Loan Officer Breakfast Club

In this episode of Kristin's Corner , we dig into a real question from a loan officer: "A realtor told me to stop following up so much and to only call her once a month—what should I do?" This sparked a powerful group discussion with practical insights, mindset shifts, and real strategies on how to handle this kind of feedback without losing the relationship—or your edge. If you're working to buil...

With only 14% of the year left, Owen Lee dropped a critical mortgage market update on today's show—and it was the best news in months. Rates have dipped to their lowest point since mid-2022, and Owen breaks down exactly how loan officers should act  now before conditions shift again. This session is packed with strategic advice: from why today is the day to lock rates, to how to turn this market m...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay deliver a masterclass on how to scale your lead volume through a simple but powerful concept: The Race to the To p . If you're still calling the same 30 agents every week—or not tracking your lead  sources at all—this is the wake-up call you didn't know you needed. You'll discover: Why lead tracking is the key to predi...

Are you "commercial curious" but overwhelmed by the complexity of commercial lending? You're not alone. In this powerful LOBC episode, Frank Garay sits down with commercial lending pro Kelly Dutton to break down the real-world basics every loan officer needs to know when a commercial deal crosses your desk. You'll learn: Why location trumps everything in commercial loans What info you must gather...

In this first session of LO AI Basics 101 , Chris Johnstone walks you through exactly how to set up your ChatGPT account so it starts working for you—helping generate leads, boost your local authority, and even recommend you directly to borrowers. This setup process teaches the AI who you are, what you do, and which loan types you specialize in. It's how top loan officers are getting full mortgage...

In today's episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Owen Lee dives into the hot topic buzzing through the mortgage world: the potential IPO of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. With billions on the table and a high-stakes political backdrop, Owen explains why this move is less about releasing the GSEs from conservatorship and more about a headline-grabbing stock sale. He breaks down how Washington's...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, veteran appraiser and AMC owner Marlene Chaker pulls back the curtain on how AI is reshaping the appraisal landscape—and what that means for loan officers. Marlene shares the real-world impact of AI-driven tools, including automated valuations, photo recognition, and data-scraping models. But while AI brings speed and scalability, she explains wh...

Credit expert Jeanne Kelly joined us on the Loan Officer Breakfast Club and dropped some serious truth bombs that every loan officer needs to hear. One of the biggest myths she debunked? The idea that clients should keep their credit card balances at 30%. Jeanne explains why that advice could be hurting credit scores—and what the real sweet spot is. She also shared insider tips on: How the stateme...

Most loan officers wait too long to hire a caller—and it's costing them business. In this episode, Carl White breaks down exactly how to deploy a "Freedom Caller" into your business the right way. From who to hire, what they need to say, an how to train them, Carl shares the complete blueprint that's already laid out inside the MMA platform. You'll see what kind of results to expect (hint: they're...

In this powerful session, Chris Johnstone breaks down how ChatGPT and AI assistants are quickly becoming the central hub for everything we do—email, social media, CRMs, work platforms, and beyond. We're heading toward a near future where voice-activated AI on your phone, glasses, or other devices will handle a major portion of your daily tasks. For loan officers, the choice is clear: stay ahead or...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Owen Lee breaks down why now is the time to lock loans before the government reopens. With critical reports like jobs data, CPI, and PPI all pending release, the market is effectively flying blind—and once the floodgates open, volatility is almost guaranteed. Owen explains why bonds tied to higher rates (like 7%) aren't moving and how savvy loan ...

In this powerful episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, we're joined by Roberto Monaco , CEO of Influenceology , for a masterclass in storytelling that sells . If you're a loan officer or real estate professional looking to connect deeper, close more deals, and present with more confidence — this is a must-watch. Roberto breaks down his "7 C's" framework for crafting stories that influence an...

