Category Archives: Finance

ReverseVision Supports HECM Lenders’ Transition from LIBOR to CMT Index, Updates Documents to Facilitate Index Migration

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, today announced it has updated all documents that reference an index to support both the Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) and London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) indexes.

The update was made in response to Ginnie Mae's All Participant Memorandum (APM) 20-12, which deems LIBOR-based adjustable rate HECM loans not securitized on or after January 1, 2021, as ineligible for pooling regardless of their origination or FHA case number assignment date. Adjustable rate HECMs that rely on the CMT index will be eligible for pooling without restriction. The LIBOR index is expected to sunset at the end of 2021.

ReverseVision has conducted an extensive quality assurance inspection of all standard documents affected by an index change to ensure lenders' seamless transition from LIBOR to CMT. ReverseVision will update custom documents and private reverse mortgage program documents upon request free of charge. Additionally, ReverseVision has enhanced document language and reference points in anticipation of a future migration to the Secure Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) index.

"ReverseVision had existing legacy support for CMT-based rate calculations built into the platform because it was the benchmark before LIBOR," said ReverseVision President Joe Langner. "Due to the renewed relevance of the CMT index, we have taken additional steps to ensure that lenders can seamlessly switch between it and LIBOR. Additionally, ReverseVision has already enhanced our products in anticipation of a future migration to SOFR."

About ReverseVision

ReverseVision, Inc. is the leading 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 flexes to lenders' unique business and operational models, connecting all lending participants across the entire reverse mortgage lifecycle to meet borrowers where they are in life. A five-time HousingWire TECH100(tm) company, ReverseVision continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements.

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

Twitter: @reversevision #digitalmortgage #HECM

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1029s2p-reversevision-300dpi.jpg

News from ReverseVision Inc.

ReverseVision, the leading provider of Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and private reverse mortgage sales and origination technology, today announced it has updated all documents that reference an index to support both the Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) and London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) indexes.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Promontory MortgagePath Expands Team, Hires Regional Vice Presidents of Sales Diane Capers and Greg Bruns

DANBURY, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, announced it has hired Diane Capers and Greg Bruns as regional vice presidents in the company's sales division. Capers and Bruns will advance Promontory MortgagePath's comprehensive sales strategy by cultivating pivotal relationships to strengthen and grow Promontory MortgagePath's position as the industry's leading mortgage fulfillment platform.

"We're experiencing an outpouring of interest in our products as banks seek to adapt to and manage the current low-rate, digitally-driven mortgage market," said Promontory MortgagePath Chief Operating Officer Debora Aydelotte. "Diane and Greg have proven track records in business development operations and will undoubtedly magnify our sales division's impact, leveraging their industry experience to drive our mission forward."

As a previous sales director with more than 20 years of experience, Capers has earned a reputation for exceeding sales goals, managing lengthy client rosters and securing new business opportunities. Having driven significant margin and revenue growth in past roles, Capers also possesses an acute ability to deepen client relationships and capture new business by utilizing skilled negotiation techniques. She has experience working in business development at several mortgage banking firms, including Caliber Home Loans and Lenders One and has expanded her expertise into the digital mortgage technology sector, most recently with Optimal Blue.

Bruns brings more than a decade of experience in commercial banking and mortgage technology, possessing a keen knowledge of the mortgage and financial industries. As an intuitive sales professional, Bruns has managed a full cycle sales territory of more than 200 Fortune 1000 companies, fostering and maintaining client relationships on a large scale and establishing footholds in new markets.

To learn more about open options at Promontory MortgagePath, visit https://www.mortgagepath.com/careers/.

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 solve their most pressing challenges. To learn more, https://www.mortgagepath.com.

News from Promontory MortgagePath

Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, announced it has hired Diane Capers and Greg Bruns as regional vice presidents in the company's sales division.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Paramount Property Tax Appeal Offers Free Consultation to California Property Owners, RE: ‘Tax-Reduction Solutions & Overcoming Changes Limiting Tax Breaks’

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Wes Nichols, president of Paramount Property Tax Appeal Service, is reminding California property owners that property tax relief will be severely limited by changes to the Proposition 58 Parent-to-Child Exemption, as Prop 19 will soon become law.

The Paramount firm is inviting property owners and families looking to lower their property taxes and/or transferring property to heirs, to get a free consultation There are only 3 months left to prepare, evaluate and potentially appeal property taxes - typically reducing property tax bills by 20% to 30%. Residential and commercial property owners are urged to prepare for specific changes to long standing property tax relief in California.

Paramount Property Tax Appeal is inviting California property owners to take advantage of the firm's unprecedented offer of a free consultation focusing on Property Tax Reduction; Property Appraisal; Real Property Tax Appeal, Business Property Tax Appeal, and Business Personal Property Tax Compliance.

Company president Wes Nichols announced this week: "Families have to get in now to see us so we can complete their paperwork, in terms of locking in their future tax base. With Proposition 19 becoming property tax law, folks only have until Feb. 2021 to complete estate planning, in order to pass down low assessed values to their children. Prop 19 is designed to eliminate the Parent-to-Child Exemption for properties that are not owner-occupied homes within a year. This means homes, apt. buildings and other commercial properties are all assessed at full market value when you transfer title to your children."

Paramount Property Tax Appeal is one of the few property tax related firms in California that offers unique property tax reduction solutions and proprietary programs to make sure parents can pass down their low assessed value in the future to their children. Even if property is held in an LLC or trust.

Mr. Nichols explains: "This year, Californians face unprecedented tax challenges unlike any year prior; due in part to the COVID shutdown and resulting economic crisis, impacting property values and estate planning. However, families with estate planning needs have only 3 months before the doors for California property tax relief from Proposition 13 and Proposition 58 slam shut - as Proposition 19 becomes law. Thereby dismantling key tax breaks protected by the Parent-to-Child Exemption - avoiding property tax reassessment at current market value."

"Folks should understand that by engaging us now, you start the process of setting up your tax appeal; to reduce your overall tax burden. Waiting until you're too close to the appeals deadline can be a recipe for disaster! Bottom line, we truly do enjoy helping people - middle class and working families, not just wealthy folks."

For the first time since its inception, Paramount is offering a free consultation on trusts, estates, property tax appeals and property tax reduction issues, to all California property owners interested in lowering their property tax bill, as well as transferring real property to their heirs. Property owners can call the firm's main office at 858.225.1200 with the option to come in and sit down informally with a property tax specialist, and discuss their property tax and/or business personal property tax issues.

Paramount Property Tax Appeal
Call: President Wes Nichols at (888) 385-9203
Email: wes@pptaxappeal.com

Website: https://www.paramountpropertytaxappeal.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParamountPropertyTaxAppeal

News from Paramount Property Tax Appeal

Wes Nichols, president of Paramount Property Tax Appeal Service, is reminding California property owners that property tax relief will be severely limited by changes to the Proposition 58 Parent-to-Child Exemption, as Prop 19 will soon become law.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Papa Inc. Adds Reliance to Its Growing List of Medicare Advantage Plans to Provide ‘Family on Demand’ to Their HMO Population

MIAMI, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Papa Inc, the leading technology-enabled platform for companionship & assistance for older adults & families, today announced it has been selected by Reliance Medicare Advantage to provide services beginning January 1, 2021 to their Michigan HMO population in order to enhance their quality of life through the eradication of social isolation and loneliness.

Papa has created a new category of care through technology by turning a large supply of talent (students, stay-at-home parents and young professionals) into a new category of provider that Papa calls "Pals."

As a partner, Papa will provide Reliance HMO members a program that bridges the gap between generations and offers seniors a unique at-home experience that can enrich their lives and combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Papa "Pals" can provide help with:

* Companionship - Whether it is board games, great conversation, or just enjoying each other's company, Papa provides valuable interactions either virtually or in-person;

* Transportation - Whether it is door to door, or door through door, Papa provides transportation to medical appointments, volunteer or work engagements, the grocery store, or even a visit to the park for a change of scenery;

* Technology Assistance - Papa Pals can assist with technology such as cell phones, computers and tablets to make sure members are staying connected to family and friends;

* Light Chores - Changing seasons can bring opportunity for Papa Pals to assist with light chores around the home such as gardening, snow removal, food preparation

"Loneliness and social isolation have many negative effects on older adults, including issues associated with the lack of transportation, independence and technical savvy," said Founder and CEO Andrew Parker. "National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) explains that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. Considering the Census Bureau data that there will be 78 million people 65 and older by year 2035 compared to 76.7 million under the age of 18, we have an immediate responsibility to provide solutions that will result in positive long-term effects like lowering medical costs and improving their quality of life for this beloved population."

