Category Archives: Finance

FormFree releases Residual Income Knowledge Index, an intelligent new system for assessing borrowers’ Ability to Pay, to lenders nationwide

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced the general availability of its Residual Income Knowledge Index™, or RIKI™. RIKI is an innovative method for measuring consumers' Ability-to-Pay (ATP®) for mortgages and other loans based on monthly income and spending. When paired with traditional credit scoring models, RIKI offers lenders a more complete understanding of consumers' creditworthiness and creates homeownership opportunities for those with little to no credit history.

RIKI's knowledge-engineered rules are informed by human financial experts and are designed to help lenders mitigate risk through a more nuanced understanding of borrowers' spending habits and ability to save. With a borrower's consent, FormFree calculates residual income and RIKI by analyzing bank and credit card transaction statements procured directly from the source financial institutions. By giving lenders a better understanding of a borrower's discretionary funds after mandatory monthly expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, loan payments), RIKI helps lenders extend credit more inclusively and confidently.

In July, San Diego-based Guild Mortgage (NYSE: GHLD) became the first lender to pilot RIKI with its launch of Complete Rate, a program that provides a more inclusive path to homeownership by allowing consumers with no credit score or credit history to opt in to RIKI's assessment of their financial data for a chance to qualify for a lower interest rate, lower fees or both.

"Our Complete Rate program, powered by FormFree's RIKI, helps remove a key obstacle faced by many first-time homebuyers and has allowed Guild to better serve consumers in a challenging interest-rate environment," said David Battany, Guild Mortgage's EVP of capital markets. "By supplementing consumers' credit scores with analysis of their real transaction data, our groundbreaking approach democratizes the credit decisioning process for those who need it most - historically underserved racial and ethnic groups, consumers with thin credit files and people without traditional full-time jobs."

RIKI is now available to banks, credit unions and independent mortgage banks (IMBs) across the United States. The rule-based algorithms driving the now-public feature have been painstakingly engineered without blackbox machine learning and tested to ensure RIKI cannot develop unintended prejudices. FormFree's cash flow analysis also automatically identifies and disregards outliers in a consumer's income and spending history to ensure that occasional windfalls, money transfers or large purchases do not affect ATP estimates.

"Traditional credit scoring systems are designed to reward a very specific type of borrower: one with a W-2, a strong credit history and a good debt-to-income ratio. Unfortunately, these risk determination methods bar countless mortgage-ready Americans from affordable homeownership," said Brent Chandler, founder and CEO of FormFree. "RIKI rewards something more basic and uncontroversial than credit history: simply making ends meet. When considered with a credit score, insight into consumers' ability to pay and save adds an extra layer of certainty when determining borrower risk."

To learn more about RIKI and request a personalized demo, visit https://www.formfree.com/residual-income-knowledge-index/

About FormFree®

As the industry's go-to provider for direct-source VOA and VOI/E data, FormFree helps lenders understand credit risk like never before. Our patented AccountChek® and Passport® products open doors to more inclusive credit decisioning by revealing each customer's true ability to pay (ATP®). We have completed over $3 trillion in loan verifications that help lenders lower operating costs while improving the borrower experience. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

FormFree today announced the general availability of its Residual Income Knowledge Index, or RIKI. RIKI is an innovative method for measuring consumers' Ability-to-Pay (ATP) for mortgages and other loans based on monthly income and spending. When paired with traditional credit scoring models, RIKI offers lenders a more complete understanding of consumers' creditworthiness and creates homeownership opportunities for those with little to no credit history.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach’s Dave Savage named 2022 HW Vanguard honoree

OWINGS MILLS, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced that Chief Innovation Officer Dave Savage has been recognized as a 2022 HousingWire Vanguard award winner. The HW Vanguard awards program recognizes housing and mortgage finance professionals whose leadership is moving markets forward, each and every day.

Savage is a household name in the mortgage industry who has developed a reputation as a passionate advocate for connecting borrowers with mortgage strategies that help them achieve their financial and homeownership dreams. As the founder and CEO of Mortgage Coach, Savage launched a first-of-its-kind technology that empowers lenders to educate borrowers about their financing options with interactive presentations that compare loan performance over time. An inspiring speaker and prolific content creator, Savage has amassed a dedicated online following and influenced the business philosophies of tens of thousands of loan officers and mortgage executives.

In January 2022, Savage secured an investment from LLR Partners, and in June 2022, he helped lead the merger of Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach.

"Dave has had an indelible impact on the borrowers he's worked with personally, the ones he's reached through his technology and mentorship, and on the mortgage industry as a whole. His goal of transforming how lenders think of lending from a transaction to an advice-based process has provided innumerable consumers with a new mindset and tools for managing debt and equity," said Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach CEO Richard Harris. "Dave will continue to innovate and influence Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach and the mortgage industry as a whole in ways currently unimaginable."

"The Vanguard award showcases the exemplary leaders in housing who are constantly innovating and evolving despite inevitable economic headwinds," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "This year's honorees have proven to be laser-focused on the goals of their organizations, recognizing and seizing opportunities when they present themselves and refusing to settle for the status quo."

To see the complete list of HW Vanguard award honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/.

About Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach:

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach are trusted by more than 300 lenders, including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks to connect borrowers with the right loan at the right time.

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang helps lenders build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To learn more, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning platform that empowers mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower pull-through, repeat business and referrals. To learn more, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com.

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced that Chief Innovation Officer Dave Savage has been recognized as a 2022 HousingWire Vanguard award winner.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

Mortgage Servicing Start-Up Valon Selects ACES Quality Management & Control to Drive QC Operations

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that mortgage lending and servicing start-up Valon has selected ACES' flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support the company's mortgage servicing quality control (QC) audits, completing implementation within 28 business days.

"What's unique about Valon is we're both a tech company and a mortgage servicer. We've grown tremendously since our inception in 2019 and are projecting additional growth of 150% this year. As we scale internal operations to keep pace with that growth, having strong controls in place is extremely important to ensure we're operating compliantly and responsibly," said Christi Weber, Senior Director, Operations Enablement and Quality at Valon. "We identified ACES as one of the key leaders in the mortgage QC space and a partner that could help us implement a robust quality program that could keep up with a much larger book of business."

"With the platform's extensive compliance coverage at all levels and the fact that ACES is constantly optimizing the platform and monitoring the compliance landscape, we knew we could derive a ton of value from the system in a very short period," Weber added. "We're a very data-focused company, and ACES provides us with a wealth of data that we can analyze to look for trends and see how those affect certain subsets of our portfolio."

"Compliance and quality control automation are vital contributors to the success of today's mortgage companies. We've built ACES to enable businesses to swiftly meet mortgage compliance requirements and navigate changes while providing powerful business insights," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "Tech-forward companies like Valon are realizing the value of investing in quality control and risk management tools from the outset and, thus, setting themselves up for long-term success."

About Valon:

Valon is a residential mortgage servicer and lender on a mission to empower every homeowner with ease, security, and financial know-how. Valon is focused on creating a new homeownership experience through its mortgage servicing tools, lending products, and team of experts. For more information, visit https://valon.com.

About ACES Quality Management:

ACES Quality Management is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 60% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 8 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the United States.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology®, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment. For more information, visit www.acesquality.com or call 1-800-858-1598.

ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that mortgage lending and servicing start-up Valon has selected ACES' flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support the company's mortgage servicing quality control (QC) audits, completing implementation within 28 business days.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

EPIC Expands Life and Executive Benefits Platform with Acquisition of The National Benefit Corp

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC") announced today that it has acquired The National Benefit Corp ("TNBC"). The acquisition further expands EPIC's geographic footprint in the Midwest across its life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella. The transaction continues to broaden the reach of EPIC's current Life and Executive Benefits practice and provides TNBC with an expanded and complementary portfolio of products and resources to facilitate growth and enhance client service.

Founded in 1977, TNBC is a full-service insurance marketing organization and a trusted insurance and annuity partner for advisors across the country. TNBC offers advisors a diverse line of financial products including Life, Long-Term Care and Disability Income insurance along with a specialization in Annuity solutions. The current leadership team of TNBC, including President John Gilbert, will remain intact upon joining the EPIC organization. Gilbert also serves as Chair of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA).

"Over the last 45 years, TNBC has become a leader in delivering personal relationships and independent life and annuity solutions to our incredible customers. Through this new partnership with EPIC and Vanbridge, we are very excited to be able to offer a more robust suite of solutions and best in class expertise to enhance our long-standing customer relationships," said Gilbert.

"I am fortunate to have known John Gilbert and Tom Kirke for the last decade and am very excited to welcome the team at TNBC into our collaborative organization," said Tom Bellig, EPIC Life and Executive Benefits and Managing Principal of Vanbridge.

"TNBC has cultivated a great reputation of performance within their specialty and this acquisition is an excellent opportunity for us to build on that success and drive growth - together," concluded Mitchell K. Smith, EPIC Life and Executive Benefits and Managing Principal of Vanbridge.

About EPIC Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has more than 2,800 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients. Visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

About Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits:

Vanbridge's Life and Executive Benefits division provides coordinated advice about insurance planning, executive benefits, estate, tax, distributions, business succession, and other related financial matters. Clients rely on its team to identify relevant areas of risk, ask clarifying and exploratory questions to identify goals, generate custom solutions and manage the implementation in conjunction with their legal and tax advisors, when applicable. Vanbridge's infrastructure, tools, services, and strategies cater to RIAs, Family Offices, CPA firms and financial service professionals and institutions. It has assembled a distinguished interdisciplinary team that combines the best in life and annuity, capital markets, tax and legal expertise. A true independent firm with offices and leadership across the country, Vanbridge provides objective access to the world's leading carriers across life insurance, annuities, disability income, long-term care and linked benefits. Visit: https://www.vanbridge.com/.

