Nathan Einkorn – Mortgage Professional & VA Loan Advocate

Nathan Einkorn is a seasoned mortgage professional with a deep expertise in VA home loans. Based in Colorado, Nathan has been a part of the Vetted VA community since its inception, establishing himself as a trusted expert in veteran lending. His no-nonsense approach, combined with his commitment to educating both homebuyers and industry professionals, has made him a respected leader in the mortgage industry.

Born and raised in San Diego, Nathan began his career in management with 24 Hour Fitness before transitioning into the mortgage industry in 2004. His entry into lending was unconventional—jumping headfirst into the "Wild West" era of mortgages—but it was also transformative. Working for a mortgage brokerage that primarily focused on VA and FHA loans, Nathan quickly realized the power of VA financing. His personal connection to the military, with family members who served, further fueled his passion for ensuring veterans fully understand and utilize their VA home loan benefits.

Nathan is committed to a high standard of service, continuously refining his knowledge through Vetted VA’s rigorous training and community discussions. He firmly believes in the importance of surrounding himself with top professionals to stay ahead of industry changes and better serve his clients. His approach to lending is rooted in education, ensuring that every borrower he works with is empowered to make informed financial decisions.

Beyond his professional expertise, Nathan is an outdoor enthusiast who moved to Colorado to embrace his love of snowboarding, fly fishing, and hunting. He also holds himself to high personal standards, frequently engaging in self-improvement challenges like "75 Hard" and maintaining an active, disciplined lifestyle.

Nathan is known for his straight-shooting advice, dedication to his clients, and deep knowledge of VA loans. Whether he’s educating a veteran about their benefits, helping real estate agents understand VA lending guidelines, or engaging in spirited debates about whether chili should have beans, Nathan remains a valued voice in the industry.

Connect with Nathan Einkorn:

(720) 980-9988

[email protected]

https://www.nathaneinkornmortgage.com/

Michael Wolff is a dedicated mortgage professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Originally trained as an engineer, Michael’s analytical approach and problem-solving skills have made him a trusted expert in mortgage lending, particularly in VA loans.

His journey into the mortgage world was unconventional. After working in IT during the dot-com bubble, playing in a touring band, and managing a restaurant, he found himself drawn to lending. Early in his career, he quickly recognized the gaps in financial education among even well-educated borrowers, which fueled his passion for helping clients make informed decisions about homeownership.

Michael specializes in VA loans, working closely with veterans and service members to navigate the homebuying process. His expertise allows him to assist borrowers who have been denied elsewhere, ensuring they receive the benefits they’ve earned. His deep understanding of VA guidelines, reconsideration of value (ROV) processes, and loan structuring has enabled him to help countless clients achieve homeownership—even in complex financial situations.

A longtime member and moderator of Vetted VA, Michael was among the early professionals invited to join the movement, dedicated to protecting and educating veterans in the homebuying process. His commitment to ethical lending and advocacy for military families has set him apart in the industry.

When he’s not helping clients, Michael enjoys music (with a background in punk rock and post-hardcore), strategic games, and spending time with his family in North Carolina.

Connect with Michael Wolff:

984-289-6479

[email protected]

https://michaelthebroker.tnypg.com/

In this episode of theVetted VA Podcast: Your Journey Home, hostNathan Nottingham sits down withMichael Dendy, a seasoned mortgage professional and real estate agent based in Tennessee. Michael has spent years helping veterans and service members navigate the VA home loan process with unwavering dedication and expertise.
Originally from Georgia, Michael's deep respect for the military stems from his family’s service history, including his stepfather and son who served in the U.S. Army. His journey in the mortgage industry began in Michigan before he transitioned to Tennessee, where he embraced the broker side of lending. Over time, Michael became a trusted resource in theVetted VA community, helping to dispel misinformation and educate professionals and veterans alike on the true benefits of the VA home loan.
Beyond his work in real estate and lending, Michael is a devoted family man—father to an impressive12 children—and known for his catchphrase:“I have 12 kids, I have to close loans.” His passion for serving veterans stems from his desire to ensure that those who fought for our country have access to the homeownership benefits they’ve earned.
Tune in as Michael shares powerful success stories, tackles common VA loan myths, and provides invaluable advice for both homebuyers and industry professionals.

