitive advantage, and the borrower experience.

Subscribe to FinTech Hunting for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of financial services.

In this energizing episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with the unstoppable Dalila Ramos — industry-leading recruiter, founder of Love & Tacos Media, and social media powerhouse — for a candid conversation on the real state of recruiting, branding, and marketing in mortgage and fintech.🎤 What’s inside this episode?How NAMMBA felt like a “family reunion” and why that matters more than everThe real reason recruiting ramps up in Q4 (and why Dalila hates the word "recruiting")What LOs must do to stop being invisible in AI search and socialWhy being “Googleable” beats having the flashiest websiteThe power of video: from mascara tears to unfiltered truthBehind-the-scenes sneak peek at our Pop-Up Video Studio coming to MBA Annual in Las Vegas!💡 Whether you’re a loan officer, marketing pro, fintech founder, or just love real talk from real people who get it, this one’s for you.👀 Watch to learn:How to future-proof your brand with AI + GEO strategiesWhy social media is your new credibility currencyWhat makes an event video go viral (hint: it’s not perfection)🎥 Bonus: Hear how Dalila and Michael are bringing MBA Annual to you — 50+ videos, raw conversations, real people.🔗 Links & Shoutouts:🎯 Special thanks to sponsorsGridBase – Smart automation, real solutionsNationwide Property & Appraisal Services – Trust. Technology. Transparency.📍 Catch the Pop-Up Video Studio: Fountainbleu, Las Vegas | Oct 19–22📩 Want to be featured? Message Dalila or Michael on LinkedIn for your invite!If this episode inspired you, like, comment, and subscribe.

In this no-holds-barred episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with the unstoppable Lady Jen Du Plessis—a billion-dollar producer, 3x podcast host, speaker, and coach—to challenge the status quo in the mortgage and lending industry.

🔥 From the “blame game” and the dangers of being casual in your business, to leveraging AI, mastering your voice, and standing out in a crowded market, Lady Jen doesn’t hold back.

🚫 Tired of being busy but not productive?
🚫 Wondering if AI is just another passing trend?
🚫 Feeling like your business is stuck in neutral?

🎙️ Then you need to hear this conversation.

In this episode:

• Why “busy” is not the badge of honor you think it is
• How to stop being “on demand” and become in demand
• What every loan officer needs to know about early AI adoption
• Why mastering your voice, not just your scripts, is the new competitive edge
• How Lady Jen uses AI tools like ChatGPT (aka “Gigi”) to stay visible, relevant, and influential
• The true cost of hiding in this industry—and how to break through

💡 Learn how to build a brand that’s built to last, use AI as your 24/7 marketing partner, and create a life and business by design—not default.

Here is the link for the Masterclass Registration Page:

https://go.jenduplessis.com/mortgage-mastery-masterclass-registration

👑 About Lady Jen Du Plessis:
Top 1% originator turned national speaker and coach, Lady Jen helps professionals elevate their leadership, communication, and results. She's the host of Mortgage Lending Mastery, the longest-running podcast in the mortgage space.

✅ Connect with Lady Jen:
Website: https://www.jenduplessis.com
Masterclass Registration: [Insert Link Here]
Instagram & LinkedIn: @LadyJenDuPlessis

The mortgage and financial services industries are at a crossroads—caught between the pull of tradition and the push of AI-driven innovation. In this FinTech Hunting episode, host Michael Hammond sits down with marketing powerhouse Kelly Yale, Fractional CMO and innovation leader at Octo Strategies, to unpack the seismic shifts redefining mortgage marketing.

From the myth of social media as a silver bullet to the art of building real community at scale, Kelly shares her proven frameworks for blending personal branding with enterprise consistency—and why the smartest lenders are leaning hard into relationship automation.

You’ll discover:

• How to balance authenticity and technology without losing the human touch.

• Why AI isn’t replacing loan officers, but it will reshape their work, compensation, and competitive edge.

• Practical steps to build long-term relationships that convert, even in a crowded market.

• The critical skill sets marketing teams need in 2025—and why adaptability matters more than any single tool.

Whether you’re a mortgage executive, lender, marketing leader, or loan officer, this conversation will challenge your thinking and equip you to thrive in the new era of lending.

What if one of the biggest threats to your mortgage pipeline isn’t rates—but insurance?

In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Ross Diedrich, Founder & CEO of Covered Insurance, for a must-hear conversation about the growing insurance affordability crisis—and why it's no longer just a side note, but a full-blown mortgage disruptor.

🛑 Deals are dying.
💥 Borrowers are blindsided at the closing table.
📉 DTIs are imploding due to insurance premiums.

Ross pulls back the curtain on how rising costs, carrier exits, and mid-cycle changes are quietly sabotaging originations and servicing—and what lenders and servicers must do now to regain control.

🔍 You’ll learn:

• Why 15–20% of deals in some markets are falling through due to insurance

• How to move insurance earlier in the mortgage lifecycle to prevent fallout

• What originators and servicers can do TODAY to turn insurance friction into a competitive advantage

• How Covered is embedding proactive, borrower-first solutions into leading mortgage platforms

💬 “You don’t need to be an insurance expert—you just need the right partner at the right time.” – Ross Diedrich

If you're a lender, LO, servicer, or tech partner looking to protect your pipeline and serve borrowers better, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

👉 Listen now and subscribe for more FinTech insights that matter.

In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Greg Sher, Managing Director at NFM Lending and founder of the #AllOfUs movement. Greg is a tireless advocate for housing fairness, a social media trailblazer, and one of the industry’s most forward-thinking voices.