About TNBC:

The National Benefit Corp. (TNBC) is a full-service insurance marketing organization focused on providing extraordinary service and building quality relationships with our customer, the financial services professional. TNBC streamlines the business of its customers using proprietary technology platforms and through extraordinary personal service. Life insurance, annuities, long term care and disability income insurance are the primary products that we use to strengthen the financial futures of our clients. Visit: https://www.tnbc.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC") announced today that it has acquired The National Benefit Corp ("TNBC"). The acquisition further expands EPIC's geographic footprint in the Midwest across its life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

After, Inc. Announces the Launch of QuickClaim® – Its Best-in-Class Claims and Returns Management System

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc., a global leader in post-sale customer experience technology, just announced the launch of QuickClaim®, a cloud-based, claims and returns management system. QuickClaim® is one of five post-sale customer experience platforms that After, Inc. calls its QuickSuite®. Designed to work together at each stage of the post-sale lifecycle, the award-winning QuickSuite® platforms help clients build meaningful relationships with their customers.

The five platforms include: QuickReg® (registration), QuickCover® (product protection), QuickInsight® (customer data enrichment and analytics), QuickClaim® (product return, replacement and repair management), and QuickRenew® (renewals and consumable subscriptions).

"QuickClaim meets a huge need in the market," says Nate Baldwin, CEO of After, Inc. "Most systems are multi-million-dollar, fully customized software platforms that only the largest manufacturers and retailers can afford. We saw a huge gap in the market for a best-in-class, claims and returns management system at a much lower price, so, we built QuickClaim."

Developed from over two decades of expertise, QuickClaim® incorporates the same core features and functionality that After, Inc. has built for its large, enterprise clients. With modules, business rules, and email templates which can be tailored for any business' specific processes and real-time communications, QuickClaim® provides a powerful, yet easy-to-use claims and returns management solution.

LEARN MORE: https://www.afterinc.com/quicksuite/quickclaim

INTRO VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/754329030

ABOUT AFTER, INC.:

After, Inc. (afterinc.com) is a pioneer in the Warranty Services industry. Since 2005, After, Inc. has been partnering with some of the world's top brands to help transform their post-sale customer experiences. After, Inc. launched QuickSuite in 2020, a modular set of platforms, designed to help manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce sellers of any size build deeper relationships with their customers and increase loyalty and lifetime value. In 2022, After acquired Accentf(x), adding vertically integrated capabilities to our post-sale marketing solutions.

Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn. and with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of Galway Holdings, a financial services distribution company with a focus towards data analytics, technology transformation, and innovative risk sharing solutions.

LEARN MORE: https://www.afterinc.com/

After, Inc., a global leader in post-sale customer experience technology, just announced the launch of QuickClaim®, a cloud-based, claims and returns management system. QuickClaim is one of five post-sale customer experience platforms that After, Inc. calls its QuickSuite.

Related link: https://afterinc.com/

Mover’s Choice and Move For Hunger Renew Partnership to Fight Hunger During Difficult Times

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mover's Choice, a specialty moving and storage insurance program, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, have renewed their partnership which will help to provide more than 25,000 meals to communities in need.

Mover's Choice has partnered with Move For Hunger since 2019 and has helped to provide over 88,000 meals to those in need through their continued partnership with Move For Hunger.

"The partnership that we've developed with Move For Hunger has given us a unique opportunity to join the fight against hunger as an organization," said Brandon Laam, Assistant Vice President of Mover's Choice. "It's a partnership that we take great pride in. In today's economic uncertainty, there are many individuals and families that will benefit from what Move For Hunger is accomplishing. We're extremely grateful to play a small part in those efforts and look forward to continually strengthening our support of the Move For Hunger organization."

Through partnerships like the one with Mover's Choice, Move For Hunger is able to consistently increase its impact on communities in need in the United States and Canada. So far in 2022, Move For Hunger has transported over 3 million pounds of donated food to food banks across North America.

Since its founding in 2009, Move For Hunger has created a sustainable way for people to donate food. With a network of over 1,100 moving companies, including many of the world's leading relocation management companies, and more than 3,000 multifamily apartment communities, Move For Hunger has provided over 29 million pounds of food, equaling more than 24 million meals, to those in need. The company has also recently expanded to develop its Fresh Food Program, rescuing and transporting more than 700,000 pounds of fresh food.

"We couldn't be more thankful for another year of partnership with Mover's Choice," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger. "With more than 38 million Americans facing hunger daily, each partnership brings us one year closer to ending hunger."

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger, a 501(c)(3), is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 38 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 28 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 23 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at https://www.moveforhunger.org/

About Mover's Choice:

We provide specialized business solutions including comprehensive insurance products specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Moving & Storage operations, cutting-edge technology that increases operational efficiency, advanced loss prevention services and resources that reduce exposures and a network of service providers for exclusive discounts.

Mover's Choice, a specialty moving and storage insurance program, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, have renewed their partnership which will help to provide more than 25,000 meals to communities in need.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

MMI welcomes Justin Bird as Creative Director

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced Justin Bird has joined the firm as its new creative director.

"MMI has a wealth of data that grows daily," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "We've brought Justin in to expand the ways our market insights are provided. With his creativity and experience, we're thrilled to enhance our tools and provide our users with insights that are both interactive and digestible."

Bird joins MMI from Black Knight, where he was the creative director for nearly nine years. There he designed and developed content in the form of dynamic videos, interactive games and animated greeting cards for Black Knight's Surefire platform. Prior to Black Knight, Bird was a web designer for his own company, JustinBird.com, where he designed and developed websites, games and applications.

"Taking complex data sets and creating them into digestible and entertaining videos has been a passion of mine for the last 20 years. There is so much opportunity within MMI for its data to shine in a way anyone can understand. I'm extremely excited to be a part of it and can't wait to bring my ideas to life alongside the MMI team," said Bird.

About MMI:

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country. To learn more, visit https://mmi.io or contact sales@mmi.io.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced Justin Bird has joined the firm as its new creative director. Bird joins MMI from Black Knight, where he was the creative director for nearly nine years.

Related link: https://mmi.io

CEO Lee Duncan Marks 20 Years at Alliance Group

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Alliance Group CEO Lee Duncan celebrated 20 years of service at the company on September 23rd. Duncan was brought into the industry in 2002 by his mentor, former Alliance Group President and Chairman Jerry Stratton. Over the years, he worked his way from an administrative position and case manager all the way to his current position as President, CEO, and 100% owner of Alliance Group.

In his time at Alliance Group, the life insurance marketing organization has flourished, establishing themselves as a leading IMO for independent life insurance agents and agencies. Championing modern Living Benefits policy features as its calling card, the company has grown from $8 million of annual production in 2002 to over $55 million in 2021, representing an increase of nearly 700% in Duncan's 20-year tenure.

"It's been an especially crazy year, and I didn't even realize this milestone was approaching," Duncan said. "It's humbling to be able to lead this wonderful organization. Alliance Group is etched in my DNA - it's a part of who I am. It's been a wonderful 20 years being able to witness our growth and the families whose lives we've been able to touch. It's been the ride of a lifetime, and I can't wait to see what we do in the next 20 years."

More information on Alliance Group and Living Benefits life insurance is available on their website, https://www.alliancegrouplife.com/.

Alliance Group CEO Lee Duncan celebrated 20 years of service at the company on September 23rd. In his time at Alliance Group, the life insurance marketing organization has flourished, establishing themselves as a leading IMO for independent life insurance agents and agencies.

Related link: https://www.AllianceGroupLife.com/

INSIDE Public Accounting Names KROST Best of the Best Firm and Top 100 Firm

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- KROST CPAs & Consultants was recognized as the Best of the Best Firm and Top 100 Firm by INSIDE Public Accounting in 2022. Based on revenue, KROST was ranked 75th among the largest firms in the country, out of nearly 600 firms. With a net revenue of greater than $65 million, KROST was able to rise from the firm's previous ranking of 81st in 2021's IPA Survey and Analysis of Firms.

Previously, KROST placed 116th in 2020, a substantial leap from 157th in 2016 when the firm first made the rankings. KROST has been named Best of the Best Firm among the most prestigious firms, for the seventh year in a row and Top 100 firm for the second year in a row. In addition to being a Top 100 and Best of the Best Firm, KROST received other recognitions from IPA, including Fastest-Growing Firm, Top 200 Firm, and more. For more information about KROST's awards and recognition, please visit https://www.krostcpas.com/awards.

"This year has truly been incredible. We are honored to receive these awards. As our firm continues to grow, we are excited to see new changes and growth in the upcoming future. I would like to thank our staff and their commitment to the firm, as well as our amazing partnerships with our clients. Without them, none of this would have been possible and we are truly grateful for all their hard work and dedication. KROST highly values teamwork and collaboration as we strive to help each team member grow both personally and professionally. We aim to continue providing outstanding client services and cater to our niche industries, as well as launching new and innovative services," said Jason Melillo, CEO of KROST.

INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) is a leader in practice management resources for the public accounting profession that include: the monthly practice management newsletter, the annual national practice management benchmarking reports and corresponding reports and training. IPA has assisted firms across North America grow and thrive since 1987. The one-of-a-kind IPA 500, recognizing the top U.S.-based accounting firms, is the most comprehensive list of North American public accounting firms available. IPA annually ranks the largest public accounting firms in the U.S. based on participating firm's net revenues - from the multi-billion-dollar U.S.-based Big 4 to the $3.8 million firm. Ranking data is captured through IPA's annual practice management survey and analysis of firms. IPA is the survey leader in data collection for the profession, with more of the largest 600 firms participating than any other survey today and a 92% return rate of participating firms.

* Learn more about KROST's services https://www.krostcpas.com/services

* View INSIDE Public Accounting's 2022 Top 100 Rankings https://insidepublicaccounting.com/top-firms/ipa-500/

* View INSIDE Public Accounting's Best of the Best Rankings https://insidepublicaccounting.com/top-firms/best-of-the-best/

About KROST CPAs & Consultants

Established in 1939 in Pasadena, California, KROST, is a full-service Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm serving clients across various industries. Their focus is on recognizing opportunities and creating value for clients by equipping them with the tools to make better business and financial decisions for the future. As trusted advisors, clients depend on KROST to provide timely information, innovative solutions, and result-driven teamwork to ensure success. Along with providing traditional services, such as Tax, Accounting, and Assurance & Advisory, KROST also provides special services, including Client Accounting Services (CAS), Mergers & Acquisitions, Wealth Management, Tax Specialty Services, and KROST Business Intelligence (KBI).