"Reliance chose Papa for their unique task-driven companionship services and mission to support families throughout the aging journey," said Jacob Nysson, Reliance COO. "We look forward to working with Papa to further evaluate our ageing members' needs and providing services to address those needs."

About Reliance

As Michigan's only doctor owned Medicare Advantage plans, Reliance Medicare Advantage is proud to provide southeastern Michigan residents on Medicare with a different kind of healthcare plan. For more information, visit: https://www.reliancemedicareadvantage.org/.

About Papa Inc

Papa is a platform of curated companions that provide support and assistance to older adults and families nationwide. Papa was founded in 2017 in Miami, FL. For more information, visit: https://www.joinpapa.com/.

* LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0305s2p-papa-inc-logo-300dpi.jpg

News from Papa Inc.

Papa Inc, the leading technology-enabled platform for companionship & assistance for older adults & families, today announced it has been selected by Reliance Medicare Advantage to provide services beginning January 1, 2021 to their Michigan HMO population in order to enhance their quality of life through the eradication of social isolation and loneliness.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus Collaboration with Progressive Insurance Brings Home Insurance to Mobile Mortgage App Used by Nearly 3 Million Borrowers

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of home insurance quotes from Progressive® (NYSE: PGR, https://www.progressive.com/) within the SimpleNexus digital mortgage app.

Home insurance is a requirement for nearly all single-family home purchase and refinance loans. If a borrower fails to provide proof of home insurance in time for the loan closing, the loan cannot be finalized and funded. Such delays are costly to lenders and inconvenient for all parties. SimpleNexus' collaboration with Progressive makes it easy for borrowers to secure a home insurance policy in the same app they use to complete other loan-related tasks. Borrowers can also use Progressive's HomeQuote Explorer(tm) to compare quotes from multiple carriers.

"With SimpleNexus, any mortgage lender can give its customers a cohesive experience from home search to home closing - and now that includes home insurance," said SimpleNexus Founder and CEO Matt Hansen. "We're delighted to collaborate with a household name like Progressive to make it easy for borrowers to close their loans on time and obtain much-needed peace of mind."

"Working with SimpleNexus, we're excited to offer more choices to millions of U.S. borrowers as they become homeowners or are refinancing their existing loans," said Progressive Business Leader of Direct Property Quoting Tammy Loucks. "A home is likely a person's most valuable asset, and this integration makes it easy to obtain a home insurance policy."

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is the digital mortgage platform that enables lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The company's best-in-class, easy-to-use app connects loan officers to their borrowers, real estate agents and settlement service providers to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @Progressive #digitalmortgage #homeinsurance

*LOGO link for media: https://www.send2press.com/300dpi/19-0724s2p-simplenexus-300dpi.jpg

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of home insurance quotes from Progressive® (NYSE: PGR) within the SimpleNexus digital mortgage app.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

LBA Ware’s LimeGear Business Intelligence Platform Brings Performance Dashboards and Scorecards to Users of Fiserv’s Mortgage Director LOS

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence (BI) software solutions for the mortgage industry, has partnered with Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) to provide out-of-the-box business dashboards and reports to users of the Mortgage Director loan origination system (LOS). With the integration of LBA Ware's LimeGear BI platform into Mortgage Director, banks, credit unions and independent mortgage lenders gain immediate access to sophisticated tools for improving efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Formerly known as PCLender, Mortgage Director is the modern LOS at the core of the Fiserv lending ecosystem. It enables lenders to offer a seamless, self-service mortgage experience that exceeds consumer expectations while improving service levels, streamlining operations and reducing loan manufacturing costs.

LimeGear is a turnkey BI platform that enables mortgage lenders to deploy unified data strategies across their organizations for actionable insights into productivity and efficiency. Branch and area managers can use data insights from LimeGear's dashboards to keep loan pipelines moving, zero in on decisions that support profitability and evaluate and inspire team performance.

"Financial institutions rarely have the luxury of assigning a dedicated data team to evaluate mortgage leads, pipelines, productivity and performance in real-time - yet business insights drawn from end-to-end loan lifecycle data are exactly what lenders need to maintain a competitive edge in any market," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "LimeGear's data connection with Mortgage Director gives banks, credit unions and independent mortgage bankers a fast path to powerful dashboards and scorecards that supercharge their efficiency."

Fiserv will showcase LimeGear's integration with Mortgage Director in a virtual event this afternoon, November 10, from 2-3 p.m. ET. For registration details, contact your Mortgage Director account manager.

About LBA Ware:

LBA Ware(TM) 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 @Fiserv #mortgageindustry #mortgagetechnology #mortgagelending #LimeGear #BI #businessintelligence

News from LBA Ware

LBA Ware, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence (BI) software solutions for the mortgage industry, has partnered with Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) to provide out-of-the-box business dashboards and reports to users of the Mortgage Director loan origination system (LOS).

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Pureloan Provides Enterprise-Grade Advanced Mortgage Search Functionality at No Cost to Millions of Home Buyers

PALO ALTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Pureloan.com is the first website to offer professional loan officer-level mortgage search functionality for both home loans and home refinancing to all interested shoppers. Other websites simply allow searches using basic fields like location, LTV, and credit score, but Pureloan.com performs searches on the exact fields being used by loan underwriters, thus creating a mortgage quote that is entirely accurate.

As an example, Pureloan.com allows consumers to search mortgages by Occupancy Type such as Single-Family Home, Duplex, or Condominium. To purchase a $1M home in San Jose, CA, with a down-payment of $250k, buyers of a single-family home can find a mortgage of 2.875% interest rate with a closing cost of $53; however, buyers of a condominium have to pay a mortgage rate of 3.00% with a closing cost of $435.

Additionally, Pureloan.com also supports other search parameters including Lock Period (e.g. 30 Day, 45 Day, 60 Day), Property Type (Primary Residence, Second Home and Investment Property), Government Program (FHA, VA, USDA), and many more.

Using Pureloan's full advanced search functionality, the quoted mortgage rate is an exact match to the final pricing the consumer can expect from the mortgage lender. As a comparison, using only basic parameters will result in a quote that can be 0.385% higher in APR or $30,696 higher in total cash payments for a $750,000 30-year fixed mortgage.

Try searching for a mortgage in New York City or refinancing in Chicago today.

Pureloan.com is founded by graduates of Stanford University. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California in the heart of Silicon Valley.

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

*Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1110s2p-pureloan-300dpi.jpg

*Image caption: Pureloan.com's Advanced Search functionality features comprehensive enterprise-grade inputs and adjustments.

News from Pureloan

Pureloan.com is the first website to offer professional loan officer-level mortgage search functionality for both home loans and home refinancing to all interested shoppers. Other websites simply allow searches using basic fields like location, LTV, and credit score, but Pureloan performs searches on the exact fields being used by loan underwriters.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt Says Plan for the Expected – and the Unexpected

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Colorado Springs investors preparing for or living in retirement need to plan for the expected while preparing for the unexpected − and position their investment portfolios for both, says Keith Eckhardt, an Edward Jones Advisor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

How can one plan for the expected?

"First, envision your retirement lifestyle," Eckhardt says. "Do you plan on traveling the world? Or will you stay close to home, volunteering and pursuing your hobbies? Perhaps you'll even work part−time in some capacity."

Once investors know what their retirement might look like, they can put a "price tag" on it, even if it's only an estimate, he adds.

"Try to contribute as much as possible to your retirement accounts, such as your 401(k) and your IRA," says Eckhardt. "Then, as you near retirement, you'll have to calculate how much you can withdraw from your portfolio each year without running out of money and determine if your spending habits are suitable for the amount of income you can count on from your retirement plans, Social Security and other sources."

The "unexpected" factors − those variables that will affect one's retirement costs and lifestyle − investors should consider include:

Inflation − Over time, even a relatively mild inflation rate can decrease one's purchasing power and erode the value of investments, particularly the fixed−income ones.

Market volatility − No one can really predict when the financial markets will move up or down, or how big these movements will be, but they will occur and could affect an unbalanced portfolio.

Health care − As one gets older, health care costs almost certainly rise, but the size of this increase is difficult to forecast.

Longevity − One doesn't know exactly how long he or she will live, but longevity will have a big impact on spending and investment decisions during retirement.

According to Eckhardt, investors can position their portfolios for the expected and unexpected by achieving balance, specifically balancing the needs for growth and income.

"During your working years, you may need to focus more on growth−oriented investments, within the context of your individual risk tolerance, your time horizon and your specific goals," Eckhardt said. "Even when you retire, you'll need growth potential in your portfolio to cope with inflation and rising health care costs."

