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 bl...
Aug 13, 2025•26 min
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 insuran...
Aug 06, 2025•28 min
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...
Jul 09, 2025•28 min
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...
Jun 25, 2025•23 min
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 sy...
Jun 18, 2025•18 min
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 con...
May 28, 2025•18 min
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 ...
May 21, 2025•21 min
Welcome to another power-packed episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast , hosted by Michael Hammond! In this episode, we’re joined by Nick Belenky , Managing Director of Solution Sales, and Matt Dowd , VP of Product Management at ICE Mortgage Technology , two of the brightest minds reshaping the mortgage tech space. If you're a lender, LO, or fintech leader navigating today's volatile market—this is the strategic blueprint you’ve been waiting for. 🔍 What You'll Learn: How to simplify your tech s...
May 14, 2025•28 min
Website traffic is plummeting—and it’s not your fault. But there is something you can do about it. In this eye-opening episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast , host Michael Hammond sits down with digital marketing powerhouse and Rank Writers co-founder Alizabeth “Allie” Leng-Barton to tackle the elephant in the room: AI search is fundamentally changing how people find your website—and it’s killing your organic traffic. ✅ Why Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are replacing traditiona...
May 07, 2025•28 min
Consolidation, Tech Innovation & AI in Lending: Roy George on the Future of Mortgage Banking | FinTech Hunting 📝 YouTube Description: 🚀 Welcome back to another exciting episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast! 🚀 In this powerful conversation, Michael Hammond sits down with Roy George, President at More Lending, Certified Mortgage Banker, and industry thought leader, to dive deep into the current and future state of the mortgage industry. You'll learn: ✅ Why lenders must lean into technolog...
Apr 30, 2025•26 min
Housing Market Mayhem, AI Disruption & The Future of Homeownership: Diego Sanchez on Fintech In this episode of the Fintech Hunting podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Diego Sanchez, President of HousingWire Media, to unpack the chaos in the current housing market and what it means for lenders, agents, and homebuyers. From Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs to the volatility in mortgage rates and the spring buying season slowdown, Diego shares sharp insights on market uncertainty and ho...
Apr 23, 2025•24 min
In this inspiring episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with two powerhouse women in financial services — Brooke Lapides, Director of Business Partner Development at MeridianLink, and Dana Georgiou, Chief Everything Officer and passionate financial literacy advocate. Together, they co-authored "Rethink Everything You Know About Financial Literacy: Teen Edition", a collaborative book written by 14 incredible women. From personal stories of financial missteps to pr...
Apr 16, 2025•22 min
From Pitch to Partnership: Jason Smith on Authentic Video, Fintech Sales, and AI in Mortgage. In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with returning guest Jason Smith, Director of Partnership Development at Figure, host of One Take, and a well-known voice in fintech sales and relationship marketing. 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why authentic video content builds real trust in B2B sales • How to evolve beyond the "features and functions" pitch...
Apr 09, 2025•25 min
Welcome to another power-packed episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast! 💥 In this episode, host Michael Hammond sits down with Paul J. Loftus, CEO of Loan Vision and a true industry visionary, to discuss how lenders can navigate today's turbulent market by focusing on process improvement, AI-driven innovation, and technology that actually moves the needle. 🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why IMBs are still losing money per loan—and how to reverse the trend The real role of AI in mortgage...
Apr 02, 2025•20 min
The FinTech Hunting Podcast | Featuring Christine Beckwith: The Truth About Today’s Market, Coaching, and Rising Again 🔥 In this jam-packed episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond welcomes back a true industry legend—Christine Beckwith, Founder & CEO of 20/20 Vision for Success. From breaking down current market conditions to sharing game-changing strategies for loan officers, Christine delivers raw, real, and relevant insights every mortgage and real estate professiona...
Mar 26, 2025•26 min
Unlocking the Power of Data in Mortgage Lending | FinTech Hunting Podcast with Richard Lombardi In this episode of FinTech Hunting, host Michael Hammond sits down with Richard Lombardi, EVP of Property Data Solutions & Data Strategy at ICE Mortgage Technology, to explore how data is transforming the mortgage industry. 🏡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How data integration is driving efficiency in mortgage workflows ✅ The role of ICE Fee Solutions, Flood Reports, and AVM models in loan ...
Mar 19, 2025•16 min
inTech M&A Shakeup: How to Survive & Thrive in 2024 | Fintech Hunting Podcast. In this must-listen episode, host Michael Hammond sits down with Julia Brown, an industry thought leader, process efficiency evangelist, and &A expert. They dive into the state of the FinTech, PropTech, InsurTech, and MortgageTech markets, the consolidation trend shaping the industry, and how companies can achieve profitability in today’s challenging environment. 🔹 What You’ll Learn: ✅ The boom of 2020-20...
Feb 26, 2025•22 min
Welcome to a brand-new episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast with your host, Michael Hammond! In this episode, we dive deep into the future of mortgage automation, AI, and digital transformation with Rajan Nair, CEO of Indecomm. 💡 Rajan shares groundbreaking insights on: ✅ Intelligent document automation and mortgage technology ✅ The real impact of AI on lenders and operational efficiency ✅ FHA underwriting innovations and compliance strategies ✅ The challenges lenders face in reducing loan or...
Feb 19, 2025•25 min
Market Insights & Loan Options: Eloise Schmitz on Tech in Lending Description: Join Michael Hammond in this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast as he chats with Eloise Schmitz, CEO of LoanNEX about the current market and the tech helping lenders. What's discussed: • Market Overview (2025): Eloise gives her take on the market, rates, and what to expect in the coming year. • Tech's Impact: Learn how tech helps loan officers handle current market conditions and access different loan products...