Client Accounting Services (CAS) is a new addition to the many services that KROST offers. CAS can be a cost-effective way to have high-level financial reporting without having to hire a team of Certified Public Accountants and accounting professionals. CAS will allow you to focus on business growth, while your CAS team provides the financial data you need. KROST provides analysis and details regarding the management of cash and reporting to help you manage your business at a glance.

KROST Business Intelligence (KBI) is a newly-launched service that takes complex financial information and turns it into actionable change to improve the bottom line. KBI is a cloud-based data solutions platform that can translate unstructured, impossible-to-read data into structured, real-time insights. This information can be leveraged to improve realization, staff utilization, project turnaround, and more. Each dashboard is curated with your unique goals in mind and can be customized to fit your needs.

KROST CPAs & Consultants was recognized as the Best of the Best Firm and Top 100 Firm by INSIDE Public Accounting in 2022. Based on revenue, KROST was ranked 75th among the largest firms in the country, out of nearly 600 firms. With a net revenue of greater than $65 million, KROST was able to rise from the firm's previous ranking of 81st in 2021's IPA Survey and Analysis of Firms.

Related link: https://www.krostcpas.com/

Klingenstein Fields Advisors named to Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms for 2022

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors), an independent investment advisor with approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of 12/31/21, has been named to Barron's Top 100 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Firms for 2022. This is Barron's seventh annual ranking of registered independent advisory firms and recognizes top advisory firms nationwide.

According to Barron's, the independent advisor industry has grown to encompass "more than 14,000 firms," meaning that firms ranking in the Top 100 represent less than 1% of all RIAs. Firms are asked to complete an extensive questionnaire in order to be considered, encompassing "both qualitative and quantitative criteria, including: the assets a firm manages and the revenue those assets generate; regulatory record; staffing levels and diversity; technology spending; and succession planning." Barron's then verifies the data and applies its proprietary ranking formula to the data.

"To be recognized for this honor for the second year in a row is a huge achievement," said Kenneth D. Pollinger, Chairman and Co-CEO of KF Advisors. "This is a team effort that is not possible without the valuable contribution of each and every person at KF Advisors."

"It is a true reflection of our commitment to serving our clients with comprehensive wealth management solutions and high-touch service to help them achieve their financial goals," added James Fields, President and Co-CEO of KF Advisors.

According to Barron's, the goal of the rankings is "to shine a spotlight on the nation's best financial advisors, with an eye toward raising standards in the industry." Ranking the firms is "meant as a starting point for clients looking for an advisor."

KF Advisors is an independent registered advisor based in New York City. For over 30 years, KF Advisors has been solely dedicated to helping individuals, families, and organizations achieve their legacy, philanthropic, and funding goals through customized wealth planning and investment management.

More information: http://www.klingenstein.com/.

RELATED LINK:

https://www.barrons.com/advisor/report/top-financial-advisors/ria?mod=faranking_subnav

Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors), an independent investment advisor with approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of 12/31/21, has been named to Barron's Top 100 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Firms for 2022. This is Barron's seventh annual ranking of registered independent advisory firms and recognizes top advisory firms nationwide.

Related link: https://www.klingenstein.com/

Financial Advisor Jennifer Oliverio co-hosts one of Edward Jones’ Centennial celebrations in Pueblo Colorado

PUEBLO, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- St. Louis-based financial services firm Edward Jones celebrates its Centennial, marking a century of transformative growth and the positive impact it has made for clients, colleagues, communities, and society. This year and beyond, Edward Jones' more than 50,000 colleagues across North America will join in activities that celebrate this monumental milestone and set the stage for the continued growth of the firm's impact in the next 100 years.

"Since Edward D Jones Sr. opened the doors of our firm 100 years ago, our focus has been helping people connect to their purpose and achieve things in their lives they might not have known were possible," said Edward Jones Managing Partner Penny Pennington, the sixth leader in the firm's history.

This year, as part of the milestone, Edward Jones associates have traveled throughout the country to select cities that have been significant to the firm's roots. Pueblo and Edward Jones have a long meaningful history together. The Firm opened its first office here in 1960 and today has six Edward Jones Financial Advisors helping clients reach their financial goals.

One of the early investments that Edward Jones made in the community was the telegraph wire. That wire connected Pueblo across 1500 miles of Midwestern states to their St. Louis, MO Headquarters. Not only was the wire instrumental for the advancement of serving clients, it was also an important tool for sharing timely information during critical events.

Pueblo's own Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center hosted the firm's Corporate Centennial Celebration tour. The Arts Center has served as the arts and culture heartbeat in Pueblo and its surrounding communities for 50 years!

For the event, Pueblo's own Veteran Financial Advisor Jennifer Oliverio facilitated a discussion for an internal broadcast, with Chief Transformation and Human Resources Officer, Kristin Johnson, and Senior Partner, Doug Hill. The special guests in attendance were Edward Jones Managing Partner, Penny Pennington and General Partner Kevin Alm.

Hosts and special guests celebrated the long and impactful history together that Edward Jones and Pueblo have shared.

For more information, visit: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/jennifer-oliverio

St. Louis-based financial services firm Edward Jones celebrates its Centennial, marking a century of transformative growth and the positive impact it has made for clients, colleagues, communities, and society. This year and beyond, Edward Jones' more than 50,000 colleagues across North America will join in activities that celebrate this monumental milestone and set the stage for the continued growth of the firm's impact in the next 100 years.

Related link: https://www.edwardjones.com/

San Antonio Board of REALTORS® implements Down Payment Resource to raise Realtor and homebuyer awareness of down payment assistance programs

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR) today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR) to provide its approximately 16,000 multiple listing service (MLS) subscribers with access to DPR's toolset that helps real estate agents connect clients with programs that can help save on down payments and closing costs.

SABOR is a primary resource homebuyers and sellers in the San Antonio area use to search and list local property listings and connect with a REALTOR®. SABOR's partnership with DPR will enable its REALTOR® members and MLS subscribers to identify SABOR listings that are eligible for homebuyer and down payment assistance (DPA) programs funded at the state, local and national level.

DPR reports that almost 86% of SABOR's property inventory is eligible for one or more of the 64 total homebuyer assistance programs in the Greater San Antonio area. Assistance amounts range from $5,000 to $30,000 and can be used by homebuyers that earn as much as $104,000 per year toward homes priced up to $647,000, though income and price limits are even higher in certain targeted areas. On average, homes in SABOR's service region are eligible for roughly $16,000.

"SABOR members have long been champions of the San Antonio community, and we are dedicated to helping homebuyers access safe and sustainable homeownership," said SABOR CEO Gilbert Gonzalez. "Our partnership with DPR will help our real estate members better serve their clients by shedding light on the ample homebuyer assistance programs available in our region. SABOR looks forward to further supporting homeownership in San Antonio with DPR's support and user-friendly digital tools."

"San Antonio is one of the least affordable U.S. cities for renters, which is why it is so important for residents to be connected with resources like down payment assistance to make the leap from renter to homeowner," said Rob Chrane, CEO of DPR. "We are proud to share our comprehensive database of homebuyer assistance programs - including down payment assistance, grants, affordable first mortgages and more - to help SABOR members better serve their communities with the financial resources that help make homeownership achievable."

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is a nationwide database of down payment assistance and affordable lending programs. The company tracks funding status, eligibility rules, benefits and more for approximately 2,200 programs in 11 categories. Its award winning technology helps the housing industry connect more homebuyers to the down payment help they need. DPR has been recognized by Inman News as "Most Innovative New Technology" and the HousingWire Tech100™. DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. DPR's subscription based service, Down Payment Connect, helps agents and loan officers match buyers to available programs. For more information, please visit DownPaymentResource.com and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource .

About SABOR:

The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® is your primary resource when it comes to finding a REALTOR® and buying and selling in the San Antonio area. It is the largest professional trade association in San Antonio and represents over 15,000 REALTOR® members. SABOR's membership services ten counties including Bexar, Atascosa, Frio, Karnes, Kendall, LaSalle, McMullen, Medina, Uvalde, and Wilson. SABOR is one of over 1,200 local boards and 54 state and territory organizations of REALTORS® nationwide that make up the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR) today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR) to provide its approximately 16,000 multiple listing service (MLS) subscribers with access to DPR's toolset that helps real estate agents connect clients with programs that can help save on down payments and closing costs.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

After, Inc.’s QuickSuite® Receives the TWICE VIP 2022 Award

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc. announced today that it received the TWICE VIP Award 2022 for its QuickSuite® post-sale customer experience technology. The TWICE VIP Awards are the only awards voted on exclusively by TWICE's audience of top consumer technology retailers and distributors, celebrating the best features, design, and value that new products are bringing to the market.

QuickSuite® is a modular set of SaaS platforms that work together across the entire post-sale lifecycle and include: QuickReg®, QuickCover®, QuickClaim®, QuickInsight®, and QuickRenew® (to launch in Q4 2022). These platforms give manufacturers, retailers, dealers, and ecommerce sellers the ability to better understand their customers and provide personalized experiences at scale across the entire post-purchase customer journey.

"We are so thrilled to win the TWICE VIP Award this year for our QuickSuite," says Nate Baldwin, After, Inc.'s CEO. "There are a lot of software products that support one stage of the post-sale experience, like registration or product protection or subscription services. The true value of QuickSuite is in its integrated platforms, and ability to drive long-term, meaningful relationships with brands and their customers. Thank you TWICE and your audience for this incredible award."

About TWICE

TWICE (www.twice.com) is a trade publication launched by publisher Richard Ekstract in 1987, currently owned by Future US. Printed 12 times a year, TWICE meets the information needs of retailers, distributors and manufacturing representatives in the consumer electronics and major appliance industries. Business leaders turn to TWICE for perspective and analysis in the ever changing and fast paced environment of consumer technology.

About After, Inc.