Retirees also have to think a lot more about their spending decisions, Eckhardt, so they will need a certain percentage of their portfolio devoted to income−oriented vehicles.

"Your financial advisor can help you find the right balance in your investments, both before and during retirement," said Eckhardt. "And along the way, you'll likely need to adjust your portfolio in response to changes in your life. But if you keep the big picture in mind by planning for the expected while preparing for the unexpected, you can work toward achieving the retirement that you've envisioned and that you deserve."

Learn more: http://www.edwardjones.com/keith-eckhardt

ABOUT EDWARD JONES:

Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in St. Louis, provides financial services in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the investments offered to the location of branch offices, caters to individual investors. The firm's 19,000−plus financial advisors serve more than 7 million clients with a total of $1.2 trillion in client assets under care. Visit edwardjones.com or the recruiting website at careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

News from Edward Jones

Colorado Springs investors preparing for or living in retirement need to plan for the expected while preparing for the unexpected − and position their investment portfolios for both, says Keith Eckhardt, an Edward Jones Advisor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

U.S. Mortgage Industry Launches ‘NOT OK? THAT’S OK’ Borrower Awareness Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Today, an independent coalition of U.S. mortgage industry leaders launched the 'NOT OK? THAT'S OK' campaign to raise awareness among customers who have missed one or more mortgage payments in 2020 and may be eligible for forbearance assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Faith Schwartz, president of Housing Finance Strategies, spearheaded the industry effort.

Said Schwartz, "Sometimes customers don't call their mortgage company because they don't have the funds to make a payment. They just don't engage. Payment relief programs exist for almost all loan types where mortgage servicers may provide instant relief to struggling homeowners, but a discussion is needed."

The borrower awareness campaign supplements the significant existing outreach efforts undertaken by servicers, both on their own and as required by the GSEs, FHA, VA and the CFPB.

Pete Mills, senior vice president of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), said, "The goal is to expand our reach by creating more conversations in this space so customers know there are tools to help them."

Members of the MBA, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the American Bankers Association, and the Housing Policy Council played an integral role in the initiative's development and successful launch. In addition, housing counseling agencies such as Neighborworks America, the National Housing Resource Center and the National Housing Conference also participated.

The vast majority of loan servicers are expected to participate in the effort, uniting under the common purpose of leaving no COVID-19 impacted borrower behind.

The need for the outreach campaign was identified during meetings of the Mortgage Markets COVID-19 Collaborative, convened by the Urban Institute's Housing Finance Policy Center in March, 2020.

Urban Institute research found that more than three million mortgage borrowers are in active CARES Act forbearance programs today but that 400,000 delinquent borrowers not in forbearance, who qualified for the same forbearance programs, could be made aware of this assistance via a broad outreach campaign.

Alanna McCargo, vice president for the Housing Finance Policy Center noted that, "Providing data and evidence that allow practitioners to develop collaborative solutions to ensure sustainable homeownership and equity in response to the COVID-19 crisis just like the 'NOT OK? THAT'S OK,' campaign is exactly why we created the MMCC."

Schwartz, who led the 2008-2009 housing crisis-era HOPE NOW Alliance, summarized the effort, saying, "The message should be clear to COVID-19 impacted borrowers that your mortgage company has tools to help you if you are struggling - and consistent with the CARES Act, most of the programs provide streamlined access. Borrowers who may not be comfortable calling their mortgage company but want support should know that a HUD-certified housing counselor is just a call away."

To access 'NOT OK? THAT's OK' project materials, visit https://www.covidhelpforhome.org/. Industry partners can download images for use in emails, social media and other customer communications.

For more information about Housing Finance Strategies, visit: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

News from Housing Finance Strategies

Today, an independent coalition of U.S. mortgage industry leaders launched the 'NOT OK? THAT'S OK' campaign to raise awareness among customers who have missed one or more mortgage payments in 2020 and may be eligible for forbearance assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Faith Schwartz, president of Housing Finance Strategies, spearheaded the industry effort.

Related link: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

NotaryCam’s ‘Help a Hero’ Initiative Resumes for Eighth Consecutive Year

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R), the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative.

Starting Wednesday, November 11 and running through Saturday, November 14, the initiative allows active duty and retired service members to connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

"For the past eight years, NotaryCam has been honored to offer this token of appreciation to all who have served and continue to serve our county," said NotaryCam founder Rick Triola. "NotaryCam's technology offers the convenience and security to perform a RON transaction from anywhere in the world at any time; a service we proudly provide to our veterans and active duty military members at no charge each Veterans Day."

Since 2013, NotaryCam has held its Help a Hero promotion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Current U.S. military service members and veterans who wish to take advantage of this offer need only notify their notary and present a valid military or Veterans ID card during the promotion. USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union members are also eligible for the promotion. For more information, please visit https://www.notarycam.com/.

About NotaryCam

After pioneering the world's first multi-party/multi-state remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam and completed the first RON transaction in 2012 and the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC(tm)) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states and more than 150 countries. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction and supports all eClosing scenarios - RON, IPEN or Hybrids - with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

@NotaryCam #ROC #RON #digitalmortgage #emortgage #eclosing #enotary

News from NotaryCam Inc.

NotaryCam, the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that in honor of Veterans Day, it would once again offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Lee Duncan Succeeds John Craft, Becomes Second CEO of Alliance Group

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Alliance Group, a national insurance marketing organization (IMO), announced Monday that it has appointed Lee Duncan as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Duncan previously occupied the role of Chief Marketing Officer.

"Lee has worn a lot of hats for us, and if we're being honest, he's probably been playing the role of CEO for several years now," said Alliance Group Chairman Jerry Stratton. "This thing has been in the long-term game plan for several years now, and it's really personally fulfilling to watch Lee assume a role he's been preparing for, literally, since the day he came on board 17 years ago."

Since joining the company in 2003, Lee has played an integral role in the growth and development of Alliance Group, from a $8m production total in 2003 to a record $45m in 2019, which marked the eighth consecutive year of setting a new production record.

"We've come a long way, but we've got even loftier goals," said Duncan. "I'm so proud ofour team and what we've built together at Alliance Group, and this just represents the next chapter and the next challenge. I'm excited to get to work and continue the tradition of excellence that John Craft and Jerry Stratton have stamped into the DNA of this company."

Along with announcing the promotion of Duncan, Alliance Group also announced that company founder and long-time CEO John Craft will be retiring. Craft founded Alliance Group in 1998 and says he is looking forward to spending more time with family and pursuing his hobbies.

"John will always be a partner, a mentor, and a friend - his role in building this company from the ground up is what has made it possible for us to be where we are today," said Duncan. "I'm humbled and honored to take that torch from him and lead this company into what is a very bright and promising future".

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
pgoldfine@anallianceforlife.com
888.969.9233

*LOGO: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1106s2p-alliance-300dpi.jpg

Twitter: #togetherwerebetter #alliancegroup #livingbenefits

News from Alliance Group

Alliance Group, a national insurance marketing organization (IMO), announced Monday that it has appointed Lee Duncan as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Duncan previously occupied the role of Chief Marketing Officer.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Edward Jones Adds Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edward Jones Financial Advisor Mike Biehl announced today that Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt, has joined his office in Colorado Springs on October 14, 2020.

"I am really looking forward to working with Mike," said Keith. "I'll have all the advantages of working with an experienced investment professional while getting to know local investors."

Biehl said, "I'm very impressed with Keith, and I'm sure my clients will be, too. Edward Jones prides itself on providing the best service possible to those investors who choose to do business with us. Keith will help provide the high level of service investors in Colorado Springs have come to expect from us as well as extend our services to new investors."

"I'm looking forward to working with Mike and meeting investors in this area. I've come to admire his professionalism, and I believe working with him will make me a better financial advisor," said Eckhardt.

Eckhardt has 4 years of experience in the financial services industry.

The branch office is located at 7 Widefield Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80911. The telephone number is 719−392−5781.

Learn more at: https://www.edwardjones.com/keith-eckhardt

Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in St. Louis, provides financial services in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the investments offered to the location of branch offices, caters to individual investors. The firm's 19,000−plus financial advisors serve more than 7 million clients with a total of $1.2 trillion in client assets under care. Visit edwardjones.com or the recruiting website at careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

News from Edward Jones

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Mike Biehl announced today that Financial Advisor Keith Eckhardt, has joined his office in Colorado Springs on October 14, 2020.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

LBA Ware Recruits Kim Schnieders to Propel Sales Strategy, Accelerate Rapid Business Growth Among Mortgage Bankers

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence (BI) software solutions for the mortgage industry, announced today it has hired sales executive Kim Schnieders as senior sales consultant. Schnieders will support the expansion of LBA Ware's business development strategy during its rapid growth, driving revenue and supporting the influx of mortgage lenders implementing its award-winning technology.

