Category Archives: Finance

Los Angeles Based CPA Firm Announces New Principal, Stacey R. Korman, CPA, MST

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- KROST CPAs and Consultants, the Los Angeles based firm, has announced a new Principal, Stacey R. Korman, CPA, MST. Stacey has extensive experience in assurance & advisory and accounting services and since joining the firm she has led the accounting and audit departments.

As an AICPA certified Fundamental Client Accounting Advisor, Stacey leads KROST's Client Accounting Service (CAS) division. CAS not only provides customizable accounting services for each client based on their specific situation and needs, but goes beyond business management or outsourced accounting by providing proactive insights and data analytics. This advisory methodology ensures clients' accounting needs are predicted and exceeded as their business evolves and grows.

In addition to CAS, Stacey has developed the firm's Paycheck Protection Program Loans Forgiveness team in partnership with Paren Knadjian, Practice Leader, M&A and Capital Markets and Sossi Bekarian, CPA, Senior Manager, Accounting. Since April 2020, the team has developed a proprietary budgeting and forgiveness maximization tool, hosted numerous webinars, and published a wealth of thought leadership on the subject. To date, KROST has assisted hundreds of businesses through the emergency loan program from the application process to loan forgiveness.

Stacey is expertly versed in working with clientele from a wide range of industries, including management companies, real estate, technology, foodservice, and not-for-profits. She provides consulting and cash management services to high net worth individuals, management companies, and small businesses. She is also an integral member of the Sports & Entertainment and Financial Services industry groups.

"Stacey is an outstanding member of our firm, and we are proud to welcome her as a principal as it is well deserved. She is a trusted consultant to our clients, mentor to staff, and technical leader who has elevated the work we do. Her industry expertise and breadth of knowledge is a tremendous value to us and those we serve," said Jason Melillo, Senior Principal at KROST.

ABOUT KROST CPAS & CONSULTANTS

Established in 1939 in Pasadena, California, KROST is a full-service certified public accounting and consulting firm serving clients across various industries in the areas of tax, accounting, consulting, assurance and advisory, M&A and capital markets, corporate tax incentives, and wealth management.

For more information about KROST, please visit: https://www.krostcpas.com/.

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Diana Vu
Marketing Coordinaor, KROST
(626) 773-8282 (media only)
diana.vu@krostcpas.com

KROST CPAs and Consultants, the Los Angeles based firm, has announced a new Principal, Stacey R. Korman, CPA, MST. Stacey has extensive experience in assurance & advisory and accounting services and since joining the firm she has led the accounting and audit departments.

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

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants Acquires Pharmaceutical Strategies Group

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Holdings, Inc. (EPIC) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG). The move incorporates the expertise and resources of the nation's largest independent pharmacy benefit consulting firm into EPIC's Employee Benefits Consulting practice.

As a strategic partner to self-insured employers, health plans and health systems, PSG is an experienced navigator of the complex drug pricing market, and generates more than $4.8 billion in drug cost savings for clients each year.

"The opportunity to continue the next phase of our journey with EPIC is exciting," said Dave Borden, PSG Founder. "For more than 25 years, our dedicated clinicians and consultants have relentlessly advocated for clients, harnessing innovation to deliver the highest standard of pharmacy benefits consulting and technology."

Commenting on the announcement, Scott Schanen, President, EPIC National Employer Consulting, said, "Joining forces with PSG accelerates our ability to establish a new normal amid the dynamic landscape of employee engagement, health and economics. Long regarded as the industry leader in drug cost management, PSG's partnership with EPIC creates value for clients through independent, objective and sustainable solutions and strategies."

Steve Denton, EPIC CEO, added, "The cultural fit between PSG and EPIC has been apparent at every turn. We are collaborating to bring the combined expertise and breadth of service offerings to our clients and look forward to a positive 2021."

Michael Lonergan will continue to serve as PSG President and will lead the charge to develop innovative drug management solutions for U.S. plan sponsors. PSG will operate as "Pharmaceutical Strategies Group - an EPIC company."

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. For more information on EPIC, visit: https://epicbrokers.com/.

About Pharmaceutical Strategies Group

PSG is the leading pharmacy intelligence and technology company solving one of healthcare's biggest challenges - rising drug costs. It provides innovative drug management solutions to many of America's largest self-funded employers and health plans, who rely on trusted advisors to improve their financial performance.

EPIC Holdings, Inc. (EPIC) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG). The move incorporates the expertise and resources of the nation's largest independent pharmacy benefit consulting firm into EPIC's Employee Benefits Consulting practice.

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

SimpleNexus accelerates momentum in 2020 with one of eight U.S. mortgage loans passing through its homeownership platform

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers (LOs), borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced accelerated momentum in 2020 marked by expansive market growth and product innovation.

"The reason SimpleNexus continues to sweep the mortgage space is that it is the single-most complete homeownership journey platform for homebuyers and a relentlessly efficient lender tool," said Founder and CEO of SimpleNexus Matt Hansen. "From home search to application and from eClosing to securing homeowners insurance, SimpleNexus is truly a one-stop homeownership hub."

SimpleNexus has become one of the nation's fastest-growing firms, having ranked on the Inc. 5000 for three consecutive years and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for two consecutive years. The firm's 2020 growth was capped by a $108 million Series B funding round led by Insight Partners and supported by TVC Capital.

"SimpleNexus has established itself as a fast-paced innovator in the digital mortgage space," said TVC Capital Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jeb Spencer. "First it set the gold-standard for on-the-go usability and now it's defining what a seamless homeownership platform should be. We are excited to support the company as it blazes the trail to creating a harmonious homeownership journey."

SimpleNexus grew staff by 63% over the last 12 months as it worked to enhance its platform with dozens of new features designed to facilitate a more streamlined, "from anywhere" lending experience for all stakeholders in the mortgage lending process. For instance, last February saw the addition of Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA)support and in-app review of Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter(r) (DU(r)) findings. July marked the release of SimpleNexus ConnectUs Chat, a messaging feature that supports real-time loan file collaboration between LOs, borrowers and real estate agents. In August, SimpleNexus debuted SimpleNexus eClosing, which enables hybrid and RON closings for purchase and refinance loans.

Also in 2020, an independent, third-party analysis conducted by MarketWise Advisors showed that lenders using SimpleNexus consistently produce more loans and spend less on per-loan operational expenses, receiving nine-times ROI from their spending on the platform. SimpleNexus maintains 98% customer retention, a rare feat in the SaaS world.

To date, SimpleNexus empowers 300 mortgage lenders to "do more," by connecting its 32,000 active LO users with more than 3 million borrowers and 141,000 real estate partners to produce 13 million mortgages totaling more than $3 trillion in volume.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is a homeownership platform transforming the mortgage experience and connecting borrowers, loan officers, real estate agents and settlement service providers throughout the homebuying process. The platforms' native mobile toolset enables lenders to originate, process and close home loans from anywhere with increased efficiency and convenience. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals, sign disclosures and execute eClosings - all on the go. SimpleNexus provides borrowers with a single sign-on experience from home search to the application, document upload, eClose and beyond for a more streamlined homeownership journey.

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

Twitter: @SimpleNexus #digitalmortgage #mortgageindustry #mortgagelending

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers (LOs), borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced accelerated momentum in 2020 marked by expansive market growth and product innovation.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

CA Property Tax Laws Change in 13 Days: To Help Heirs Now Inheriting Property to Preserve Low Property Tax Base – Commercial Loan Corp Offers Free Benefit Analysis

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- With only 13 days left before California Proposition 58 property tax breaks undergo changes and limitations imposed by new tax measure Proposition 19, on Feb. 16, 2021 - popular trust lender Commercial Loan Corporation is offering Heirs of Estates and Trust Beneficiaries, who are inheriting a home from parents, a free benefit analysis.

Californians who want to keep their parents' low property taxes, can call 877-464-1066 or visit online for a free Cost Benefit Analysis & Evaluation. Commercial Loan Corp assists families and beneficiaries by taking advantage of Proposition 58 and its' "Parent-to-Child Exclusion" or "Exemption" - avoiding property tax reassessment, and determining how much beneficiaries and homeowners can expect to save in property taxes (on average saving $6,000 or more per year).

The free Cost Benefit Analysis shows families what their options are, in terms of keeping an inherited home at a low property tax base, buying out co-beneficiaries, or selling inherited property shares through a trust loan... and compares costs as well as benefits of such a loan. Considered to be one of California's premier trust lenders, the firm is known for working successfully for both affluent and middle class families alongside their attorney, accountant or property tax consultant, as many families attest to.

Tanis Alonso, Senior Account Manager with Commercial Loan Corp, describes their boutique estate & trust lending service: "We don't view each trust loan scenario as simply a 'financial transaction.' Nor do we see the home they've lived in for decades as just a 'piece of real estate.' To us, this a 'piece of family history' in the making. And the process a 'family decision,' not a 'transaction.' We see our clients as real families that we're helping, financially and emotionally, not just as clients signing a contract for a trust loan. We enjoy helping people... getting them money when they really need it - and saving them on the cost side in the bargain, with a trust loan."

Tanis also elaborates on the firm's process: "OK, selling versus keeping inherited property. By someone keeping the family property, everyone receives more money than if they were to sell the property. When taking into account realtor and transaction costs of approximately 6.5%, the average trust receives $45,716 more to distribute by using a trust loan to keep to property, than if they were to sell the property. Each beneficiary on average is receiving $16,652 more by someone keeping the property, instead of selling it. And the average annual property tax savings is $6,043."

Account Exec Abe Ordaz discusses the free Benefit evaluation offer: "We are providing every family, beneficiary or heir inheriting a home left to them in an estate or trust, with a free 'cost benefit analysis'... to see how many thousands of dollars per year we can save them in property taxes. As opposed to their property being reassessed at high current rates."

Commercial Loan Corp originates loans to trusts and estates in probate, and helps to maximize the distribution of funds to a trust or estate; allowing beneficiaries to buyout inherited property from co-beneficiaries. When providing mortgages to trusts or estates in probate, the firm helps clients take advantage of Proposition 58 or Proposition 193 to avoid property tax reassessment and to retain a Parent's or Grandparent's low Proposition 13 tax base - frequently obtaining a property tax reassessment "exclusion" for families, saving them a good deal of money on property taxes.

To get a free Cost Benefit Analysis & Evaluation and lock down a low property tax base; or to receive a trust loan to buyout co-beneficiaries' property shares, and learn more about keeping parents' low property tax base when inheriting family property... California homeowners and beneficiaries can call Commercial Loan Corp at 1-877-464-1066.

Company Contact:
Commercial Loan Corporation
Main office: 1-877-464-1066
Mobile texting: 1-917-544-0551
Website: https://cloanc.com

Media Only Contact:
Geoffrey Sadwith
GS Web Communications
Phone Contact: 1-212-866-6150
Email: geoffreysf1@gmail.com

With only 13 days left before California Proposition 58 property tax breaks undergo changes and limitations imposed by new tax measure Proposition 19, on Feb. 16, 2021 - popular trust lender Commercial Loan Corporation is offering Heirs of Estates and Trust Beneficiaries, who are inheriting a home from parents, a free benefit analysis.