After, Inc. (www.afterinc.com) is a pioneer in the post-sale services industry. Since 2005, we have helped some of the world's top brands transform their businesses after the point of sale. In 2021, we launched QuickSuite, a modular set of SaaS technologies to help manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce sellers build deeper relationships with their customers and increase loyalty and lifetime value. The suite covers the entire post-sale lifecycle, and includes: QuickReg®, QuickCover®, QuickClaim®, QuickInsight®, and QuickRenew®. Headquartered in Norwalk, CT, After, Inc. is part of Galway Holdings, a diversified financial services distribution company with a focus on data analytics, technology transformation, and innovative risk sharing solutions.

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 14, 2022 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- After, Inc. announced today that it received the TWICE VIP Award 2022 for its QuickSuite® post-sale customer experience technology. The TWICE VIP Awards are the only awards voted on exclusively by TWICE's audience of top consumer technology retailers and distributors, celebrating the best features, design, and value that new products are bringing to the market.

Related link: https://afterinc.com/

Critical Defect Rate Declined in Q1 2022 Per ACES Quality Management Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced the release of its quarterly ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report covering the first quarter (Q1) of 2022. The latest report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from ACES Quality Management & Control® software.

Notable findings from the Q1 2022 report include:

* The overall critical defect ended Q1 2022 at 1.93%, representing a .02% decline from Q4 2022.

* Declining volumes have helped stabilize lender processes, keeping defects at bay, but signs are starting to emerge that the credit box is widening in the hunt for volume.

* Defects in the Income/Employment category continue to remain high.

* The share of appraisal-related defects fell in Q1 2022 after rising in the prior quarter, but signs indicate lenders should pay special attention to this area going forward.

* Purchase and refinance shares remained unchanged from the prior quarter. Conventional loan share continued its multi-quarter trend of decline, with FHA loans filling the void and VA loan share also on the rebound.

* Purchase defects increased specifically I the FHA category, which is expected given purchase loans' dominance in review share and the increase in FHA loans.

"Despite an overall decline in the critical defect rate for Q1 2022, the Income/Employment category remains a glaring problem. Lenders are finding this area a difficult one to rectify, and with staffing changes and new products coming online, it is more important than ever that QC managers get granular findings and feedback to their production group," said ACES Executive Vice President Nick Volpe. "Additionally, as lenders expand the credit box to win the fight for volume, they must be careful not to stretch too far and further exacerbate defects in this category."

Findings for the Q1 2022 ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report are based on post-closing quality control data derived from the ACES Quality Management and Control® benchmarking system and incorporate data from prior quarters and/or calendar years, where applicable. All reviews and defect data evaluated for the report were based on loan audits selected by lenders for full file reviews.

"While the defect increases in three of the four 'core underwriting' categories are cause for concern, it was not all 'doom and gloom' for Q1 2022. Out of the 11 primary loan defect categories ACES tracks, five showed considerable improvement over last quarter, and none more so than the Documentation category, which dropped 37% from 14.57% to 9.09," added Volpe. "This is a tangible example of the importance of quality control reporting. With quality control and quality assurance testing, lenders can course correct and improve the overall quality of their mortgage originations."

Mortgage QC Industry Trends Reports are available for download, free of charge, at https://www.acesquality.com/resources/reports.

About ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 60% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 8 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the United States.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology®, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment. For more information, visit www.acesquality.com or call 1-800-858-1598.

ACES Quality Management(r) (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced the release of its quarterly ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report covering the first quarter (Q1) of 2022. The latest report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from ACES Quality Management & Control(r) software.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

Bellvue Rush Is Bringing the Investment Strategies of the 1 Percent to Everyone

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bellvue Rush announced today that the options that have only been available to the highest earners must now be made accessible to everyone. The plan is to do so through access to information, as that has only been available to those with the best accountants to date.

When people plan for retirement, most tend to go the standard route of the qualified plan, typically the 401(k). But no savvy investor would consider that the best course of action, as these plans carry the financial risk of the markets in case of collapse, while taxes will be paid on the full plan, including any growth. Furthermore, a qualified plan is full of restrictions, as the funds that can be placed into the plan are limited, the money cannot be touched for a certain period of time without penalty, and at some point, a minimum amount of the funds must be withdrawn.

But there is a better way, and Bellvue Rush wants to ensure that people are aware when planning their financial future. An IGIC (an investment-grade insurance contract) is considered a tax-free event and offers considerable advantages. As a life insurance contract, it enjoys a contractually guaranteed rate of return, therefore enjoying a real advantage over a 401(k), as it will not collapse if the market does. Moreover, an IGIC has significantly fewer restrictions. Perhaps most importantly, when funds are placed into the account, the taxes are taken first, and then the premiums paid, at which point taxes are by and large done.

The account holder is able to then use the funds to make investments, the gains of which are tax-free as they are part of the life insurance policy. Not only can the funds be used to invest without being subject to taxes, but the insurance policy continues to pay the rate of return on the account as if the funds were still in the account. The same money is now generating income from two sources. The IGIC has an additional advantage in that it can make every investment that a 401(k) is able to, as well as some investments that go beyond the scope of a qualified plan.

To learn more visit: https://bellvuerush.com/

About Bellvue Rush:

Bellvue Rush was founded on the principle that people who work hard and do all the right things should have access to the same investment strategies and vehicles as the ultra-wealthy. While many specific investments can do well, without a plan in place the potential is limited. Rather than point investors in one direction or another, Bellevue Rush takes a holistic view of investment, using programs based on foundational tax law in conjunction with federal statutory codes to put investors in the best possible position.

Bellvue Rush announced today that the options that have only been available to the highest earners must now be made accessible to everyone. The plan is to do so through access to information, as that has only been available to those with the best accountants to date.

Related link: https://bellvuerush.com/

Rich LaBarca joins Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach as Chief Product and Technology Officer

OWINGS MILLS, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced the appointment of Rich LaBarca to the role of Chief Product and Technology Officer. LaBarca has over 30 years of experience creating and growing data and insights-focused software as a service (SaaS) products and companies and will infuse Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach with his extensive experience delivering corporate and consumer value with data.

As Chief Product & Technology Officer, LaBarca will oversee the unification and expansion of Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's products and technologies, including its award-winning borrower intelligence alerts and Total Cost Analysis (TCA) loan comparison scenarios. With his diverse technical expertise guiding the way, LaBarca will engineer teams, products and enhancements that empower even more lenders to leverage Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's proactive, consultative, data-first approach to engaging, converting and retaining mortgage customers and prospects.

"I look forward to helping usher in the next phase of growth at Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach, a company that is so transformative and opens opportunities for all types of borrowers," said LaBarca. "Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach have achieved impressive organizational success individually, and it is an incredible honor to be granted the opportunity to scale these two platforms together at an enterprise level."

An enterprise technical product executive and true startup veteran, LaBarca has made an indelible mark in the tech space. He's garnered decades of experience growing and exiting multiple startups - most recently scaling a rapid growth phase at AddThis, a provider of behavioral audience data and website marketing tools, which resulted in a successful acquisition by Oracle. Since then, LaBarca has led data, insights and identity-focused products as an executive at Oracle Data Cloud and grew Microsoft's Customer Data Platform (CDP) as its Partner General Manager.

"While working with Rich LaBarca in the past, I witnessed firsthand his propensity for creating and scaling teams, products and technology to achieve maximum efficiency and user satisfaction," said Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach CEO Richard Harris. "I have the utmost confidence that the combination of his data and insights experience and the wealth of existing mortgage industry skills already in place at Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach will usher in a new phase of innovation and enable our organization to achieve its fullest potential."

About Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach:

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach are trusted by more than 300 lenders, including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks to connect borrowers with the right loan at the right time.

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang helps lenders build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To learn more, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning platform that empowers mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower pull-through, repeat business and referrals. To learn more, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com.

@SalesBoomerang @MortgageCoach

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced the appointment of Rich LaBarca to the role of Chief Product and Technology Officer.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

#HousingDC22 Annual Housing Champion: Frank Nothaft

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Housing Finance Strategies Founder & CEO Faith Schwartz today announced this year's Housing Champion Award recipient is the late Frank Nothaft. The 2022 Housing Champion candidate slate was replete with a number of worthy candidates, but the untimely passing of our friend and colleague of decades, Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist, CoreLogic, and former Chief Economist, Freddie Mac, spurred our decision given his lifetime record of accomplishments.

"We pause this year to acknowledge the once in a generation contributions of Frank Nothaft to the mortgage industry. I consider myself blessed to have worked closely with Frank at Freddie Mac and CoreLogic. His strengths as an economist were only outmatched by his care for others as a friend, husband and father," said Faith Schwartz.

Indeed, scores of mortgage industry professionals were graced by the presence of Frank. His uncanny ability to simplify the complex was a hallmark that accompanied his calling card bow-tie. Many of us knew Frank from his steady attendance and presentations at industry conferences where he used wit and humor to deliver the mortgage forecast.

Kerri Milam, President, Depth PR, will announce the Housing Champion award on September 27, 2022, as Day One of #HousingDC22 comes to a close. Dr. Ed Golding, Executive Director of the Golub Center for Finance and Policy at the MIT Sloan School, will join Frank's wife, Lisa Greenfield, in accepting the award from Faith Schwartz, who has made a contribution to Habitat for Humanity in Frank's honor.

Each year Housing Finance Strategies reviews a short list of candidates for the prestigious Housing Champion award and announces the winner at the #HousingDC conference. Past recipients include Lee Raagas, for her tireless work and advocacy for the homeless leading Skid Row Housing Trust, Diane Yentel, for her outstanding contributions through the pandemic as President, National Low-Income Housing Coalition and Jillian White, for her advocacy and industry leadership on eradicating appraisal bias.

Housing Finance Strategies was established by Faith Schwartz in 2016 as a professional services and advisory firm specializing in mortgage modernization, housing policy, compliance and legislative and regulatory affairs. Schwartz serves on a number of bank and fintech boards and has a lengthy record of hosting and moderating housing industry events. Schwartz also has created and delivered national housing policy conferences with #HousingDC22 registration open today as the virtual event will be streamed on September 27-28, 2022.