With more than 20 years in C-Suite sales and account management, Schnieders brings to LBA Ware acute insight from her experience in the mortgage and technology sectors. Previously a sales and business development executive with mortgage risk management and compliance services provider MQMR, Schnieders has a proven track record of success managing sales cycles from lead generation to contract execution to help companies increase market share and revenue growth. Schnieders has also held management- and executive-level positions at QuestSoft, Calyx Software and Bank of America.

"Our industry is built on trust and collaboration, so Kim's ability to forge strategic partnerships and champion sales immediately caught our eye," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "We proudly entrust her to nurture our client relationships, cultivate new opportunities and deliver on LBA Ware's excellent client experience standards."

In her new role, Schnieders will identify and capture strategic client accounts matching LBA Ware's key business objectives, expanding reach and demand for its LimeGear(TM) and CompenSafe(TM) products. Developed specifically for the mortgage industry, CompenSafe is an automated ICM platform that bridges the gap between lenders' loan origination and payroll systems to eliminate manual data entry and provide actionable insight into staff performance and profitability. LimeGear is a turnkey business intelligence platform that enables mortgage lenders to deploy unified data strategies across their organizations for actionable insights into productivity and efficiency.

"Learning to think like a mortgage banker is the obvious secret to earning their trust, so I have made it my mission to dive deep into what matters most to my clients," said Schnieders. "Lending executives need visibility into analytics central to their success, such as LO performance and problems looming in their loan pipelines. I am thrilled to be part of an organization that is committed to supporting lenders' drive for operational excellence."

About LBA Ware(TM):

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 #mortgageindustry #mortgagetechnology #mortgagelending #peoplemovers

News from LBA Ware

LBA Ware, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence (BI) software solutions for the mortgage industry, announced today it has hired sales executive Kim Schnieders as senior sales consultant. Schnieders will support the expansion of LBA Ware's business development strategy during its rapid growth, driving revenue and supporting the influx of mortgage lenders implementing its award-winning technology.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, James Cha from Ace Plus Tax Resolution, Advises Non-Filers to File Their Back Tax Returns Now

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- James Cha, a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist from Ace Plus Tax Resolution, urges taxpayers to file their tax returns as soon as possible, even if they missed the tax deadline or can't pay off, as they're only increasing their tax bill by delaying.

The IRS has started again to send the collection notices to taxpayers from late October. These notices were paused due to COVID-19. Now, the IRS's mail backlog is caught up enough to enforce non-payments, and they will start levy, lien, and other threatening collection activities.

The IRS has slowed down in many aspects due to COVID-19, but they never stopped investigating people who haven't filed tax returns. Pursuing non-filers can be one of the IRS's most efficient enforcement strategies because issuing non-filer notices can be a cost-effective tool that requires little more than automated notices.

There is an ever-increased chance that the IRS will start ramping up their collection activities right after the presidential election is over.

Consequences of Non-Filing

Why are there so many non-filers? Quite many people misunderstand and think, "If I don't file, then the IRS won't know. Then the IRS cannot pursue, lien, or levy me." Or, "I didn't get any notices the following year. I must've gotten away."

"However, this isn't true," says Ace Plus Tax Resolution's Certified Tax Resolution Specialist(R), James Cha. "Taxpayers are only increasing their tax bills by not filing and waiting. The IRS will investigate and catch up with non-compliant cases in the following years. Once the IRS system discovers those cases, it will send out warning letters and threaten non-filers. Failure to file a tax return may be construed as a criminal act by the IRS and can be punishable by up to one year in jail for each year not filed. If left unresolved, the non-filers find themselves in a tough spot when the IRS freezes their bank accounts, garnishes their wages, seizes or sells their assets, suspends their passports, takes their retirement funds, takes their home, and so much more."

Why Should Non-Filers File Tax Returns As Soon As Possible?

If a taxpayer hasn't filed tax returns in the past several years, it is strongly recommended that they file their returns as soon as possible, even if they can't pay them off at the moment.

If taxpayers fail to file or pay the returns, the IRS will keep adding penalties at an extremely high rate and also charge them interest. The IRS charges 5% of the amount due every month for failure to file, and 0.5% for failure to pay for a maximum of 25% each. Because of 0.5% reduction in penalty for any month, the maximum penalty amount combined is 47.5% of the taxes owed.

Compliance is Required before Resolution

Ace Plus Tax Resolution can bring you back to compliance by filing back tax returns, which will stop the failure-to-file penalty. What's important is that the taxpayer needs to be "current" with any filing obligations to be eligible for any back tax liability settlement with the IRS.

To be Current, You Must:

1. File tax returns for the most recent six years, and

2. Make current tax payments.
a. sufficient withholding (W-2 employee)
b. estimated tax payments (self-employed)
c. quarterly payroll tax deposits (business)

Ace Plus Tax Resolution's solutions include:

If qualified, Offer in Compromise allows a negotiation to settle back tax liability for a substantially reduced amount from the full amount owed. Keep in mind that the IRS can reject the offer if the financial documents are not professionally prepared or the taxpayer is not in compliance with the IRS. For applicants who have not filed all of their tax returns or made all required estimated tax payments or deposits, their offers will be rejected.

The Installment Agreement is for those who are unable to make the full tax payment immediately. There is a limit to how much they can owe to qualify for the agreement for online application. Thus, non-filers should consult with a tax relief professional for detailed information.

Another method is to see if they qualify for a Currently Not Collectible status upon submitting a financial statement. If the taxpayers have no means to pay the debt at the moment or anytime soon, they can request the IRS to delay the collection process until their financial situation improves. Note that this doesn't mean the back tax liability will disappear - the IRS can come back and collect your taxes years later. Other solutions include lien relief, release of wage or bank levies, penalty abatement, Bankruptcy Dischargeability Analysis, etc., depending on the non-filer's situation.

James adds on and says, "the IRS is making deals right now for back tax liability due to COVID-19. So, now is the best time to negotiate with the IRS."

Bottom Line

Without these alternative solutions, the amount the taxpayer owes to the IRS can become so massive that they cannot pay off the amount. It's like this huge snowball rolling downhill, getting bigger and bigger with growing penalties and interest. In fact, millions of taxpayers in America are delinquent in filing tax returns and are struggling to pay the IRS.

If you're struggling with tax problems, it is strongly recommended that you seek help from tax relief experts who can guide you through the most suitable resolution method and reduce the liability owed to the IRS to the lowest amount possible if you qualify. This can resolve your non-filing problems effectively and permanently.

​Learn more at - https://AcePlusTaxResolution.com

Watch why you should file back tax returns here and how a tax professional can help you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-761u9qxJs

James Cha is a CPA and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist(R) at Ace Plus Tax Resolution, providing permanent solutions to taxpayers with IRS and state tax problems. He has been representing his clients and dealing with the IRS for over 30 years. His practice is in Los Angeles, but his clients are across the nation. Call us at (213) 600-7388 or email at James@AcePlusTaxResolution.com.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1102s2p-ace-plus-tax-logo-300dpi.jpg

News from Ace Plus Tax Resolution

James Cha, a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist from Ace Plus Tax Resolution, urges taxpayers to file their tax returns as soon as possible, even if they missed the tax deadline or can't pay off, as they're only increasing their tax bill by delaying.

Related link: https://AcePlusTaxResolution.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

After, Inc. awarded ‘Disruptor of the Year 2020’ by the Internet Marketing Association for its QuickReg™ Smart Registration Platform

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Internet Marketing Association held its annual IMPACT Conference on October 2, 2020, where After, Inc., a global leader in warranty and after-market services for some of the largest manufacturers in the world, received the "Disruptor of the Year 2020" Award for its QuickReg™ Smart Registration Platform.

The IMA's conference, "IMPACT20 - The Year of Reinvention," brought together a record 117,000 professionals who explored best practices for identifying new markets, businesses, and innovations with thought leaders and senior executives from Apple, Google, Oculus VR, Amazon, Microsoft, Realtor.com, as well as the country's premier venture capitalists, educational institutions, and non-profits.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to be recognized by the IMA as Disruptor of the Year," said Nate Baldwin, CEO of After, Inc. "We designed QuickReg - a best-in-class, intelligent, cloud-based product registration tool - to help our manufacturing clients drive higher registration rates, customer satisfaction, loyalty and lifetime value throughout the product lifecycle. Just by scanning a QR code, taking a picture of - or texting - the model number, consumers can initiate an automated, personalized registration process that takes less than 60 seconds to complete."