Related link: https://cloanc.com/

Policy Inspector Partners with FIMC

STOWE, Vt. /ScoopCloud/ -- Policy Inspector Inc. is pleased to announce we have partnered with FIMC in their new Silver Safeguard benefit program. The Policy Inspector searches for lost insurance policies and annuities for members and their loved ones; including policies on living and deceased policyholders.

By finding lost policies, members avoid losing out on any potential benefits due to them.

FIMC seeks to provide a safety net to individuals and their families who wish to avoid the financial burden of common but unexpected life events. They exist to fill the gaps left by insurance and traditional auto club plans so their members can enjoy complete peace of mind in any circumstances.

As part of a comprehensive package of premium services members of FIMC Silver Safeguard will have access to Policy Inspector services to search for lost and unclaimed policies. Because "No policy should be left unclaimed."

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

MEDIA CONTACT
Policy Inspector Inc.
Phil Bongiorno
Phil@policyinspector.com
802-355-6649

Policy Inspector Inc. is pleased to announce we have partnered with FIMC in their new Silver Safeguard benefit program. The Policy Inspector searches for lost insurance policies and annuities for members and their loved ones; including policies on living and deceased policyholders.

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

EPIC Welcomes John Prentis and Larry Bowlus to Executive Risk and Cyber Practice

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants is pleased to welcome John Prentis and Larry Bowlus to its Executive Risk and Cyber practice. Joining from a global broker, Prentis and Bowlus will focus on large public, technology, and financial institution executive liability coverages, including Directors & Officers Liability as well as Errors & Omissions, General Partnership Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary, Crime, and Kidnap & Ransom.

The senior team of Prentis and Bowlus brings a combined experience of 50 years in the industry. Prentis most recently co-led Aon's Financial Services Group in San Francisco, providing advisory and placement services for a variety of executive lines. Bowlus served as senior vice president and team leader within the same group, specializing in D&O and management liability insurance programs for public and private companies. Both bring a breadth of experience across industry groups, with deep experience handling executive risks for technology, life science companies and financial institutions, among many others in the public and private sectors.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome John and Larry to EPIC," said Steve Denton, EPIC CEO. "Their experience serving large publicly traded clients and deep expertise in the technology sector fits perfectly with our deep resources currently deployed in the large account risk management sector. In fact, they will work closely with our Policy Response Unit focused on complex shareholder claims and our Analytics practice where we perform risk modeling and benchmarking analysis."

Prentis and Bowlus will lend significant expertise to EPIC's Executive Risk and Cyber practice, which emphasizes a holistic approach to identifying, understanding and managing risks.

"We're fortunate to add two senior risk advisors and brokers in John and Larry to our team of experts," said Kelly Geary, EPIC National Practice Leader, Executive Risk and Cyber. "Our clients will benefit instantly from their perspective and expertise, particularly in today's challenging and dynamic marketplace."

Prentis and Bowlus will work from the firm's San Francisco office.

John Prentis
john.prentis@epicbrokers.com
Cell: 415.238.4575

Larry Bowlus
larry.bowlus@epicbrokers.com
Cell: 415.254.5918

About EPIC Insurance 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. For more information on EPIC, visit: https://epicbrokers.com/.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-0808s2p-epic-logo-300dpi.jpg

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants is pleased to welcome John Prentis and Larry Bowlus to its Executive Risk and Cyber practice. Joining from a global broker, Prentis and Bowlus will focus on large public, technology, and financial institution executive liability coverages, including Directors & Officers Liability.

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

Sales Boomerang Ushers in New Era of ‘Smart’ Borrower Retention with Beta Release of Prescriptive Scenarios

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced the beta release of Prescriptive Scenarios, a product line of 'smart' loan scenarios designed to identify the ideal loan for each borrower.

"Prescriptive Scenarios represent a huge leap forward in mortgage borrower intelligence and retention," said Sales Boomerang CEO Alex Kutsishin. "We listened carefully to our clients' desire for a fuller understanding of each borrower, including not just the opportunities they represent but also their real-time ability to qualify for those opportunities. Prescriptive Scenarios knocks it out of the park by drawing on multiple criteria to serve up 100% relevant loan opportunities."

Founded in 2017, Sales Boomerang scours mortgage lenders' customer databases for missed loan opportunities. The firm's wildly popular mortgage opportunity alerts have helped companies large and small generate billions of dollars in additional loan volume by getting in front of borrowers with the right loans at the right time. With Prescriptive Scenarios, Sales Boomerang significantly advances the borrower retention category by triangulating multiple points of borrower intelligence to deliver opportunities that approach 100% relevance.

The beta release includes three categories of Prescriptive Scenarios:

Rate-and-Term Scenarios are triggered when (a) a lender could refinance the borrower into a new loan with a better rate, better loan terms, or both; and (b) the borrower is credit-qualified for the lender's available conventional, FHA Streamline or VA IRRRL refi programs.

Cash-Out Scenarios are triggered when (a) a borrower has enough equity in their home to draw out cash for reasons such as making home improvements or paying down another debt; and (b) the borrower is credit-qualified for the lender's available conventional, FHA or VA cash-out refi programs.

FHA Mortgage Insurance (MI) Removal Scenarios are triggered when (1) a borrower with an FHA loan has 80% or greater equity in their home; and (b) the borrower is credit-qualified for the lender's available refi programs.

Sales Boomerang leverages real-time pricing data from Optimal Blue to ensure Prescriptive Scenarios always reflect a lender's current loan rates. Additionally, lenders can personalize Prescriptive Scenarios by layering on additional intelligence (for example, a borrower's credit card debt load) or setting custom thresholds for criteria like home equity or loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.

"With Prescriptive Scenarios, there is zero confusion on the loan originator's part as to why they're receiving an alert; the relevance is immediately apparent," said Kutsishin. "The reason lenders enjoy such a huge return on their investment in Sales Boomerang is simple: we deliver a 20-40% lift in loan volume while dramatically driving down the cost of customer acquisition."

Lenders who wish to be among the first to try Prescriptive Scenarios can email sales@salesboomerang.com. Beta participants will receive fully actionable alerts at significantly reduced pricing. Space is limited.

About Sales Boomerang:

Sales Boomerang revolutionized the relationship between a Mortgage Lender and Borrower with the introduction of the only automated Borrower Intelligence System in 2017, which tells lenders when anyone in their database is ready for a loan. Today, Sales Boomerang is the #1 Borrower Retention strategy in the industry and has discovered over $30B in new volume for Lenders. Sales Boomerang's notifications are integrated with the best CRM/Marketing Automation Systems in the industry to provide a seamless experience for Lenders and Borrowers. Sales Boomerang's employees are dedicated to improving the lending experience for Lenders and Borrowers, and united behind the ethos - No Borrower Left Behind™.

Twitter: @SalesBoomerang

Sales Boomerang, the industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced the beta release of Prescriptive Scenarios, a product line of 'smart' loan scenarios designed to identify the ideal loan for each borrower.

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

Taylor Wilshire and the Wilshire Foundation Receive Global Excellence Award While Spearheading International Change During Pandemic

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Taylor Wilshire and the Wilshire Foundation will receive the Global Excellence Award (GEA) from the Consortium of International Social and Financial Responsibility (CISFR) on February 15, 2021. This award highlights the Wilshire Foundation's outstanding achievements, advancements, and innovations in international business and global affairs.

It recognizes excellence in senior leadership and effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. Members of the CISFR include the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, International Conscious Capital, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

During a time when most financial institutions have been paralyzed by the COVID crisis, the Wilshire Foundation has been receiving unexpected praise and funding that will expand its sustainable, innovative, and award-winning programs and projects. Inspired by the tenets of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the foundation's cutting-edge financial structures are a byproduct of a partnership with the United Nations and have put them in the spotlight of companies to watch.

"Instead of feeling blindsided by this pandemic, we decided to roll up our sleeves, build on our formula for success. We are humbled by the generosity of our strategic partners as they generously support projects that reshape the world by focusing on real solutions," Wilshire said.

The Wilshire Foundation's sustainable development goals and financial models offer an effective and flexible way to address conflict, human rights issues, poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental degradation around the world while providing returns that are reinvested in the foundation's programs.

"Infrastructure investments will influence and benefit everyone. When we increase the wealth of the lower and middle classes, there is no need to tax and destroy the assets of the wealthy," explained Wilshire.

The Wilshire Foundation also recognizes that international trade can be an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction that contributes to sustainable development while being an important source of income for both the private and public sector in developing countries.

"Financial services markets of the future will largely be shaped by organizations that are able to anticipate tomorrow while delivering on the priorities of today. They are the ones turning the COVID-19 experience into an opportunity to build the capabilities required to thrive in the new reality," Wilshire further stated.

For more information visit http://www.wilshirefoundation.net/

Taylor Wilshire and the Wilshire Foundation will receive the Global Excellence Award (GEA) from the Consortium of International Social and Financial Responsibility (CISFR) on February 15, 2021. This award highlights the Wilshire Foundation's outstanding achievements, advancements, and innovations in international business and global affairs.

Related link: http://wilshirefoundation.net/

ACES Quality Management Recruits Mortgage Compliance Expert Amanda Phillips as Latest Executive Vice President

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management™ (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced it has selected Amanda Phillips as executive vice president of compliance. In this role, Phillips will serve a key role in expanding the breadth and depth of ACES' compliance and regulatory solutions.

"Compliance is a key pillar of the ACES value proposition, and with the onslaught of regulatory changes the industry experienced over the last year, the need for experienced compliance professionals to help keep pace with these changes only grows," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "Amanda Phillips possesses more than a decade of executive-level experience in legal and regulatory compliance. Her understanding of the mortgage industry and depth of compliance experience will greatly enhance ACES' ability to ensure lenders are always auditing to the most current compliance standards, while also assisting in bringing new products to market."

Phillips most recently served as of counsel with Ballard Spahr, LLP, where her responsibilities included advising clients on the federal and state regulatory requirements governing mortgage lending, software, mortgage documents, business processes and practices. Prior to joining Ballard Spahr, she spent six years as in-house counsel and executive vice president of legal and regulatory compliance for Accenture Mortgage Cadence and an additional five years as senior vice president and director of compliance for a national mortgage lender.

"Early in my career, I held multiple operations roles, including in processing and underwriting, which instilled in me the importance of compliance and quality control in the loan origination process," said Phillips. "Today, I am honored to join ACES Quality Management and look forward to doing my part to support ACES' commitment to delivering enterprise quality management and control software that helps lenders mitigate risk and maintain compliance."

About ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management, formerly known as ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), 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:

* 3 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, today announced it has selected Amanda Phillips as executive vice president of compliance.

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

Fairway America, LLC selects Pereview as its new asset management platform

PORTLAND, Ore. /ScoopCloud/ -- Commercial real estate and private equity investment firm Fairway America (fairwayamerica.com) has chosen Pereview Software (pereviewsoftware.com) to support its growing portfolio.

Fairway America is a full-service private equity and advisory firm specializing in commercial real estate asset-based investments across the United States middle market headquartered in Portland, Ore.

"We have always been very good at tracking our data and producing quality reports for our investors, but, with our growth it has simply become a time-consuming chore. Pereview will allow us to automate our asset reporting as well as now perform deeper analytics across our fund and asset level data, giving us greater insights as we continue to outperform our competitors," said John Wilson, CFO at Fairway America.