Learn more: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/housingdc22/

Housing Finance Strategies Founder & CEO Faith Schwartz today announced this year's Housing Champion Award recipient is the late Frank Nothaft. Each year Housing Finance Strategies reviews a short list of candidates for the prestigious Housing Champion award and announces the winner at the #HousingDC conference.

Related link: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

NER Announces Hire of George Schulz as Managing Director, Program Development

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- New Energy Risk (NER), a wholly-owned division of Paragon Insurance Group, today announced the hire of George Schulz as Managing Director, Program Development, in the latest confirmation of Paragon's commitment to continuing investment in the green technology space.

Schulz, who previously served as market leader in the Americas for Ariel Re's clean energy team, brings a depth of experience in using insurance to support the financing, customer adoption and achievement of scale of new technologies and the growth of the companies developing, manufacturing, managing, and deploying these technologies.

"We're excited to welcome George to our team," NER Chief Executive Officer Tom Dickson said. "He is well respected across the industry and will play a key part in NER's goal of 'Underwriting a Greener Future.'"

Prior to joining NER, Schulz held several positions on the forefront of technology performance risk products over his 25-year career, including his role as leader of Munich Re's Special Enterprise Risks team.

"I'm looking forward to joining Tom and the NER team at such a critical juncture in the company's growth trajectory," Schulz said.

About New Energy Risk:

New Energy Risk is a pioneer of large-scale, breakthrough technology performance insurance solutions. The company provides complex risk assessment and serves as a bridge between technology innovators, financiers, and insurers. Insurance policies are administered through New Energy Risk affiliate Complex Risk and Insurance Associates, LLC, CA License #0I24307.

About Paragon:

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, formed in 2014, writes all commercial lines of insurance across more than 20 programs. Paragon's industry-specific and general underwriting facilities offer insureds, retail agents, carriers, reinsurers and service providers unique product, service, capability, and results. Visit: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/.

New Energy Risk (NER), a wholly-owned division of Paragon Insurance Group, today announced the hire of George Schulz as Managing Director, Program Development, in the latest confirmation of Paragon's commitment to continuing investment in the green technology space.

MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices: August 2022 Data

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- MCT®, the leader in capital markets software and services supporting more lenders with hedging and pipeline management solutions than any other single provider, is pleased to present the MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices for August 2022. MCT Data represents a balanced cross section of several hundred lenders among retail, correspondent, wholesale, and consumer direct channels. A broad-based view of the entire market provides a more accurate picture of mortgage originations versus indices that are influenced by mega lenders. The August MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices is broken out by transaction type: purchase, rate/term refinance, and cash out refinance.

August MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices show that year-over-year total lock volume (-53.0 percent) continues to drop, as expected, when compared to the white-hot summer of 2021. After the month-over-month rate/term refinance lock figure increased 11 percent in August due to a slight drop in mortgage rates, the index was down 46 percent in August. Total mortgage rate locks by dollar volume decreased 28.5 percent in August, with purchase locks declining 27.8 percent month-over-month and 23.4 percent from a year ago. Cash-out refinances are down 5.3 percent month-over-month. From one year ago, cash-out refinance volume is down 80.0 percent, while rate/term refinance volume has dropped 95.2 percent. Please note that loan sizes were up 8.3 percent over the past year, with the average loan amount increasing from $291k to $315k.

It is important to note that MCT's rate lock activity indices are based on actual dollar volume of locked loans, not number of applications. Especially in a tight purchase market, MCT believes its methodology (using actual loans locked vs. applications) is a more reliable metric. There is a higher likelihood of having multiple applications per funded loan, and prequals do not convert at as high of a rate in the current market as has historically been the case - especially when applications are counted at the early stage of entering a property address.

INDEX VALUES TO END AUGUST AS A PERCENTAGE BENCHMARKED TO THE START OF THE MONTH

Category | Month-Over-Month Index Value Change

Total: -28.45%

Purchase: -27.82%

Rate/Term Refinance: -28.38%

Cash Out Refinance: -46.01%

INDEX VALUE CHANGE YEAR-OVER-YEAR

Category | Year-Over-Year Index Value Change

Total: -53.02%

Purchase: -23.36%

Rate/Term Refinance: -95.16%

Cash Out Refinance: -79.99%

MCT will be publishing the MCTlive! Mortgage Lock Volume Indices monthly, intending the data to serve as an enduring informational tool for industry participants, analysts, and watchers.

About MCT:

Founded in 2001, Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) ® has grown from a boutique mortgage pipeline hedging firm into the industry's leading provider of fully integrated capital markets services and technology. MCT's offerings include mortgage pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales, business intelligence and analytics, outsourced lock desk solutions, MSR valuation, hedging, and bulk sales, and the world's first, truly open marketplace for loan sales. MCT supports independent mortgage bankers, depositories, credit unions, warehouse lenders, and correspondent investors of all sizes within its award-winning digital platform, MCTlive! ®. Headquartered in sunny San Diego, MCT also has offices in Healdsburg, CA, Philadelphia, PA and Texas.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

MCT®, the leader in capital markets software and services supporting more lenders with hedging and pipeline management solutions than any other single provider, is pleased to present the MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices for August 2022. MCT Data represents a balanced cross section of several hundred lenders among retail, correspondent, wholesale, and consumer direct channels.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

Financial Center First Credit Union Selects ACES Quality Management & Control to Improve Consumer Loan Quality

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that Financial Center First Credit Union (FCFCU) has selected ACES' flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support quality control (QC) audits for FCFCU's consumer lending channels.

"As a credit union, delivering value back to members is of the utmost importance, and part of that equation is ensuring loan quality is of the highest standards," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "ACES enables FCFCU to easily assess and improve the quality of its consumer lending production, thus upholding its commitment to excellence in member service."

ACES supports FCFCU's quality assurance, quality control and internal audit processes across all its consumer lending channels. ACES flexible technology allows FCFCU to track loan quality and effectively and quickly identify, communicate and remediate exceptions with ease.

"ACES has significantly improved the ability of our internal quality assurance program to identify, communicate and remediate exceptions quickly for both new member accounts and our consumer lending division," said Jennifer Rue, chief risk officer at FCFCU.

About FCFU

For 69 years, Financial Center First Credit Union has been serving its members and the community of Central Indiana. FCFCU is a member-owned, not-for-profit, co-operative whose members receive financial benefits in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, and lower fees than banks. For more information, visit https://www.fcfcu.com/.

About ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 60% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 8 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 retail banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the United States.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology®, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment. For more information, visit https://www.acesquality.com or call 1-800-858-1598.

ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that Financial Center First Credit Union (FCFCU) has selected ACES' flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support quality control (QC) audits for FCFCU's consumer lending channels.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

MMI announces its newest Regional Director of Growth, Heidi Iverson

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that Heidi Iverson has joined the organization as a regional director of growth. In this position, Iverson will consult and strategize with MMI's clientele which now includes more than 40 of the top 50 lenders in the nation, to identify growth opportunities to drive adoption and increase return on investment (ROI).

Throughout Iverson's mortgage experience, she has led the charge to build internal recruiting departments at several companies, including Guild Mortgage, ClosingMark Home Loans and Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC., contributing to her expertise in strategizing for business goals, identifying technology needs, creating recruiting strategies and identifying talent team needs. These experiences also provided Iverson the opportunity to educate loan officers on MMI and how to work with the real estate section of the platform for business development.

"As an organic user and now on the internal side of MMI, Heidi has in-depth knowledge to guide clientele in getting the most out of our platform," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "The capabilities within MMI are endless, but deciphering what features to utilize to drive individual business development and return on investment can be daunting. We've prioritized building technology that speaks for itself and providing access to some of the best in the business so users can get the most out of MMI."

Iverson's background includes extensive recruiting history. Previously self-employed as the founder of PlacedE, a mortgage recruiting agency, Iverson has first-hand experience with the MMI's powerful insights, having implemented it with PlacedE clients.

"My background has given me first-hand knowledge of the multiple facets of MMI. I'm looking forward to sharing these insights to help lenders identify and target both the right referral partners and sales staff that will help them drive their long-term organizational growth goals," said Iverson.

About MMI

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country. To learn more, visit https://mmi.io or contact sales@mmi.io.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced that Heidi Iverson has joined the organization as a regional director of growth. In this position, Iverson will consult and strategize with MMI's clientele which now includes more than 40 of the top 50 lenders in the nation, to identify growth opportunities to drive adoption and increase return on investment (ROI).

Related link: https://mmi.io

EPIC Welcomes Parker Rains – Adds to Middle Market Property & Casualty Practice

NASHVILLE, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Parker Rains has joined the firm as Managing Principal within its Property & Casualty Practice.

In his new position with EPIC, Rains will focus on business development and client management by providing risk management advice and consultation to help clients fulfill long-term goals for their businesses. He will be based in Nashville.

Rains was previously an executive vice president for a regional middle market commercial insurance agency, and head of its Nashville regional office, covering the Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida markets. He was named to Insurance Business magazine's 2017 Young Guns 2017, an exclusive list featuring the top 55 insurance professionals in the U.S. under the age of 35. In 2018, he was honored by appearing in Insurance Business magazine's Top Producers list, which included 80 of the top performing agents in the nation.

"We are thrilled to have Parker join our Nashville Team," commented Jim Phillips, Midwest Commercial Practice Leader for EPIC. "He brings enthusiasm and energy into every opportunity. We are excited to see what Parker can build with EPIC's significant client resources and customized solutions."

"Continuing our expansion in Tennessee, across the Southeastern Region and throughout all of EPIC is exciting and we are pleased to have someone with Parker's talents and expertise join our team," said Adam Meyerowitz, President - EPIC Midwest and Southeast Region.

Parker Rains

Email: parker.rains[at]epicbrokers.com

Phone: (615) 994-0616

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 2,800 team members operating from more than eighty offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to clients. EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S.

Learn more at: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Parker Rains has joined the firm as Managing Principal within its Property & Casualty Practice.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

INC. 5000 Ranks MCT® On Its 2022 Fastest Growing Private Companies List For 11th Time

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Inc. 5000 named MCT to its 2022 list of winners for the nation's fastest-growing private companies. MCT ranked number 4713 with three-year sales growth of 90% percent. This is the second year in a row that MCT made Inc. 5000's list and the company's 11th year making the list since its inception.