Sean Conrad, CEO of the Internet Marketing Association, shared why it chose After, Inc. for its coveted 'Disruptor of the Year 2020' Award: "After, Inc.'s innovative QuickReg technology will be a game-changer for brands, and represents a unique and differentiated approach to curating the customer experience after the sale. It's the type of innovation that is synonymous with the IMPACT awards, and we congratulate the After, Inc. team on this well-deserved honor."

About Internet Marketing Association (IMA) & IMPACT Awards

The Internet Marketing Association (www.imanetwork.org) is one of the fastest growing Internet marketing groups in the world. Since its inception in 2001, IMA has accrued one of the largest databases of professional members in various fields including sales, marketing, business ownership, programming and creative development.

The Internet Marketing Association's annual IMPACT Awards (www.imanetwork.com/impact20/awards/) exemplify best-in-class creativity, expertise and results achieved by the top practitioners of Internet marketing across every business segment.

About After, Inc.

After, Inc. - https://www.afterinc.com/ - is a global leader in the Warranty Services industry, providing predictive analytics, data-driven marketing strategies, reporting and program administration to some of the world's top brands. After helps manufacturers transform their warranty businesses, driving customer satisfaction post-purchase, higher product reliability, deeper brand equity and additional revenue / profit opportunities. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn. and with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of EPIC Portfolio Group, a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm with 1,300 employees across the United States.

*IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1030s2p-disruptor-logo-300dpi.jpg

News from After Inc.

The Internet Marketing Association held its annual IMPACT Conference on October 2, 2020, where After, Inc., a global leader in warranty and after-market services for some of the largest manufacturers in the world, received the "Disruptor of the Year 2020" Award for its QuickReg™ Smart Registration Platform.

Related link: http://afterinc.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Surefire CRM by Top of Mind Integrates with Floify to Maximize Mortgage Loan Originators’ Sales Process

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, announced its integration with digital mortgage point-of-sale solution Floify. The integration streamlines data flow between the CRM and POS systems, enabling automatic contact creation and loan milestone syncing. The combined solution empowers loan originators to effortlessly deploy Surefire workflows and award-winning content to prospects and in-process loan applicants for higher application conversion and loan pull-through rates.

"Surefire CRM and Floify work in tandem to deliver more loans that close with rule-based workflows and best-of-breed communications that guide borrowers through the customer journey," said Top of Mind VP of Sales Nick Belenky. "An especially high-volume year is the perfect time to take advantage of platform integrations that do the work for you, delighting customers and saving loan originators precious time."

Uniting to eliminate errors from customer databases, Surefire CRM and Floify ensure that no contact goes overlooked or unrecorded. New leads are automatically added to Surefire CRM from Floify loan flows and online 1003 applications. On the back end, Floify milestones sync with Surefire CRM's deal phases, making it easy to deploy timely content that keeps deals moving.

"In today's fast-paced mortgage industry, lenders want the speed and convenience of Floify's digital mortgage automation solution integrated with a robust CRM like Top of Mind's Surefire CRM," said Floify CEO Dave Sims. "Our partnership with Top of Mind has allowed us to combine these critically important systems to deliver a powerful mortgage lending platform and heightened borrower experience to our industry's tech-savvy loan originators."

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.

About Floify:

Floify is a digital mortgage point-of-sale solution that streamlines the loan process by providing a secure application, communication, and document portal between lenders, borrowers, referral partners, and other mortgage stakeholders. Loan originators use the platform to collect and verify borrower documentation, track loan progress, communicate with borrowers and real estate agents, and close loans faster. The company is based in Boulder, Colorado. For more information, visit the company's website at floify.com or on social media at Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

@mortgagecrm @Floify #marketingautomation #mortgagemarketing #digitalmortgage

News from Top of Mind Networks

Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, announced its integration with digital mortgage point-of-sale solution Floify.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Strategic Benefits Advisors Urges 401(k) Plan Sponsors to Review Payroll Procedures Before Year’s End to Ensure SECURE Act Readiness

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) today issued guidance urging 401(k) plan sponsors to review their payroll systems and procedures in advance of January 1, 2021, to ensure compliance with the federal Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.

The SECURE Act includes a mandatory requirement for plan sponsors to allow long-term, part-time employees to participate in 401(k) plans alongside full-time employees. Starting January 1, 2021, plan sponsors must begin counting hours for part-time employees who work at least 500 hours a year. Employees who work 500 hours for three consecutive years must be offered the opportunity to participate in their organization's 401(k) plan beginning in 2024.

"Plan sponsors who don't move fast will be hard-pressed to make necessary changes in just 60 days," said SBA Founding Principal Andy Adams. "Changes involving payroll providers and HRIS systems are notoriously time-consuming, so a sense of urgency is called for to ensure effective processes for counting hours are in place by January 1."

Historically, many retirement plan sponsors have only tracked hours for part-time employees who work 1,000 or more hours per year. Others have simplified timekeeping by crediting part-time employees a fixed number of hours for each day or pay period worked. Regardless of their approach for tracking hours or using equivalencies, plan sponsors will need to coordinate with their recordkeepers, payroll providers and HR information system (HRIS) providers to make a plan for crediting part-time employees who work 500 hours or more.

Counting hours for part-time employees is not always straightforward. To relieve themselves of the administrative burden of counting hours, some plan sponsors may decide to extend eligibility to all part-time employees, regardless of hours worked.

"The calculus behind the decision to extend eligibility to every part-time employee will vary greatly from one plan sponsor to the next depending on the size and nature of its workforce and its available resources," said Adams. "Plan sponsors will also need to decide whether newly eligible part-time employees should be allowed to share in employer contributions, as the SECURE Act leaves this decision entirely in employers' hands."

SBA recommends plan sponsors seek expert advice on how best to determine part-time employees' hours. The SECURE Act represents the most significant changes to employer-sponsored retirement plans in over a decade. SBA published a summary of the law's provisions in April 2019.

About Strategic Benefits Advisors

Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) is an independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm focused on creatively and effectively solving complex benefits challenges for clients ranging from 1,000 to over 300,000 employees. Founded in 2002 by veteran consultants Mindy Zatto and Andy Adams, SBA provides practical consulting recommendations and expert implementation of solutions for all types of employee benefits programs, including retirement, health and welfare, financial wellness and employee recognition. With an average of over 25 years in the field, SBA's team of actuaries, consultants and systems specialists is among the most experienced in the industry. For more information, visit https://www.sba-inc.com/.

@AtlBizChron #EmployeeBenefits #BenefitsConsulting #Top20Companies

News from Strategic Benefits Advisors Inc.

Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) today issued guidance urging 401(k) plan sponsors to review their payroll systems and procedures in advance of January 1, 2021, to ensure compliance with the federal Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.

Related link: http://www.sba-inc.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus ROI Calculator lets mortgage lenders accurately model the financial and operational benefits of investing in digital mortgage technology

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of the SimpleNexus ROI Calculator. The self-service tool enables mortgage lenders to estimate their overall return on investment (ROI) in SimpleNexus by accurately modeling the digital mortgage platform's impacts on loan production revenue and operational expenses.

The calculator draws on the results of a third-party ROI study conducted by independent consulting and advisory firm MarketWise Advisors (MWA). The compiled results of MWA's analysis were baselined to develop a pro-forma tool for calculating lenders' expected ROI from SimpleNexus over time.

In just 30 seconds, the SimpleNexus ROI Calculator projects SimpleNexus' impacts on lender profitability, including estimated increases in net income, incremental gains in closed loans, origination cost savings and overall ROI. Users can also request a custom, in-depth ROI analysis.

"We are so confident in our ability to deliver superior value that we have launched a self-service tool that quantifies the sales and revenue benefits SimpleNexus can deliver based on the size and productivity of an organization. Just plug in a few numbers and see how SimpleNexus lines up," said SimpleNexus Co-founder Ben Miller.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is the digital mortgage platform that enables lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The company's best-in-class, easy-to-use app connects loan officers to their borrowers, real estate agents and settlement service providers to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus #digitalmortgage #mortgagelending #domore #ROI

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of the SimpleNexus ROI Calculator.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

LBA Ware Issues Q3 2020 Mortgage Loan Originator Compensation Report, Enhances Analysis with Addition of Loan Processor Compensation Data

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), 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 compensation in the third quarter of 2020. The firm's analysis of data from its CompenSafe(TM) ICM platform shows that year-over-year increases in refinance and purchase loan volume contributed to increased commissions for both loan originators (LOs) and loan processors.