Connect with Michael Dendy:

(615) 499-6335

[email protected]

http://michaeldendy.com

Jerry Avila is a dedicated mortgage professional and VA loan expert based in Ventura, California. With a deep-rooted passion for serving the veteran community, Jerry has spent years ensuring that service members and their families fully understand and maximize their VA home loan benefits. His journey into the mortgage industry was driven by personal experiences—watching his own family members navigate the complexities of homeownership and vowing to protect others from being taken advantage of in the lending process.Born in Chicago and raised in Ventura County, Jerry embodies the laid-back yet hardworking culture of his coastal community. He is bilingual, providing critical support to Spanish-speaking borrowers, ensuring they receive transparent and accurate information about their home loan options. His extensive knowledge of the VA loan program, coupled with his commitment to education, has made him a trusted resource within the Vetted VA community. Jerry actively participates in the Vetted VA Facebook group, live training sessions, and social media content, helping veterans nationwide secure the homes they deserve.Beyond his career in lending, Jerry is a hands-on auto enthusiast who enjoys customizing trucks and modifying cars. His passion for mechanics reflects his approach to lending—diligent, detail-oriented, and always striving for excellence.As a loan officer, educator, and advocate, Jerry’s mission is simple: to empower veterans and their families with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about homeownership. He believes that financial literacy and homeownership are crucial tools for creating generational wealth and stability, particularly within minority communities.

How to Get in Contact with Jerry Avila:

(805) 814-7506

[email protected]

https://amerifund.com/team/jerry-avila/

Brandi Brickler is a dedicated mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance Corporation, specializing in VA loans and mortgage solutions for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. As a U.S. Navy veteran, Brandi brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to home financing, ensuring her clients receive not only expert guidance but also advocacy from someone who truly understands military life and transition.

Her expertise and commitment to excellence have earned her the prestigious title of Vetted VA Professional. This designation signifies rigorous training, extensive VA loan knowledge, and a passion for serving the veteran community with integrity.

Beyond her work as a mortgage broker, Brandi is a trusted voice in the industry, known for her no-nonsense, transparent approach. She is committed to educating veterans and service members about their home loan benefits, empowering them to make the best financial decisions for their futures. Her dedication extends beyond transactions—she guides, educates, and fights for the financial well-being of her clients.

Brandi's journey into mortgage lending is deeply personal. After joining the U.S. Navy at 20 to pursue higher education, she experienced firsthand the financial challenges many service members face. Her transition from military life to finance, combined with her personal experiences navigating homeownership, has shaped her into an advocate for financial literacy and responsible homebuying.

Known for her direct, honest approach, Brandi isn’t afraid to ask tough questions and push for the best solutions. She values long-term relationships over quick sales, ensuring that every client she serves is set up for lasting financial success. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, refinancing, or looking to leverage your VA loan benefits, Brandi Brickler is the expert you want in your corner.

How to Get in Contact with Brandi Brickler:

(808) 388-1550

[email protected]

https://www.brandibrickler.com/

Rylan Maddox is a passionate and experienced Mortgage Loan Officer serving clients in both Colorado and Hawaii. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, with a deep connection to the Hawaiian community, Rylan brings over a decade of expertise in VA home loans, having started his career with one of the largest VA lenders in the nation. His dedication to helping veterans achieve homeownership is rooted in his comprehensive understanding of the VA loan program, a skill honed by reading the VA handbook cover-to-cover early in his career.

Rylan’s unique approach emphasizes personalized service, transparency, and problem-solving. He transitioned to the broker channel in 2022, allowing him to offer more competitive rates and tailored solutions to his clients. His commitment to veterans goes beyond mortgages—Rylan actively volunteers as a moderator in the Vetted VA community, providing accurate, unbiased advice to veterans and military families.

A long-time Hawaii resident, Rylan balances his professional life with his love for family and community. Whether assisting veterans with life-changing transactions, like helping a homeless veteran achieve homeownership, or moderating the Vetted VA Facebook group, Rylan remains dedicated to making a meaningful impact.
Rylan lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, their children, and growing family. He continues to serve as a trusted resource for veterans and active-duty military members navigating the complexities of VA loans. To connect with Rylan or learn more about his services, visit VettedVA.com.

