Lykken on Lending

This podcast segment explores how mortgage lenders are adopting AI and automation to improve workflows, borrower engagement, and operational efficiency while highlighting the risks of scaling flawed processes without proper training and strategy.

-----------------------------------------------------

Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and software development.

In today’s financial services push to all things Digital, Allen has been helping lenders and financial services solution providers align their digital transformation and technology strategies by removing the human element of risk, and automating processes that drive efficiencies and margins into profits.

Over the course of his career, Allen has co-created and developed technology business models that have birthed highly successful, innovative solutions and companies.

Allen co-founded and served as CTO of New York Loan Exchange (NYLX), a loan product eligibility and pricing engine (PPE) that made an immediate impact on the industry, scaling the company quickly and forming partnerships with multiple mortgage and financial lending companies. In 2012, Allen was a co-founder of a merger between NYLX and Aklero Risk Analytics that created LoanLogics, A Mortgage Loan Quality and Performance Analytics company. Allen served as CTO where he continued to bring new and innovative product solutions to the market that made a significant impact to mortgage lenders that reduced risk, scaled business channels, and grew profits in a very competitive and highly regulated market.

Allen is also is mortgage and finance technology contributor on a weekly live industry podcast, Lykken on Lending, and is launching a new podcast soon to be released, TechStack Radio, dedicated to technology and innovation in Financial Services.

This is the last part of the 3-part podcast episode with LoanWorks that explores how AI and automation are fundamentally reshaping the role of the modern loan officer. David Lykken and Pavan Agrawal discuss the shift away from administrative “busy work” and toward relationship-driven mortgage origination. Through stories from top-producing loan officers and real-world operational examples, they explain how AI platforms like Angel AI are reducing emotional and operational friction, improving loan accuracy, and enabling originators to focus on what they do best: building trust, advising borrowers, and growing business.

This podcast segment examines how rising oil prices, geopolitical conflict, increased Treasury issuance, and fiscal pressures are contributing to higher bond yields and continued upward pressure on mortgage rates.

-----------------------------------------------------

Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt that existing products were only scratching the surface. Thus was born MBS Live in 2007, the first-of-its-kind platform with real-time market data/analysis, and live chat with analysts, traders, and originators around the country. He is currently the Founder and CEO of MBSLive!

He's been covering bond/mortgage markets, writing commentary, alerts, and chatting with the live community every business hour of every business day ever since.

Matt also serves as the Chief of Operations for mortgagenewsdaily.com, where he is one of the industry's most respected mortgage rate experts, frequently quoted in the media. Mortgage News Daily's rate index is used as the definitive resource on day-to-day mortgage rate averages.

He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son, where he enjoys skiing, fishing, coaching youth sports, playing the guitar, and more DIY projects/hobbies than he'd care to admit.

05-05-2026 Running in "Circles"

----------------------

Rates couldn't turn around

'Til they were upside down

Powell said that he’s gone, yet he’ll be around for a while. Trump underscored that the blockade would last as long as it takes. So, the guessing game remains in place: when will the pressure on Oil prices ease, and will they drag growth more than drive inflation?

The 10-year yield spins in circles between long-standing resistance at 4.50 and a trend reversal at 4.20. The bulls need tangible good news on Oil to break out.

Run away, but we're running in circles. Run away, run away.

These views are mine. Join TMSpotlight to know how circles break.

------------------------

Song: Circles (2019) Post Malone

This podcast segment breaks down FHFA’s push to modernize mortgage credit scoring through the rollout of VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T, aiming to increase competition and expand borrower access.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Adam DeSanctis, VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association

As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and media relations. He is widely considered to be an expert in a variety of communications, including advocacy, brand, executive, crisis, grassroots, and social media. In his career, he has been the MBA spokesperson on a wide variety of real estate research and advocacy-related issues, promoted MBA research and advocacy efforts to financial, political, and trade industry media and on MBA's social media channels, and secured media opportunities for MBA leadership on key real estate trends and issues, generated media coverage for MBA's research and data on mortgage applications, credit availability, homebuilder applications, mortgage forbearance/delinquencies, commercial real estate originations, and forecasts, and other industry analysis, developed key strategic initiatives for MBA's organizational public affairs plan, media relations and member communications support for mPower, MBA's Opens Doors Foundation and MBA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.