Methodology

LBA Ware reviewed account data for mortgage lenders who used CompenSafe to automate incentive compensation throughout the third quarter of 2020. The controlled, sample dataset consisted of retail, first-lien production from LOs and loan processors with at least six funded loans during the three-month period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending September 30, 2020.

Key Findings

* Commissions earned by LOs in Q3 2020 increased 50% from Q3 2019, because the average LO funded 51% more volume in Q3 2020 ($2.6M per month) versus Q3 2019 ($1.7M per month).

* Refinance transactions accounted for 46% of total volume funded in the quarter (versus only 36% of total volume funded in Q3 2019). LOs averaged $1.2M in funded refinance volume per month, an increase of more than 75% over Q3 2019.

* Although paychecks were larger in Q3 2020 than Q3 2019, the uptick in refinance production contributed to a 0.9% decrease in per-loan commissions from 107 basis points in Q3 2019 to 106 basis points in Q3 2020. Refinance commissions averaged 100 basis points in Q3 2020 compared to 111 basis points paid out for purchase loans.

* Purchase volume grew year-over-year with LOs averaging $1.45M in funded purchase loans per month ($1.11M in Q3 2019) and receiving on average 110.8 basis points per purchase loan (109.8 in Q3 2019).

* Loan processors handled 30% more loans per month in Q3 2020 compared to Q3 2019, fueling a 54% increase in average incentive compensation earned from $5,105 in Q3 2019 to $7,855 per processor in Q3 2020.

"Increased loan volume continues to deliver big paydays for loan originators as well as for loan processors, many of whom earn per-loan unit bonuses," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "The refi boom won't continue indefinitely, though, and we're already seeing some softening in refi volume even as consumer appetite for purchase loans sharpened in Q3."

About LBA Ware(TM):

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 2019 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

News from LBA Ware

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 compensation in the third quarter of 2020.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Promontory MortgagePath Launches Initiative to Help Minority-Owned Financial Institutions Expand Mortgage Credit Access to Underserved Communities

DANBURY, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Promontory MortgagePath LLC today launched its initiative to support minority depository institutions' (MDIs) efforts to expand access to credit and homeownership in underserved communities. Through this initiative, Promontory MortgagePath, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, will partner with minority-owned banks and credit unions, including community development financial institutions (CDFIs), to offer exclusive pricing, resources and joint-marketing opportunities to participating institutions.

"The challenges facing community banks in low- to moderate-income areas will not be fixed immediately," said Promontory MortgagePath CEO and Founder Gene Ludwig. "But we must take action now to ensure that these vital institutions are supported because when these institutions thrive, the positive impact on their communities is profound."

The initiative aims to accelerate the ability of minority-owned banks and depositories to help their communities. There are more than 1,100 certified CDFIs in the U.S., managing approximately $222 billion in assets and, of the more than 5,400 federally insured financial institutions in the U.S., 149 are MDIs. These institutions create jobs, increase access to affordable housing and expand financial opportunities for underserved communities. An Urban Institute study details the vital role of minority-owned banks, which often fill mortgage lending gaps left by other banks and hold a deeper understanding of their communities' needs. The study also found that Black-owned banks are disproportionately affected by financial crises.

Without the right tools, minority-owned banks that lack access to cost-effective mortgage fulfillment technology or do not offer mortgage lending could stand to miss out on their share of the trillion-dollar mortgage origination market. Not only does this put these institutions at a disadvantage relative to their peers, but it also limits wealth-building opportunities for the communities these institutions serve. According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, homeowners possess a median net worth of $255,000, while the median net worth for renters is $6,300 (*see note 1).

Ludwig has long advocated for underserved communities, spotlighting the unique economic challenges they face. Throughout his career as former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency and founder of several notable financial services firms, Ludwig has demonstrated his passion for improving access to resources for all borrowers and lenders. In his recently published book, "The Vanishing American Dream," Ludwig leads a critical conversation on the plight of low- and moderate-income Americans, enlisting academics, politicians, CEOs and former presidential advisors to discuss the economic injustice that threatens so many Americans.

Earlier this month, the Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA) endorsed Promontory MortgagePath's mortgage fulfillment services and point-of-sale technology, recognizing the firm's alignment to CDBA's mission of promoting financial inclusion and opportunity among people and communities often left out of the economic mainstream. Promontory MortgagePath plans to work with the CDBA to identify strategic partners to participate in the initiative. MDIs and CDFIs that join the initiative will leverage Promontory MortgagePath's technology, U.S.-based mortgage fulfillment services and robust joint marketing program at an aggressive discount, fast-tracking their efforts to deepen and broaden their reach and expand access to homeownership in their communities.

"MDIs and CDFIs play a vital role in expanding access to credit and building wealth in the communities they serve," said Paul C. Katz, managing director and head of bank relations at Promontory MortgagePath. "Whether they are seeking to establish or grow their mortgage operations, Promontory MortgagePath is committed to partnering with these institutions to provide additional pathways to homeownership, and we highly encourage them to join the initiative."

MDIs or CDFIs interested in learning more about becoming strategic partners or joining this initiative should contact Katz at paul.katz@mortgagepath.com.

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.

*NOTE 1: https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/scf20.pdf

News from Promontory MortgagePath

Promontory MortgagePath LLC today launched its initiative to support minority depository institutions' (MDIs) efforts to expand access to credit and homeownership in underserved communities. Through this initiative, Promontory MortgagePath, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, will partner with minority-owned banks and credit unions.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Dominic Iannitti Honored with 2020 Lending Luminary Award by PROGRESS in Lending Association

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that that its president and CEO, Dominic Iannitti, was recognized as a Lending Luminary award winner in the second annual list of honorees. Winners were announced on Oct. 15 at the 10th annual ENGAGE event, which PROGRESS in Lending held virtually this year.

PROGRESS in Lending says a "luminary" is a person who inspires or influences others. The Lending Luminaries list is comprised of business and technology leaders from multiple areas in the industry, including mortgage bankers, a wide array of lending entities, servicers, technology executives, consultants and more. PROGRESS in Lending cites several key accomplishments that Dominic was a part of in the last in the last 12 months to lead DocMagic to success.

In April of this year, Dominic officially launched AutoPrep, a new technology that enables DocMagic's comprehensive Total eClose(TM) platform to accept documents from any source by "e-enabling" them for paperless eClosings. AutoPrep leverages AI, OCR and machine learning technologies to scan and parse documents, locate all signature and notary regions, then electronically tag them for eClosing, thus changing any document into a fully e-enabled document in seconds. This allows lenders to use loan documents produced by virtually any document provider, from standard documents to partially e-enabled documents. Total eClose then handles an end-to-end paperless eClosing process.

Dominic's addition of AutoPrep to accept documents from any source and "e-enable" them for preparation to complete a fully paperless eClose is a significant R&D investment and technology strategy to help more lenders perform comprehensive eClosings.

"I'm a firm believer that these innovations work to establish much-needed interoperability between disparate systems and critical entities within the Digital Mortgage Ecosystem," Dominic told PROGRESS in Lending. "Our goal is for our industry-leading eClosing platform to be completely open, handling documents from all vendors and sources without any manual effort or additional labor required."

In addition, judges at PROGRESS in Lending also recognized Dominic' efforts this year to help clients adapt to the changing business climate throughout the pandemic that required social distancing measures and work-from-home (WFH) orders. DocMagic's Total eClose platform helped lenders immensely in executing mortgage closings electronically --- from within borrowers' homes. And with emergency Remote Online Notarizations (RON) implemented in multiple states to support social distancing mandates and ensure the housing market flourishes, Dominic ensured that DocMagic quickly and effectively responded to clients' urgent need for RON within its Total eClose platform.

PROGRESS in Lending asserts that the mortgage market is currently filled with uncertainty and will remain in flux for some time to come, and a true Lending Luminary effectively handles and navigates constantly changing market conditions. They have been identified as leaders who are ensuring the future success for their companies and the industry as a whole.

A complete list of this year's 2020 Lending Luminary winners can be found on PROGRESS in Lending's website https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2020-lending-luminary-award-winners-are/.

About DocMagic:

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

Media Contact:
Joe Bowerbank
Profundity Communications, Inc.
949-378-9685
jbowerbank@profunditymarketing.com

Social Media: @DocMagic #2020LendingLuminary #DominicIannitti #Total eClose #AutoPrep

News from DocMagic, Inc.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that that its president and CEO, Dominic Iannitti, was recognized as a Lending Luminary award winner in the second annual list of honorees. Winners were announced on Oct. 15 at the 10th annual ENGAGE event, which PROGRESS in Lending held virtually this year.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus Makes Top 10 in Two Independent Rankings of Utah’s Fastest-Growing Companies

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, earned a top-10 ranking in Utah Valley Business Q magazine's UV50 and MountainWest Capital's Utah 100, both lists of the fastest-growing companies in the state.