Wilson said Pereview's data validations will allow their users to now directly access trustworthy data, all in one place, creating efficiencies not previously achievable at Fairway America. "It gives us a centralized repository of all of our clean data with no more silos enabling us to confidently make data-driven decisions to drive value for 100% of investors," he said.

Pereview is the only all-in-one asset management platform that manages all of a client's data across the entire asset lifecycle from acquisition to disposition. By aggregating, integrating, and interpreting internal and external disparate data into a single source of truth, Pereview provides actionable insights while delivering unparalleled reporting and analytics capabilities.

Daryl Pitts, SVP of global sales for Pereview, said they will aggregate all of Fairway America's Operating Partner native property level data into the Pereview platform while also connecting to Fairway America's commercial, multifamily and self-storage valuation, underwriting, budget and waterfall Excel models to fully capture all historical and projected data in their ecosystem.

"We are very excited to expand the rapidly growing Pereview customer base into the Northwest and are honored to be partnering with such an experienced team of real estate visionaries that know the power of data and how they can continue growing their portfolio with it," he said. "Having all of their data in one place will allow the Fairway America transactions, asset management, fund/portfolio, IR, Marketing, and senior leadership teams to do more with their data across the Life of the Asset."

Learn more at: https://pereviewsoftware.com/

Commercial real estate and private equity investment firm Fairway America has chosen Pereview Software to support its growing portfolio. Pereview is the only all-in-one asset management platform that manages all of a client's data across the entire asset lifecycle from acquisition to disposition.

Related link: https://pereviewsoftware.com/

LBA Ware Issues Q4 2020 Loan Compensation Report, Includes Summary of 2020 Loan Originator Commission Trends

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware™, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, today released summary statistics on the state of mortgage industry incentive compensation in the fourth quarter of 2020 and loan originator (LO) commissions for the year as a whole. The firm's analysis of data from its CompenSafe™ ICM platform shows that robust refinance and purchase loan volume in Q4 contributed to markedly higher earnings for both LOs and loan processors in 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019.

Methodology

LBA Ware reviewed account data for mortgage lenders who used CompenSafe to automate incentive compensation throughout the fourth quarters of 2019 and 2020. The controlled, sample dataset consisted of retail, first-lien production from LOs and processors with at least six funded loans during the three-month period beginning October 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020. LBA Ware also reviewed full 2020 calendar-year production for the same sample dataset.

Q4 2020 Key Findings

* Total loan volume funded increased 106% in Q4 2020 compared to Q4 2019.
* LO headcount increased 27% year-over-year.
* Average individual production in Q4 2020 was $2.6M per month, an increase of 63% from $1.6M in Q4 2019.
* Per-loan LO commissions held relatively steady, decreasing 0.2% from 105.4 basis points (BPS) in Q4 2019 to 105.2 BPS in Q4 2020.
* Purchase volume grew 71% year-over-year with LOs averaging $1.35M in funded purchase loans per month in Q4 2020 (a 38% increase from $0.98M in Q4 2019) and receiving on average 111.1 BPS per purchase loan (up from 109.1 BPS in Q4 2019).
* Refinance volume grew 158%, accounting for 51% of total volume funded in Q4 2020 (versus only 41% of total volume funded in Q4 2019). LO commissions on refinance loans remained steady at 99.3 BPS in Q4 2020 compared to 99.2 BPS in Q4 2019.
* Processor headcount increased 51% year-over-year, allowing this group to handle 99% more loan files in Q4 2020 compared to Q4 2019.
* Per-loan bonus compensation earned by processors increased 21% to $128 per loan in Q4 2020 ($106 in 2019), earning processors an average production bonus of $2,503 per month ($1,569 in 2019).

2020 Loan Originator Commission Trends

* On average, LOs funded $20.4M in annual volume in 2020, with transactions split evenly at 50% purchase loans, 50% refinance loans.
* Per-loan commissions earned by LOs in 2020 averaged 105.5 BPS, with refinance loans averaging 100.2 BPS and purchase loans averaging 110.6 BPS.

"Low interest rates flamed an increased demand for mortgage activity, which in turn benefited LOs and processors. They were rewarded for their long hours with robust compensation checks," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "As rates are predicted to rise in 2021 and for several years to come, loan teams that wish to maintain their earnings would do well to put a strategy in place that enables them to offset waning refi volume with more purchase volume."

About LBA Ware™:

LBA Ware is a leading provider of cloud-based software for mortgage lenders. Since 2008, LBA Ware has been on a mission to help mortgage companies reach new heights with software that integrates data, incentivizes performance and inspires results. Today, more than 100 lenders of all sizes, including some of the nation's top producing mortgage companies, use LBA Ware's award-winning technology to enhance lender experiences and maximize the human potential within their organizations. A 2020 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company, LBA Ware is headquartered in Macon, Georgia. For more information, visit https://www.lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare #CompenSafe #mortgagetrends #LOcompensation

LBA Ware™, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, today released summary statistics on the state of mortgage industry incentive compensation in the fourth quarter of 2020 and loan originator (LO) commissions for the year as a whole.

Related link: https://go.lbaware.com/

Paramount Property Tax Appeal Offering a Free New Years Evaluation for Affluent Homeowners & Business Property Owners, RE: ‘Feb 16 Changes to Tax Laws & Tax-Reduction Solutions’

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- With only 20 days left before CA tax laws change, imposing limitations on property tax relief - property tax reduction firm Paramount Property Tax Appeal is ushering in the New Year with a free New Years evaluation for California families, affluent homeowners and all types of business property owners - to determine what steps to take to lower their property tax bill.

The firm is reportedly so confident of their 80% success rate minimizing property taxes for families and businesses - Paramount is taking the unprecedented step of inviting property owners to call or stop by for a free New Years consultation & evaluation concerning requirements for a residential or business property tax appeal or property tax reduction, home and business property appraisal; as well as organizing and completing tax compliance paperwork for business personal property.

President of Paramount, Mr. Wes Nichols, says: "It's an all-hands on deck situation right now. It's critical to ensure your children can inherit and preserve a low Prop 13 basis from you! We are strongly advising all California property owners that property tax relief will be limited after Feb. 16, by the Prop 19 changes to Proposition 58's Parent-to-Child Exemption. There are only 20 days left to prepare, evaluate and potentially appeal property taxes - usually reducing property tax by 20% to 30%... Not following through on this may cost families and businesses thousands of dollars in unexpected, additional property taxes."

Mr. Nichols explains: "California property owners are facing a property tax deadline we've never faced before; that concludes 3-weeks from now - imposed by new tax law Proposition 19. All residential and commercial property owners have to complete estate planning and tax reduction paperwork by Feb. 15, 2021. When Prop 19 kicks in Feb. 16, the doors for California property tax relief protected by Proposition 13 and Proposition 58 slam shut for properties that are not owner-occupied homes within 12-months. In other words, homes, apt. buildings and other commercial properties will all be assessed at current, full-market value when you transfer title to your children..."

The corporate president elaborates: "We do enjoy helping people, no matter what their net worth or property values are; which is why we're offering a free consultation this year - and we can't emphasize enough how important it is for families and business owners to get in right now - this week - to see us, so we can evaluate their estate planning and property tax situation, and complete all the paperwork to lock in their future tax base at a lower rate. With Proposition 19 becoming property tax law, Californians only have 20 days left to lower their property taxes and complete estate planning, in order to pass down low assessed values to their children."

Paramount Property Tax Appeal is reportedly one of the few property tax firms in California that provides a large staff with well known, world-class tax attorneys and complex data-systems for proprietary tax reduction solutions and property tax appeal programs - guaranteeing parents the ability to pass down their low assessed value in the future to their children. Even if property is held in an LLC or a trust.

Mr. Nichols concludes: "It bears repeating - After Feb 16, 2021 you can no longer transfer your Proposition 13 basis to your children! This year, Californians face unprecedented tax challenges unlike any time in recent history... due partly to the Covid shutdowns and resulting economic crisis, severely impacting property values and estate planning. Families with estate planning needs have to realize they only have weeks left before their ability to take advantage of certain property tax breaks from CA Proposition 13 and Proposition 58 disappears - when Proposition 19 becomes active. This will dismantle certain tax breaks previously safeguarded by the Parent-to-Child Exemption, allowing homeowners to avoid property tax reassessment."

To get a free New Years evaluation for estate planning, trusts, property tax appeals and tax reduction - property owners can call the Paramount headquarters at (858) 225-1200 with the option to discuss over the phone, or to come in and review their property tax and/or business personal property tax needs with a property tax specialist.

Paramount Property Tax Appeal

Call: President Wes Nichols at (888) 385-9203

Email: wes@pptaxappeal.com

Website: https://www.paramountpropertytaxappeal.com

https://www.facebook.com/ParamountPropertyTaxAppeal

With only 20 days left before CA tax laws change, imposing limitations on property tax relief - property tax reduction firm Paramount Property Tax Appeal is ushering in the New Year with a free New Years evaluation for California families, affluent homeowners and all types of business property owners - to determine what steps to take to lower their property tax bill.

Mid America Mortgage Hires Katherine Carlsen as Underwriting Manager

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that mortgage industry veteran Katherine Carlsen has joined the company as underwriting manager. In her new role, Carlsen will utilize her more than 30 years of mortgage industry experience to lead underwriting for Mid America, enabling the company to sustain its track record of compliant loan origination while maintaining its industry-leading turn times.

"While the digital foundation we've established has certainly played a role in Mid America's ability to achieve turn time of one to two business days, the backbone of that technology is our team of highly experienced underwriters," said Mid America Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bode. "Katherine's impressive track record for quickly, accurately and securely closing loans not only helps us preserve that standard of service but also expands our capacity to handle even greater loan volumes. We are confident in Katherine's ability to amplify our underwriting efforts and proudly welcome her to the Mid America team."

Bringing more than 30 years of mortgage experience to her new role, Carlsen has ensured the success of her teams by leading dedicated training, coaching and development initiatives to enhance their skills. Her past employers include Wells Fargo and Salem Five Mortgage Company. Her professional achievements in previous roles include closing $100 million per month for six consecutive years, increasing closing volume by 100%, tripling submission volume and reducing turn time in underwriting from 10 days to only 24 hours.

"I've spent my career preparing underwriters for the unique challenges the mortgage market presents and maintaining a knowledgeable, service-oriented team means that employee engagement, hands-on training and coaching are essential for a lender's success," said Carlsen. "Mid America is a prime example of these principles in action. The team is full of mortgage professionals that are well-equipped and eager to meet the needs of an ever-changing industry, and I look forward to leading the underwriting division to even higher levels of efficiency and excellence."

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. Learn more at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/.

In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings eNotes. Click n' Close is Mid America's ultra-secure, digital mortgage approval and closing process that gets home buyers from application to closing within two weeks. With just a few clicks at closing, Click n' Close puts keys in the home buyer's hand in 15 minutes or less. Apply online at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/click-n-close/#cnc.