The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

"MCT is delighted to be recognized, once again, as one of the most successful independent, small, and midsized businesses in America," said Curtis Richins, President and CEO of MCT. "It is our 11th time winning this prestigious award in nearly as many years, and all the credit should be attributed to our dedicated, intelligent, and caring team members who go above-and-beyond each day for our clients. They embody MCT's tag line as 'your trusted capital markets partner.' We are also grateful that mortgage lenders of all sizes and an ever-growing cohort of investors have selected MCT as their secondary partner."

"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "We're thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."

Not only have the companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 been highly competitive within their respective markets, but this year's list also proved especially resilient and flexible given the unprecedented challenges these past few years. Among the 5,000 companies honored in 2022, the average median three-year growth rate was 230%, and the total revenue was $317.6 billion. Together, those companies added more than 1,179,282 jobs over the past three years.

About MCT:

Founded in 2001, Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) has grown from a boutique mortgage pipeline hedging firm into the industry's leading provider of fully integrated capital markets services and technology. MCT offers an array of best-in-class services and software covering mortgage pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales, outsourced lock desk solutions, MSR portfolio valuations, business intelligence analytics, mark to market services, and an award-winning comprehensive capital markets software platform called MCTlive! MCT supports independent mortgage bankers, depositories, credit unions, warehouse lenders, and correspondent investors of all sizes.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, MCT also has offices in Philadelphia, Healdsburg, and San Antonio. MCT is well known for its team of capital markets experts and senior traders who continue to provide the boutique-style hands-on engagement clients love.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Inc. 5000 Methodology:

Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent-not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies-as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Inc. 5000 named MCT to its 2022 list of winners for the nation's fastest-growing private companies. MCT ranked number 4713 with three-year sales growth of 90% percent. This is the second year in a row that MCT made Inc. 5000's list and the company's 11th year making the list since its inception.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

Paragon Insurance Holdings Announces Acquisition of Reel Media, Further Expanding Firm’s Reach into Global Specialty Marketplace

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, in its continuing bid to diversify and expand into the global specialty markets, today announces the acquisition of Reel Media, LLC, a leading provider of insurance solutions for the broader entertainment and sports industries.

"We're excited about the opportunity to partner with Reel Media and their key trading relationships," Ron Ganiats, CEO, and co-founder of Paragon, said. "Marc Idelson and his team have built the market leading MGA in the film/TV and studio niche by attracting great talent and partnering with Allianz (AGCS), the leading carrier in global entertainment markets. Moreover, by harnessing their underwriting expertise, distribution network, and carrier and reinsurance relationships, to write E&S excess casualty, shell and touring, contingency, and motorsports business, Reel Media has done a great job of diversifying their business."

Reel Media is strategically aligned with deep and longstanding carrier and reinsurance relationships that includes Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), Munich Re, HDI Global Specialty SE and Sutton National, among others. These markets have supported Reel Media for many years and bring stability to the entertainment industry, which was validated during the loss cycle attributed to the pandemic.

"This is a great moment for Reel Media, our staff and our partners" Marc Idelson, CEO, and founder of Reel Media, said. "Paragon's business strategy and commitments to attracting and partnering with great talent, distribution, and carrier and reinsurance partners resonated with us. Their operational and analytic capabilities will also drive business efficiencies and improvements for Reel Media and deliver value to our clients and partners."

About Reel Media:

Reel Media LLC is an entertainment, film, television, sports, motorsports, and leisure Managing General Agent with offices located in California, Massachusetts, and Toronto. Reel Media offers innovative and competitive commercial insurance products representing strategic alliances with both admitted and surplus lines markets.

About Paragon:

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, a Galway Holdings company formed in 2014, writes all commercial lines of insurance across more than 20 programs. Paragon's industry-specific and general underwriting facilities offer insureds, retail agents, carriers, reinsurers and service providers unique product, service, capability, and results.

Learn more: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/.

Paragon Insurance Holdings, LLC, in its continuing bid to diversify and expand into the global specialty markets, today announces the acquisition of Reel Media, LLC, a leading provider of insurance solutions for the broader entertainment and sports industries.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach’s Rachel Cunningham and Jacob Gibbs named 2022 HW Insiders by HousingWire Magazine

OWINGS MILLS, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced two of its employees - Director of Customer Success Rachel Cunningham and VP of Technology Jacob Gibbs - have been recognized by HousingWire in its 2022 HW Insiders awards program.

"Each year, the HW Insiders award represents a versatile group of unsung heroes who are vital to the smooth functioning of their organizations," HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "While they may operate behind the scenes, the tireless work of these honorees has a huge impact on the larger housing ecosystem. We are honored to recognize this impressive group of industry experts."

As Director of Customer Success, Cunningham oversees the customer success team and their efforts to grow and retain Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's customer base. In her role, Cunningham is both directly and indirectly responsible for many of Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's growth metrics. In 2021, prior to merging with Mortgage Coach, Sales Boomerang saw a record 5.1% growth to its customer base while executing 56 customer renewals for more than $8 million in total contract value. Cunningham also created the Planning for Partnership program, resulting in strategic conversations and significant growth of a few key clients, including a large bank that leveraged Sales Boomerang's recommendations and expanded their business with the firm by 200%.

Jacob Gibbs joined Mortgage Coach in 2008 and has played an important role in nearly every aspect of the company's technology growth to date. Now as Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's VP Technology, Gibbs stands at the helm of all things tech by administering internal and third-party software, acting as scrum master and spearheading all product development and integration partnerships. Gibbs leads the development of Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach's award-winning Total Cost Analysis (TCA) presentations, which enable consumers to compare how different mortgage loans and strategies perform over time. He also oversees integrations with other technology platforms to help partners best connect technologies and provide customers with maximum benefit.

"Rachel and Jacob are powerhouses of operational efficiency and innovation, making them the perfect candidates for the HW Insiders awards program," said Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach CEO Richard Harris. "Rachel's passion for ensuring long-term success for our organization and its customers and Jacob's ability to talk code with developers, lead productive teams and earn the goodwill of our customers and partners allow Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach to thrive. Thanks to their influence, our organization is able to help hundreds lenders optimize processes and exceed their business goals with our elegant solutions."

The HousingWire Insiders awards program seeks to recognize team members that are behind the scenes and vital to their organization's success. 2022 HW Insider honorees are featured in the September issue of HousingWire Magazine. The complete list of HousingWire Insiders can be viewed on www.housingwire.com.

About Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach:

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach are trusted by more than 300 lenders, including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks to connect borrowers with the right loan at the right time.

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang helps lenders build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To learn more, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning platform that empowers mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower pull-through, repeat business and referrals. To learn more, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com.

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, and Mortgage Coach, a platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive home loan presentations, today announced two of its employees - Director of Customer Success Rachel Cunningham and VP of Technology Jacob Gibbs - have been recognized by HousingWire in its 2022 HW Insiders awards program.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

ACES Quality Management’s Sharon Reichhardt selected as a 2022 Insider by HousingWire Magazine

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced Executive Vice President of Operations Sharon Reichhardt has been honored by HousingWire magazine in its annual Insiders awards program.

"Each year, the HW Insiders award represents a versatile group of unsung heroes who are vital to the smooth functioning of their organizations," HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "While they may operate behind the scenes, the tireless work of these honorees has a huge impact on the larger housing ecosystem. We are honored to recognize this impressive group of industry experts."

HousingWire selected Reichhardt for this year's Insiders award based on her leadership and contributions to the ACES Client Success team. As a former ACES client, Reichhardt has leveraged her unique perspective to develop client-centric, scalable solutions that drive long-term organizational success. Her former hands-on experience as an ACES administrator also contributed to the development of the Certified ACES Administrator Program (CAA), which was announced in late May at the inaugural ACES ENGAGE event.

"From her alignment with our customers' needs and subsequent delivery of functional improvements to the ACES platform to her willingness to mentor everyone around her, Sharon is a valued member of the ACES team," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "Having been in our clients' shoes, she brings a level of empathy and camaraderie to those interactions, which makes our clients feel that she's one of them and endears her that much more to them."

To view the complete list of winners, visit http://housingwire.com/.

About ACES Quality Management:

ACES Quality Management is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control® software to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 60% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 8 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 retail banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the United States.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment. For more information, visit www.acesquality.com or call 1-800-858-1598.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches more than 70,000 newsletter subscribers daily and 1 million unique visitors each month and has more than 5,000 members and event attendees. Visit www.housingwire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced Executive Vice President of Operations Sharon Reichhardt has been honored by HousingWire magazine in its annual Insiders awards program.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP Invests in Willow Servicing

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, announced today that the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP (the "Fund") recently participated in a $6 million seed round for Willow Servicing. The round was led by Thomvest Ventures, with participation from Global Asset Capital, Webb Investment Network and Zigg Capital.

Willow Servicing was founded in 2021 with the vision of modernizing the core technology that orchestrates the collection of $18 trillion of U.S. mortgage debt. Willow's cloud-based mortgage servicing platform automates routine servicing tasks and compliance, allowing small and large servicers to efficiently service loans in-house.

"Partnering with TMC gives us direct access to a broad network of lenders who can provide guidance on the changing dynamics within the mortgage industry and invaluable feedback on our product roadmap and offering," said Laura Cain, CEO of Willow Servicing. "We are eager to continue building out our platform and automate the most error-prone and difficult tasks facing mortgage lenders and servicers. The additional funding will allow us to continue investing in our customers and solving their pain points."

Since launching its platform in Q1 2022, Willow has serviced over $750 million in loans. While initially designed to manage interim servicing, Willow has quickly expanded to support additional loan types and processes, from HELOCs and construction loans to appraisal fees and payoffs.

Feliks Viner, vice president of secondary markets at First World Mortgage and Tech Fund council member, said, "Willow Servicing's platform has been a perfect solution for our interim servicing needs. The entire process, from initial onboarding to managing daily workflow, has been seamless with real-time support and a user-friendly website. Willow has allowed us to effortlessly automate our interim servicing process and provide our customers with timely notifications and simple payment options. We are thrilled for our continued partnership with Willow Servicing."

