Fintech Hunting

What if the biggest obstacle to faster closings isn’t underwriting… it’s  title ? In this episode of  Fintech Hunting , host  Michael Hammond  sits down with  Meghan (Megan) F. Askin ,  Director of Lending Services at AFX Research , to unpack what’s really changing in the title space in  2026 —and why the future isn’t “AI replaces humans,” but  AI + humans in the loop . Meghan shares her surprisin...

This episode of The FinTech Hunting Podcast delivers a no-fluff, high-impact breakdown of what mortgage professionals need to know to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving market. Host Michael Hammond is joined by Eloise Schmitz, CEO and Co-Founder of LoanNEX, for an expert analysis on the forces reshaping mortgage lending in 2026 — from non-agency momentum and pricing execution to investor...

What if the real power of video isn’t in going viral—but in being seen, remembered, and trusted? In this powerful episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond is joined by two of the most beloved and influential voices in mortgage and fintech content:  Dalila Ramos  of Taco Tuesdays and  Jason Smith  of One Take. Together, they unpack: Why  authenticity beats perfection  in video c...

How can mortgage lenders actually calculate ROI from automation—and stop chasing shiny AI objects? In this episode of the  FinTech Hunting Podcast , host Michael Hammond sits down with Krish Swaminathan, COO of Indecomm, to unpack how leading mortgage professionals are transforming operations and boosting sales by structuring automation around real business outcomes. Krish breaks down: How to buil...

In this insightful and thought-provoking episode of the  FinTech Hunting Podcast , host Michael Hammond sits down with  Trina, Senior Director of Servicing Product Strategy at ICE Mortgage Technology , to explore how  AI is transforming mortgage servicing and borrower experience . Learn how AI tools like  call prediction, note summarization, chatbots, and intelligent virtual agents (IVAs)  are dri...

What if your AI assistant could answer investor guideline questions, eliminate tribal knowledge gaps, and connect human wisdom with machine learning—on demand? 🎙️ In this thought-provoking episode of  Fintech Hunting , host Michael Hammond sits down with  Andrew DeGood , CEO of  AskBob AI , for a conversation that’s part masterclass, part manifesto on how AI is radically reshaping the mortgage and...

In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting podcast, host Michael Hammond is joined by two respected leaders in the mortgage and fintech space: Michele Buschman, Chief Information Officer at American Pacific Mortgage Kerri Girouard, Vice President of Relationship Management and Client Success at ICE Mortgage Technology Together, they unpack what it really takes to lead meaningful change in a h...

Is your mortgage business unknowingly bleeding revenue? In this powerful and eye-opening episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with returning guest Tim Nguyen, CEO and founder of BeSmartee, to uncover one of the most overlooked—and costly—problems in mortgage lending: application abandonment. Why are 30–40% of borrowers starting but never submitting applications? W...

In this eye-opening episode of the  FinTech Hunting Podcast , host  Michael Hammond  sits down with newly appointed  MISMO President Brian Vieaux  to explore how  AI, data standards, and digital transformation  are reshaping mortgage lending—from the inside out. Together, they dig into questions few in the industry are asking aloud: What role will  MISMO play in regulating and enabling responsible...

In this episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast, recorded following the Loan Vision Innovation Conference in Atlanta, host Michael Hammond sits down with Julia Brown, CEO and Founder of Telescope Advisors, to unpack the hidden fractures that quietly derail mortgage M&A deals. Julia shares deep insights from the frontlines of organizational transformation and post-acquisition integration. Whethe...

 In this must-watch episode of  Fintech Hunting , host Michael Hammond welcomes back  Dan Bailey , SVP at  WFG Enterprise Solutions , to uncover how WFG is transforming title, valuation, and lending operations with next-gen technology and service-first culture. 🎙️  What You’ll Learn in This Episode : The state of the mortgage market—and what’s improving Why borrower experience isn’t just talk at W...

Inside Loyalty Tech, M&A Strategy & Global Growth with Denis Brosnan | FinTech Hunting SpecialIn this Special Episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with returning guest Denis Brosnan, Portfolio CEO at CORA Group (a division of Jonas Software under Constellation). Denis leads one of the largest software groups you’ve never heard of—and in this conversation,...

What happens when a fourth-generation mortgage pro, mom, mentor, and now published author decides to rethink everything she knows about networking, technology, and building trust in financial services? In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Lindsay Meyer—a trailblazer in the mortgage space who’s redefining what it means to lead with heart and innovate w...

Welcome to a  game-changing  episode of  The FinTech Hunting Podcast  — filmed LIVE with  Josh Friend , CEO and Founder of  Insellerate , one of the mortgage industry’s true AI pioneers. 🏆  Named an AI Innovator by Progress in Lending  and winner of  Top Demo at the Digital Mortgage Conference , Josh joins host  Michael Hammond  to unveil how  AI is transforming loan officer performance, predicta...

In this powerful episode of the  Fintech Hunting Podcast , host  Michael Hammond  welcomes back  Eloise Schmitz , CEO and Co-Founder of  LoanNEX , for a must-listen conversation on the critical role  non-QM and non-agency lending  plays in today’s mortgage market. 🎙️  What you’ll learn in this episode: Why  non-QM lending  has shifted from optional to essential for lenders seeking growth in 2025 H...

Is your mortgage business leaving money on the table? In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, tech innovator and AI evangelist Tim Nguyen, Founder & CEO of BeSmartee, returns with a game-changing conversation on application abandonment—the overlooked metric that could be silently draining your profits. Hosted by industry expert Michael Hammond, this episode unpacks: Why the “c...

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 sh...

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...

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 o...

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...

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. 🛑...

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 th...

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 disc...

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 optiona...

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 20...