How to Get in Contact with Rylan Maddox:

(808) 649-8737

[email protected]

https://rylanmaddox.com

Christopher Thomas is a Mortgage Loan Originator at Iris Mortgage LLC, a Michigan-based company offering personalized mortgage solutions.
Raised in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, Chris graduated from Michigan State University. After working as a shop manager in steel fabrication, he transitioned into the mortgage industry, inspired by his then-girlfriend and now wife, Katherine Thomas, who is the CEO of Iris Mortgage.
Chris is passionate about customizing loan structures to meet clients’ needs, whether for purchasing or refinancing homes. He emphasizes delivering personalized, start-to-finish service by maintaining a small, efficient team that eliminates unnecessary overhead.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Chris is a cancer survivor, having been in remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for over eight years. He resides in Grosse Pointe Park with his wife, Katherine, their two children, and dogs, Jofa and Abby. The family enjoys activities like pickleball at Patterson Park and biking around Belle Isle.
Chris is also dedicated to serving veterans, actively participating in a Facebook group of nearly 50,000 veterans to answer homebuying questions without solicitation. He stays updated with VA guidelines to best serve veteran clients.
For more information or to contact Chris, you can visit Iris Mortgage’s official website.

(313) 655-2423

[email protected]

https://www.irismortgage.com/about-christopher-thomas

Thomas Sloan is a dedicated mortgage professional and a proud member of the Vetted VA community. Based in New Jersey, Thomas brings a unique blend of responsiveness, professionalism, and a passion for creating seamless, stress-free homebuying experiences. His journey into the mortgage industry is marked by resilience, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to service.

Thomas’s professional ethos is deeply rooted in his diverse background, which includes years in hospitality and catering management. These roles honed his ability to prioritize service, build relationships, and exceed expectations—skills he seamlessly translated into the mortgage field. His approach is centered on understanding each client's unique needs and leveraging the flexibility of VA loan benefits to help them achieve their homeownership dreams.

A licensed mortgage broker operating across multiple states, Thomas is particularly passionate about serving veterans and active-duty military families. His commitment to education and transparency has earned him respect among peers and clients alike. Thomas frequently works to empower others, whether through peer-to-peer leadership, mentoring, or helping clients navigate complex financial scenarios.

Outside of his professional life, Thomas is a devoted husband and father of four. His family serves as his inspiration and driving force. He thrives on building connections, giving back, and contributing to the success of his community, both professionally and personally.

Whether it’s guiding a veteran through a PCS transition or helping a first-time homebuyer secure their dream home, Thomas Sloan exemplifies the values of trust, empathy, and unwavering dedication. He is a vital part of the Vetted VA mission, working tirelessly to support those who serve and their families.

(973) 572-7715

https://lo.gorascal.com/thomas/

https://mortgagematchup.com/Profile/ThomasSloan?page=1

Welcome to the Vetted VA podcast. The VA Loan Your Journey Home. This is a podcast where we go beyond the surface of VA home loans. Join us weekly as we team up with leading mortgage and real estate experts who've gone through the vetted VA training and vetting process. We'll dive into everything you need to know from your first thoughts on buying a home.

In this episode, we’re taking a casual, round-table approach, featuring a stellar panel of Vetted Pros: Randy Teakell from Texas, Jason Rivera in sunny San Diego, and Jessica Wells from Washington state. Together, we’ll tackle the common misconceptions, untapped opportunities, and insider tips to get the most from your VA benefits.

From how to leverage your VA loan multiple times to strategies for high-cost markets and tips on navigating property taxes as a disabled veteran, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s dive in and help you unlock the full potential of your VA benefits!

We hope you enjoy the show. We hope you enjoy this episode. And if you have any other follow-up questions. Let us know at:

[email protected].

Enjoy!

Engage with Vetted VA

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan Knottingham on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Griffith on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan Knottingham of Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Griffith on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vetted VA on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vetted VA Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the Vetted VA podcast. The VA Loan Your Journey Home. This is a podcast where we go beyond the surface of VA home loans. Join us weekly as we team up with leading mortgage and real estate experts who've gone through the vetted VA training and vetting process. We'll dive into everything you need to know from your first thoughts on buying a home.

In this episode, we're diving into a topic that's not flashy but absolutely crucial: income qualification for VA loans.

Whether you're active duty, self-employed, working with variable pay, or managing rental properties, understanding how your income factors into your VA loan application is the key to a smooth process. We'll tackle everything from pay stub mysteries and bonus misconceptions to the common pitfalls of job changes during the loan process.

Joining us are two seasoned mortgage pros, Randy Teakell and Rylan Maddox, who’ll break it all down with real-world examples and actionable advice. If you’ve ever wondered how underwriters view your income—or how to make the most of your VA benefits—this episode is for you.

Let’s get into it!

We hope you enjoy the show. We hope you enjoy this episode. And if you have any other follow-up questions. Let us know at:

[email protected].

Enjoy!

Engage with Vetted VA

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan Knottingham on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Griffith on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nathan Knottingham of Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Griffith on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vetted VA on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vetted VA Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