Feb 12, 2025•12 min
The Future of Mortgage Tech: AI, Efficiency, and Market Trends with Tim Nguyen | Fintech Hunting Podcast Join Michael Hammond as he talks with Tim Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of BeSmartee and Ask Bob, about the current mortgage market and tech trends for 2025. In this eye-opening episode, Tim shares his thoughts on: • The "new normal" in the mortgage industry and how lenders can adapt • Ways to improve operational efficiency and manage costs effectively • The role of technology in the mortgage bu...
Feb 05, 2025•22 min
Fintech Hunting: Revolutionizing Mortgage Tech with Sasha Stair, CMO at Xactus In this episode of Fintech Hunting, host Michael Hammond welcomes Sasha Stair, Chief Marketing Officer at Xactus for an in-depth discussion on the future of mortgage technology. Sasha shares her journey in the industry and offers valuable insights on: • Leveraging AI and technology for improved efficiency • Creating a better consumer experience in mortgage lending • Balancing human intelligence with technological adva...
Jan 29, 2025•25 min
Mortgage Industry Insights 2025: Automation, Cost Reduction, and Market Trends with Neil Armstrong. In this episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Neil Armstrong, Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth at Indecomm, to discuss the current state of the mortgage industry in 2025. Neil shares valuable insights on market trends, cost reduction strategies, and the growing importance of automation in the mortgage sector. Key topics covered in this episode: *Ma...
Jan 22, 2025•24 min
🔥 Fintech Hunting Podcast: Revolutionizing Insurance in the Mortgage Industry Join Michael Hammond as he sits down with Ross Diedrich, founder and CEO of Covered, for an eye-opening discussion on the future of insurance in the mortgage industry. In this must-watch episode, Ross shares invaluable insights on: Market Trends and Challenges • The current state of the mortgage and insurance markets in 2025 • How climate issues are impacting the property casualty market • The intersection of insuranc...
Jan 15, 2025•26 min
Welcome to Season 7, Episode 1 of the Fintech Hunting podcast! 🎙️ Join host Michael Hammond as he sits down with Mike Vough, Head of Corporate Strategy at Optimal Blue, for an exciting discussion about the future of mortgage technology in 2025. In this episode, you'll learn about: *The importance of partnerships in the fintech ecosystem *Optimal Blue's groundbreaking collaboration with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) *How new mortgage rate futures could change the game for lenders and inv...
Jan 08, 2025•21 min
I recently had the pleasure of hosting Dawar Alimi, CEO of LenderPrice, on the FinTech Hunting Podcast. Our chat was filled with great insights about the mortgage tech world! Here are some highlights: 1 LenderPrice's new offerings: • Core X: A fresh correspondent portal • ALA: An AI-powered loan assistant • Bulk Price: A tool for spotting refinance chances 2 AI in mortgages: Dawar stressed the need for careful, rule-following use of AI. 3 2025 focus for lenders: • Keep going digital • Adapt to G...
Dec 11, 2024•18 min
In this episode of the FinTech Hunting podcast, host Michael Hammond talks with Erin Wester, Optimal Blue's new Chief Product Officer. Erin shares how Optimal Blue uses AI to help mortgage lenders make better decisions and increase profits. Key points from the episode: *Optimal Blue's tools help lenders compare their pricing to competitors and understand their profitability better. *The company's Scenario Optimizer tool lets loan officers quickly compare different loan options for borrowers. *Op...
Dec 04, 2024•20 min
Join Michael Hammond as he talks with Ed Kourany, Chief Business Officer at Candor, about the latest trends in mortgage technology. Ed shares insights from the MBA Annual conference and discusses how AI is changing the mortgage industry. Learn about Candor's new automated pre-approval system and how it's helping lenders improve efficiency and customer experience. Ed also explains why now is the perfect time for lenders to invest in automation, despite market uncertainties. Discover how embracing...
Nov 20, 2024•17 min
🎙️ FinTech Hunting Podcast: Revolutionizing Mortgage Lending with AI and Automation In this exciting episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Tim Nguyen, founder and CEO of BeSmartee, to discuss the latest innovations in mortgage lending technology. Episode Highlights: • BeSmartee's 2024 focus: Combining automation, mobile apps, and enhanced consumer experience • The importance of improving customer experience in the lending industry • Strategic implementation...
Nov 06, 2024•18 min
From Debt Collection to Legal Tech: Jack Gordon's Journey with WebRecon Join Michael Hammond and Dalila Ramos as they chat with Jack Gordon, CEO of WebRecon, on the FinTech Hunting Podcast. Jack shares his story of moving from debt collection to creating a game-changing legal tech company. Learn how WebRecon helps businesses spot risky customers and avoid costly lawsuits. Discover the fun side of trade show marketing, including Jack's famous "lawsuits suck" monster mascot. This episode is packed...
Oct 23, 2024•31 min
In this episode of the Fintech Hunting podcast, host Michael Hammond welcomes Eloise Schmitz, CEO of LoanNEX, to discuss the latest trends and innovations in mortgage lending technology. Key topics covered: • Current market trends in mortgage products, including non-QM and HELOC options • How LoanNEX simplifies product discovery and pricing for lenders and brokers • The importance of accessible tools for non-agency and portfolio products • Innovations in mortgage technology that are expanding ma...
Oct 16, 2024•19 min
