Expert Insights

At the core of Prosperity Home Mortgage, they are hyper-focused on communication, which includes everyone in the homebuying process. That includes the real estate agent, the lender, and the borrower. For President and CEO Justin Messer, that means thinking beyond the transaction and evaluating every engagement between those individuals throughout the homebuying journey. To create that trust requir...

The technology conversation of GenAI has moved so fast since OpenAI and Chat GPT burst into the public eye. But are businesses just buying into the hype of AI, and does it really benefit their goals and needs? For Shashank Shekhar, Founder and CEO at InstaMortgage, he is taking AI's capabilities and augmenting them for mortgage and lending companies to solve challenges specific to the industr...

The technology buzzwords for the last few years have been AI analytics, data analytics, and automation, but businesses are still unsure how to leverage those advancements in their systems. Leveraging data and connecting systems correctly requires companies to consider what they are trying to accomplish with their information. Cogneesol recently partnered with Total Expert to help the insurance ind...

Medicare agents and agencies have gone through drastic changes over the last 20 years, making adapting and growing with the times challenging for all involved. With a constantly growing customer base, education and personal communication has become a greater necessity to maintain and grow in an expanding marketplace. So how do you become more of a trusted advisor, leverage and grow your business,...

The housing market narrative for 2024 is shaping up to be part mystery, part thriller, part blockbuster. We know rates will come down, but when and how much? When rates do come down, what will be the biggest priorities and opportunities for lenders? And, what can lenders and loan officers do right now to help prepare for the next market shift? Total Expert Founder and CEO Joe Welu sat down with Ho...

Total Expert Founder & CEO Joe Well, Chief Lending Officer Da Catinella, and General Manager of Banking James White came together to discuss how shifts in the market as we enter 2024 will impact both financial institutions and the consumers they serve. With rates expected to drop throughout the year, new opportunities and new challenges will present themselves. So the question becomes: how do...

It’s a star-studded episode of the Expert Insights podcast as Total Expert Founder & CEO Joe Welu is joined by our in-house industry experts, Chief Lending Officer Dan Catinella and General Manager of Banking James White, to talk about the huge news around interest rates. Join us as they discuss what the Federal Reserve announced, how it will impact the financial markets, and what risks and op...

Wed. Dec. 13, 2023 ended on a positive note for lenders as the Federal Open Market Committee and Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, made clear statements that rate hikes are completed and they intend to make several rate cuts in 2024. This crystal clarity should introduce stability to the market with a continual downward trend in mortgage rates through next year—and lenders should expect an inc...

What’s in it to partner with Salesforce? That’s the question we will discuss today. Joining Joe Welu in this episode is the Vice President of Partner Ecosystem at Total Expert,  Patrick Hanley . Bringing with them from the Dreamforce Conference are some of their key takeaways from Salesforce’s largest event. Patrick shares the trend of AI and how Salesforce continues to invest in them. Joe shares...

Join Total Expert Founder & CEO Joe Welu and VP Partner Ecosystems Patrick Hanley as they discuss the invaluable insights and they took away from experts across the technology and financial services industries while at #Dreamforce2023. As a proud Salesforce partner, we’re excited to share our experience from another incredible event. We’ll also discuss the strength of the Total Expert and Sale...

We’re halfway down 2023. For anyone who knows how to stay afloat in the mortgage space, that means keeping yourself abreast of what happened and what trends to expect. In this episode, Joe Welu interviews Julian Hebron , the founder and CEO of The Basis Point , to give us a closer look at the mortgage space in mid-2023. Is the worst over despite the recent challenges and rising interest rates? Wil...

Unique challenges and technological transformations are reshaping the insurance industry as we know it. How should agencies position themselves to benefit from these changes? Join host Joe Welu as he engages in a dynamic discussion with industry experts Chris Cline and Ilya Filipov . The conversation focuses on the lack of proactive communication from agents and the delicate balance between over-c...

There are a lot of changes in the housing industry right now, and with all the layoffs and right-sizing going on, it’s easy to feel like the industry is going through a downturn. But reframe that and think about it as an evolutionary process. In this episode, Joe Welu and industry leader  Clayton Collins  discuss how the current adjustments are pushing mediocre players out and concentrating the ma...