We dive into:

👉 Greg's takeaways from The Gathering and the rise of new voices in the industry
👉 The transformative power of YouTube for loan officers and why short-form video may be fading
👉 How AI and agentic automation are reshaping the mortgage experience
👉 A candid conversation on Fed policy, fiscal responsibility, and the generational impact of national debt
👉 Why lender-vendor relationships need more heart—and less “spray and pray”
👉 The inspiration and mission behind the #AllOfUs movement

🔥 BONUS: Greg unveils an exclusive opportunity for originators to join a YouTube pilot led by mortgage influencer Kyle Seagraves.

If you're in mortgage, real estate, or fintech—and want to stay ahead of where the industry is headed—this is an episode you can't afford to miss.

🔗 Connect with Greg Sher on LinkedIn
📬 Want to master YouTube marketing? DM Greg to apply for the pilot program
🎧 Subscribe for more FinTech Hunting episodes

#FinTechHunting #MortgageMarketing #GregSher #YouTubeForLenders #AgenticAI #HousingAdvocacy #AllOfUsMovement #LoanOfficerBranding #FintechPodcast #AIInLending

Welcome to a powerful new episode of the FinTech Hunting podcast, hosted by Michael Hammond. In this insightful conversation, we’re joined by Nick Rutherford, mortgage tech expert and VP of Sales & Product at Milo—a cutting-edge customer retention platform for mortgage professionals.

This episode was recorded following the NJMBA Conference in New Jersey, where industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of mortgage lending and technology.

In this episode, we cover:
• The importance of up-funnel engagement to boost client retention
• How white-labeled home value reports drive monthly interaction
• Why “point of thought” is the new battleground for lenders
• Smart CRM integrations that deliver loan officer alerts in real-time
• AI's fast-moving impact on mortgage marketing and borrower behavior
• How personalized data, not generic drip content, drives conversions

Whether you're in New York, New Jersey, California, or serving clients across the country, this conversation delivers must-know strategies for loan officers, lenders, and fintech innovators.

📩 Connect with Nick Rutherford: [email protected]
🔗 Learn more about Milo: www.mymilo.ai

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment to let us know your thoughts. New episodes drop regularly—stay tuned for more FinTech insights!

In this must-watch episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond welcomes back Eloise Schmitz, Co-Founder and CEO of LoanNEX. Eloise dives deep into the 2025 lending landscape, sharing insights from the conference circuit, the increasing demand for non-agency products, and how lenders can diversify without the tech headaches.

🚀 Discover why non-agency lending is no longer optional, how to equip your LOs for success, and why tricking your pricing engine isn’t a strategy—it’s a symptom of the wrong tools.

🔍 Highlights:

• 2025 mortgage market trends

• Why diversified products are key to lender growth

• The Yahoo vs. Google search analogy for pricing engines

• How LoanNEX makes non-agency origination simple, visible, and scalable

• Upcoming features like in-platform exception handling

• Eloise’s advice on how lenders can reduce friction and increase confidence

📅 Don’t miss Eloise’s upcoming webinar on June 26th!

👉 Learn more at LoanNEX.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

💡 If you can’t see it, you can’t sell it. Let’s change that.

Welcome to a game-changing episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast!
Host Michael Hammond sits down with AI pioneer and borrower engagement expert Josh Friend, Founder & CEO of Insellerate, to unpack the explosive growth of their AI-powered Athena platform and the CRM that’s transforming how mortgage lenders operate.

Key Highlights from this episode:

• 13 new enterprise clients signed in H1 2025—how Insellerate is scaling fast

• Inside Athena: How reviewing over 700,000+ calls is driving loan conversion

• AI with a Purpose: Predictive lead scoring that slashes wasted effort and boosts ROI

• CRM That Works for You: Why 12 of 13 enterprise clients chose Insellerate’s CRM, not just the AI

• Specialized AI, not general-purpose tools—built for mortgage pros by mortgage pros

• Operational Efficiency & Scalability: Eliminate wasted hours and improve outcomes

• CRM Agnostic but Powerful Enough to Convert: From Salesforce to proprietary systems

Whether you're a retail lender, consumer direct, or wholesale—this episode is a must-listen for understanding how intelligent automation is leveling the playing field in financial services.

Quote of the Episode:
"We're not just giving you a tool. We're operationalizing AI so you can close more loans—faster, smarter, and at scale." – Josh Friend

Learn more about Insellerate & book a demo: https://insellerate.com
Contact the team directly: [email protected]

Subscribe for exclusive insights from fintech innovators, AI disruptors, and lending leaders.
If this episode brought you value, leave a comment and share how your team is leveraging AI to drive results.

Modernizing Appraisals & Leading with Purpose in Mortgage | FinTech Hunting w/ Cindi Harris

In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond welcomes appraisal innovator and leadership advocate Cindi Harris, owner of Harris Real Estate Valuation and Consulting and founder of People Move Mountains.

🚀 Inside the Episode:

• How UAD 3.6 is streamlining the appraisal process

• The shift toward hybrid appraisals and modern inspection tools

• Why the industry must attract the next generation of appraisers

• The power of genuine connections through LinkedIn and business book clubs

• Cindi’s leadership philosophy: clarity, trust, and service

• How younger and older generations can learn from one another in the workplace

Whether you're in valuation, mortgage origination, or leadership development, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to grow professionally while navigating change in the mortgage space.

🔗 Connect with Cindi:
📧 [email protected]
💼 Cindi Harris on LinkedIn

👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe to hear more conversations at the intersection of mortgage, technology, and leadership.

📄 Updated YouTube Description: