Category Archives: Finance

MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices: June 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 June 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 June MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices is broken out by transaction type: purchase, rate/term refinance, and cash out refinance.

June MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices show that that total mortgage rate locks by dollar volume decreased 3.8 percent in June, and total lock volume is down 32.0 percent from a year ago as purchases continue to make up most originator volume. Purchase locks declined 1.63 percent month-over-month, but a mere 4.6 percent from a year ago. The increase in mortgage rates is also evident as refinance volume continues to fall. Rate/term refinances are down 12.4 percent and cash out refinances are down 18.7 percent month-over-month. From one year ago, cash out refinance volume is down 64.5 percent, while rate/term refinance volume has dropped 90.4 percent. Given rate/term refinance volume was already down 90 percent year-over-year in the May MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices, this month's drop does not change the total much. 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 MAY AS A PERCENTAGE BENCHMARKED TO THE START OF THE MONTH
Category | Month-Over-Month Index Value Change
Total: -3.83%
Purchase: -1.63%
Rate/Term Refinance: -12.43%
Cash Out Refinance: -18.74%

INDEX VALUE CHANGE YEAR-OVER-YEAR
Category | Year-Over-Year Index Value Change
Total: -32.03%
Purchase: -4.63%
Rate/Term Refinance: -90.39%
Cash Out Refinance: -64.47%

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 June 2022.

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

After, Inc.’s QuickCover Extension is Now Available on the Top Four eMarketplace App Stores – Shopify, Adobe Commerce, Woo Commerce, and BIG Commerce

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc., a pioneer in the Warranty Services industry, just announced that its QuickCover® product protection technology is officially available on Shopify, Adobe Commerce, Woo Commerce, and BIG Commerce. QuickCover® 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, QuickSuite enables e-commerce sellers to build meaningful relationships with their customers. The five platforms in the QuickSuite include: QuickReg® (registration), QuickCover® (product protection), QuickClaim® (claims management), QuickInsight® (analytics and reporting), and QuickRenew® (add-on consumable subscriptions).

With QuickCover® now available on all four e-commerce marketplaces, it is poised to power over 2/3 of all e-commerce protection plan sales. According to Oberlo, current U.S. market share percentages for the four emarketplaces as of May 2022 are: Shopify (32%), Woo Commerce (23%), Adobe Commerce (9%), and Big Commerce (3%).

"After has been a best-in-class warranty services company for over 15 years, helping global manufacturers optimize their businesses after the point of sale," said Nate Baldwin, CEO of After, Inc. "QuickCover - and the whole QuickSuite - didn't happen overnight. We saw a shift in the market several years ago, with many of our manufacturing and retail clients moving significant percentages of their product sales online. They needed a solution to offer their own branded protection plans across all of their e-commerce channels.

"What's great about QuickCover is that OEMs and Third-Party Administrators can white label the technology to drive more online protection plan sales. We partner with them to launch their own branded plug-in on Shopify, Woo, BIG and/or Adobe Commerce. They can use it on their own website and provide the extension to online dealers and distributors, allowing them to maintain control over the entire post-sale customer experience."

Learn more: https://www.afterinc.com/product/quickcover/

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 warranty businesses. 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 pioneer in the Warranty Services industry, just announced that its QuickCover® product protection technology is officially available on Shopify, Adobe Commerce, Woo Commerce, and BIG Commerce. QuickCover® is one of five post-sale customer experience platforms that After, Inc. calls its QuickSuite.

Related link: https://afterinc.com/

Bill Gorab Takes Over Local Edward Jones Branch Office in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Financial Advisor Bill Gorab has been named to take over the local Edward Jones office located at 1230 Tenderfoot Hill Rd, Ste 350, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, the firm announced today. Gorab assumes the position of financial advisor from Doug Dirksen.

Bill has said he is enthusiastic about taking over the branch office. "I joined this firm because I was impressed with its commitment to individual investors. Now I'm looking forward to meeting with the individuals here to help them meet their financial goals utilizing my 25 years of financial services industry experience."

Jessica Marcisz, who has served as branch office administrator since 2017, says, "I am very excited about working with Bill and Kas. Together we will provide investors with unparalleled personal service."

Branch Office Administrator Kas Bowser remains in the branch office and will continue to help serve the Colorado Springs community.

Bill and his team can be reached at 719−576−9657.

You may also visit their website at: https://www.edwardjones.com/bill-gorab

ABOUT EDWARD JONES:
Edward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm, provides financial services in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm's nearly 19,000 financial advisors serve more than 8 million clients with a total of $1.7 trillion in client assets under care. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for a positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's 50,000 associates and our branch presence in 68 percent of U.S. counties, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is https://www.edwardjones.com/ and its recruiting website is careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

Financial Advisor Bill Gorab has been named to take over the local Edward Jones office located at 1230 Tenderfoot Hill Rd, Ste 350, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, the firm announced today. Gorab assumes the position of financial advisor from Doug Dirksen.

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

‘ALICE’ Families Focus of New Docudrama by Education Based Housing, Premieres July 21

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- A $500 or $1,000 unplanned expense is enough to send an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) family spiraling according to a report by Bankrate. Education Based Housing, a Houston nonprofit that serves ALICE families and communities knows this to be true. The organization partnered with Cypress creative agency, PrettyWork Creative to produce a docudrama to show situations real families face and expand the national conversation on ALICE families.

"The Spiral" will premiere Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the India House, 8888 West Bellfort St., Houston, TX 77031.

Education Based Housing Chief Executive Officer, Jarvis Taylor, believes the short film will help "unpack how stereotypes affect a communities' ability to access resources and services." According to Taylor, individualist pursuits and chasing the American dream has led to deeper levels of poverty for many thus continuing the cycle of generational poverty. The solution, according to Taylor, is building successful, thriving communities. "It's going to take all of us to overcome systemic poverty," said Taylor.

The docudrama is based on a combination of news headlines and personal stories and leaves viewers asking, "what would you do?" Premiere attendees will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions of Taylor and other guest panelists.

Click here to watch the film's trailer and go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masquerade-a-short-film-premiere-tickets-342443597017 to register for the free premiere.

About Education Based Housing:

Education Based Housing's (EBH) mission is to work with ALICE households to provide access to quality housing and tools to help them sustainably thrive. By expanding the knowledge and comfort level that individuals and families have with a variety of work-related skills, EBH helps broaden a family's opportunities and empower each member with practical skills to help them achieve their goals.

With a variety of training programs including medical assistant and accounting specialist training, class attendees are better prepared to seek better jobs and continue their education, so that they will be role models for their families and communities.

Learn more: https://educationbasedhousing.org/

VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/725407883/ecfb18b9ee

RELATED LINKS:

https://educationbasedhousing.org/who-we-are/mission.html

https://prettyworkcreative.com/

A $500 or $1,000 unplanned expense is enough to send an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) family spiraling according to a report by Bankrate. Education Based Housing, a Houston nonprofit that serves ALICE families and communities knows this to be true. It partnered with Cypress creative agency, PrettyWork Creative to produce a docudrama to show situations real families face and expand the national conversation on ALICE families.

Related link: https://educationbasedhousing.org/

OpenClose’s Mitch Swanson Honored by PROGRESS in Lending with Next Gen Leader Award

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- OpenClose®, the leading fintech provider of residential mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that its product delivery manager, Mitch Swanson, has been recognized as a Next Gen Leader within the industry by PROGRESS in Lending Association.

The Next Gen Leader award highlights rising visionaries and thought leaders who have been in the mortgage industry for 15 years or less. PROGRESS in Lending states that the winners encompass a wide range of mortgage professionals with diverse skill sets that have one commonality: helping their companies make a difference for the good of the industry. Winners of the award are creative, out-of-the-box thinkers who go beyond what's expected, are not afraid to step forward and blaze a new trail, and constantly offer bold new ideas.

Mitch Swanson, PMP has spent his entire career in the mortgage industry working for both mortgage lenders and mortgage technology vendors. This rich blend of vendor and lender experience gives him unique industry insight to better assist lenders in optimizing the use of OpenClose's solution suite.

"I am elated that the judges at PROGRESS in Lending put me on the 2022 list of young, emerging leaders who are making a difference in the mortgage industry," said Swanson. "I have been dedicated to the mortgage industry from day one and am committed to helping lenders maximize operational efficiencies via technology. I look forward to working with more lenders and introducing them to OpenClose's suite of mortgage software solutions."

At OpenClose, Mitch has been integral with delivering the company's borrower direct lending automation solution, ConsumerAssist™. This self-service model flourished throughout the refinance boom, helping lenders manage an influx of loan applications, and is now being leveraged to cut costs while offering borrowers a superb lending experience. ConsumerAssist has been implemented with great success at banks, credit unions, and independent mortgage banks thanks to Mitch's leadership and innovation.

Mitch has also worked on OpenClose's Assist series that automate specific lending functions for a wide variety of customer types. In addition to onboarding new customers onto the ConsumerAssist platform, Mitch constantly works on product enhancements that deliver innovative solutions that increase borrower satisfaction and lender efficiencies.

One of Mitch's latest initiatives includes creating a three-tiered pre-approval process based on confidence levels calculated with inputs from third party verification services. This process will have the ability to generate pre-approval letters with little to no contact with a loan officer. Consequently, it will dramatically improve a buyer's chance at securing a property to purchase while reducing the number of resources required to generate an accurate pre-approval. Mitch's efforts are ongoing, as he continually works with the OpenClose team and its customers to further enhance OpenClose's software solutions.

"Mitch is an integral member of our product development team who is well-respected by his colleagues, industry peers and OpenClose's customers," said Allen Pollack, vice president of innovation at OpenClose. "He is a dynamic, multi-faceted person who is stacked with mortgage technology experience at both the vendor and lender levels. We are pleased that the judges at PROGRESS in Lending recognized Mitch's efforts that deservedly landed him on the 2022 Next Gen Leaders list."