The journey to the top is not all about peaches and rainbows. After all, to reach the top, you have to start from the bottom and go through steep inclines. This metaphor perfectly illustrates what Shant Banosian had to go through. Before he became a top loan originator, Shant started somewhere and went through experiences that may not be the most pleasant life has to offer. How did he rise above t...

Headlines were flooded with the news of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse, leaving consumers with questions and uncertainty. Banks and lenders, on the other hand, are trying to restore consumer confidence and make the next best move. Total Expert’s James White and Dan Catinella join host Joe Welu in this episode to make sense of the news, break it down in simple terms, and outline the opportu...

Today's market demands a deeper understanding of consumer attitudes and mindsets, which often differ from what we see in the media. It's time to ditch the outdated tactics and embrace a more personalized and authentic approach. In this episode, Shashank Shekhar , the CEO of InstaMortgage and host of the Shashank Redemption podcast, discusses how to navigate the industry. He delves into t...

Consider this episode your one-stop shop for top strategies and tactical methods to help your organization drive deal flow and become a growth engine. In this special three-part feature episode, Total Expert 's Chief Lending Officer Dan Catinella joins Joe Welu and discusses how to create growth opportunities. Discover how to (1) protect your pipeline and improve conversions, (2) become a cus...

The industry has shifted where we now have to rely on tech and innovation to create opportunities and ride the changing tides. However, the drawback is it keeps our heads in the sand. What we need is to raise the standard. In this episode, Katherine Campbell , Chief Digital Officer for Assurance Financial , sits down with Joe Welu to discuss how we can do that and be pioneers. She talks about buil...

Guess who’s back? Fintech evangelist Sue Woodard joins Joe Welu here in Expert Insights studio again, this time to discuss how banks and lenders evaluate their tech stack in today’s macro environment. Sue shares the biggest pain points of lenders in choosing and implementing the right technology, the key components lenders miss during the process, how tech providers can be seen as more than just a...

Prioritization is more important than ever as lenders look for ways to grow their businesses. Customer acquisition will certainly be a key component in this regard. Fintech evangelist  Sue Woodard  joins Joe Welu in the Expert Insights studio to discuss the top priorities for lenders in 2023. She explains how to operationalize the right things in your organization and offer consumers with high-qua...

Named the 2022 Digital Banker of the year by American Banker, Allan Rayson has an impressive track record guiding financial institutions to success, sitting at the intersection of fintech and banking. Having most recently built Encore Bank 's tech stack from the ground up, Allan joins host Joe Welu to share his journey, lessons learned, and how banks can navigate ever-changing markets while b...

Returning from the biggest conference on digital strategies for the banking industry, James White, industry principal for banks and credit unions at Total Expert, joins Joe Welu to break down the key themes and takeaways from The Financial Brand Forum conference. Tune in as they discuss where banks and credit unions are focusing their attention heading into 2023 and how they can outpace their comp...

As mortgage lenders face market uncertainty among rising interest rates, there's no question lenders need to play offense to help get consumers into their dream home. Traci Huntemann-Piatt, vice president of marketing at Envoy Mortgage, joined Joe Welu to discuss how she is leading her team to tackle the market, how to remain nimble, and how to go "back to the basics" to mine your d...

The mortgage industry continues to experience its fair share of shake-ups. As the fed raises rates and we're seeing consumer sentiment at all-time lows, trusted financial advisors are needed now more than ever to help consumers navigate choppy waters. In this episode, Total Expert Chief Lending Officer Dan Catinella joins Joe Welu to break down all of the recent headlines and find the silver...

Lance Lemoine, president of the mortgage division at Evolve Bank and Trust, stops by Expert Insights to talk with host Joe Welu about how Evolve is modernizing its business. During the conversation the two discuss the bank's incredible retention rates, staying relevant in the current financial climate, and making data-driven decisions. Key Takeaways: [01:58] Background on Evolve Bank and Trus...