Frequently named a top mortgage employer/workplace by industry trade magazines such as Mortgage Professional America, MReport, National Mortgage News and National Mortgage Professional, Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join our growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit https://www.midamericamortgage.com/careers/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. announced today that mortgage industry veteran Katherine Carlsen has joined the company as underwriting manager. In her new role, Carlsen will utilize her more than 30 years of mortgage industry experience to lead underwriting for Mid America, enabling the company to sustain its track record of compliant loan origination while maintaining its industry-leading turn times.

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

IDS Inks Preferred Partnership Agreement with Promontory MortgagePath

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today it is fully integrated with Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, as part of a preferred partnership agreement signed with Promontory MortgagePath earlier this year.

The partnership includes the migration of Promontory MortgagePath's client base to IDS' flagship document preparation platform idsDoc, which is recognized for unequalled customization and superior customer service. Throughout the implementation process, Promontory MortgagePath and IDS worked to meticulously test and prepare for Promontory MortgagePath's lender-client needs, including common loan and document types and likely use scenarios, thus enabling Promontory MortgagePath to further support its clients with customizable document preparation services.

"IDS is honored to be one of the vendors Promontory MortgagePath has chosen to help provide its client base with a comprehensive mortgage fulfillment solution," said IDS Vice President and General Manager Mark Mackey. "IDS proudly offers our clients a system capable of accommodating a mix of loan products and looks forward to supporting Promontory MortgagePath's accelerated growth and its mission of creating a faster, simpler and more-inclusive mortgage process from start to finish."

"As Promontory MortgagePath expands its technology and fulfillment offerings, we are pleased to partner with IDS for our document preparation needs," said Debora Aydelotte, Chief Operating Officer at Promontory MortgagePath. "IDS' dedication to customer service and compliance mirrors Promontory MortgagePath's commitment to its clients, which includes the commitment to offering high-quality vendor integrations."

About Promontory MortgagePath LLC | NMLS ID 1532373

Promontory MortgagePath is a fast-growing team of passionate problem solvers on a mission to fundamentally change the way lenders approach their mortgage business. The company combines an intuitive, collaborative digital mortgage platform with modern, comprehensive fulfillment services, giving lenders the progressive technology and scalability required to profitably compete in today's rapidly-changing residential mortgage market. Promontory MortgagePath's founder, former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Gene Ludwig, is widely recognized as a visionary thinker on the critical issues confronting financial services, and his companies are renowned for their ability to help community lenders resolve their most pressing challenges. To learn more, https://www.mortgagepath.com.

About IDS, Inc.

IDS, a Reynolds and Reynolds company, was founded in 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a nationwide provider of mortgage documents and compliance. IDS services include eSignatures, closing documents, initial disclosures, document fulfillment and integration with leading loan origination systems and eClosing platforms. The IDS flagship doc prep solution, idsDoc, is recognized in the industry for its ability to be customized to meet specific lender needs, particularly in regard to major industry compliance changes. Learn more, https://info.idsdoc.com/.

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today it is fully integrated with Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, as part of a preferred partnership agreement signed with Promontory MortgagePath earlier this year.

Related link: https://info.idsdoc.com/

Top of Mind Launches Mortgage Marketing University to Help Mortgage Professionals Expand Their Marketing Abilities

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced the launch of Mortgage Marketing University (MMU), a free program designed to help mortgage professionals take their marketing skills to the next level.

MMU's online curriculum features 15 courses covering a variety of topics, from how to build a lead-gen strategy to creating compliant content across multiple channels. Each course is designed to be completed in a single sitting, and students can earn a certificate of completion for each course by passing a multiple-choice assessment quiz.

According to CEO Bill Hayes, Top of Mind plans to expand the MMU curriculum over time. For now, course offerings include:

101-level courses
* Mortgage CRM
* Mortgage Landing Pages
* Mortgage Lead Generation

201-level courses
* Mortgage Email Marketing
* Mortgage Social Media Marketing
* Mortgage Marketing Content
* Mortgage Marketing Flyers

301-level courses
* Mortgage Marketing Plan
* Mortgage Marketing Compliance
* Mortgage Pipeline Management
* Mortgage Loan Origination Systems
* Mortgage Product Pricing Engines
* Retail Mortgage Marketing
* Wholesale Mortgage Marketing
* Consumer Direct Mortgage Marketing
* Mortgage Cross-Selling

"Mortgage Marketing University introduces key concepts of mortgage marketing. Experienced practitioners can use MMU to test their knowledge, while mortgage executives and loan originators will benefit from a better understanding of how mortgage marketing works," said Hayes. "Our goal with MMU is simple; we want to help mortgage professionals grow their careers and their businesses."

Learn more about the MMU at: https://www.topofmind.com/mortgage-marketing/

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks ( https://www.topofmind.com ) started as a bootstrapped direct-mail marketing company. Today, the company is recognized as the mortgage industry's most-relied-upon provider of marketing automation and creative content solutions. From individuals to enterprise lenders, Top of Mind's SurefireCRM helps thousands of mortgage professionals win new business, earn repeat business and deserve referral business. With intuitive, "set it and forget it" workflows and award-winning content, mortgage professionals are able to effortlessly maintain and deepen their emotional connections with clients.

@mortgagecrm #mortgagemarketing #MMU #mortgageeducation

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0121s2p-tomn-mmu-logo-300dpi.jpg

Top of Mind Networks, a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced the launch of Mortgage Marketing University (MMU), a free program designed to help mortgage professionals take their marketing skills to the next level.

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

Beyond Benign Launches Its Green Chemistry Commitment 25×25 Initiative

WILMINGTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Beyond Benign, a green chemistry education nonprofit, today announced the launch of its Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) 25x25 Initiative, working to ensure that 25 percent of graduating chemists in the US have a background in green chemistry by 2025 with the support of Beyond Benign partner Dow (NYSE: DOW). The initiative comes at a time when today's societal challenges are immense, as articulated through the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Beyond Benign's Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) is dedicated to integrating green chemistry and toxicology concepts into chemistry programs with the goal of providing students with the skills to design chemical products and processes to reduce human and environmental hazards. With 64 US signers to date, accounting for 8% of graduating chemists, the GCC program is working to create a systemic change in chemistry education, inspiring additional institutions to pursue and integrate green chemistry. With this new initiative of ensuring 25 percent of chemistry students graduate with a background in green chemistry, Beyond Benign is taking new action to extend the GCC reach and resources to achieve this goal over the next four years. Learn more: https://www.beyondbenign.org/he-green-chemistry-commitment/.

"We believe that by supporting educators and students to teach and learn green chemistry, we are equipping the next generation of scientists and citizens to design and select products that support both human health and the environment," says Amy Cannon, Director and Co-Founder of Beyond Benign. "With chemistry at the foundation of any sustainable solution, we are excited about the potential this initiative brings to build a critical mass of green chemists in the workforce."

To achieve the ambitious goal of preparing the workforce for sustainable action, per the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG 4.7), Beyond Benign will provide resources and support to interested institutions. This support includes an assessment of current chemistry and green chemistry programs, recommended lessons to incorporate into their curriculum and labs, an annual Green Chemistry Commitment Summit to bring all signers together, financial resources and on-going support for mentors, teachers, faculty and staff.

"It is imperative that our incoming workforce is prepared to design, create and produce sustainable solutions for the well-being of humanity," says Eunice Heath, Corporate Director of Sustainability for Dow. "Through Beyond Benign's aggressive GCC 25x25 initiative, we will be able to make a lasting impact on education, science and the global market."

Since 2007, Beyond Benign has integrated green chemistry into K-12 and higher education institutions through teacher training, lesson plans, community networks, webinars, and events. Institutions that are interested in incorporating green chemistry in their classrooms and labs can inquire about participating in the Green Chemistry Commitment by visiting the Beyond Benign website to learn more: https://www.beyondbenign.org/he-how-to-commit/

About Beyond Benign:

Beyond Benign, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, envisions a world where the chemical building blocks of products used every day are healthy and safe for humans and the environment. Beyond Benign is fostering a green chemistry education community empowered to transform chemistry education for a sustainable future. Beyond Benign's continuum of sustainable science educational programs including, teacher and faculty training and curriculum development from K-20 are helping to build the next generation of scientists and citizens with the skills and knowledge to create and choose products that are safe for human health and the environment.

Over the past 13 years, Beyond Benign has an extensive history of service, having trained over 6,000 K-12 teachers in sustainable science and green chemistry, designed over 200 open-access lessons, reached over 25,000 youth and community members through outreach, & partnered with 75 universities to transform chemistry education. Together we can catalyze the development of green technological innovations that result in safer products and processes in support of a sustainable, healthy society.

Learn more at: https://www.beyondbenign.org/.

Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and on LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT
Nicki Wiggins
Director of Development
Beyond Benign
Nicki_Wiggins@beyondbenign.org
978-229-5443

LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0402s2p-beyond-benign-300dpi.jpg

Ticker: NYSE:DOW / NY: DOW

Beyond Benign, a green chemistry education nonprofit, today announced the launch of its Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) 25x25 Initiative, working to ensure that 25 percent of graduating chemists in the US have a background in green chemistry by 2025 with the support of Beyond Benign partner Dow (NYSE: DOW).

Related link: https://www.beyondbenign.org/

SimpleNexus Names Richard Jackman VP of Marketing

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced it has hired Richard Jackman to its executive team as vice president of marketing. In this role, Jackman will lead the company's strategic marketing plan and expand SimpleNexus' share of voice in the mortgage market.

Jackman brings over two-decades of marketing leadership experience to SimpleNexus, having directed marketing campaigns yielding thousands of sales leads and millions of dollars in revenue. Immediately before joining SimpleNexus, Jackman served as vice president of marketing at Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, which was acquired by Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) in 2019. During his twelve-year tenure holding the senior-most marketing position at Simplifile, Jackman helped the company grow annual revenue from $5 million to $60 million.

"Richard is a keen digital mortgage marketing executive with the demonstrated ability to help innovative firms rapidly expand their market footprint and scale to their full potential," said SimpleNexus President Cathleen Schreiner Gates. "Richard's experience leading high-performing marketing divisions will play a key role in helping SimpleNexus expand the customer journey and deliver superior value to our clients."

"SimpleNexus has a clear vision for improving the mortgage industry through a connected platform that ultimately streamlines the entire homeownership process for all parties involved," said Jackman. "Simply put, SimpleNexus is a trailblazer in the mortgage technology sphere delivering exceptional value. I'm excited to join a team that shares my core values and mirrors my dedication to making the homeowner journey more efficient, transparent and enjoyable.

To view open positions at SimpleNexus, visit https://simplenexus.com/sn/careers/. Contact hr@simplenexus.com to submit a resume.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is a homeownership platform transforming the mortgage experience and connecting borrowers, loan officers, real estate agents and settlement service providers throughout the homebuying process. The platforms' native mobile toolset enables lenders to originate, process and close home loans from anywhere with increased efficiency and convenience. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals, sign disclosures and execute eClosings - all on the go. SimpleNexus provides borrowers with a single sign-on experience from home search to the application, document upload, eClose and beyond for a more streamlined homeownership journey.