The complete list of award winners for 2022 can be found on PROGRESS in Lending's website: https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2022-nextgen-leader-award-winners-are/

About OpenClose:

Founded in 1999, OpenClose is the preeminent fintech provider that developed the mortgage banking industry's first SaaS-based lending automation software platform. Today, the company has expanded to become an award-winning, comprehensive loan origination software suite that slashes the cost to manufacture loans by up to 40 percent, reduces processing and underwriting cycle times by up to 50 percent, and requires minimal support to install and manage. OpenClose is the only vendor in the industry able to offer a true end-to-end, omni-channel, 100 percent browser-based, workflow-driven platform that effectively consolidates the digital POS, LOS, PPE and BI functions via a single provider, with easy access from any browser or mobile device. For more information, visit https://www.openclose.com/ or call (561) 655-6418.

OpenClose®, the leading fintech provider of residential mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that its product delivery manager, Mitch Swanson, has been recognized as a Next Gen Leader within the industry by PROGRESS in Lending Association.

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

Southwestern Investment Group Welcomes Gary Bonner as Chief Operating Officer

FRANKLIN, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, today announced Gary Bonner has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer. As an industry professional and serial entrepreneur, Gary brings more than 30 years of experience growing companies and leading cross-functional teams.

"We're delighted to have Gary join us during this pivotal time of growth for the firm," said Jeff Dobyns, President of Southwestern Investment Group. "Gary's professionalism, deep insight, and track record of success speaks for itself. We're excited to have him on board to help us continue our mission and to help steer and execute our strategic vision."

"Gary is an innovative, experienced, and professional operations executive who brings a wealth of experience to this critical role," said Matt Brinker, Manager Partner with Merchant Investment Management, a minority investor in Southwestern Investment Group. "His clear vision and deep understanding of the industry is well suited to the firm, and we're very excited to have him on board."

Previously, Gary was a founder and Chief Operating Officer of Avalon Advisors, a Houston-based RIA founded in 2001, where he oversaw its growth in AUM from $450 million with 10 employees to $9 billion in AUM and 72 employees serving 550 client families. While at Avalon, he was responsible for all technology, cybersecurity, operational, and administrative areas and has extensive experience in both compliance and finance.

"I couldn't be more honored to join such an esteemed organization as Southwestern Investment Group, said Bonner. "Jeff and his leadership team have done an outstanding job growing the firm and keeping a laser focus on delivering exceptional client service. The firm's commitment to its people, clients, business partners, and the broader community is embedded in the culture and is what sets the firm apart."

Gary is an active board and committee member within the RIA community, contributing to industry-related articles and serving as a panelist at industry conferences. He has also served in voluntary leadership roles with two Houston-based charities focused on children. Gary received his BA in Economics with a minor in Finance from Texas A&M University.

Southwestern Investment Group is a family of advisors that takes an integrated approach to wealth management and believes in a purpose bigger than itself. The company's core values serve as further proof that success can be achieved by cultivating a culture of appreciation. For more information about Southwestern Investment Group, visit swinvestmentgroup.com or call 615-861-6100.

About Southwestern Investment Group:

As of 3/31/2022, Southwestern Investment Group was established in 2002 as an independent practice and manages more than $5.8 billion in client assets. The advisors at Southwestern Investment Group are registered representatives with Raymond James Financial Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, which allows them to have the support of a large company while offering the personalized services of a smaller organization. Southwestern Investment Group uses sensible, sound, and conservative investment strategies and holistic services to enhance and help preserve your wealth. For more information, visit https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/.

About Raymond James Financial Services:

As of 3/31/2022. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 8,500 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas. Total client assets are $1.26 trillion. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Southwestern Investment Advisory Services, Inc., an independent registered investment adviser. Southwestern Investment Group is not a registered broker-dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Representatives may not be registered to offer securities and advisory services in all states.

Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, today announced Gary Bonner has joined the firm as Chief Operating Officer. As an industry professional and serial entrepreneur, Gary brings more than 30 years of experience growing companies and leading cross-functional teams.

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

DocMagic’s Chief Compliance Officer, Gavin T. Ales, Receives 2022 Next Gen Leader Award

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Gavin T. Ales, its chief compliance officer, has been named a Next Gen Leader for 2022 by PROGRESS in Lending.

The Next Gen Leader award highlights rising visionaries and thought leaders that have been in the mortgage industry for 15 years or less. PROGRESS in Lending states that the winners encompass a wide range of mortgage professionals with diverse skill sets that have one commonality: helping their companies make a difference for the good of the industry. Winners of the award are creative, out-of-the-box thinkers who go beyond what's expected, are not afraid to step forward and blaze a new trail, and constantly offer bold new ideas.

Gavin is an expert in mortgage banking compliance, federal and state regulatory compliance, financial services law, real estate law, and consumer credit law, among other focuses. He has a rich background in the mortgage industry working on both the lender and vendor side of compliance. Gavin routinely collaborates with lenders, GSEs, investors, servicers, warehouse lenders, settlement provides, technology partners, and other relevant entities on industry compliance matters.

As chief compliance officer at DocMagic, Gavin oversees the company's compliance service to ensure that all of DocMagic's technology solutions are fully compliant with changing rules and regulations. He regularly spearheads large, high-impact compliance projects and has led clients as well as additional members of the mortgage supply chain through some of the most challenging compliance initiatives. Prior to DocMagic, Gavin spent seven years at Prospect Mortgage serving in multiple roles, climbing to the position of deputy chief compliance officer.

"I am honored to receive this recognition from PROGRESS in Lending, which is a reflection of not only my efforts, but also the hard work and dedication of my team to ensure that lenders utilizing DocMagic's robust solution suite are always compliant with regulatory requirements and guidelines," commented Ales. "At DocMagic, our focus on innovation and staying ahead of 'what's next,' enables our clients to proactively plan and gain peace of mind vs. merely react to the ever-evolving nature of regulatory change."

The complete list of Next Gen Leader winners for 2022 can be found on PROGRESS in Lending's website: https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2022-nextgen-leader-award-winners-are/

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/.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Gavin T. Ales, its chief compliance officer, has been named a Next Gen Leader for 2022 by PROGRESS in Lending.

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

PitBullTax Software Integrates with Major Tech Companies to Further Dominate The IRS Tax Resolution Industry

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- PitBullTax Software, the Nation's Leading IRS Tax Resolution Software for CPAs, EAs and Tax Attorneys has announced the release of Version 7.0. Version 7.0, a quantum leap in automation, integrates with other major high-tech platforms to provide its licensees with elevated efficiency and workflow to handle more cases and to adapt to the "new normal," a more virtual work environment.

Major tech enhancements now include seamless Zoom Meetings Integration, File Storage Synchronization with Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive, SMS text communications, and Outlook and Google Calendar synchronization. In addition, other new features are a state-of-the-art proprietary Notifications Dashboard and a new user-friendly interface.

In conjunction with creating a more advanced platform for the virtual and workplace environments, the release is also perfectly timed to the significant ramp up of IRS collection enforcement that delinquent taxpayers are now experiencing, the exact clients of PitBullTax's licensees.

Jaime S. Buchwald, CPA, Co-Founder and CEO explained, "Now with the dire aspects of the pandemic hopefully behind us, the IRS has dramatically increased its collection efforts. With approximately 50 million troubled taxpayers in the U.S. and approximately 15 million troubled taxpayers currently in the IRS collection division, the demand for IRS tax resolution services is at an all time high. With PitBullTax Software Version 7.0 our licensees stand ready to efficiently, profitably and successfully handle this major influx of new business."

"Our company has been at the forefront of the IRS tax resolution industry for over 12 years, with a team of software engineers, developers, tax resolution specialists, customer service representatives and security professionals who are keenly aware of the constantly changing landscape of technology advancements, professional workflow, and tax law procedures," stated Jose Alfaro, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. "With our Version 7.0 enhancements and integrations our licensees will be able to continue to provide outstanding IRS tax resolution services."

To demonstrate the full impact of version 7.0, the company will be hosting webinars to introduce licensees and potential licensees to the new integrations and enhancements.

"Of course, we will also be doing deep dives into the software in our classes in PitBullTax Institute, our IRS and NASBA accredited educational division. Not only will attendees gain tremendous insights and value in learning how to incorporate these cutting-edge tools into their practices, but they will also receive continuing education credits," said Irina N. Bobrova, MST, EA and Chief Operating Officer.

ABOUT PITBULLTAX SOFTWARE:

PitBullTax Software has licensees in all 50 states that rely on their software to prepare their clients' IRS resolution cases and automate their IRS Tax Resolution practices. Innovation, efficiency and making its licensees more profitable are the cornerstones of the company's philosophy.

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

PitBullTax Software, the Nation's Leading IRS Tax Resolution Software for CPAs, EAs and Tax Attorneys has announced the release of Version 7.0. PitBullTax Software has licensees in all 50 states that rely on their software to prepare their clients' IRS resolution cases.

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

Click n’ Close Promotes Daniel Forshey and Sady Mauldin to C-Suite

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels, is pleased to announce the company has promoted Daniel Forshey to Chief Operating Officer and Sady Mauldin to Chief Compliance Officer.

"With the change in company direction this year, we knew we needed an executive team that possessed the institutional knowledge and the industry expertise to help steward our transition," said Click n' Close Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "Dan and Sady have been tremendous assets to our organization, making them the perfect choice to round out our C-suite as we enter our next chapter."

Mauldin is a seasoned attorney with more than 15 years of experience. She joined the organization in March 2021 as compliance counsel for the servicing division. As Chief Compliance Officer, Mauldin will manage compliance programs for all of Click n' Close's verticals. In addition, she will provide legal oversight of Click n' Close's regulatory compliance and quality control, internal audit, policies and procedures, change implementation, continuing education and vendor management.

Forshey holds more than 20 years of mortgage experience, with a background that includes retail and wholesale lending, secondary markets, collateral analysis and compliance. He joined the company in 2010 as a manager and direct endorsement underwriter, where he was responsible for managing processing, underwriting, sales and closing with a team of 18. As Chief Operating Officer, Forshey will be responsible for improving efficiency across Click n' Close's processes, products and systems to support the company's growth.

About Click 'n' Close, Inc.:

Click 'n' Close, Inc., formerly known as Mid America Mortgage, is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels and is also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Click 'n' Close has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings and eNotes.

Combining this culture of innovation with a risk management mindset enables Click 'n' Close to deliver new products to market that address the challenges facing both borrowers and third-party originators (TPOs). These innovations include its USDA one-time close construction loans, Power Buyer bridge loan program, proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and reverse mortgage division. Its direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors afford Click 'n' Close direct access to the capital markets, thus ensuring maximum liquidity for its product innovations. By servicing its loan programs in-house, Click 'n' Close provides its wholesale and correspondent partners with an additional level of certainty regarding loan salability and superior borrower service over the life of the loan.

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

Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels, is pleased to announce the company has promoted Daniel Forshey to Chief Operating Officer and Sady Mauldin to Chief Compliance Officer.

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

FormFree announces support for new Freddie Mac Loan Product Advisor enhancement aimed at expanding sustainable homeownership for renters

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® announced that mortgage lenders using AccountChek® verification of asset (VOA) reports in conjunction with a Freddie Mac Loan Product Advisor® (LPA℠) solution will soon benefit from an enhancement that takes loan applicants' 12-month on-time rent payment history into consideration when assessing eligibility for qualified first-time homebuyers.

The enhancement, which is effective once announced in the Freddie Mac July Guide Bulletin, is designed to expand sustainable homeownership for the millions of Americans by taking their rent payment history into account when assessing eligibility. The expansion of rent payment history can increase the number of mortgage loan applicants who receive an Eligible/Accept recommendation in LPA.

"Freddie Mac is focused on offering value to our clients and improving the borrower experience as we continue to modernize the mortgage process," said Kevin Kauffman, Freddie Mac Single-Family Vice President of Client and Partner Delivery. "FormFree has been a strong partner on this journey by helping lenders assess credit eligibility for qualified first-time homebuyers."

LPA will automatically identify on-time rent payments - including those made via mobile apps like Venmo, Zelle and Paypal - within AccountChek VOA reports and take them into consideration when assessing eligibility for qualified first-time homebuyers. Only on-time rent payments will be considered; LPA will not assess late or missing rent payments.

"Freddie Mac's move to have Loan Product Advisor consider rent payment history in its assessment is part of a much larger push for more equitable home financing practices," said FormFree Chief Customer Officer Christy Moss. "People of color, who have disproportionately low homeownership rates and are overrepresented among credit invisible consumers will be most positively impacted by this enhancement to LPA."

"FormFree takes great pride in helping borrowers communicate their ability to pay and equipping lenders with the tools to confidently and efficiently verify borrower credentials," continued Moss. "We look forward to supporting Freddie Mac as it continues to deploy technology that improves access to sustainable credit for homebuyers."

Lenders can leverage rent payment history assessment through LPA asset and income modeler (AIM) when they order AccountChek reports of any length, including 30-, 60-, 90- and 180-day reports. In supplying LPA with 12 months of rent payment history, AccountChek has established safeguards that ensure the collection of extended rent payment history does not expose lenders to non-rent transactions, such as large gift deposits, that occurred more than 90 days in the past.

"FormFree remains committed to developing and supporting solutions that correct the racial homeownership gap," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "Using FICO scores alone to evaluate creditworthiness excludes a large swath of minority homeowners who pay their rent on time and responsibly manage their finances without borrowing money from creditors. Direct source financial data is the key to understanding consumers' true ability and FormFree applauds Freddie Mac's efforts to help lenders finance homeownership more equitably."

For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/rent/.

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.

FormFree® announced that mortgage lenders using AccountChek® verification of asset (VOA) reports in conjunction with a Freddie Mac Loan Product Advisor® (LPA℠) solution will soon benefit from an enhancement that takes loan applicants' 12-month on-time rent payment history into consideration when assessing eligibility for qualified first-time homebuyers.

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

iEmergent appoints Megan Horn as Chief Marketing Officer

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Megan Horn as chief marketing officer (CMO). In this role, Horn will oversee marketing, public relations, brand management and customer experience for the growing company.

Prior to her appointment as CMO, Horn consulted with iEmergent through her own outfit, Megan Horn Digital. In this capacity, Horn was instrumental in developing iEmergent's website, brand messaging and digital strategy. Before her engagement with iEmergent, Horn was marketing director at Far Reach, iEmergent's technology development partner. Horn has also held positions at marketing and advertising agencies, where she acquired a diverse skill set including content strategy and development, social media management, graphic design and public relations.

"iEmergent is uniquely positioned to help mortgage lenders address a complex challenge - serving traditionally underserved, home-ready markets - by identifying current and future market opportunity with great accuracy down to the neighborhood level," Horn said. "My top priority is generating broader exposure for iEmergent and communicating the value proposition of Mortgage MarketSmart, an incredibly powerful tool for helping mortgage lenders identify gaps in sales coverage, expand into new markets and serve communities more equitably."

Horn holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Northern Iowa. She is an avid volunteer and community advocate, and in the past has donated both her time and marketing expertise to nonprofit organizations such as the Cedar Bend Humane Society and Cedar Valley United Way. Since 2018, Horn has been a board member of the CedarValley PrideFest.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Megan Horn as chief marketing officer (CMO). In this role, Horn will oversee marketing, public relations, brand management and customer experience for the growing company.

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

Ruoff Mortgage Selects ACES Quality Management & Control to Improve Loan Quality Enterprise-wide Across Multiple Product Lines

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced that Ruoff Mortgage Company, Inc. (Ruoff Mortgage), a full-service residential mortgage lender, has selected its flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support the company's origination and servicing quality control (QC) audits.

"By prioritizing compliance and loan quality, lenders can gain deeper business insights while staying ahead of ever-changing regulatory requirements. Given Ruoff Mortgage's 70 retail locations throughout the Midwest, as well as its online reach to 45 states, there's a significant amount of compliance ground to cover," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "Our technology enables lenders to ensure compliance at all levels while also providing lenders with the flexibility to align our system with their unique needs and internal structure to improve internal reviews, communication and defect remediation, with the overall goal of reducing risk and enhancing loan quality."

Ruoff Mortgage selected ACES to help support its quality assurance, quality control and internal audit processes enterprise-wide to help track loan quality and effectively and quickly identify, communicate and remediate exceptions. Using ACES managed questionnaires, action planning capabilities and the ACES CONNECT communication portal, Ruoff Mortgage can seamlessly review 300 loans monthly while communicating report findings internally and reviewing its quality control and assurance procedures.

"ACES will tremendously improve our audit accuracy and produce clear, easy-to-read reports in minutes," said Diana Ringer, Chief Compliance Officer at Ruoff Mortgage. "It will help increase productivity, efficiency and quality, all while controlling overall costs."

About Ruoff:

Ruoff Mortgage is a full-service residential mortgage company with 70+ retail locations and originates in 45 states through their online consumer direct division. They have been recognized by several prominent industry publications such as the Scotsman Guide's list of Top Mortgage Lenders and Mortgage Executive Magazine's Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America and have been listed on the Inc. 5000's Fastest Growing Companies for nine years in a row. Ruoff Mortgage has a 98.2% customer satisfaction rating, as compiled by CX leader, Customerville. For more information, visit www.ruoff.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:

* 4 of the top 5 and more than 50% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 7 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the USA.

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 Ruoff Mortgage Company, Inc. (Ruoff Mortgage), a full-service residential mortgage lender, has selected its flagship audit platform ACES Quality Management & Control® Software to support the company's origination and servicing quality control (QC) audits.

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

Klingenstein Fields Advisors Opens New Office and Adds Senior Business Development and Advisory Resource

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors) is excited to announce the opening of an office in West Palm Beach to serve the south Florida market. The establishment of a physical presence in south Florida demonstrates the firm's long-standing commitment to the market and provides a home base from which to operate.

"We recognize that many of our clients spend a portion of their time in Florida, and we wanted to provide a local presence they could easily access. In addition, Florida is a dynamic market with strong growth prospects for us. This gives us 'feet on the ground' to help accelerate our growth," said Kenneth D. Pollinger, Chairman & Co-CEO of KF Advisors.

Heading up the West Palm Beach Office will be a new addition to the KF Advisors team, John A. Pavela, CFA, Managing Director. John brings strong experience in wealth and investment management and will be responsible for new business development and managing client relationships, providing guidance on a range of wealth, planning, and investment management issues. John was most recently with BMO Wealth Management as Regional Director of Investments. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in Investment Management, Wealth Management, and Trust Administration at First Union National Bank (later known as Wachovia National Bank). John began his career at LaSalle National Bank & Trust in Chicago.

He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of South Florida. John earned a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University and received an M.B.A. in Finance from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University.

"John really knows the Florida market and has a deep knowledge of the complex issues faced by wealthy individuals and families. We found that his approach and client-first mindset really align well with that of KF Advisors. We are fortunate to have him heading up our Florida effort," said James Fields, President and Co-CEO of KF Advisors.

About Klingenstein Fields Advisors:

Klingenstein Fields Advisors represents two privately held independent Registered Investment Advisors managing approximately $4.0 billion in assets. The firm offers a full array of wealth, planning, and investment management to a broad array of individuals, families, and institutions.

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

Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors) is excited to announce the opening of an office in West Palm Beach to serve the south Florida market. The establishment of a physical presence in south Florida demonstrates the firm's long-standing commitment to the market and provides a home base from which to operate.

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

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach Merge, Appoint Richard Harris as CEO

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 their merger and the appointment of SaaS executive Richard Harris as CEO.

Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach have been working toward the merger since LLR Partners' investment in the firms, which was announced in January.

Founded in 2009, Mortgage Coach is an award-winning platform that gives borrowers the confidence to make a home loan decision by providing educational presentations that model loan performance over time. Established in 2017, Sales Boomerang launched the first automated borrower intelligence system for mortgage lenders. Together, Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach will position lenders to reach borrowers with the right information at the right time, empowering borrowers to build wealth through homeownership by helping them select the best mortgage strategy for their unique housing needs.

"Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach are both impressive, mission-driven organizations that have earned tremendous brand equity in the mortgage realm through their expert grasp of the industry and proven ability to deliver substantive value to mortgage lenders and borrowers," said Harris. "I look forward to bringing the organizations together and leveraging my background in data, analytics and insights to help mortgage lenders better understand their borrowers and provide personalized service that helps them attain their homeownership and financial goals."

Prior to taking the helm of Mortgage Coach and Sales Boomerang, Harris was CEO at SparkPost, an email sending and optimization platform delivering 40% of the world's commercial email. He led that company through tremendous growth and oversaw its $600 million acquisition by omnichannel communication platform MessageBird. Before his tenure at SparkPost, Harris was group vice president at cloud technology company Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), where he led international operations of its Data Cloud business unit. He was previously CEO at consumer insights and digital ad personalization company AddThis, where he rapidly scaled the company and facilitated its acquisition by Oracle. Harris holds J.D. and MBA degrees from the University of Maryland.

Alex Kutsishin and Dave Savage, founders of Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach, will continue to actively nurture the company and its relationships in leadership roles.

"By bringing together the very best in database monitoring, market intelligence, automation, personalization and education, Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach deliver the short- and long-term financial results lenders crave," said Kutsishin. "We are united in our mission to provide borrowers with the right loan at the right time, and I am confident we will reach new heights under Richard's leadership."

"Combining the advice-based digital presentations of Mortgage Coach with the big data borrower intelligence of Sales Boomerang enables us to create unprecedented opportunities for consumers to achieve financial freedom faster and to help lenders and loan officers to close more loans in this rising interest rate marketplace," said Savage. "Together we have the expertise, the synergy and the platform to put game-changing tools in the hands of our lenders and loan officers."

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 their merger and the appointment of SaaS executive Richard Harris as CEO.

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

Business and Economic Empowerment Leader Dr. Velma Trayham Announced as Keynote Speaker for Takeaway Tax Business Conference in Houston, TX

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Highlighting the power of entrepreneurship to change the world and end poverty, award-winning B2B/diversity consultant and leader Dr. Velma Trayham (CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting Group) has been announced as the keynote speaker for TakeAway Tax's upcoming Tax Business Conference in Houston on Aug. 4.

Dr. Trayham is the CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting, a Black- and woman-owned Marketing Strategy and Diversity Consulting agency that opened its fourth office in Scottsdale last year, and founder of the Millionaire Mastermind Academy, a nationwide nonprofit that provides entrepreneurial training and mentorship programming to help minority women rise above poverty through empowered entrepreneurship and spiritual development. Dr. Trayham was recently honored by President Joe Biden, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for mentoring more than 8000 black business owners.

With concierge tax services for businesses, TakeAway Tax is a rapidly growing franchise that trains others interested in owning their own franchise in addition to providing tax preparation for organizations of all sizes.

"TakeAway Tax really understands the combined power of entrepreneurship, communication and business development and it will be an honor to share insights on small business growth with their attendees," said Dr. Trayham. "When we come together to pool our wisdom, experience and vision, our businesses all benefit from this collective knowledge and awareness."

The Tax Business Conference, to be held at The Ballroom at Bayou Place in Houston's Theater District, will convene tax professionals and firms to share ideas and insights to bolster business and inspire entrepreneurship throughout the industry.

Trayham's previous national speaking and marketing campaigns include VistaCreate, Cheddar News and Country Financial, among others. Her previous speaking engagements include the American Heart Association, Georgia Power, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greater Phoenix Urban League, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Texas Black Expo and many more.

About Dr. Velma Trayham:

Dr. Velma Trayham is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker and economic empowerment specialist who believes in the power of inclusive, equitable businesses to create community and spark change. The CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting Group, which brings greater awareness to initiatives that support underserved communities, Dr. Trayham also founded the Millionaire Mastermind Academy, which has mentored more than 8,000 minority women business owners in its first three years. For more information, please visit https://thinkzillaconsulting.com/

RELATED LINKS:

https://velmatrayham.com/booking/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tax-business-conference-2022-tickets-358561596387

Highlighting the power of entrepreneurship to change the world and end poverty, award-winning B2B/diversity consultant and leader Dr. Velma Trayham (CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting Group) has been announced as the keynote speaker for TakeAway Tax's upcoming Tax Business Conference in Houston on Aug. 4.

Related link: https://thinkzillaconsulting.com/

Southwestern Investment Group Named a Top Workplace in Middle Tennessee for Third Consecutive Year

FRANKLIN, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, today announced it was once again named to The Tennessean's 2022 list of Top Workplaces in Middle Tennessee. The firm was also honored as a Top Workplace in the Tennessean's 2020 and 2021 lists.

"The past two and a half years have reinforced how important it is for employees to feel connected and proud of the companies they work for," said Jeff Dobyns, President of Southwestern Investment Group. "Our employees bring their best, most authentic selves to work every day, which translates to our client relationships. We invest a great deal of effort in maintaining a strong and inclusive culture and we couldn't be more pleased to be recognized again as a top workplace."

The Tennessean partners with Energage LLC., a third-party employee engagement technology partner, to conduct the anonymous employee survey. Winners were announced on June 23, 2022.

Southwestern Investment Group is a family of advisors that takes an integrated approach to wealth management and believes in a purpose bigger than itself. The company's core values serve as further proof that success can be achieved by cultivating a culture of appreciation.

Southwestern Investment Group's business model allows it to provide friendly service from people you know, while offering the comprehensive solutions and services of a larger financial provider. For more information about Southwestern Investment Group, visit https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/ or call 615-861-6100.

About Southwestern Investment Group:

As of 3/31/2022. Southwestern Investment Group was established in 2002 as an independent practice and manages more than $5.8 billion in client assets. The advisors at Southwestern Investment Group are registered representatives with Raymond James Financial Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, which allows them to have the support of a large company while offering the personalized services of a small organization. Southwestern Investment Group uses sensible, sound, and conservative investment strategies and holistic services to enhance and help preserve your wealth. For more information, visit https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/.

About Raymond James Financial Services:

As of 3/31/2022. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 8,500 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $1.26 trillion. Additional information is available at https://www.raymondjames.com/.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Southwestern Investment Advisory Services, Inc., an independent registered investment adviser. Southwestern Investment Group is not a registered broker-dealer, and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Representatives may not be registered to offer securities and advisory services in all states.

More than 1,000 companies were invited to participate, 106 were recognized as one of the Tennessean Top Places to work. The Tennessean welcomed anyone to nominate an organization and partnered with Energage, who also reached out to companies. Any employer was eligible, as long as it had at least 35 employees in Middle Tennessee. Employees could be public, private, nonprofit or governmental. Once employers were nominated, employees were asked to fill out an online questionnaire that gave more information about the companies they worked for. Information gathered included issues relating to workplace culture, including Alignment, Connection, Effectiveness, Engagement, Leadership, and the Basics, including pay, benefits, flexibility, training, and expectations. Employers were then ranked among groups of similar size to most accurately compare results, with those that scored high being recognized. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of an advisor's future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Neither Energage nor the Tennessean is affiliated with Raymond James.

Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, today announced it was once again named to The Tennessean's 2022 list of Top Workplaces in Middle Tennessee. The firm was also honored as a Top Workplace in the Tennessean's 2020 and 2021 lists.

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

Lender Price Launches Marketplace 2.0, Providing Wholesale Brokers and Lenders with Enhanced Pricing Capabilities and Deal Intelligence

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Lender Price, a leading provider of product, pricing and eligibility technology, announced today they have released Marketplace 2.0, a major enhancement to their Broker Marketplace platform, one of the largest communities of wholesale brokers in the mortgage industry.

Created to match lenders with mortgage brokers looking to find the best rates and loan products for borrowers in a volatile market, Marketplace 2.0 gives brokers the ability to pull in pricing from their existing lender relationships automatically and run pricing comparisons of participating Broker Marketplace lenders. Eliminating a lengthy signup process and a monthly fee, Marketplace now helps brokers instantly see all of their lenders and marketplace lenders inside a single location without logging into several different TPO portals.

"Marketplace 2.0 is a game changer for brokers and lenders. It helps wholesale lenders expand their audience and gain access to thousands of mortgage brokers quickly," said Dawar Alimi, CEO of Lender Price.

"For brokers, we designed the platform to help them find the most competitive loan programs in this market and help them move away from using legacy technology that typically comes with a monthly fee. Our solution is 100% free to the wholesale broker community and it's one less cost that a broker has to worry about right now."

With Marketplace 2.0, mortgage brokers can now:

* Pull in pricing from their existing wholesale lender relationships without waiting

* Quickly add comp and rate sheets and receive accurate pricing without a monthly fee moving forward

* Invite borrowers to see tailored products and scenarios from inside the system

* Create custom rate alerts and be alerted when new opportunities arise

* Find and isolate specific non-QM, non-agency and home equity products

* Get more control and freedom and run pricing from anywhere

* Find loans that compete with all-cash offers and share with realtors

* Discover products they were previously unaware of and might not know are available

Advantages for wholesale lenders participating in Marketplace 2.0 include:

* Ability to offer product and pricing to additional brokers outside of current network

* Easy access for brokers to find their specific programs and conduct business with them

* Detailed analytics on broker pricing behavior

* Quick notifications on when brokers choose their products

* Ability to showcase non-QM, non-agency and home equity products

Onboarding is now automated, extremely simple, and brokers are up and running in minutes. Brokers only need to upload their rate sheets once and the system automatically updates product and pricing moving forward. Users will be able to see accurate pricing without manual updates.

With rates on the rise, Marketplace 2.0 can help brokers keep costs under control, stay competitive in a challenging market and get wider access to additional products that they might not know exist. The solution also gives brokers access to non-QM, non-agency and home equity programs at no additional cost. Lenders can also gain access to thousands of wholesale brokers quickly and easily, helping them maintain volume during a challenging market.

Learn more about Marketplace 2.0 and the Lender Price platform at https://lenderprice.com/

About Lender Price:

Lender Price is a California-based developer of mortgage technology, including an advanced product, pricing, & eligibility (PPE) engine, digital lending point-of-sale (POS), and non-agency automated underwriting engine. Lender Price provides all types of mortgage lending institutions - wholesale and correspondent lenders, banks, credit unions, and mortgage brokers - with advanced technology designed to eliminate friction, increase transparency, and effectively engage with borrowers. More information about Lender Price can be found at https://lenderprice.com and https://digitallending.com.

Lender Price, a leading provider of product, pricing and eligibility technology, announced today they have released Marketplace 2.0, a major enhancement to their Broker Marketplace platform, one of the largest communities of wholesale brokers in the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://lenderprice.com/

Mid America Mortgage rebrands to Click n’ Close

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) today announced it has rebranded as Click n' Close following the sale of the majority of its retail lending operations to Houston-based Legend Lending. Click n' Close will retain retail operations related to its reverse mortgage and Native American lending business and focus on delivering innovative down payment assistance (DPA) and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) products through its third-party originator (TPO) channels.

"Mid America's passion and focus have always been on driving growth in our third-party origination channels, uncovering untapped market opportunities that deliver value to industry partners and fostering innovation via technology and automation," Click n' Close CEO Jeff Bode said. "As the company moves into its next iteration, we wanted to do so under a banner that would accurately reflect the values and focus of our new direction."

In addition to its lending operations, Click n' Close also plans to enter the mortgage technology space to help lenders realize the benefits of eMortgages. While Click n' Close will introduce several new products, some of its initial offerings were developed as proprietary, in-house technology under the Mid America Mortgage brand to power the company's digital mortgage strategy. These products will now be made available to the entire industry to support lenders' efforts to achieve an end-to-end digital mortgage process.

"The investments we've made in technology and digital process have paid tremendous dividends, enabling us to save upwards of $300 per loan file. We've then been able to channel those savings into additional technology enhancements and the delivery of specialized product offerings to address today's housing market challenges," Bode said. "Our focus now as Click n' Close will be to concentrate these efforts to better serve the mortgage community from both a loan product and a technology perspective."

About Click n' Close, Inc.:

Click n' Close, Inc., formerly known as Mid America Mortgage, is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels and is also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Click n' Close has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings and eNotes.

Combining this culture of innovation with a risk management mindset enables Click n' Close to deliver new products to market that address the challenges facing both borrowers and third-party originators (TPOs). These innovations include its USDA one-time close construction loans, Power Buyer bridge loan program, proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and reverse mortgage division. Its direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors afford Click n' Close direct access to the capital markets, thus ensuring maximum liquidity for its product innovations. By servicing its loan programs in-house, Click n' Close provides its wholesale and correspondent partners with an additional level of certainty regarding loan salability and superior borrower service over the life of the loan.

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

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) today announced it has rebranded as Click n' Close following the sale of the majority of its retail lending operations to Houston-based Legend Lending. Click n' Close will retain retail operations related to its reverse mortgage and Native American lending business and focus on delivering innovative down payment assistance (DPA) and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) products through its third-party originator (TPO) channels.

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

EPIC Announces Strategic Hires in Northeast, Poises Firm for Regional Growth in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today it has hired a team of producers to support regional expansion in Pennsylvania.

Joining the firm as principals are Pamela Barbush, Brian Floyd, David Schlosberg, and John Shingara. The team will be responsible for business development in employee benefits, as well as property and casualty lines at EPIC.

With over 12 years of experience, Schlosberg focuses on business development, most recently as vice president at an independent brokerage firm. He completed his MBA in 2020 and holds the insurance designations of CPCU and CIC. Barbush specializes in group casualty and single parent captives. She has over 40 years of experience, dedicating the past 22 years exclusively to captive insurance with mid to large commercial clients with a focus on the construction industry.

Floyd and Shingara both bring a background in employee benefits consulting. Floyd concentrates on mid and large group markets and is a healthcare consortium and self-funded expert. He holds the designation of Advanced Charter Benefits. Shingara is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist. His experience includes captives, self-insurance, and other risk financing techniques.

Len Scioscia, EPIC Northeast Region President, commented, "We are pleased to welcome Pamela, Brian, David, and John to EPIC in their new roles. The team, to be based near Harrisburg in central Pennsylvania, will contribute to our buildout in Pennsylvania. We currently have a Pittsburgh office and are excited to expand further across the state."

About EPIC Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants 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 EPIC clients. For more information on EPIC, visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today it has hired a team of producers to support regional expansion in Pennsylvania.

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

Blaylock Van Partners with Seaport Global to Expand Market Reach

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Blaylock Van, LLC, the nation's longest continuously operating Black-owned investment firm, recently entered into a strategic partnership with Seaport Global, an independent institutional sales and trading powerhouse known for its broad global reach to institutional investors. As part of the agreement, Seaport Global recently purchased a minority stake in Blaylock Van.

Combining Blaylock Van's top-tier investment banking solutions and Seaport Global's extensive worldwide reach, the strategic collaboration will bring together decades of market leadership and expertise to work in partnership on capital market solutions for issuers and investors while expanded distribution will allow for powerful dissemination capabilities in both primary and secondary markets.

"As we continue to develop opportunities for minority investors across the globe, this partnership is the perfect opportunity to drive business growth for a more diverse audience," said CEO and founder of Blaylock Van Eric Van Standifer. "We look forward to collaborating with Seaport Global, connecting with their deep distribution platform and further bolstering our strong client offerings."

Michael J. Meyer, the Seaport Global Partner overseeing the partnership, added, "Seaport Global is committed to growing opportunities for minorities in the financial services industry and we see this as a tremendous platform to accomplish this goal. The strength of the partnership will help Blaylock Van expand the services offered to their clients as well as provide Seaport Global clients with the opportunity to support a minority-owned broker dealer."

Certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the State of New York, the State of Wisconsin, the City of New York and the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Blaylock Van is 81 percent Black-owned. Blaylock Van serves corporations, municipalities, investment managers and pension funds with a diverse employee base committed to work beyond financial services.

About Blaylock Van, LLC:

Blaylock Van, LLC (BV) is the oldest and continuously operating Black-owned banking form in the United States, providing personalized services for clients across the country. Clients include corporations, municipalities, investment managers, pension funds and family offices. Global electronic equity and fixed-income trading platforms allow direct market access to more than 40 worldwide exchanges, while the firm's proprietary web-based research platform is designed to specifically address the needs of fundamental portfolio managers and analysts. The firm's headquarters are in New York City, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Miami and Oakland, Calif. For more information, please visit https://brv-llc.com/

About Seaport Global:

Seaport Global Holdings LLC is a leading capital markets firm, providing robust sales, trading and research services and the resources of a full-service investment bank. Seaport Global combines its extensive knowledge, solid relationships and deep distribution platform to serve its clients' most unique business requirements. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices across the US and Europe. Visit https://www.seaportglobal.com/ to learn more.

Blaylock Van, LLC, the nation's longest continuously operating Black-owned investment firm, recently entered into a strategic partnership with Seaport Global, an independent institutional sales and trading powerhouse known for its broad global reach to institutional investors. As part of the agreement, Seaport Global recently purchased a minority stake in Blaylock Van.

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

DocMagic’s Leah Sommerville Recognized with 2022 Trailblazer Award

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Leah Sommerville, a senior account executive on its eClosing team, has been honored by PROGRESS in Lending as a 2022 Sales & Marketing Trailblazer. The award recognizes sales, marketing and public relations executives that are blazing trails in the mortgage industry.

PROGRESS in Lending states that leading salespeople are consistently adding revenue to the topline for their organizations and marketing standouts are building credibility, awareness and value that pave the way for business development efforts. The commonality between the two functions is that these executives all work tirelessly to ensure that their companies and clients are successful and in the limelight; however, they themselves don't always get recognized. Currently in its fourth year, PROGRESS in Lending's Trailblazer award seeks to applaud industry standouts in this field.

Leah Sommerville of DocMagic has become an integral part of its eClosing team. Over the years, she has played a role in helping lenders make the switch to digitizing their lending processes with the implementation of eClosing, eNotarization, eNote and eVault technology. She has been successful in helping lenders transform their business models with DocMagic's suite of digital mortgage automation solutions.

"I am truly honored to be named to this all-star list of peers in my field who are doing great things for their companies on the revenue producing and awareness creation front," stated Sommerville. "It has been an exciting time at DocMagic introducing lenders to the immense value our Total eClose(tm) platform delivers and I am excited to be recognized by the judges at PROGRESS in Lending."

During the last few years, Leah has made significant inroads with introducing DocMagic's comprehensive Total eClose(tm) platform and ancillary solutions. She works closely with direct lenders, warehouse lenders, investors, settlement providers, notaries, and other lending entities to automate the closing process ---ultimately benefiting the entire mortgage supply chain. Leah's efforts don't stop with just a sales-based focus; she also works with DocMagic's marketing team to create awareness, participating as a speaker on many webinars and discussion groups throughout the year to educate lenders on the value of digitizing the mortgage process.

The complete list of PROGRESS in Lending's class of 2022 Trailblazers is showcased on its website: https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2022-trailblazers-award-winners-are/.

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/.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Leah Sommerville, a senior account executive on its eClosing team, has been honored by PROGRESS in Lending as a 2022 Sales & Marketing Trailblazer. The award recognizes sales, marketing and public relations executives that are blazing trails in the mortgage industry.

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

Mid America Mortgage Now Offers eNotes to Non-Delegated Correspondents through its Wholesale Channel

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it is offering eNotes capabilities via its wholesale channel to enable non-delegated correspondents to operate more efficiently and competitively as they make the transition from mortgage broker to banker. Through this program, third-party originators (TPOs) can deliver the convenience digital closings provide to their customers and enhance relationships with their existing real estate and title partners amidst an otherwise challenging operating environment.