If you've ever been stumped by a commercial loan request, this episode introduces the perfect solution. Kelly Dutton from One Click Commercial joins the Loan Officer Breakfast Club to break down how loan officers can tap into a wide array of commercial financing products without needing to become a commercial expert themselves. From SBA loans, multi-unit, mixed-use, hospitality, land acquisition,...

Loan officers, this one's a game-changer. In today's episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Chris Johnstone breaks down a full workflow—powered by AI—that's helping LOs book refinance appointments at scale. We're talking 69 appointments in just 10 days from a proven system that combines phone calls, automated follow-up, and a customizable ChatGPT assistant that works for you 24/7. Chris walks...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Megan Pavone from ARF Financial lays out an incredibly simple way for LOs to add a new revenue stream—without doing any extra work. If you know business owners who need capital, just send them to Megan. If she funds the loan, you get paid 8 points. That's it. No licensing required. No complicated process. Just a quick intro, and Megan handles eve...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Justin Hubbert from Park Place breaks down how loan officers can win big by partnering with Park Place for fix and flip loans, builder loans, bridge loans, and more. Whether you're new to private lending or looking to grow your pipeline, this session reveals why Park Place is a must-have in your toolkit. Frank Garay shares how Park Place helped h...

If you've ever felt like agents are ghosting you, this episode breaks down exactly why it happens —and how to fix it. The truth? Most loan officers talk too much about their product and not enough about what really matters to agents. In this Breakfast Club session, Frank Garay, Steve Kyles, and Carl White unpack how listening —not pitching—wins relationships. They dive deep into what "honor" reall...

In this powerful episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Brandon Barnum breaks down a game-changing way to grow your business: getting certified as a Raving Referrals trainer. If you've been struggling with what to say in realtor presentations or how to consistently attract new referral partners, this training offers the plug-and-play solution you've been waiting for. Certified trainers get ac...

In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Chris Johnstone delivers a powerful preview of what he'll be teaching at his live webinar on October 7th. If you're a loan officer looking to stay ahead of the curve, Chris will walk you through five real-world ways AI is already generating high-quality leads and funding deals. You'll also hear how to prepare your CRM and messaging strategy now—s...

Government shutdowns make headlines, but what do they really mean for your mortgage business? In this episode, Owen Lee dives into what's truly affected when the government halts —and what's just political theater. He walks through which services are still operating, how long disruptions might last, and what loan officers should be communicating to both clients and agents during this time. Owen gi...

With just 12 weeks left in the year, most loan officers slow down—but the most successful ones gear up. In this episode of the Loan Officer Breakfast Club, Steve Kyles and the crew break down how to attack Q4 with precision, discipline, and confidence. Discover how to stay productive through the holidays, avoid the "nobody's working" myth, and implement the Rule of Two to grow your pipeline by bui...

In this powerful session, Kevin Gillespie breaks down the 6 essential systems that are fueling massive growth for loan officers and branch managers across the country. From hitting $1 billion in production to scaling from zero to $100M+ per month, Kevin shares what's actually working inside his Leadership Academy. These six pillars—Leadership, Price & Product, Level-10 Customer Service, Sales Cult...

In this episode, Chris Johnstone breaks down how using AI inside your CRM complete changes the game for refinance prospecting. Whether you have 40 past clients or 4,000, the AI- powered CRM handles the same load—sending messages, responding in real time, and qualifying leads automatically. Chris explains how this lets individual loan officers scale refi outreach without hiring help or burning out....

Are we heading into the most favorable rate environment since 2021? Owen Lee joined us on today's episode to break down the latest Fannie Mae forecast, which now projects mortgage rates dropping to 5.9% by the end of next year . That's not just a prediction—it's a strategic window for loan officers to capitalize on purchase and refi opportunities right now . Owen also shared insights on how starte...

Melissa transitioned from loan officer assistant to full-time LO in early 2025—and what she's done in just a few months is nothing short of impressive. In this episode, she shares how she booked meetings with agents even without a personal production track record. Her strategy? Walking. Literally. Melissa invited agents to join her for morning walks—not pitch sessions, just casual, intentional con...