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

Twitter: @SimpleNexus #digitalmortgage #mortgageindustry #mortgagelending #peoplemovers

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0119s2p-Richard-Jackman-300dpi.jpg

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced it has hired Richard Jackman to its executive team as vice president of marketing.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

SimpleShowing Inks Partnership with Expetitle to Create a Fully Digital Home Purchase Experience

MIAMI, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleShowing, an online real estate startup disrupting the traditional real estate brokerage by changing the way buyers and sellers use real estate services, is pleased to announce its partnership with Expetitle, a Wynwood-based technology-driven startup, to bring a fully digital-first closing solution to reality.

SimpleShowing raised over $1 million through Republic.co, a private investment platform that curates investment opportunities with high-growth potential across real estate, gaming, startups, and crypto. SimpleShowing combines the home search and home tour processes into one integrated, streamlined experience. The company makes it easier and more affordable for clients to view and buy homes with help from full-service agents and modern technology, all while saving up to thousands of dollars on commissions.

Expetitle offers fully remote and hybrid closings through a secure platform and mobile app. Expetitle has performed closings throughout Florida and experienced nearly 400 percent growth since the pandemic. The company has raised millions of dollars from institutional investors to create a full stack tech closing experience across all of Florida and recently expanding into Georgia.

"We are excited to join forces with SimpleShowing - combining their tech-enabled, streamlined home search and selection process with our leading-edge technology and closing services to create an unparalleled real estate experience," said Sean Daly, Chief Executive Officer of Expetitle.

About Expetitle

Founded in January 2019, Expetitle was born out of the LAB Ventures startup studio. Expetitle is a multi-state title company that delivers fully digital and hybrid closings through one secure collaborative platform that adds transparency to the entire closing process. Expetitle's mission is to provide a better, transparent closing experience for buyers, sellers, and their agents and brokers. Today's consumer is used to doing everything on their phone in real-time, why should buying a home be any different? To learn more about Expetitle, visit https://www.expetitle.com/.

About SimpleShowing

Simple Showing is a full-service brokerage that's leveraged technology to create a new way to buy or sell your home- and keep more money in the customer's pocket during the process. The service is up and running in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, with licensed real estate agents active in the Atlanta, Birmingham, Orlando, Tampa, and Savannah markets. For more information about SimpleShowing, visit https://www.simpleshowing.com/.

SimpleShowing, an online real estate startup disrupting the traditional real estate brokerage by changing the way buyers and sellers use real estate services, is pleased to announce its partnership with Expetitle, a Wynwood-based technology-driven startup, to bring a fully digital-first closing solution to reality.

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

MCT Bolsters MSR Division with Hire of David Burruss to Address Demand for MSR Services

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- MCT® announced that David Burress has joined the company in the position of MSR Sales Director, directly addressing the increase in market demand for MCT's MSR products. The hiring of Mr. Burruss ensures MCT can continue serving the needs of their MSR clients to define borrower recapture and the effect on MSR hedges, as well as determining fair value and properly incorporating it in MSR valuations. As Director of MSR Sales, David is responsible for marketing outreach and acquisition of new customers.

"We are thrilled to have David joining the MSR division and anticipate he will continue to help expand the business and identify growth opportunities," said Tom Farmer, Managing Director of National Sales. "David's strong industry experience and client-centric focus fits perfectly with the MCT DNA."

Mr. Burruss brings to MCT over 30 years of extensive experience in the mortgage industry. Previously, Mr. Burruss worked uncovering private label clients and those who wanted to sell MSR. He ran his own consulting firm offering a broad range of services like business/product development, investor relations, recruiting and outsourcing. Mr. Burruss had servicing accounts with many of the top 20 U.S. lenders for PMI Mortgage Insurance Company, Arch MI, and Freddie Mac.

He covered the entire mortgage manufacturing process from origination through foreclosure, creating products and services focused on generating efficiencies and uncovering profitable niches for his customers. He also led teams who developed some of the first automated underwriting processes in the industry.

"I was attracted to MCT because of the quality of their people and reputation of the company in the mortgage industry," said. Mr. Burruss. "As I get to know them even better, I have not been disappointed by either. In fact, the truth is better than the hype, which is rare these days! It is great to be a member of an incredible team with such exciting technology and industry knowledge, ever changing and innovating."

About MCT:

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

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

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

Media Contact:
Ian Miller
Chief Marketing Officer
Mortgage Capital Trading
619-618-7855
pr@mctrade.net

MCT® announced that David Burress has joined the company in the position of MSR Sales Director, directly addressing the increase in market demand for MCT's MSR products. The hiring of Mr. Burruss ensures MCT can continue serving the needs of their MSR clients.

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

UniversalCIS Announces Acquisition of SharperLending

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- UniversalCIS, a market leader in technology and solutions to the mortgage industry, is pleased to announce the acquisition of mortgage technology provider SharperLending. The SharperLending transaction, which follows the merger of Universal Credit, CIS Credit Solutions, and Avantus, provides further enhancements to the technology platform for UniversalCIS.

SharperLending provides a product extension into software solutions for the residential and commercial appraisal markets through Appraisal Firewall and related products, optimized settlement and bundled services solutions, as well as direct income verification and mortgage credit reporting technology.

SharperLending will operate as an independent business unit as a wholly owned subsidiary of UniversalCIS. The strategic financial technology initiatives between the combined companies will provide deeper systems integrations, faster loan origination and processing, better leverage to loan operating systems, strong technology partnerships with the GSEs, and other technical integrations to banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and channel partners.

Perry Steiner, Chairman of UniversalCIS, stated, "The acquisition of SharperLending is a critical building block for the UniversalCIS technology platform, and it represents our entry into the real estate appraisal software market. This partnership will provide enhanced workflow tools for our clients, and provide greater value and a deeper level of integration in the mortgage origination process. Our primary focus will be to accelerate the level of technology investment in SharperLending's software products."

David Chiappe, President of SharperLending, stated, "This transaction represents a unique opportunity to combine our software platforms with a technology and solutions leader in the mortgage industry. As an independent subsidiary of UniversalCIS, SharperLending will be able to offer a greater level of resources and investment to all of our clients."

Dave Black, founder of SharperLending continued, "As a private company for over 30 years, we were very careful and deliberate in choosing our partner for our future growth, and we anticipate great things together with UniversalCIS."

Jerry Haftmann, CEO of UniversalCIS stated, "We welcome all SharperLending customers and employees to our business. This partnership represents a natural extension to provide residential and commercial appraisal software, and SharperLending will continue to independently support its mortgage credit industry clients. We plan to integrate and leverage the SharperLending technology in all aspects of our business as we continually strive to increase efficiency in the mortgage origination process."

About UniversalCIS

UniversalCIS is a market leader in mortgage technology, credit reporting, and related products and solutions for mortgage originators. UniversalCIS has over 4,000 clients ranging from the largest bank and non-bank mortgage originators to credit unions and mortgage brokers. UniversalCIS prides itself on the best technology, solutions, and service in the industry. UniversalCIS was created through the merger of Universal Credit Services, CIS Credit Solutions, and Avantus.

For more information, please visit: http://universalcis.com/

About SharperLending Solutions

SharperLending is a leading technology provider to the mortgage industry. SharperLending provides financial technology software solutions to channel partners and lending institutions to increase efficiency, mitigate risk, and offer affordability. The company's proven technology has processed more than two billion secure mortgage transactions. The company has three major platforms under its corporate umbrella: Appraisal Firewall appraisal platform, the XpertOnline credit platform and the EPN loan origination and settlement service platform.

For more information, please visit: http://sharperlending.com/

UniversalCIS, a market leader in technology and solutions to the mortgage industry, is pleased to announce the acquisition of mortgage technology provider SharperLending. The SharperLending transaction, which follows the merger of Universal Credit, CIS Credit Solutions, and Avantus, provides further enhancements to the technology platform for UniversalCIS.

Related link: https://universalcredit.com/

ReverseVision Lowers Lenders’ Costs to Originate Reverse Mortgages with Restructured Technology Plans and Pricing

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision®, the leading national provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, today announced it has restructured its technology plans and pricing matrix to ease lenders' entry into reverse lending and support their success. The restructured technology plans will deliver greater value to lenders and align its product offerings with the company's overall objective of enabling lenders to adequately serve senior borrowers with all FHA lending programs.

Under the changes, ReverseVision offers a four-tiered pricing model with entry, retail, premium and enterprise plans tailored to meet the needs of common lender profiles. Lenders at every product tier, from entry to enterprise, will be able to qualify borrowers with RV Sales Accelerator's (RVSA) advanced modeling tools, originate reverse mortgages within RV Exchange (RVX), and measure customer satisfaction with STRATMOR Mortgage SAT, a borrower feedback program that empowers lenders with actionable data and peer-to-peer performance benchmarking.

"ReverseVision announced its transformation as an API-enabled reverse platform to bring reverse lending into technological coexistence with forward lending sales and origination," said ReverseVision Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel. "We have both lowered reverse lending's cost of entry and strongly incented reverse lending program growth by restructuring our product plans."

"ReverseVision is a hybrid mortgage lending technology," continued Peel. "While providing a LOS for reverse mortgages, the platform also serves as point-of-sale (POS), pricing engine, rules engine and document engine. Our goal is to create a reverse lending platform that meets the business needs of lenders of every stripe. We believe that borrowers should be presented with all viable lending program options without bias - not steered in any direction."

ReverseVision's pricing matrix can be viewed at https://connect.reversevision.com/2021pricingmodel .

About ReverseVision

Founded in 2007, ReverseVision, Inc. is the leading national Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology platform, supporting more reverse mortgage transactions than all other systems combined. The company's comprehensive product suite aligns to lenders' unique business and operational models, connecting all lending participants across the entire reverse mortgage lifecycle. A five-time HousingWire TECH100™ company, ReverseVision is a privately held company based in San Diego, California.

For more information, visit https://www.reversevision.com/.

Twitter: @reversevision #digitalmortgage #HECM

Facebook: @ReverseVision

LinkedIn: @ReverseVision

ReverseVision®, the leading national provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, today announced it has restructured its technology plans and pricing matrix to ease lenders' entry into reverse lending and support their success.

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

ACES Quality Management Charitable Giving Program Makes Impact For Third Consecutive Year

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management™ (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced the latest results of its ACES CARES philanthropic campaign and matching gift program. The campaign raised funds for 11 contributors and includes donation matching per employee with an additional amount donated to the top three charities of the overall team's choosing.

"The past year has upended the lives of so many people. Our core values included being exceptional, passionate and leading; and this year it's more important than ever to do as much good as possible," said ACES CEO Trevor Gauthier. "With many still grappling with the effects of the pandemic and an increasingly challenging year, ACES remains focused on expanding the ways we serve not only the financial industry, but also the community at-large through positive change."

Established in 2018, ACES CARES encourages employees to make a positive difference in the community through volunteering, outreach and financial contributions to charities and causes close to their hearts. Since the program's inception, ACES Quality Management and its staff have donated a total of $22,747 to 73 organizations through ACES Cares, with this year's causes including hunger relief, equality, homeless assistance and animal welfare to name a few. Offering a dollar-for dollar match of employee donations to U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations of their choice, the program also supports employees' wellness and community involvement programs.

To learn more about ACES CARES and see how ACES team members are impacting their communities with positive change, visit https://www.acesquality.com/about/careers/aces-cares

About ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management, formerly known as ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), 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:

* 3 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, today announced the latest results of its ACES CARES philanthropic campaign and matching gift program.