"With the rise in rates, dwell time is much more consequential as it ultimately eats into profitability. Mid America has always sought to operate from a position of providing liquidity and revenue retention options to the industry, and our wholesale eNote program is a natural extension of those efforts," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "With eNotes, our approved non-delegated correspondents can decrease turn times on their warehouse line to 48 hours or less, which ultimately saves them money in the form of reduced interest charges and enables them to turn over their warehouse lines far more frequently."

To help non-delegated correspondents take advantage of this program, Mid America has established partnerships with private investors to provide lines of credit to qualified program participants. Mid America's TPO approval process captures most of the relevant financial statements and insurance exhibits requisite to the warehouse approval process, thus materially accelerating the warehouse approval timeline.

"Despite the push for 'industry-wide' adoption, the digital mortgage conversation has largely excluded TPOs, which has put them at a distinct disadvantage. Furthermore, many budding mortgage bankers have been reluctant to go down the digital path, thinking there are insurmountable operational/financial limitations," Mid America's Executive Director of TPO Lending Adam Rieke said. "Given our success as a digital-first lender, we wanted to extend this same opportunity to the next generation of rising mortgage bankers."

"Due to the secure nature of eNotes, many mortgage lenders that were previously ineligible for warehouse lines can move forward as mortgage bankers and do so with full confidence that their operations are as efficient and cost-effective as possible from the start," Rieke added.

For information on the Mid America eNote program for non-delegated correspondents, contact Rieke at adam.rieke@midamericamortgage.com or Soliman Martinez at soliman.martinez@midamericamortgage.com.

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.:

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels and is also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings and eNotes.

Combining this culture of innovation with a risk management mindset enables Mid America to deliver new products to market that address the challenges facing both borrowers and third-party originators (TPOs). These innovations include its USDA one-time close construction loans, Power Buyer bridge loan program, proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and reverse mortgage division. Its direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors afford Mid America direct access to the capital markets, thus ensuring maximum liquidity for its product innovations. By servicing its loan programs in-house, Mid America provides its wholesale and correspondent partners with an additional level of certainty regarding loan salability and superior borrower service over the life of the loan.

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

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it is offering eNotes capabilities via its wholesale channel to enable non-delegated correspondents to operate more efficiently and competitively as they make the transition from mortgage broker to banker. Through this program, third-party originators (TPOs) can deliver the convenience digital closings provide to their customers and enhance relationships with their existing real estate and title partners amidst an otherwise challenging operating environment.

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

TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP Invests in leadPops

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 follow-on round to a recent $3.5M Series A completed by leadPops, a digital customer acquisition software and marketing innovation platform. leadPops allows users to create robust, automated lead-generating systems that drive qualified leads directly to their business. Current leadPops clients leverage tools such as lead funnels, lead-generation websites and in-house managed marketing services to drive and secure high-quality leads with solid conversion potential.

"At leadPops, we believe driving traffic and clicks doesn't matter if you're not converting those clicks into clients, which is why we're thrilled to partner with The Mortgage Collaborative at a time when many mortgage companies need us the most" said CEO and Co-Founder of leadPops Andrew Pawlak. "The TMC Tech Fund's investment will help further accelerate leadPop's growth while allowing us to positively impact the more than 250 mortgage companies that are part of TMC. It's a big win for everyone involved, and the leadPops team is ready to rock."

leadPops was founded in 2011 to help mortgage, real estate and insurance businesses thrive online through optimized conversion. Existing partnerships include the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME), C2 Financial, Fairway Independent Mortgage, Movement Mortgage, Thrive Mortgage and many more. With more than 3,000 clients nationwide, leadPops was named one of the country's fastest-growing companies in 2021, earning it a place on the Inc. 5,000 list.

"Andrew literally wrote the book on mortgage lead generation and has a profound amount of knowledge and experience in lead generation and management for mortgage, real estate and insurance professionals," said Sandy Selman, Venture Partner for the TMC Emerging Technology Fund. "Andrew has boundless enthusiasm to help his clients succeed and is among that rare breed of entrepreneur in whom we are fortunate to invest."

The Limited Partners of the TMC Emerging Technology Fund consist of some of the most technology-forward lender members of TMC and are responsible for evaluating and investing in companies looking to advance the mortgage industry to the next level. 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, contact info@tmctechfund.com. To learn more about leadPops, visit https://leadpops.com.

About The Mortgage Collaborative:

Based in San Diego, CA., 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 America's dynamic and changing consumer base. 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 follow-on round to a recent $3.5M Series A completed by leadPops, a digital customer acquisition software and marketing innovation platform. leadPops allows users to create robust, automated lead-generating systems that drive qualified leads directly to their business.

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

Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of Edward Jones Receives Certified Exit Planning Advisor® Designation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Colorado Springs has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor®, or CEPA®, professional designation from the Exit Planning Institute®, a program designed to enhance skills for serving business owner clients.

Study topics include various aspects of business and succession planning, including assessing business readiness and personal financial preparedness; engaging with the client team of CPAs, attorneys, and other professionals; integrating strategies into professional, personal, and financial goals; and building and preserving family wealth for future generations.

Learn more: https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/keith-eckhardt

His office is located at 1763 South 8th St, Ste 1, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.

Edward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm, provides financial services in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm's nearly 19,000 financial advisors serve more than 8 million clients with a total of $1.7 trillion in client assets under care. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for a positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's 50,000 associates and our branch presence in 68 percent of U.S. counties, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is https://www.edwardjones.com/ and its recruiting website is https://careers.edwardjones.com/. Member SIPC.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Keith Eckhardt
719-578-5833

RELATED LINKS:

https://exit-planning-institute.org/

https://www.visitcos.com/

Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Colorado Springs has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor®, or CEPA®, professional designation from the Exit Planning Institute®, a program designed to enhance skills for serving business owner clients.

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

New MSR Technology Empowers MSR Buyers with Live Loan-Level Pricing

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, has announced today a new technology for mortgage servicing rights (MSR) buyers to produce more granular pricing for mortgage servicing. The feature leverages an application programming interface (API) to connect MSRlive!, MCT's state-of-the-art MSR valuation platform to clients' systems for more precise and accurate loan-level pricing in real time.

Especially in a volatile climate, every basis point counts. MCT's objective is to ensure that its software additions drive more profitability and increase efficiencies. With MCT's new API, users can effectively develop a pricing strategy that includes key loan-level characteristics, such as property location, FICO, loan-to-value (LTV), and much more in real-time to evaluate a comprehensive set of data that contributes to a winning pricing strategy.

The key takeaway of this new functionality is how it informs users and helps servicing buyers avoid over-paying for potentially underperforming assets. The software provides a more prudent, thoughtful, and strategic approach achieved by leveraging a granular set of data which will result in fewer missteps. The system's functionality provides insight for the servicing buyers to ensure that the pricing levels on a loan-by-loan basis are appropriate and justified.

"The competitive landscape has exposed the challenges with applying static multiples across all LTVs and FICOs and has heightened the importance of a more strategic pricing strategy," shared Bill Shirreffs, Head of MSR Services and Sales Operations at MCT. "MCT's MSRlive! API is specifically designed to provide granular, loan-level, MSR pricing based on your cost assumptions and return expectations. Ultimately, giving you more confidence."

This technology is available to MSR buyers that want to receive more granular pricing for their MSR bidding today. Connect with MCT to start securing company profitability with a wide array of software systems and expert consultants.

Learn more: https://mct-trading.com/contact/

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.

Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, has announced today a new technology for mortgage servicing rights (MSR) buyers to produce more granular pricing for mortgage servicing. The feature leverages an application programming interface (API) to connect MSRlive!, MCT's state-of-the-art MSR valuation platform to clients' systems for more precise and accurate loan-level pricing in real time.

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

Q4 2021 Critical Defect Rate Rose to 1.95%, 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 fourth quarter (Q4) and full calendar year (CY) of 2021. The latest report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from ACES Quality Management & Control® software.

Notable findings from the Q4 2021 report include:

* The overall critical defect increased 0.08% to 1.95%, a change of 4% from the prior quarter, as lenders transitioned to a purchase-heavy lending environment.

* Income/Employment defects declined in overall share but remained the No. 1 most frequently cited issue, even after pandemic-related verification issues had subsided.

* Appraisal-related defects rose in Q4 2021 after experiencing minimal levels throughout the last refinance cycle.

* Purchase review share was 20 points higher than refinances.

* Conventional lending share is now 8 points below the pandemic peak amid a mini-resurgence in FHA lending.

"While the overall defect rate rose slightly in Q4 2021, defect rates have improved in totality when comparing 2021 to 2020," said ACES Executive Vice President Nick Volpe. "Given the uptick in Q4 and the persistent issues we're still seeing in the Income/Employment category, lenders should focus their efforts on shoring up this component of their underwriting process."

Findings for the Q4 2021 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.

"As lenders battle over volume, quality control and compliance teams are more important than ever to ensure that the loans that make it through the door meet all regulatory and eligibility requirements," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "On the origination side, we're seeing the credit box expand to help qualify more borrowers and maintain share. And with 1.3 million loans still in active forbearance along with the renewed focus on servicing from the CFPB and other regulators, servicers and lenders alike must be diligent in their compliance practices to survive this increased level of scrutiny. Leveraging a system like ACES helps both sides of the house ensure they are auditing to the best and most up-to-date standards."

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:

* 4 of the top 5 and more than 50% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 7 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the USA.

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 the release of its quarterly ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report covering the fourth quarter (Q4) and full calendar year (CY) of 2021. The latest report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from ACES Quality Management & Control® software.

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

John J. Patterson Joins Vanbridge, EPIC’s Financial Services Division

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that John J. Patterson has joined the firm as Managing Principal, Head of Claims with Vanbridge, its Financial Services division.