The highly-anticipated UV50 and Utah 100 lists honor Utah-based companies that have experienced rapid revenue growth in the last three to five years. SimpleNexus, whose platform supports over 300 mortgage companies nationwide, ranked #7 on the Utah 100 and #10 on the Utah Valley's UV 50 list, earning recognition by both programs for the second consecutive year.

SimpleNexus experienced 834% revenue growth from 2016 to 2019. The firm has expanded its team to 120 employees and serves a user base of more than 27,000 loan originators, 123,000 real estate agents and 2.9 million borrowers. To date, the platform has handled over 11 million loans totaling over $2 trillion in volume and touches approximately one in eight home loans originated in the United States.

"Growth at such a large scale is a testament to how SimpleNexus has alleviated crucial pain points in the loan origination process and established a gratifying borrower experience, and we anticipate continued growth based on the warm reception of our highly anticipated eClosing solution just this summer," said SimpleNexus CEO Matt Hansen. "We take great pride as a Utah-based company in being featured in the UV50 and Utah 100 for a second year."

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is the digital mortgage platform that enables lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The company's best-in-class, easy-to-use app connects loan officers to their borrowers, real estate agents and settlement service providers to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus #digitalmortgage #mortgagelending @UtahValley360 @MWCN #mwcnutah100 #utah100 #UV50

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, earned a top-10 ranking in Utah Valley Business Q magazine's UV50 and MountainWest Capital's Utah 100, both lists of the fastest-growing companies in the state.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Texas Firm Launches New Product to Help Support Collegiate Sports This Fall

AMARILLO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- In response to the national discussion surrounding collegiate sports, Texas-based Fairly Group and sister-company OccuNet have unveiled an insurance product which covers medical expenses for collegiate student-athletes who contract COVID, bringing a relevant solution to the intense national discussion regarding collegiate sports.

The news, first reported today on ESPN.com, is a game-changer for collegiate student athletes and the colleges and universities where they are enrolled.

"COVID-19 has taken a toll on every aspect of our lives, including our ability to play and enjoy sports," says Fairly Group CEO Alex Fairly. "We wanted to support collegiate athletes who desire to get back on the field, as well as their parents and the courageous collegiate athletic departments attempting to move forward with fall sports."

Inspired by the viral #wewanttoplay campaign created by Ohio State Quarterback Justin Fields, the policy is a solution directed at the need for NCAA schools to be able to provide financial protection for student athletes and their parents. By providing $250,000 in medical coverage for COVID illnesses, the policy helps colleges and universities shoulder the potential financial burden of serious COVID cases for student athletes in a cost-effective manner.

"When the NCAA mandated member schools be responsible for medical expenses related to COVID, we immediately began working on a solution." says Caleb Fairly, OccuNet's president. "We hope this brings a level of confidence for students and parents who send their talented young men and women off to play college sports."

The wheels were put into motion for developing this product when the Big Ten and Pac-12 initially postponed their fall 2020 football seasons. If a student athlete ends up hospitalized due to COVID-19, the financial implications to the university could be substantial and currently, all products which collegiate athletic departments purchase to cover student athletes exclude coverage for communicable disease.

Colleges and universities interested in learning about coverage details can do so at https://www.occunet.com/ .

As seen on ESPN: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30170060/insurance-broker-offers-covid-19-health-coverage-college-football

About Fairly Group:

Fairly Group - https://www.fairlygroup.com/ - is a risk consulting/brokerage firm advising clients throughout the United States and in over 100 countries in multiple business segments including corporate risk, human capital and benefits, and a broad array of risk consulting specialties. OccuNet (www.occunet.com) is a cost containment technology firm, which delivers industry-leading solutions which reduce the rising cost of healthcare.

MULTIMEDIA:

*VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/471179997

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1023s2p-Fairly-Group-300dpi.jpg

News from Fairly Group

In response to the national discussion surrounding collegiate sports, Texas-based Fairly Group and sister-company OccuNet have unveiled an insurance product which covers medical expenses for collegiate student-athletes who contract COVID, bringing a relevant solution to the intense national discussion regarding collegiate sports.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus Selects Mortgage Technology Expert Tracy Farber as Director of Solution Engineering

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, has recruited Tracy Farber as its director of solution engineering. In this role, the first of its kind at SimpleNexus, Farber will create and lead a team dedicated to ensuring the company's marketing, product, sales, implementation, training and support teams work collaboratively and in constant service of mortgage lenders.

Farber brings to SimpleNexus significant mortgage technology and product management expertise gained from previous industry roles, notably with cloud-based mortgage technology provider Ellie Mae(r), loan automation solutions provider DelMar DataTrac (acquired by Ellie Mae in 2011) and fintech startup BlockGen Corp. During her 12-year tenure at Ellie Mae, Farber managed implementation of the Encompass(r) suite of loan origination products for the firm's largest customers. She began her industry career with independent mortgage bank DHI Mortgage, giving Farber a first-hand perspective into the technology needs of mortgage lenders.

"We knew we needed someone very special for this role, which sits at the intersection of all our internal teams and external stakeholders. Tracy's fluency in mortgage operations and deep understanding of market trends will help SimpleNexus maintain our laser focus on developing and refining solutions like SimpleNexus eClosing that are genuinely valued by lenders, Realtors and settlement agents," said SimpleNexus SVP of Sales John Aslanian.

"SimpleNexus has earned a reputation as one of the most visionary companies in mortgage technology - and more importantly, as a trustworthy partner that consistently executes on its vision," said Farber. "I am proud to join SimpleNexus and advance the company's legacy of keeping users and their needs at the forefront of its solutions."

Farber is a frequent speaker at industry events and holds a degree in business administration and management from Bowling Green State University.

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 the digital mortgage platform that enables lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The company's best-in-class, easy-to-use app connects loan officers to their borrowers, real estate agents and settlement service providers to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

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

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, has recruited Tracy Farber as its director of solution engineering.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Community Development Bankers Association Endorses Promontory MortgagePath’s Mortgage Fulfillment Services, POS Technology

DANBURY, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage fulfillment services, announced today that the Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA) has officially endorsed its mortgage fulfillment services and proprietary point-of-sale technology Borrower Wallet(R). CDBA recognized Promontory MortgagePath's solutions for helping community development financial institutions (CDFIs) expand access to homeownership, particularly in the low- and moderate-income markets they serve.

Founded in 2015 by former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Gene Ludwig, Promontory MortgagePath began with a vision to empower community financial institutions with limited resources to participate profitably in mortgage lending. Through the delivery of best-in-class, technology-enabled fulfillment services and interrelated fintech products, Promontory MortgagePath is able to continually enhance the mortgage process so it is faster, simpler and more inclusive for all borrowers and lenders.

"Creating products and services that include and assist every type of consumer - most importantly, middle- and lower-income Americans - is deeply embedded in our values," Ludwig said. "Earning CDBA's endorsement underscores our commitment to CDFIs, and we are actively pursuing initiatives to empower CDFIs to provide consumers with better access to cost-effective mortgage lending services and credit, making the dream of homeownership a reality for all."

"CDBA advocates for the community development bank sector and the needs of communities often underserved by traditional financial service providers," said Jeannine Jacokes, Chief Executive Officer of CDBA. "We are pleased to partner with Promontory MortgagePath because of its alignment with our mission of promoting financial inclusion and opportunity among people and places often left out of the economic mainstream."

About CDBA

The Community Development Bankers Association is the voice and champion of the community development banking movement. CDBA and its 82 member banks work to make the banking industry a force for good by collectively promoting financial inclusion and creating economic opportunity in the nation's most economically distressed rural and urban communities. We convene community banking peers who strengthen a different kind of banking through collaboration, partnership, and learning. To learn more about CDBA, visit https://www.cdbanks.org/about-us

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 helping community lenders resolve their most pressing challenges. To learn more, visit https://www.mortgagepath.com.

News from Promontory MortgagePath

Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage fulfillment services, announced today that the Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA) has officially endorsed its mortgage fulfillment services and proprietary point-of-sale technology Borrower Wallet.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Sente Mortgage Surpasses 20,000 Home Loans – Company Points to Unmatched 5-Star Experience

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Sente Mortgage has helped over 20,000 families and individuals make their homeownership dreams a reality as of September 2020, the company announced today.