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

Mid America Mortgage Expands Access to Down Payment Assistance Program to Its Correspondent Partners

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced it has added down payment assistance (DPA) to the slate of mortgage products and services offered through its correspondent division. This is an expansion of the DPA program Mid America created for its retail channel in 2019 in partnership with the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation.

"DPA programs are a vital tool for expanding mortgage credit access to creditworthy, cash-poor homebuyers," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "Given the success Mid America has experienced amongst its retail borrowers, we felt the time was right to expand this opportunity to our correspondent customers so that they, too, could help borrowers take advantage of the market's low interest rates and begin their homeownership journey."

The program combines an FHA-insured first mortgage with a five-year second lien up to 5% of the home's purchase price. Borrowers can use the second-lien funds for their down payment and/or to cover closing costs. Interest does not accrue on the second lien, and borrowers do not need to make monthly payments on the second lien. If the borrower remains in the home and stays current on their first mortgage, the second lien is fully forgiven after five years.

"Mid America began this partnership with Rosebud a year ago to offer its direct borrowers another option to realize their dreams of homeownership. Now, by expanding this down payment assistance program to our correspondent platform, Mid America can broaden homeownership opportunities through our correspondent clients to help even more families make this dream a reality," said Julas Hollie, National Sales Director of Mid America's correspondent division.

This product will complement Mid America's current focus on buying loans not eligible for purchase by traditional investors. Lenders interested in participating in this program should contact Hollie at julas.hollie@midamericamortgage.com.

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. Learn more at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/.

In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings eNotes. Click n' Close is Mid America's ultra-secure, digital mortgage approval and closing process that gets home buyers from application to closing within two weeks. With just a few clicks at closing, Click n' Close puts keys in the home buyer's hand in 15 minutes or less. Apply online at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/click-n-close/#cnc.

Frequently named a top mortgage employer/workplace by industry trade magazines such as Mortgage Professional America, MReport, National Mortgage News and National Mortgage Professional, Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join our growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit https://www.midamericamortgage.com/careers/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced it has added down payment assistance (DPA) to the slate of mortgage products and services offered through its correspondent division. This is an expansion of the DPA program Mid America created for its retail channel in 2019 in partnership with the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation.

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

Samuel Howe Tapped as New Alliance Group CMO

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Alliance Group, a national insurance marketing organization (IMO), announced Monday that Samuel Howe has been tapped to succeed Lee Duncan as its Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. Duncan had previously occupied the CMO role before his own promotion to President and CEO back in November.

"It's a huge move for Samuel, and one that has been in the works for a while," said Duncan. "I challenged him two years ago to be ready to replace me when we implemented the first phase of our business succession plan at Alliance Group, and it's clear that he's ready."

Since joining the company in 2012, Howe has played an integral role in building out Alliance Group's digital marketing program, which has become the company's calling card. During his tenure, Alliance's award-winning video marketing platform has expanded to include proprietary online training platforms, social media lead generation campaigns, and drip marketing programs.

"It's truly a privilege to work with the unbelievably talented marketing team we've assembled here at Alliance Group," said Howe. "Lee and Jerry Stratton have always put their faith in us and put the team in a position to succeed. I'm humbled by and grateful for this new opportunity, and we're ready to go to work."

The big announcement comes amid Living Benefits Awareness Month (LBAM), a nationwide awareness campaign that Alliance Group conducts with its agents and partners every January. LBAM seeks to educate consumers about modern life insurance products that allow access to their death benefit while they're still alive if they get seriously sick or injured.

"It's been an amazing ride these past eight and a half years," said Howe, "But, as proud I am of our accomplishments as a team so far and what we've built together, I'm even more excited about what's in front of us. We're on the verge of realizing some long-term goals that we've been aiming at for years. The future at Alliance Group is brighter than ever."

To learn more please visit: https://www.AllianceGroupLife.com/

About Alliance Group:

Founded in 1998, Alliance Group is the nation's leading IMO in Living Benefits life insurance. With more than 4,500 independent agents nationally, Alliance Group is currently protecting over 130,000 American families with more than $28 billion of Living Benefits coverage.

MEDIA CONTACT
Peter Goldfine
(678) 969-9000
pgoldfine@alliancegrouplife.com

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Alliance Group, a national insurance marketing organization (IMO), announced Monday that Samuel Howe has been tapped to succeed Lee Duncan as its Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. Duncan had previously occupied the CMO role before his own promotion to President and CEO back in November.

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

Nocera, Inc. Signs Variable Interest Entity Agreements Resulting in 100% Controlling Interest in Xin Feng Construction Co., Ltd. and Shunda Feed Co., Ltd. in Taiwan

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Nocera, Inc. (OTC:NCRA) ("Company") today announced that it has formally signed Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") agreements with Xin Feng Construction Co. Ltd., (XFC) a Taiwan construction firm, and Shunda Feed Co., Ltd., (SFC) a Taiwan aquaculture feed firm resulting in 100% controlling interest in both companies. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the Company exchanged a total of 1,000,000 shares of restricted stock for 100% of the controlling interest, under the VIE agreements, of Shunda Feed Co., Ltd. and Xin Feng Construction Co., Ltd.

Jeff Cheng, President and CEO of Nocera, Inc., stated, "The VIE agreements with Xin Feng Construction and Shunda Feed are important milestones for our Company. These acquisitions provide our Company with strategic integration to better develop our land-based recirculating aquaculture systems ("RAS") and as an aquaculture food supplier in the Taiwanese market. We believe we are now better positioned to support the construction activities of our clients, and the development of Company owned and operated fish farms. Additionally, management believes that the Company will be better positioned to become a key supplier to other fish farm operators."

Nocera intends to provide technical consulting and related services to both companies and intends to direct through management input, the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of SFC, and XFC. The Company is responsible for the management of SFC, and XFC and has the exclusive right to exercise all voting rights of both acquisitions, under the VIE terms.

See the Form 8-K filing on the SEC EDGAR website at www.sec.gov or click on the following link to view the 8-K in its entirety: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1756180/000106594921000001/nocera8kdec312020.htm

About Nocera, Inc.

Nocera, Inc. designs, builds, and installs equipment for the fish farming industry, as well as provides technical assistance to fish farm operations. Learn more at: https://www.nocera.company/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are only predictions. Nocera, Inc. cautions readers that forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's analysis only on their stated date, and Nocera, Inc. takes no obligation to update or revise these statements except as may be required by law. More detailed information about the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Nocera, Inc.'s Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is available on the SEC's website, https://www.sec.gov/.

Nocera, Inc. Taipei Office:
3F (Building B), No. 185, Sec. 1, Datong Rd.
Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City 221, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Website: https://www.nocera.company/

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TICKER: OTC: NCRA / NCRA:OTC

Nocera, Inc. (OTC:NCRA) ("Company") today announced that it has formally signed Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") agreements with Xin Feng Construction Co. Ltd., (XFC) a Taiwan construction firm, and Shunda Feed Co., Ltd., (SFC) a Taiwan aquaculture feed firm resulting in 100% controlling interest in both companies.

Related link: https://www.nocera.company/

Chelsea Groton Bank and Foundation Together Gave Record $1 Million this Year

GROTON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- This year, Chelsea Groton Bank and its Foundation provided more than $1 Million to non-profit organizations in our communities. The Foundation recently approved $405,820 in grants to 68 non-profit organizations from Connecticut and Rhode Island, which put the full year's giving total above the $1 Million mark for the first time ever.

Earlier this year, the Foundation swiftly responded to support emergency relief efforts as well as needs across all giving categories in the wake of the pandemic, making the unprecedented decision to double the usual amount of total funds granted in a calendar year.

Half of the Foundation's approved funding this fall went to organizations providing Health & Human Services, including immediate critical needs such as healthcare, food, clothing and shelter. A grant donation of $25,000 was provided to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for urgent needs due to the pandemic, and grants of $15,000 each were given to Salvation Army New London for the Boys and Girls Club of New London and COVID-19 Food Pantry, Salvation Army Norwich for their emergency assistance program and St. Vincent de Paul Place for their food pantry.

The Foundation also granted $30,000 to the Garde Arts Center in New London, enabling them to receive an additional $15,000 through the CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development. In addition, the Bank gave over $80,000 in sponsorships and grants for local teachers to use in their own virtual or in-person classrooms for educational activities with students.

"Our organization's roots are in this community. We knew there was no time more important to figure out a way to help people than in this time of great need. We're fortunate to have a Foundation and a commitment to community giving that can have such a positive impact on organizations in desperate need of support," shared Michael Rauh, President and CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank, and President of the Chelsea Groton Foundation. "We are committed to doing whatever it takes to support the non-profits in our area who make the community the wonderful place it is."

"When faced with these unique times, the Chelsea Groton Foundation Board responded by temporarily adjusting guidelines in order to provide financial support to more organizations in need. We are proud to give to organizations that support basic human needs - hunger, homelessness and healthcare - as well as those that provide education, economic growth, arts and cultural experiences, and more, especially in this great time of need."

For a fourth consecutive year, the Foundation has also made a significant grant commitment - $50,000 in 2020 - to Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) for Global City Norwich, in order to train entrepreneurs and create a thriving downtown environment that will ensure increased traffic in area businesses.

The Foundation typically reviews applications and awards grants two times per year. Organizations who support critical needs are invited to apply for additional funding this year if needed, through the application on the Bank's website, http://www.chelseagroton.com/CGFoundation.

Each year, Chelsea Groton Bank and the Chelsea Groton Foundation support more than 300 local organizations through monetary gifts, grants, sponsorships, scholarships and employee volunteerism. More information, including a list of all fall grant recipients, is available at chelseagroton.com/CGFoundation.

About the Chelsea Groton Foundation

The Chelsea Groton Foundation was formed in June 1998 as a Section 501(c) (3) organization. Initially endowed with a $2 million donation from Chelsea Groton Bank, the Foundation has, to date, awarded over $4.4 million in grants to hundreds of scientific, educational and charitable organizations located within the Bank's market area. To learn more, visit: chelseagroton.com/CGFoundation.

About Chelsea Groton Bank

Based in Groton, Connecticut, Chelsea Groton Bank is a full-service mutually owned bank with over $1.4 billion in assets. Chelsea Groton Bank's products and services include consumer banking, business banking, mortgage and business lending, cash management, financial planning and financial education programming. With 14 branch locations throughout New London County and a Loan Production Office in Hartford County, Chelsea Groton Bank also provides online and mobile banking, 24-hour telephone banking, and nationwide ATM banking for individuals, families and businesses.

To learn more, please visit https://www.chelseagroton.com/.

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

This year, Chelsea Groton Bank and its Foundation provided more than $1 Million to non-profit organizations in our communities. The Foundation recently approved $405,820 in grants to 68 non-profit organizations from Connecticut and Rhode Island, which put the full year's giving total above the $1 Million mark for the first time ever.

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

Housing Finance Strategies Announces #HousingDC21

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Housing Finance Strategies President Faith Schwartz today announced that the firm will host a 100% virtual housing summit on September 20-21, 2021.

"With focus today, we set our sights on delivering the nation's premier housing policy conference next fall. The event will include a robust discussion on the Biden Administration's housing agenda," said Faith Schwartz.