In his role within Vanbridge, Patterson will be dedicated to managing transactional and executive liability claims from notice to resolution, as well as advising throughout the broking process with respect to structuring of coverage, legal implications of agreement language, policy wording and diligence matters. Patterson's most recent role was that of Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Financial Lines Claims at a leading transactional risk MGU. He also served as senior claims counsel at two large insurance carriers, where he managed D&O, E&O, and transactional risk claims on behalf of private equity, hedge fund and venture capital policyholders.

Earlier in his career, Patterson was an attorney representing a leading insurance carrier in all phases of D&O, E&O, and financial institution claims and associated coverage litigation. He is currently admitted in New York and Connecticut. Patterson will be based out of Vanbridge's New York office.

"We are excited to offer John's expertise and professionalism to our clients as we work together through all aspects of their transactional risk and executive liability placements," said Greylen Mardy, Managing Principal and Transactional Risk leader.

About Vanbridge, an EPIC Company:

Vanbridge is an insurance intermediary and program management firm that provides products and services at the intersection of the insurance, private equity, and hedge fund industries. Vanbridge focuses on alternative asset management, corporate and individual high net worth clients, solving risk related issues utilizing insurance and alternative capital. Vanbridge's unique structuring and plan design techniques support various client objectives including cost reductions and enhancements to investment strategies that strengthen long-term financial performance. https://www.vanbridge.com/.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 2,600 team members operating from 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. https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that John J. Patterson has joined the firm as Managing Principal, Head of Claims with Vanbridge, its Financial Services division.

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

OpenClose Adds DataVerify Solutions to its LenderAssist™ LOS

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- OpenClose®, a leading fintech provider of mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that it has integrated its LenderAssist™ loan origination system (LOS) with the DataVerify® DRIVE® platform to seamlessly validate borrower provided data.

Directly from within LenderAssist, users can initiate a comprehensive data verification analysis that compares borrower information across multiple data sources to validate their information. The lender receives a full DRIVE report and is alerted when variances occur during the origination process.

"Incorporating the DataVerify technology into our LOS helps protect our customers and offers time saving efficiencies," said Vince Furey, CRO at OpenClose. "Our integration with DataVerify takes the validation of data many steps further than manually checking information on the borrower's loan application in order to accurately assess and mitigate risk. The value of this new interface is clear-cut."

Using the DRIVE® platform, OpenClose customers can now cross check key information on the borrower's loan application such as phone numbers, addresses, NMLS licenses, both custom and industry watchlists, and more. DataVerify automatically combs and compares the results from many different databases to pinpoint the same risk factor in order to confirm or deny its existence.

The DataVerify DRIVE platform also checks the borrower's background for bankruptcies, foreclosures, liens and judgments, real estate property owned, driver's license validity, and other information that affects lender and investor risk assessment. In addition, DataVerify offers the ability to efficiently manage the Undisclosed Debt Monitoring product through DRIVE® in partnership with Factual Data®.

"We are excited to have a direct integration with OpenClose and are confident that DRIVE®'s added functionality will benefit users residing on their LenderAssist LOS," said DataVerify President Brad Bogel. "The detailed reporting that DRIVE returns into LenderAssist will help our mutual customers identify potential fraud and streamline the process."

The DRIVE® platform is proven to automate aspects of the underwriting process including many tasks that are often manually completed by an underwriter. DRIVE® is based on a set of rules that a mortgage fraud expert would typically follow in diagnosing a problem, and its technology is able to identify nuances. The platform can identify instances of possible fraud, data inaccuracies, compliance issues, and highlights risk that lenders could potentially be exposed to throughout the lending process. Lenders are also empowered with the ability to configure specific rules in the platform to better fit their business model and adjust as their needs change.

About OpenClose:

Founded in 1999, OpenClose is the preeminent fintech provider that developed the mortgage banking industry's first SaaS-based lending automation software platform. Today, the company has expanded to become an award-winning, comprehensive loan origination software suite that slashes the cost to manufacture loans by up to 40 percent, reduces processing and underwriting cycle times by up to 50 percent, and requires minimal support to install and manage. OpenClose is the only vendor in the industry able to offer a true end-to-end, omni-channel, 100 percent browser-based, workflow-driven platform that effectively consolidates the digital POS, LOS, PPE and BI functions via a single provider, with easy access from any browser or mobile device. For more information, visit https://www.openclose.com/ or call (561) 655-6418.

About DataVerify:

DataVerify is a premier provider of risk mitigation, data validation, and workflow management solutions for the mortgage industry. DataVerify harnesses advanced analytics and technology to create automated and configurable workflow and decision management solutions. Their highly responsive platform empowers lenders to make precise and consistent business decisions through an engine that identifies and measures hidden threats such as data integrity errors and misrepresentations, identity theft, and property and application risk. Engineered to offer optimal flexibility, the DataVerify platform (which incorporates 4506-C, SSA, and employment and income verification) allows lenders to manage risks according to their institution's tolerance level. For more information about DataVerify, please contact info@dataverify.com or access the company's website at https://www.dataverify.com/.

OpenClose®, a leading fintech provider of mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that it has integrated its LenderAssist™ loan origination system (LOS) with the DataVerify® DRIVE® platform to seamlessly validate borrower provided data.

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

Mortgage Markets CUSO implements Mortgage Coach to increase mortgage lending engagement at credit unions

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced today that Mortgage Markets CUSO, LLC has implemented Mortgage Coach to grow mortgage lending engagement at the credit unions it serves.

A subsidiary of Connecticut-based Finex Credit Union, Mortgage Markets CUSO is a credit union service organization that was founded in 2003 to fulfill credit unions' need for modern, friendly mortgage lending outsourcing. To date, Mortgage Markets CUSO's mortgage lending services are relied on by 15-plus U.S. credit unions including Connecticut State Employees Credit Union and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union.

Mortgage Markets CUSO will use Mortgage Coach to enhance rule-based marketing campaigns with loan presentations to inspire conversion. Via integration with Mortgage Market CUSO's point of sale (POS) system, Mortgage Coach will automatically generate a Cost of Waiting loan presentation once a lead begins an online mortgage loan application. The Cost of Waiting loan presentation models how rising interest rates and home prices will increase the cost of purchasing a home six months in the future.

"Credit unions typically excel at offering warm service and competitive rates but are often challenged to keep pace with the digital service provided by large lenders," Mortgage Coach President Joe Puthur said. "Our Cost of Waiting presentations help credit unions compete by showing members they are eager to help them with their mortgage, they care about their home financing outcome and they are ready to support the financing process with modern lending technology."

"Mortgage Market CUSO strives to support credit unions with exceptional mortgage service backed by a best-in-class digital experience, and Mortgage Coach helps us deliver this in spades," Mortgage Markets CUSO President Michael Ferraro said. "We look forward to helping our customers grow their mortgage lending divisions with personalized, high-touch technology."

About Mortgage Coach:

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning borrower conversion platform that gives consumers the confidence to transact with educational presentations that model 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 conversion, repeat business and referrals. To date, more than 140 enterprise independent mortgage banks, depository banks and credit unions rely on Mortgage Coach to deliver personalized, modern service that grows revenue and customer loyalty. To learn more about Mortgage Coach, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com or follow @MortgageCoach.

About Mortgage Markets CUSO, LLC:

Mortgage Markets CUSO (credit union service organization) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finex Credit Union operating for the benefit of credit unions and credit union members throughout Connecticut offering FHA, CHFA, VA, USDA and conventional mortgage products. By joining with other credit unions in a cooperative effort, Mortgage Markets CUSO has developed leading edge technology, mortgage expertise, local underwriting and excellent personal service. For more Mortgage Markets CUSO information, please log visit https://mortgagemarketscuso.com/.

Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced today that Mortgage Markets CUSO, LLC has implemented Mortgage Coach to grow mortgage lending engagement at the credit unions it serves.

Related link: https://mortgagecoach.com/

ACES Quality Management Unveils Certified ACES Administrator Program at Inaugural ACES ENGAGE Event in Colorado Springs

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced the launch of its Certified ACES Administrator (CAA) program during its inaugural ACES ENGAGE event, held May 23-25, 2022 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

"The Certified ACES Administrator Program has been in the works for months, so it was particularly gratifying for us to unveil this to our dedicated ACES user base during our first ACES ENGAGE event," ACES Executive Vice President of Operations Sharon Reichhardt. "Our customers are the core of everything we do, and this program was thoughtfully designed to provide ongoing integrity and value to ACES users."

The CAA program equips administrators with the best practices, processes, workflows and troubleshooting expertise to guide internal teams on the highest and best use of the ACES platform. Upon completion of the CAA program, administrators will receive a digital certification badge and a digital certificate that includes date of certification and date of expiration to keep for personal records or professional use.

In addition to the announcement regarding the CAA program, ACES ENGAGE attendees also heard from an array of industry experts. Mortgage Bankers Association economist Eddie Seiler, Fannie Mae's Senior Director of Loan Quality Duane Gilkison, Ballard Spahr attorney Richard Andreano and SWS Risk Advisory's Steve Spies addressed topics such as housing and consumer finance industry trends, the current economic outlook, quality control, fraud/risk management and compliance.

The event's keynote speaker Aron Ralston, the author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place and the basis for the feature film 127 Hours starring James Franco, shared his story of survival and what it taught him about overcoming life's challenges and struggles with the right mindset. Attendees also received an overview of the current ACES product roadmap and previews of upcoming features and functionality to be added later in the year.

"ACES ENGAGE was a huge success, and we are thankful that so many of our users, prospects and partners could join us for this one-of-a-kind event," ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier said. "We are constantly looking for ways in which we can deliver more value to our customer base. Given that our NPS score increased to 88 post-event, I feel confident that we delivered on that promise and look forward to delivering even more value at next year's ACES ENGAGE."

ACES ENGAGE will return to The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs on May 17-19, 2023.

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:

* 4 of the top 5 and more than 50% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 7 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the USA.