This Hot Topic dives into one of the most complex and consequential moments in mortgage and housing finance, where policy uncertainty, affordability pressure, and rapid AI innovation are colliding. Industry veteran Tim Rood joins to break down what’s really happening inside the Beltway—from why housing continues to take a back seat in Washington, to the structural imbalances between buyers and sellers, to the hidden constraints shaping GSE reform and FHA policy. At the same time, we explore how AI is not just a buzzword but a transformative force that could redefine cost structures, competition, and customer experience across the industry. If you’re trying to make sense of where the market is heading—and how to position yourself ahead of it—this conversation delivers clarity, context, and actionable perspective.

The Lykken on Lending Weekly Mortgage Update delivers expert commentary and timely insights from across the mortgage industry. Each episode features a curated lineup of respected thought leaders and analysts:

• Adam DeSanctis with the MBA Mortgage Minute, providing key updates from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
• Les Parker’s TMSpotlight offers a macroeconomic perspective with his signature musical parodies.
• Matt Graham of MBS Live, breaking down market activity and interest rate movements.
• David Kittle, CEO of The Mortgage Collaborative, sharing insights on mortgage originations and industry trends.
• Alice Alvey of Union Home Mortgage, delivering essential regulatory and legislative updates.
• Allen Pollack, with the Tech Report, spotlighting emerging technologies impacting mortgage operations.
• Bill Corbet, presenting Bill's Bullet Commentary with focused insights on loan servicing and capital markets.
• Marc Helm, offering Marc’s Rant, an unfiltered take on operational and agency-related developments.

Together, this expert panel brings clarity, relevance, and a touch of personality to the ever-evolving mortgage landscape.

This episode explores a mortgage market caught at the intersection of global uncertainty and potential policy transformation, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to influence bond markets and interest rate direction while anticipation builds around possible changes in Federal Reserve leadership. With many expecting lower rates—but only if stability returns—industry experts break down how timing, inflation pressures, and energy markets are shaping the outlook. At the same time, a new wave of leadership at the Fed could signal shifts in monetary strategy, communication style, and long-term rate policy. For mortgage professionals, understanding how these macro forces converge is critical to navigating risk, advising clients, and positioning for what could be a pivotal turning point in the market.

This podcast segment explores how rapid AI adoption in mortgage lending is creating innovation opportunities while overwhelming lenders with too many tools and not enough strategic clarity.

-----------------------------------------------------

Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and software development.

In today’s financial services push to all things Digital, Allen has been helping lenders and financial services solution providers align their digital transformation and technology strategies by removing the human element of risk, and automating processes that drive efficiencies and margins into profits.

Over the course of his career, Allen has co-created and developed technology business models that have birthed highly successful, innovative solutions and companies.

Allen co-founded and served as CTO of New York Loan Exchange (NYLX), a loan product eligibility and pricing engine (PPE) that made an immediate impact on the industry, scaling the company quickly and forming partnerships with multiple mortgage and financial lending companies. In 2012, Allen was a co-founder of a merger between NYLX and Aklero Risk Analytics that created LoanLogics, A Mortgage Loan Quality and Performance Analytics company. Allen served as CTO where he continued to bring new and innovative product solutions to the market that made a significant impact to mortgage lenders that reduced risk, scaled business channels, and grew profits in a very competitive and highly regulated market.

Allen is also is mortgage and finance technology contributor on a weekly live industry podcast, Lykken on Lending, and is launching a new podcast soon to be released, TechStack Radio, dedicated to technology and innovation in Financial Services.

This podcast segment captures growing industry frustration as lenders and experts question the execution, costs, and real impact of FHFA’s credit scoring rollout despite years of development.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Alice Alvey, Master CMB

Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage

She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectiveness.

Prior to UHM, Alice served as Senior Vice President at Indecomm leading the Indecomm-Mortgage U division, Internal QA and Compliance and SaaS technologies. Indecomm acquired Mortgage U in 2013, where Alice was President/Co-founder, providing training and consulting since 1996. Prior to MU she served as SVP of Operations at a national bank overseeing operations for wholesale, retail and correspondent from underwriting through servicing, and compliance.

She has been in the trenches of mortgage lending operations from application through servicing for over 30 years. Her authoring work in training content, policies and procedures and the FHA/VA Practical guides illustrates her ability to bridge regulatory requirements with day-to-day operations.

Alice has been a weekly contributor to the Lykken on Lending show since its beginning in April 2009 and has made her weekly contributions to 450+ episodes!