Episode 24 | The Blitz Break 🎙️

This week on The Blitz Break, hosts Phil Rasmussen, Buzz Howard, and Julie Shroyer are joined remotely by Michael Belfor of American Pacific Mortgage for a timely conversation about technology, connection, and having the courage to take the leap.

From AI tools to real human relationships, the group breaks down how today’s loan officers can work smarter without losing what matters most.

In this episode, we cover:

🤖 How AI can help loan officers become more efficient without replacing the human touch

🤝 Why real connection still matters in an increasingly digital and social-first world

📱 The different ways Michael uses social media to build trust, visibility, and relationships

🚀 Why taking the dive, even when it’s uncomfortable or scary, is often the key to growth

Whether you’re in mortgage, real estate, or any relationship-driven business, this episode is a reminder that growth happens at the intersection of innovation, authenticity, and courage.

👉 Enjoying the show? LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and tell us in the comments:

What’s one move you’ve been hesitant to make that might be worth the leap?

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction & Welcome

00:01:22 Meet Michael Belfor - AI Enthusiast & Mortgage Professional

00:03:33 Philosophy on Technology & Personal Connection

00:05:41 Getting Started with AI - First Steps

00:09:50 Using AI for Social Media & Blog Posts

00:11:25 Weekly Market Recaps & Email Strategy

00:14:29 Staying Top of Mind with Clients

00:18:42 The Strike Rate Strategy for Refinances

00:22:09 Training Your AI to Sound Like You

00:27:09 Memory & Custom GPT Creation

00:29:35 Balancing Work & Family Time

00:34:21 Using AI for Guideline Research

00:38:39 Social Media Platforms & Posting Strategy

00:42:00 Instagram vs Other Platforms

00:46:30 Overcoming Camera Shyness & Being Authentic

00:52:09 The Mayor Campaign & Building Trust

01:01:25 Hootsuite & Social Media Scheduling

01:03:32 Being Human on Social Media

01:06:30 The Power of Showing Vulnerability

01:08:42 Batch Recording Content Strategy

01:11:30 Stage Fright & Getting Comfortable on Camera

01:13:53 Mixing Personal & Professional Content

01:18:27 Story Feed Strategy & Authentic Moments

01:21:30 Creating Comfortable Interview Environments

01:22:18 Upcoming AI Summit Announcement

01:23:06 Final Thoughts & Closing