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 the launch of its Certified ACES Administrator (CAA) program during its inaugural ACES ENGAGE event, held May 23-25, 2022 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

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

Down Payment Resource analysis finds that 33% of declined mortgage applications are declined for reasons addressable with homebuyer assistance

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, today announced findings from an analysis showing that a substantial share of mortgage loan applications are both declined for reasons that can be addressed with homebuyer assistance and eligible for homebuyer assistance programs.

Methodology:

Findings were derived by analyzing HMDA data for tens of thousands of declined purchase mortgage loan applications representing $3.7 billion in volume furnished by mortgage lenders. Loan applications declined for either insufficient cash-to-close or disqualifying debt-to-income (DTI) ratios were categorized as potentially recoverable with homebuyer assistance. Homebuyer assistance eligibility for this group of applications was determined by running loan application data - including location, home price, loan amount, income and homeownership history - through the DOWN PAYMENT RESOURCE® database.

Matching assistance programs were then applied to each loan to determine how applying homebuyer assistance to eligible declined loan files would have impacted loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.

KEY FINDINGS

Key findings are as follows:

* A large share of declined loan files were eligible for homebuyer assistance. 33% of all declined purchase mortgage loan applications were declined for either insufficient cash-to-close or disqualifying DTI ratios and also eligible for homebuyer assistance at the time of declination. The large share of loans potentially recoverable with homebuyer assistance highlights a significant, low-cost opportunity for lenders to increase purchase volume.

* Declined loan applications were typically eligible for multiple programs. On average, declined loan applications were eligible for 10 homebuyer assistance programs, indicating there are often multiple options available to homebuyers financing with homebuyer assistance.

* Many declined loans could have been recovered with homebuyer assistance. Applying homebuyer assistance to eligible declined loan applications would have reduced LTV by an average of 5.85%, making many of the loan applications recoverable. Lowering LTV can open the door to better and more affordable first mortgage scenarios, including conventional (rather than FHA) financing, reduced mortgage insurance costs and better interest rates.

"In light of National Homeownership Month and the state of the housing market, it is important for the mortgage industry to reflect on ways it can improve financing outcomes for homebuyers," said DPR CEO Rob Chrane. "Our analysis definitively shows that homebuyer assistance programs are the most promising pathway to homeownership for a sizable share of the homebuyer population. Yet, homebuyer assistance programs are seldom offered as an option. It is my hope that this information will help lenders better serve their communities by showing that qualified homebuyers who need down payment assistance are not a niche market, but a major market that continues to grow."

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(tm). 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 https://downpaymentresource.com/ and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource.

Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, today announced findings from an analysis showing that a substantial share of mortgage loan applications are both declined for reasons that can be addressed with homebuyer assistance and eligible for homebuyer assistance programs.

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

Housing Finance Strategies Hires Stuart Quinn as Managing Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Housing Finance Strategies Founder & CEO Faith Schwartz today announced she has recruited mortgage consulting and product manager Stuart Quinn to join her firm as Managing Director.

"To accommodate the growth trajectory in our advisory services practice, we are pleased to welcome Stuart Quinn to our leadership team," said Schwartz. "Stuart brings a wealth of housing knowledge, mortgage modernization expertise and fintech insight to our practice."

Quinn, who has worked in housing finance, mortgage policy and technology in the private sector for over 10 years, joins Housing Finance Strategies from Accenture where he served as Product Manager focusing on the evaluation and integration of new mortgage fintech solutions, GSE technology integrations and end-user and/or borrower experience into broader enterprise IT infrastructure and LOS systems.

Prior to Accenture, Stuart worked in Advisory Services as Policy Research and Strategy Analyst for property data and analytics provider CoreLogic producing data-driven policy impact analysis and reporting solutions for mortgage market participants.

"I am pleased to rejoin forces with Faith and look forward to adding to the outstanding business she has built at Housing Finance Strategies. Given our work together previously at HOPE NOW and CoreLogic, this move represents a logical career step forward where I can leverage my skills and expertise in mortgage fintech and innovation for the benefit of the industry," said Quinn.

About Housing Finance Strategies:

Housing Finance Strategies was established by Faith Schwartz in 2016 as a professional services and advisory firm specializing in mortgage modernization, housing policy 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. Since 2019, Schwartz has created and delivered national housing policy conferences with #HousingDC22 coming September 27-28, 2022.

More information:

https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

https://housingfinancestrategies.com/housingdc22/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/faithschwartz/

Housing Finance Strategies Founder & CEO Faith Schwartz today announced she has recruited mortgage consulting and product manager Stuart Quinn to join her firm as Managing Director.

Related link: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices: May 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 May 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 May MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices is broken out by transaction type: purchase, rate/term refinance, and cash out refinance.

May MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices, which include an adjustment for the Memorial Day Holiday, show that that total mortgage rate locks by dollar volume decreased 10.6 percent in May, and total lock volume is down 29.5 percent from a year ago as purchases now make up most of the volume. Rapid rises in rates have kept would-be borrowers on the sidelines in 2022, and we saw declines in all three lock categories.

Purchase locks are now on the decline, down 1.78 percent month-over-month and 10.1 percent from a year ago. The increase in mortgage rates is also evident as refinance volume continues to fall. Rate/term refinances are down 29.6 percent and cash out refinances are down 9.0 percent month-over-month. From one year ago, cash out refinance volume is down 57.5 percent, while rate/term refinance volume has dropped 90.0 percent. Given rate/term refinance volume was already down 88 percent year-over-year in the April MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices, this month's drop does not change the total much.

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 MAY AS A PERCENTAGE BENCHMARKED TO THE START OF THE MONTH

Category | Month-Over-Month Index Value Change

Total: -10.65%

Purchase: -10.11%

Rate/Term Refinance: -29.57%

Cash Out Refinance: -8.99%

INDEX VALUE CHANGE YEAR-OVER-YEAR

Category | Year-Over-Year Index Value Change

Total: -29.54%

Purchase: -1.78%

Rate/Term Refinance: -90.03%

Cash Out Refinance: -57.52%

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 May 2022.

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

EPIC Adds to Life and Executive Benefits Platform with Acquisition of Dixon Wells, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants (EPIC) announced today that it has acquired Dixon Wells, Inc. (Dixon Wells) in a strategic move to expand EPIC's geographic footprint in the life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella. The transaction will broaden the reach of EPIC's current practice and provide Dixon Wells with an expanded suite of offerings and resources to accelerate growth and improve client service in an everchanging complex environment.

Dixon Wells partners with financial advisors on a national scale to help them grow their business by offering life, long-term care, disability, and annuity solutions for its clients to protect and transfer wealth. Dixon Wells brings teams and offices across the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic with offices in six states. The current leadership team of Dixon Wells, including Bill Conwell, Robert Flack, Ray Hunt, and Dave Kopelcheck will remain a part of the leadership team as they join the EPIC organization.

"Our team is very excited about the opportunities ahead with Vanbridge and EPIC. Our mission has always been to provide an exceptional insurance experience to our financial advisors and agents through unparalleled service, leading products, and forward-thinking technology. By further collaborating with experts in specialty practices across EPIC and the Galway platform of companies, we will be able to bring even more resources to better serve our clients," said Conwell.

"We are excited about what the entire team from Dixon Wells means for the Life and Executive Benefits vertical. The experience they bring with navigating through market cycles will strengthen our ongoing efforts of exceptional client experience with sophisticated services for estate, personal, executive benefits, and business planning," said Mitchell K. Smith, President of EPIC Life and Executive Benefits and Managing Principal of Vanbridge.

About EPIC Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has more than 2,600 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. EPIC is part of the Galway Holdings portfolio of companies, which also includes MAI Capital Management (wealth management), Jencap Group (wholesale insurance), and various other businesses (unique technology-first firms). Galway Holdings is committed to innovation and growth through expanded specialization, internal collaboration, leveraging of technology, and strategic investment. For more information, visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

About Dixon Wells:

Founded in 2009, the firm represents the union of five organizations with a total of more than 125 years combined experience. This depth of knowledge offers a unique blend of high tech and high touch, where long-term relationships are the key. Dixon Wells, Inc. is now one of the fastest growing brokerage general agencies in the country. For more information, visit: https://www.dixonwells.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants (EPIC) announced today that it has acquired Dixon Wells, Inc. (Dixon Wells) in a strategic move to expand EPIC's geographic footprint in the life insurance, executive benefits, and financial advisory distribution businesses under the Vanbridge Life and Executive Benefits umbrella.

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

Graham V. Bayly Joins EPIC’s Midwest Region and Financial Services Division

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Graham V. Bayly has joined the firm as a managing principal and Midwest Private Equity practice leader in its Financial Services division.

Bayly joins EPIC with nearly 20 years of industry experience in the Private Equity and M&A space. During his career, he has represented business owners, management teams, and private equity firms. He has also provided transaction-facilitating insurance products for investment bankers, lawyers, and deal professionals. Bayly has a proven ability to bridge the M&A space, with considerable experience conducting pre-closing insurance due diligence, structuring transactional insurance products, developing post-closing insurance programs and budgets, and supporting post-closing representation of businesses. Bayly will be based in Chicago and New York while working with all of EPIC's national teams in the financial services space.

"The breadth of Graham's knowledge and his experience working in the Private Equity and M&A space makes him a tremendous asset to EPIC and will create value for our clients on day one. He has a proven track record of establishing long-term client relationships and the diversity of his experience is highly complementary to our existing team," said Adam Meyerowitz, President, Midwest and Southeast Region.

"Graham is joining us at an exciting time, and we're looking forward to drawing upon his significant expertise in the private equity space as we expand our footprint in the Midwest market and beyond. I expect him to play an integral role in the development of our growth strategy going forward," said Philip V. Moyles, Jr., President, Financial Services and Chief Growth Officer.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 3,100 team members operating from 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.

More information: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Graham V. Bayly has joined the firm as a managing principal and Midwest Private Equity practice leader in its Financial Services division.

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