In planning #HousingDC21, and to ensure quality content and focus, Housing Finance Strategies has enlisted the venerable Washington, DC trade association Women in Housing & Finance (WHF) as a key sponsor and the related Women in Housing & Finance Foundation (WHFF) as a benefactor.

Suzanne Garwood, President of WHFF, commented on the opportunity to join Housing Finance Strategies in offering #HousingDC21: "Aligning with Housing Finance Strategies promotes opportunities for women in mortgage and supports our philanthropic mission."

Schwartz has a lengthy pedigree in putting together housing symposiums, think-tank lectures and national conferences and is a leading executive and sought-after speaker. Sponsors to-date of #HousingDC21 include FormFree, Caliber Home Loans, Freedom Mortgage, Black Knight Financial Services, First American Financial Solutions, Genworth, RiskSpan, Class Valuation, Mortgage Connect, USMI and ReverseVision.

Fintech innovator and direct-source data pioneer Brent Chandler, CEO of FormFree, said of #HousingDC21: "Faith Schwartz is an industry stalwart whose leadership has seen us through challenging markets and whose focus on mortgage modernization is helping chart a course for the future. We can't wait for #HousingDC21, and I encourage my peers to take advantage of complimentary registration and save their seats now."

With a focus on women executives in housing finance - but open to all who wish to attend, registration is now available by clicking here: https://www.housingdc21.com/

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 partnered in creating and delivering multiple housing events and two national housing policy conferences. Learn more at: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/.

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Faith Schwartz, President
(202) 384-5887

Housing Finance Strategies President Faith Schwartz today announced that the firm will host a 100% virtual housing summit on September 20-21, 2021.

Related link: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

Shomari Gilyard, CFP, Director, Wealth Planning, has been made a partner at KF Advisors

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors)*, a leading wealth management firm with approximately $4 billion in assets under management as of 12/31/2020, is pleased to announce that Shomari Gilyard, CFP®, Director, Wealth Planning, has been made a partner of the firm. At KF Advisors, Shomari and his team are responsible for helping clients find solutions to address their investment, estate planning, tax, cash flow, insurance, retirement, borrowing, and philanthropic goals.

"Our clients benefit from Shomari's expertise and experience helping individuals, families, and non-profits proactively plan for their short- and long-term goals," said Kenneth D. Pollinger, CEO and Co-Chairman of KF Advisors. "His dedication to our clients' well-being is unmatched, and we are pleased to recognize his strong contribution to the firm's success."

Shomari joined KF Advisors in 2015 to enhance planning capabilities and develop a team of talented and experienced planners. Prior to KF Advisors, he held senior planning roles in Private Wealth Management at U.S. Trust and Ayco, a Goldman Sachs company. Shomari began his career at Morgan Stanley as an advisor.

He is certified by the CFP Board as a CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. He graduated with a B.S. from Rutgers. He received an M.B.A. from Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware with a concentration in Finance.

*Note: Klingenstein Fields Advisors represents the following affiliated investment advisors registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission: Klingenstein Fields & Co., L.P. and KF Group, L.P.

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

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Klingenstein Fields Advisors (KF Advisors), a leading wealth management firm with approximately $4 billion in assets under management as of 12/31/2020, is pleased to announce that Shomari Gilyard, CFP®, Director, Wealth Planning, has been made a partner of the firm.

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

Top of Mind’s Surefire Rounds Out 2020 as the Most Decorated Mortgage CRM and Marketing Automation Platform

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, anticipates continued growth and innovation in 2021 after a banner year of accolades and the launch of new product enhancements and technology partnerships.

"Top of Mind has succeeded in the current market by meeting lenders' demand for an easy-to-implement marketing automation platform equipped with the content and workflows they need to begin increasing volume on day-one," said Top of Mind EVP of Sales Nick Belenky. "Between our expansive library of creative content and push-button 'Blueprints for Success' automated workflows, Surefire is unparalleled in its ability to help lenders to execute comprehensive, multi-channel marketing campaigns that win new business, delight borrowers and retain clients for life."

In 2020, Top of Mind's flagship CRM and marketing automation platform Surefire garnered 21 prestigious national and global marketing awards for its engaging creative content. In March, Top of Mind took home four platinum and 4 gold awards at the 26th annual AVA Digital Awards competition, and in May the company earned eight awards for outstanding corporate marketing at the international Hermes Creative awards. In June, Top of Mind was recognized alongside the world's top creators of video content, collecting four trophies at the Telly awards competition. And in August, Surefire was recognized as Product of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group's Sales and Marketing Technology Awards program.

Last year, Surefire advanced significantly with the addition of features that help lenders easily execute highly-effective "set it and forget it" multi-channel marketing campaigns. In April, Surefire introduced Power Messaging, a feature that enables Surefire users to deliver high-touch text communication to consumers at scale, and Partner Network, a Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) solution that makes it easy for lenders and referral partners to co-brand marketing collateral with control and confidence. The following month, the company enhanced its five-year "Client for Life" workflow with Power Calls and Power Messaging to help lenders retain their surge of 2020 refi customers.

Additionally, the company expanded its ability to seamlessly plug into the mortgage technology ecosystem by technology partner integrations with such companies as SimpleNexus, MobilityRE, Floify and CardTapp.

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks ( https://www.topofmind.com ) started as a bootstrapped direct-mail marketing company. Today, the company is recognized as the mortgage industry's most-relied-upon provider of marketing automation and creative content solutions. From individuals to enterprise lenders, Top of Mind's SurefireCRM helps thousands of mortgage professionals win new business, earn repeat business and deserve referral business. With intuitive, "set it and forget it" workflows and award-winning content, mortgage professionals are able to effortlessly maintain and deepen their emotional connections with clients.

@mortgagecrm #mortgagemarketing

Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, anticipates continued growth and innovation in 2021 after a banner year of accolades and the launch of new product enhancements and technology partnerships.

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

DDK and Company Welcomes Sze Man Tam as Partner: First Asian-American to Take on this Role

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- DDK & Company, LLP, an accounting, tax, and consulting firm, announced on January 1 that Sze Man Tam has been promoted to Partner. In her new role, Sze will be leading DDK's Audit department, helping clients grow and improve their businesses, and developing DDK's next generation.

Sze started her career as a Junior Accountant in 2004, was promoted to Assurance Manager, and is now a Partner. She is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Sze has a wide variety of expertise including non-profits, real estate, manufacturing, distributions and wholesalers, art galleries, jewelry, and employee benefits plans.

"Sze was promoted because of her ability to build great relationships with the clients," says Richard Klinghoffer, Co-Managing Partner. "Her technical accounting knowledge is exceptional, and she's a great team player and mentor to everyone in the Audit department."

DDK's rapid expansion has necessitated the creation of Sze's new position, as staff numbers need to increase to match an increasingly demanding workload. Sze's promotion is also part of DDK's firm-wide initiative to promote diversity in the workplace, as Sze is the first Asian-American and first Asian-American woman to hold the position of Partner at DDK.

About DDK & Company, LLP

DDK and Company offers a thoughtful balance of experience and innovation. We build on our strengths by drawing on the knowledge of our partners while expanding our menu of services into new fields. DDK has multiple offices in the Tri-state area, and we serve clients both locally and nationwide. Our partners provide a range of business consulting services, while our extensive Tax and Accounting departments manage those aspects of client portfolios. As we grow, we continue to position DDK as a multi-service provider that businesses of all sizes can trust. We're large enough to deliver services comparable to those offered by much larger firms, yet still modest enough in scope to provide personal service.

Find out more at https://www.ddkcpas.com/.

Find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

DDK & Company, LLP, an accounting, tax, and consulting firm, announced on January 1 that Sze Man Tam has been promoted to Partner. In her new role, Sze will be leading DDK's Audit department, helping clients grow and improve their businesses, and developing DDK's next generation.

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

EnergyCAP’s Energy Information Management System Earns FedRAMP Authorization

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- EnergyCAP, Inc. (ECI) is pleased to announce that its EnergyCAP® energy management information solution (EMIS) has been granted an Authorization to Operate (ATO) under the U.S. Government's FedRAMP program and is now an authorized participant in the FedRAMP Marketplace. The U.S. Department of State granted the ATO and is now the first EnergyCAP client in the FedRAMP environment.

The certification confirms that ECI's robust software platform and data hosting service meet the rigorous security requirements outlined by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FedRAMP provides a uniform approach to risk-based security management and improves the trustworthiness, reliability, consistency, and quality of the federal security authorization process.

EnergyCAP is now the obvious choice for federal agencies in need of cloud-based utility bill tracking, management of submeter-based chargebacks for tenants and reimbursable activities, energy and sustainability reporting, goal tracking, and measurement and verification of savings (M&V).

ECI established a GSA contract (Contract #: GS35F231CA) in 2015 to streamline the EnergyCAP purchasing process for federal and other publicly funded organizations. By purchasing under ECI's GSA contract, organizations can bypass the costly and time-consuming public procurement process and are guaranteed to receive the lowest price available. The addition of FedRAMP-certified data hosting completes ECI's offering and reinforces EnergyCAP as the go-to energy management solution for federal agencies.

"We've served Federal agencies, including several military bases, with utility bill management and energy reporting software for decades. Obtaining an official Authorization to Operate in a cloud environment has been an important objective in serving more agencies and installations, and in satisfying important sustainability, energy reduction and expense accounting goals," according to Steve Heinz, ECI Founder & CEO.

Until now, many federal agencies have been required to host their EnergyCAP database on premises. By shifting the hosting responsibility to ECI, organizations reduce demands on their staff to maintain their EnergyCAP database(s), including software installation, setup, and maintenance. In addition to lower labor costs, agencies that license EnergyCAP no longer need to dedicate much-needed computer hardware and IT resources to host EnergyCAP on premises. The EnergyCAP implementation process is now much easier and faster, and customers can be confident that their data resides in a federally approved, secure hosting environment.

With the addition of the FedRAMP-certified hosting, ECI now offers three hosting service levels in addition to its Standard service: Advanced, Optimum, and FedRAMP. EnergyCAP customers that may want expanded services-multiple databases, automated process support, multi-factor authentication, event logging, and more-are encouraged to visit the company's Hosting Services page to learn about available options.

Learn more: https://www.energycap.com/pricing/database-hosting-services

About EnergyCAP:

EnergyCAP, Inc. has helped more than 10,000 energy managers in government, education, and commercial organizations derive value from their utility bills and energy data. Clients use our comprehensive EnergyCAP software-based solution to streamline utility bill processing and auditing, track energy and greenhouse gas data, process campus chargebacks, target reduction goals, benchmark facilities, submit to ENERGY STAR, measure and verify energy & cost savings, create budgets and forecasts, and much more.

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

MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information contact:
Blaine Clapper
Chief Marketing Officer
EnergyCAP, Inc.
Phone: 877.327.3702 x38
Email: blaine.clapper@energycap.com

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EnergyCAP, Inc. (ECI) is pleased to announce that its EnergyCAP® energy management information solution (EMIS) has been granted an Authorization to Operate (ATO) under the U.S. Government's FedRAMP program and is now an authorized participant in the FedRAMP Marketplace. The U.S. Department of State granted the ATO and is now the first EnergyCAP client in the FedRAMP environment.