The Limited Partners of the TMC Emerging Technology Fund consist of some of the most technology-forward lender members of TMC who evaluate and invest in companies looking to advance the mortgage industry. The Fund continues to look for investment opportunities that will result in higher profitability and business process improvement for TMC lender members. For more information, please reach out to tmctechfund@mtgcoop.com. To learn more about Willow Servicing, visit https://www.willowservicing.com/ or reach out at sales@willowservicing.com.

About The Mortgage Collaborative

Based in San Diego, Calif., The Mortgage Collaborative was founded in 2013 by four notable industry leaders and is the nation's largest independent mortgage cooperative network. TMC is singularly focused on creating an environment of collaboration and innovation for small to mid-size mortgage lenders across the country to reduce cost, increase profitability, and better serve the dynamic and changing consumer base in America. For more information, visit http://www.mortgagecollaborative.com/

The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, announced today that the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP (the "Fund") recently participated in a $6 million seed round for Willow Servicing. The round was led by Thomvest Ventures, with participation from Global Asset Capital, Webb Investment Network and Zigg Capital.

Related link: https://www.mortgagecollaborative.com

Matthew Weber and Jonathan Louie Appointed to KROST’s Principal in Development Program

Matthew Weber and Jonathan Louie Appointed to KROST's Principal in Development ProgramLOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Los Angeles-based CPA firm, KROST CPAs & Consultants, appoints Matthew Weber, CPA, MAcc, and Jonathan Louie, CPA, MST, to join KROST's Principal in Development (PID) program.

In the PID program, Matthew and Jonathan will join leadership trainings to prepare for the partner path, as well as attend partner meetings to gain insight into the role. They will set individual goals that they will work on to achieve over the course of the next year or two. During this time, Matthew and Jonathan will refine their skills and develop their knowledge in their field of expertise.

Matthew has been with KROST since July 2015 and based in our Woodland Hills office. Matthew's areas of expertise include federal and multi-state tax compliance and consulting for individuals, corporations, and partnerships. He is the leader of the firm's financial services team and serves a variety of clients, including hedge funds, private equity, venture capitalists, money managers, and traders. He also produces articles on the financial services sector with topics that range from IRS updates to complex tax strategies.

"Matt is a natural leader. As the Chair of KROST's financial services industry niche, Matt focuses on management companies and their investment vehicles to address issues and opportunities specific to the industry. Because of his dedication to his field of work, Matt has contributed greatly to the growth of our firm," said Lou Guerrero, Principal.

Jonathan is the leader of KROST's real estate industry group and has been with the firm since 2014. He is based at our headquarters location in Pasadena, CA and is an expert in dealing with the complexities of 1031 exchanges and cost segregation and has written articles, spoken at real estate conferences, and given webinars on the subject matter. Jonathan specializes in providing federal and multi-state tax compliance and consulting services to high-net-worth real estate brokers, developers, property managers, attorneys, investors, syndicators, and their partnerships and corporations. He also has expertise in and services clients in the restaurant, medical, and entertainment industries. With over 15 years of experience in public accounting, Jon has made great strides in our firm and really put his expertise out there within the tax industry.

"Jon has always been actively involved within our firm and community. Not only is he a team player in the tax department, but he is also a core member of our Real Estate Industry Group. I'm proud to have Jon as an integral part of the team. I want to congratulate Jon on his outstanding contribution to his department and the firm," said Jason Melillo, CEO of KROST.

We are happy that they are taking part in the PID program and can't wait to see them grow even more. We are excited for their future achievements and would love to see what more they can bring to the firm.

Learn more about our Financial Services " https://www.krostcpas.com/industries/financial-services-sector

Learn more about our Tax Services " https://www.krostcpas.com/services/tax-services

For more information, please contact us: https://www.krostcpas.com/contact

About KROST

Established in 1939 in Pasadena, California, KROST, is a full-service Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm serving clients across various industries. Their focus is on recognizing opportunities and creating value for clients by equipping them with the tools to make better business and financial decisions for the future. As trusted advisors, clients depend on KROST to provide timely information, innovative solutions, and result-driven teamwork to ensure success. Along with providing traditional services, such as Tax, Accounting, Assurance & Advisory, KROST also provides special services, including Client Accounting Services (CAS), Mergers & Acquisitions, Wealth Management, Tax Specialty Services, and KROST Business Intelligence (KBI). For more information about KROST, please visit our website.

Los Angeles-based CPA firm, KROST CPAs & Consultants, appoints Matthew Weber, CPA, MAcc, and Jonathan Louie, CPA, MST, to join KROST's Principal in Development (PID) program.

Related link: https://www.krostcpas.com/

FormFree integrates with Docutech to streamline loan production with VOA and VOI/E capture

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced the integration of AccountChek®, a service that allows lenders to verify borrowers' assets, income, employment and rent payment history, with Solex®, a comprehensive eDelivery, eSign, eClose and eVault platform from Docutech®, a First American company. By making AccountChek available during the initial disclosures phase of the mortgage process, the integration delivers an improved borrower experience, while saving lenders money and giving them greater choice in how to incorporate verification of assets (VOA) and verification of income and employment (VOI/E) into the mortgage workflow.

As an omni-channel solution, AccountChek offers cost- and time-saving benefits to retail, consumer-direct, wholesale and correspondent originators alike. Notably, the integration between AccountChek and Solex helps wholesale lenders differentiate themselves with process efficiencies their broker networks have not historically been able to access. Additionally, because AccountChek delivers rent payment history along with VOA and VOI/E, it allows brokers to better serve 'credit invisible' borrowers with thin credit files thanks to expanded investor underwriting guidelines that take rent payments into consideration when assessing borrower credit risk.

"Rolling a VOA/IE option into the electronic signing experience within Solex provides our clients with a valuable opportunity to compress loan cycle times at a critical milestone in the lending process," said Docutech President Emily Shapiro. "Our integration with FormFree is seamless, secure and makes it easy for borrowers to take the next steps on their home ownership journey."

"The integration between AccountChek and Solex elegantly combines two loan milestones into a single, paperless process and places verification of a borrower's ability to pay at the earliest engagement point in the mortgage process," said FormFree CEO Brent Chandler. "It's more convenient for the borrower and more efficient for lenders at a time when conversion and process optimization are at the top of every mortgage originator's wish list."

About FormFree®

FormFree® is a market-leading fintech company whose revolutionary products AccountChek® and Passport® make for a more inclusive credit decisioning landscape by enabling lenders to understand people's true ability to pay (ATP®). Our vision is to leverage source data and data-driven intelligence to usher in a new era of transparent, fair and liquid credit markets. To date, thousands of U.S. lenders and brokers have ordered millions of FormFree's patented verification reports representing trillions of dollars in loan verifications. FormFree delights borrowers and lenders with a paperless experience, dramatically reduces origination timelines and offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and investors using a secure ReIssueKey®. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

About Docutech

Docutech, a member of the First American family of companies, provides an end-to-end, integrated, digital mortgage experience - from document generation to eDelivery, eClose and automated print fulfillment. Docutech sets the standard in providing market-proven technology and unrivaled customer service to the financial industry. Founded in 1991, and acquired by First American in 2020, Docutech has become a technology powerhouse, with the marriage of their innovative technology and the distribution, expertise and financial strength of First American. For more information, visit www.docutech.com or follow Docutech on LinkedIn.

FormFree® today announced the integration of AccountChek®, a service that allows lenders to verify borrowers' assets, income, employment and rent payment history, with Solex®, a comprehensive eDelivery, eSign, eClose and eVault platform from Docutech®, a First American company.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

MMI ranks No. 11 on Utah Fast 50 list of fastest-growing companies

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it ranks No. 11 on the 2022 Utah Business list of fastest growing companies in the state.

MMI has experienced immense growth in recent years, as evidenced by its recent inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list as well. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including more than 40 of the top 50 lenders in the country.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be included on such an impressive list of growing companies in Utah," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "There is a flourishing business community that is home to many successful companies operating nationwide and MMI is proud to consider itself among those ranks. Our data intelligence and market insights for real estate and mortgage professionals have only grown in value alongside our business, and we're proud to provide the insights mortgage and title professionals need to strategically navigate today's market volatility."

Fast 50 companies are established companies selected based on a combination of revenue growth and total revenue and are vetted by Squire and Co. for financial accuracy. They are ranked in order of 2021 growth and must have been in business for at least two years.

"We look forward to recognizing and honoring companies that have found the secret to growing and thriving in today's challenging business world," said Lynnette Cloward, Director of Events at Utah Business. "Congratulations to MMI for being recognized as a 2022 Utah Business Fast 50 Company."

The complete list of the Utah Business Fast 50 companies can be viewed here: https://www.utahbusiness.com/2022-utah-fast-50-list/.

About MMI

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country. To learn more, visit https://mmi.io or contact sales@mmi.io.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it ranks No. 11 on the 2022 Utah Business list of fastest growing companies in the state.

Related link: https://mmi.io

DocMagic Earns a Second Consecutive Spot on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it again made Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing private companies for 2022.

Companies on this year's Inc. 5000 list are ranked according to percentage of revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. DocMagic's growth rate for this three-year period was 100 percent, earning the company the rank of 4,434 in the financial services category.

"We are honored to have achieved a growth rate that places us on Inc.'s prestigious list of rapidly growing U.S. companies for a second time," said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "The mortgage banking industry continues to be a highly competitive environment. Making this list in back-to-back years tells us that our digital solutions are putting our growing list of lender-clients in the most efficient, compliant and cost-effective positions possible."

DocMagic's award-winning Total eClose(tm) platform, document generation, automated compliance and targeted digital lending solutions are credited with helping lenders successfully operate in an unprecedentedly high-volume lending landscape.

Inc. magazine stated that the companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Notable is that the total revenue among the 5000 companies on the 2022 list was $317.5 billion with 1,178,549 jobs added. Only 945 companies on this year's list were repeat honorees like DocMagic.

"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."