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

Agent Review Announces Technology Awareness Series for Insurance Agents – Leonardo247 Leads Launch

BELLEVUE, Wash. /ScoopCloud/ -- Agent Review (https://agentreview.net/) which serves insurance agents and those needing insurance, announces the creation of the Technology Awareness series. These informational alerts can make agents significantly more valuable to their clients, according to Bryan Foos, Agent Review's Operations Manager.

"We started Agent Review to bring to insurance the review model made popular by Yelp and Angie's List," says Foos. "Now, by adding the Technology Awareness series, we're going beyond the value of vetted professional connection to the value of verified technology-based advice."

The enhancement to Agent Review brought by the Technology Awareness series is to "support the introduction of the rapidly maturing operations and opportunities into insurance services in this time of technological change," Foos continues. "Our aim was to position the agent for ever-increasing strength by supporting their education on the latest innovations available to their clients."

Kicking off the awareness series is information about Leonardo247 (https://leonardo247.com), a SaaS-based software for multi-family real estate operations. The platform streamlines communication and helps property management utilize best practices. It makes sure that assets are optimally insured at the best possible premium rate. This can make a significant cost and benefit difference to insured individuals and organizations.

"Insurers look closely at risk-management practices before extending favorable rates," says Daniel Cunningham, Leonard247 CEO. "Our platform helps property managers impact their bottom line, but it is also a tool to address prospective carrier concerns and risk appetites. By polling insurance company risk managers and underwriters, Leonardo247 identifies important issues. Using this feedback, the platform has been refined to build the risk management database."

Agent Review has identified several cutting-edge technology tools, like Leonardo247, that could support an Agent Review agent's client base. The technology series will be free to Agent Review subscribers and will be offered multiple times per year with various enhancement products. Agents can register for an online introduction at https://gkgx2eue.sibpages.com.

Upon finishing the education, they will receive a Technology Awareness badge on their profile.

About Agent Review:

https://agentreview.net

1-833-5-AGENTS

About Leonardo247:

https://leonardo247.com

1-877-995-3662 X 500

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Agent Review which serves insurance agents and those needing insurance, announces the creation of the Technology Awareness series. These informational alerts can make agents significantly more valuable to their clients, according to Bryan Foos, Agent Review's Operations Manager.

Related link: https://agentreview.net/

Tubbergen reports Recently Passed COVID Relief Bill May Threaten Your Retirement

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. /ScoopCloud/ -- Does the Recently Passed COVID Relief Bill Threaten Your Retirement? According to Dennis Tubbergen, a partner with Retirement Lifestyle Advocates, that question is not as crazy as you may be thinking it is.

In this month's issue of the company's newsletter, the "You May Not Know Report," Dennis explores this question and offers some historical references to help answer the question and offer you some strategies for your consideration.

As you are now undoubtedly aware a $900 billion COVID relief bill was recently passed that was part of a $2.3 trillion spending package.

The reality of the situation is that there is only one way to fund this enormous spending bill; more money creation.

History teaches us that whenever a government reaches the point that the only way to fund its profligate spending is through additional money creation, that government is on a path that is irreversible.

As Tubbergen has often stated previously, we are not debating the 'what,' we are only debating the 'when.'

History teaches us that this cycle has existed for as long as governments have existed.

Governments have a balanced budget initially. Then, due to warfare or welfare or both, budgets develop deficits.

These deficits are initially funded through borrowing. Government's issue bonds in which investors invest, loaning the government money to make up the shortfall between tax revenues and spending in exchange for interest payments and a promise from the government to pay the investor's principle back at some future date.

At this point in the cycle, investors are confident of the government's ability to pay them their interest and return their principle to them.

If deficit spending continues, governments are forced to sell more bonds to still more investors. As debt levels rise, and the government becomes a poorer credit risk, the government might have to offer investors more interest to make up for the additional investment risk.

As deficits continue to widen, the government will eventually find itself in a position that investors don't want to loan the government money by purchasing bonds no matter what the interest rate is. When that happens the only remaining option is money creation.

Once money creation starts, it never stops. It only intensifies until such time as there is a reset.

A reset can occur in only two ways.

One, deficit spending stops. That creates a deflationary reset similar to the reset experienced in the 1930's. Markets crash, prices fall and unemployment soars as the economy collapses into a deflationary depression. Debt is purged from the system through defaults.

Two, deficit spending continues as does money creation. Inflation is the result. If money printing continues after inflation begins, even more inflation is created, and eventually, confidence in the currency is lost. When confidence in the currency is lost, a new currency needs to be established at which point the debt in the economy gets redenominated to the new currency. Then deflation takes over the economy and markets crash, prices fall, and unemployment skyrockets.

It seems obvious now that we are now on the latter path.

That is where we now find ourselves as Tubbergen discusses in detail in this month's "Special Report." He'll examine several historical examples of other governments that reached this point and you'll see that in EVERY circumstance the outcome was the same.

If you'd like to learn more, you may request a copy of Dennis Tubbergen's "Special Report" by visiting http://www.requestyourreport.com/.

You can also learn more about Retirement Lifestyle Advocates by visiting their website at https://retirementlifestyleadvocates.com/.

About Retirement Lifestyle Advocates

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Retirement Lifestyle Advocates is a privately held financial planning firm specializing in helping clients position assets to secure a comfortable, stress-free retirement in an economy where government policy threatens to destroy the current financial system.

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Does the Recently Passed COVID Relief Bill Threaten Your Retirement? According to Dennis Tubbergen, a partner with Retirement Lifestyle Advocates, that question is not as crazy as you may be thinking it is.

Related link: https://retirementlifestyleadvocates.com/

Mid America Mortgage Promotes Jemma Pachiano to Chief Operating Officer

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has promoted former National Support and Training Director Jemma Pachiano to Chief Operating Officer (COO).

"Jemma Pachiano's vast experience in the mortgage industry and keen ability to tackle even the most complex challenges have made a measurable impact on Mid America since 2011, which makes her an excellent fit for this role," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "As COO, Jemma's solutions-based approach and know-how in regards to implementing more efficient processes, products and systems will be instrumental in propelling Mid America's growth and success through 2021 and beyond."

Serving as a National Support and Training Director for nearly a decade, Pachiano helped Mid America Mortgage maintain a culture of consistent and open communication by liaising with its executive team, operations team and branches. In addition, she spearheaded systems training on new vendor products, LOS upgrades and company-wide initiatives related to process, policy and product changes. Pachiano has increased efficiencies at the branch level by mentoring teams to improve file quality while keeping branch managers updated on their progress, areas of opportunity and training.

Pachiano has actively served as a licensed LO for more than 18 years, with experience in both retail and wholesale positions across Maine, North Carolina and Texas. Prior to Mid America Mortgage, she was employed at Alliance Financial Resources as a senior loan originator and worked as a loan officer at Chase Bank. She also served as a senior loan officer at TowneBank.

"Having experienced Mid America's steady trajectory of growth for the last nine years, my new role as COO inspires me to lead the company in consistently delivering best-in-class products and an exceptional lending experience to our clients," said Pachiano. "My mantra for 2021 is to remain detail-oriented, intentional and to lead with kindness, especially as the industry continues to face on-going changes and uncertainty. I am honored to enter into this new role and my passion for the mortgage business fuels me to drive operational success at Mid America for years to come."

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. Learn more at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/.

In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings eNotes. Click n' Close is Mid America's ultra-secure, digital mortgage approval and closing process that gets home buyers from application to closing within two weeks. With just a few clicks at closing, Click n' Close puts keys in the home buyer's hand in 15 minutes or less. Apply online at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/click-n-close/#cnc.

Frequently named a top mortgage employer/workplace by industry trade magazines such as Mortgage Professional America, MReport, National Mortgage News and National Mortgage Professional, Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join our growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit https://www.midamericamortgage.com/careers/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has promoted former National Support and Training Director Jemma Pachiano to Chief Operating Officer (COO).

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

SimpleNexus Secures $108M in Series B Funding to Transform the Homeownership Journey into a Seamlessly Connected Experience

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform connecting loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, has received a follow-on investment of $108 million in Series B funding led by global venture-capital and private-equity firm Insight Partners.

Founded in 2011, SimpleNexus is one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Company President Cathleen Schreiner Gates credits 2020's four consecutive quarters of record-setting revenue growth to rapid, enthusiastic adoption of SimpleNexus' solutions by banks, credit unions and independent mortgage lenders across the United States. The capital infusion from Insight Partners will help SimpleNexus maintain this growth trajectory as it continues to transform the mortgage industry by seamlessly connecting the homeownership journey.

"SimpleNexus is systematically tearing down the technology barriers that gave the mortgage process a reputation for being disjointed, arduous and slow," said Schreiner Gates. "First, we created a best-in-class mobile toolset that delivers hundreds of thousands of lender referrals each year by bringing together consumers, real estate agents and loan officers from the point of thought. Then we perfected the loan application with features like our mobile mortgage disclosures, which empowers borrowers to finish in hours a task that normally takes days. With the support of Insight Partners, we will build on the momentum we received from bringing to market the best eClosing experience lenders and consumers have ever seen. Our vision is to hone the entire home buying journey from the borrower's first contact with a Realtor to the closing table and beyond."

The $108 million capital raise follows Insight Partners' initial investment of $20 million in SimpleNexus and underscores the firm's continued confidence in the Utah-based tech firm. Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 investments and has supported more than 50 software ScaleUps in the real estate and fintech verticals alone.

"SimpleNexus' innovative solutions continue to change the mortgage industry in exciting ways," said Jeff Lieberman, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "CEO Matt Hansen and the SimpleNexus team are executing at a remarkable pace on their long-term vision of streamlining the path to homeownership. The SimpleNexus platform continues to strengthen, addressing key industry pain points while preserving lender flexibility, efficiency and simplicity. We are thrilled to support the company's continued growth and excited by the partnerships they are creating to deliver a seamless homeownership journey."

SimpleNexus announced one such strategic partnership in November, a collaboration with Progressive® (NYSE: PGR) that makes it easy for borrowers to secure a home insurance policy in the same app they use to complete other loan-related tasks.

SimpleNexus' award-winning homeownership platform plays a role in 13% of all home loans originated in the U.S. SimpleNexus serves a user base of more than 29,000 loan originators and 123,000 real estate agents and more than 3 million borrowers. To date, the platform has handled over 13 million loans totaling over $3 trillion in volume.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is a homeownership platform transforming the mortgage experience and connecting borrowers, loan officers, real estate agents and settlement service providers throughout the homebuying process. The platforms' native mobile toolset enables lenders to originate, process and close home loans from anywhere with increased efficiency and convenience. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals, sign disclosures and execute eClosings - all on the go. SimpleNexus provides borrowers with a single sign-on experience from home search to the application, document upload, eClose and beyond for a more streamlined homeownership journey. Learn more at: https://www.simplenexus.com/.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit https://www.insightpartners.com/ or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @insightpartners #digitalmortgage #mortgagetechnology #investmentnews

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SimpleNexus, developer of the leading homeownership platform connecting loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, has received a follow-on investment of $108 million in Series B funding led by global venture-capital and private-equity firm Insight Partners.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/