Complete results of the 2022 Inc. 5000 winners, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

About DocMagic

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it again made Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing private companies for 2022.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

Roger Guilian, Former Counsel and Risk Management Expert for ENR Top 100 Engineering Firm, Bolsters Greyling Division of EPIC

ALPHARETTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a national insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Roger Guilian, J.D., has joined the firm's Greyling division as Senior Vice President, Risk Management.

In his new role, Guilian will be responsible for risk avoidance and management consulting; developing legal and legislative initiatives that are critical to large design firms; as well as client service. He will be based in the Fairhope, Alabama area and will report to Gregg Bundschuh, Managing Principal, Greyling, a division of EPIC.

Guilian joins Greyling from an ENR Top-100 civil engineering firm where he served as General Counsel. Prior to going in-house, Guilian was an active litigator, trying dozens of insurance defense jury trials, and litigating hundreds of suits to favorable pre-trial resolutions. During his 18-year in-house experience, Guilian gained extensive experience and knowledge in matters affecting risk and legal exposure to engineers, their firms, and other design professionals, including contracts risk management, professional liability insurance, and defense of errors & omissions claims.

In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Alabama, Guilian is deeply engaged in industry and engineering associations. Guilian currently serves on the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Risk Management Committee, ACEC Business Resources & Education Committee, ACEC Management Practices Committee, and the American Bar Association's Construction Law Forum. Guilian served as a Trustee on the ACEC Business Insurance Trust from 2020-2022, was an active contributing member of the ACEC Legal Counsel Forum from 2007-2022 and chaired the Alabama State Bar Construction Law Section in 2018.

"We are excited for Roger to join Greyling. His experience as a trusted advisor to a large, sophisticated design firm and engineering professionals will deliver immediate and direct value to our clients. His commitment to client service and professional counsel aligns perfectly with our historic practices," said Bundschuh.

Learn more about Greyling, a division of EPIC, at: https://greyling.com

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has more than 2,800 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients. For more information on EPIC, visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a national insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Roger Guilian, J.D., has joined the firm's Greyling division as Senior Vice President, Risk Management.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Blaylock Van Partners to Support 2nd Annual United Diversity Business Summit

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Blaylock Van, LLC, the nation's longest continuously operating Black-owned investment bank, will serve as a sponsorship partner for the 2nd annual United Diversity Business Summit, Presented by Thinkzilla Consulting Group & The City of Scottsdale. The Sept. 14 summit will convene diverse business leaders and entrepreneurs across Arizona.

The annual summit is a critical part of the work to accelerate DEI progress; each person's new tools, connections, and understanding will be taken and transformed into action. Whether that is a conversion, a commitment to action, a policy change, a new community partnership, etc., the need to carry the energy, information, and momentum forward is essential to driving equity and inclusion.

Certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the State of New York, Wisconsin, the City of New York, and the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Blaylock Van is 81 percent Black-owned. It recently established a formal training program as part of its DEI initiatives. It serves corporations, municipalities, investment managers, and pension funds with a diverse employee base committed to working beyond financial services.

"We are honored to again have the support of an organization that threads diversity and inclusivity into everything it does," said summit's founder and CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting, Dr. Velma Trayham. "Blaylock Van has an incredible history. We are thrilled that Eric Standifer will share some secrets to their ongoing success with diversity, inclusivity, and equity in the investment world."

"As the oldest Black-owned investment bank in the country, we have a unique perspective on diversity best practices," Standifer added. "I look forward to sharing some of our challenges, opportunities, and insights on making decisions and taking actions that truly incorporate diverse perspectives."

The 2022 United Diversity Business Summit will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Center with the theme of "Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem through Diversity, Community and Innovation." It is free for attendees.

Attendees will learn from more than 25 keynote experts on innovative approaches and best practices to improve economic diversity outcomes for organizations and entrepreneurs. The summit will host two tracks: Track 1 is designed for public and private companies seeking to increase diversity outcomes, and Track 2 incorporates business development programs to attract and grow the minority small business community. Workshop topics will include using disruption to advance business strategy, entrepreneurship 101, supplier diversity, inclusive decision-making, overcoming financial challenges, and more.

In addition to Standifer, speakers for the 2022 summit include David Ortega, Mayor of Scottsdale; Dr. Velma Trayham, CEO of Thinkzilla; Jackie Johnson, Diversity Director for the City of Scottsdale; Rob Millar, Economic Development Director for the City of Scottsdale; Art Hamilton, founder of the Art Hamilton Group; Danny Seiden, President, and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Cloves Campbell, co-publisher of the Arizona Informant and more to be announced.

Other Event Sponsors Include SRP (Salt River Project), ASU Office of Economic Development, Country Financial, Fry's Food Stores, and Truist Bank.

Registration is now available at https://uniteddiversitybusinesssummit.com/

About Blaylock Van, LLC:

Blaylock Van, LLC (BV) is the oldest and continuously operating Black-owned investment bank in the United States, providing personalized services for clients across the country. Clients include corporations, municipalities, investment managers, pension funds, and family offices.

The Firm's headquarters are in New York City, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and Oakland, Calif. For more information, please visit https://brv-llc.com/.

Blaylock Van, LLC, the nation's longest continuously operating Black-owned investment bank, will serve as a sponsorship partner for the 2nd annual United Diversity Business Summit, Presented by Thinkzilla Consulting Group & The City of Scottsdale. The Sept. 14 summit will convene diverse business leaders and entrepreneurs across Arizona.

Related link: https://brv-llc.com/

FormFree and Finastra partnership streamlines borrower verification for improved mortgage loan processing

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Finastra and FormFree®, a market-leading fintech company that enables lenders to understand people's true ability to pay (ATP®), have partnered to further streamline electronic borrower verification for mortgage lenders. FormFree's AccountChek will integrate directly into Finastra's Mortgagebot solutions to facilitate an automated asset, income and employment verification process that paves the way for faster loan decisioning.

"Partnering with Finastra has enabled us to further optimize the borrower verification process for AccountChek and Mortgagebot users," said Brent Chandler, founder and CEO at FormFree. "Notably, the integration makes it easier for lenders to support the government sponsored enterprises' verification initiatives that help expand access to homeownership and streamline processes without incurring additional risk. Combined, Finastra and FormFree's technologies and shared vision for fair and inclusive access to home financing will help lenders deliver an elevated borrower experience."

Fusion Mortgagebot is Finastra's end-to-end cloud-based lending platform that maximizes operational efficiency and mortgage opportunities for lenders. The integration of FormFree's AccountChek delivers significant time savings with its streamlined verification process. Borrower permissioned asset, income and employment data is retrieved and formatted into underwriter-friendly reports, providing lenders with full transparency and direct-source data for better credit decisioning while reducing processing time and risk of fraud.

Steve Hoke, vice president, mortgage and origination at Finastra said, "FormFree provided us with the perfect solution to help further streamline what is traditionally a very manual and labor-intensive task. For both lenders and borrowers, this added verification capability to our lending solution will have a significant impact on the loan cycle, creating a more efficient, secure and inclusive process."

The FormFree integration is available now for Fusion Originate Mortgagebot and Fusion MortgagebotLOS users in the Americas.

For more information on Fusion Mortgagebot, click here.

About FormFree®

As the industry's go-to provider for direct-source VOA and VOI/E data, FormFree helps lenders understand credit risk like never before. Our patented AccountChek® and Passport® products open doors to more inclusive credit decisioning by revealing each customer's true ability to pay (ATP®). We have completed over $3 trillion in loan verifications that help lenders lower operating costs while improving the borrower experience. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

About Finastra

Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Retail & Digital Banking for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com.

Finastra and FormFree®, a market-leading fintech company that enables lenders to understand people's true ability to pay (ATP®), have partnered to further streamline electronic borrower verification for mortgage lenders.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

Vice Capital Markets Releases API for Freddie Mac Cash Purchase Statement

NOVI, Mich. /ScoopCloud/ -- Vice Capital Markets, a leading mortgage hedge advisory firm for independent lenders, banks and credit unions, announced today that it is one of the first Freddie Mac-integrated Secondary Market Advisors (SMAs) to release an integration for Freddie Mac's Cash Settlement Purchase Statement application programming interface (API). The API simplifies the funding reconciliation process by providing direct access to cash purchase statement data for the loans sold to Freddie Mac, enabling lenders to quickly review and export purchase advice information.

"With the new Cash Settlement Purchase Statement API, Vice Capital provides our Freddie Mac-approved clients with streamlined access to cash purchase statement data, including funding details and loan-level credit fees," said Vice Capital President Troy Baars. "As a long-time integrated SMA, we deeply value our relationship with Freddie Mac and applaud them for continuously innovating to meet lenders' unique and varied secondary and capital markets needs."

Using the Cash Settlement Purchase Statement API, Vice Capital clients can access the full contract and loan level detail of each loan committed on a particular date directly through the Vice Capital client portal, leading to a faster and more accurate reconciliation process.

Founded in 2001, Vice Capital serves independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions of all sizes, with monthly mortgage production volumes ranging from $10 million to $5 billion a month. Last year, the company set a new internal trade volume record, trading more than $202 billion on behalf of its full-service clients, and experienced a marked increase in its client base, including more than 50% growth in the credit union space. Today, one in every 15 mortgages originated in the United States are traded by Vice Capital or hedged using its proprietary software.

About Vice Capital Markets:

Since 2001, Vice Capital Markets has successfully managed interest rate risk and maximized profitability on MBS trades and mortgage-related transactions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders of all sizes. With an average of more than 10 years' experience behind each of the traders on our team, Vice Capital has helped its clients realize, on average, a 25 to 55 bps improvement over their best effort execution, and Vice Capital's proprietary risk-management models and complex investor and agency best execution platform have consistently yielded safe and effective profit maximization for its clients.

Learn more at https://www.vicecapitalmarkets.com/ or call (248) 869-8100.

Vice Capital Markets, a leading mortgage hedge advisory firm for independent lenders, banks and credit unions, announced today that it is one of the first Freddie Mac-integrated Secondary Market Advisors (SMAs) to release an integration for Freddie Mac's Cash Settlement Purchase Statement application programming interface (API).

Related link: https://www.vicecapitalmarkets.com/