"We formed Sente as a different kind of mortgage company, committed to financial possibility," said Tom Rhodes, CEO of Sente Mortgage. "In our early days, we could have only dreamed of reaching a milestone like this. We've impacted more than 20,000 lives and families, but what's equally rewarding is that we've done it with the highest caliber of service."

Sente is an industry outlier with thousands of five-star reviews, across platforms, for the company and its branches. Rhodes attributes this level of feedback to Sente's purpose-driven culture based on core values and a teamwork mindset.

"We're deliberate in everything we do - from how we approach growth, to how we treat each other internally and the value we provide borrowers," said Rhodes. "We're honored and excited to continue supporting our clients in the many years to come."

The Austin-headquartered independent mortgage company has branches across the south-central region and is actively expanding across the country.

To learn more about Sente Mortgage, visit https://www.sentemortgage.com/.

About Sente Mortgage:

Sente Mortgage is a leading independent mortgage bank that creates financial possibility. The company's team of expert Loan Officers is dedicated to finding the right mortgage products for each client's individual needs. Since its founding, Sente has been recognized three times as one of the nation's fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list, as well as twice on NerdWallet's "Top Austin Mortgage Lenders List" and the Austin Business Journal's Top 10 places to Work, Medium Category.

To find the right Mortgage Banker to support your needs, visit https://www.sentemortgage.com/locations/.

Sente can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sente Mortgage is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports Equal Housing Opportunity

901 S Mopac, Bldg IV, Ste 125 | Austin, TX 78746 | 512.637.9900

State License Information: AR - License #109143 | CO - Registered in NMLS | LA - License #132111 | TN - License #143118 | TX - License #132111 | IA - License #2019-0026 | OK - License #132111 | KS - License #0025618

News from Sente Mortgage

Sente Mortgage has helped over 20,000 families and individuals make their homeownership dreams a reality as of September 2020, the company announced today.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

FormFree Receives US Patent for Its Ground-Breaking Approach to Credit Decisioning

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® has been granted Patent Number 10,769,723 for its proprietary 'Systems and Methods for Electronic Account Certification and Enhanced Credit Reporting' by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent is expected to cover FormFree's technology, which analyzes direct-source financial data to determine a consumer's ability to repay any type of loan, offers a more accurate and comprehensive measurement of ability to pay (ATP) than traditional credit scoring.

The announcement underscores FormFree's focus on creating technologies that enable a more financially inclusive U.S. economy.

"This patent is another important milestone in strengthening our intellectual property position. Nearly 50 million Americans - disproportionately including the poor and minorities - lack a credit score and cannot obtain mortgages or other lending products," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "FormFree understands that every consumer has a quantifiable ability to pay, not just those with a 720 or higher credit score. We are reimagining credit scoring with a new framework that provides a more complete understanding of what a person can actually afford than merely reviewing their repayment history."

Added Chandler, "Our multi-dimensional analysis of ability to pay allows lenders to instantaneously understand risk and make better credit decisions. It also democratizes lending by putting control of the process in the hands of borrowers, making it easier for consumers to seek out financial institutions that want their business."

The issued patent validates the innovation and novelty in FormFree's technology. FormFree was founded in 2008 by former Wall Street executive Brent Chandler. The company's pioneering work in bringing direct-source data analytics to the U.S. mortgage market has earned it six appearances on the HousingWire Tech100 list of the housing economy's most innovative companies, among other accolades. FormFree's AccountChek® and Passport(tm) solutions are used by thousands of lenders and millions of consumers each year.

About FormFree:

FormFree is a market-leading fintech company whose revolutionary products AccountChek and Passport are building a more inclusive credit decisioning landscape by encouraging lenders to view borrower ability to pay (ATP) more holistically. To date, thousands of U.S. lenders and brokers have ordered millions of FormFree's patented verification reports representing over a trillion dollars in loan verifications. FormFree delights borrowers and lenders with a paperless experience, reduces origination timelines by up to 20 days and offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and investors using a secure ReIssueKey™.

For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/formfree/.

Twitter: @RealFormFree #patentnews #mortgageindustry #fintech

*LOGO link for Media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0926s2p-formfree-300dpi.jpg

News from FormFree

FormFree® has been granted Patent Number 10,769,723 for its proprietary 'Systems and Methods for Electronic Account Certification and Enhanced Credit Reporting' by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Velocity Credit Union Provides Employees Paid Time Off to Vote Early

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Velocity Credit Union understands the importance of voting. To remind its employees that their vote is their voice and to encourage them to use it, the financial institution has announced a company-wide perk: paid time off to vote.

Velocity is providing two paid hours during Texas' early voting period, Oct. 13-30, 2020, for employees to exercise their civic duty while remaining on the clock.

In addition, the credit union will award points to employees who vote that can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, additional time off and other work perks via the company's internal employee recognition and rewards program.

"During these unfamiliar times, Velocity's employees, as providers of an essential service, have taken on an unusual amount of change and disruption in order to continue providing the high-quality service that our members take for granted," said Velocity president and CEO Debbie Mitchell.

"We hope to make things a little easier for our staff by enabling them to vote early and avoid the potentially long lines and large crowds many expect on election day, November 3, and to reward them for exercising that right."

The move also means that Velocity branches will remain fully staffed on that potentially hectic day.

Velocity operates six branches and multiple ITM/ATMs in the Austin area.

About Velocity Credit Union:

Velocity Credit Union is one of the largest Austin-area credit unions with branches located in Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park. Chartered in 1947, the institution serves a five county area, with a broad and diverse community membership. The credit union employs more than 200 people, has assets of approximately $849 million and serves more than 84,000 members. To learn more about Velocity Credit Union's products and services, visit https://www.velocitycu.com/.

News from Velocity Credit Union

Velocity Credit Union understands the importance of voting. To remind its employees that their vote is their voice and to encourage them to use it, the financial institution has announced a company-wide perk: paid time off to vote.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

MCT’s Business Intelligence Platform Gives Lenders Competitive Advantage with Actionable Insights and Data

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- MCT announced the upcoming launch of their Business Intelligence Platform, a powerful web-based analytics platform designed to empower lenders to understand the market, optimize their loan sales, and improve performance relative to their peers. The platform will be officially released and demonstrated during an MCT client webinar on October 15, 2020 at 11 a.m. PT/PDT.

"We developed MCT Business Intelligence to help lenders contextualize their business within the industry and dive deep into the data," stated Bill Petersohn, Managing Director of Business Intelligence. "When our clients have access to actionable secondary market data, they will achieve greater internal competence and pickup in the secondary market. With 1 in 5 of all loans in the United States going through the MCT pipeline, clients obtain the visibility they need to interpret their performance and reach for greater profits. This Business Intelligence Platform is the most comprehensive secondary market analytics tool on the market."

MCT Business Intelligence aggregates mortgage pipeline and loan sale data from MCTlive!, the comprehensive capital markets software platform used by MCT staff and clients, to provide strategic insights to MCT clients in the form of customizable reports and illustrative charts.

In 2015, after receiving constant requests for investor color from clients, MCT created the first client-exclusive report set - the iMarket Monthly Review. Soon after, clients enjoyed the addition of Quarterly Peer Benchmark Reports that showcased sold data of all MCT clients' performance. These two static reports allowed lenders to compare aspects of their secondary market data to their peers and to the MCT average on a monthly and quarterly basis.

Users of the dynamic Business Intelligence Platform are now able to dive deep into, not only sold, but locked and investor data with highly customizable views. The software allows users to measure the impact of their historical production and iterate further adjustments to fine-tune their offerings. With the diverse reporting variables and filters, lenders are able to drill down on FICO scores, locations, programs, volume, and more to empower them in their decision-making.

"During the pandemic-induced market volatility in early 2020, MCT was able to guide clients through periods of intense basis risk and rapid agency/aggregator eligibility changes with a constant stream of data and recommendations," shares Curtis Richins, President of MCT.

"Now we are putting MCT Business Intelligence in the hands of our lenders to help them improve their performance both during and outside periods of market volatility."

Key features of the platform include reports of market trends, pricing comparisons, Best Effort to Mandatory spreads, tools to locate new business opportunities and more! Visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111 to learn about the many functionalities of the platform.

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

News from Mortgage Capital Trading Inc.

MCT announced the upcoming launch of their Business Intelligence Platform, a powerful web-based analytics platform designed to empower lenders to understand the market, optimize their loan sales, and improve performance relative to their peers. The platform will be officially released and dem

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

After, Inc. announces its Platinum Sponsorship of the 11th Annual Extended Warranty and Service Contract Innovations Conference on October 13-15, 2020

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc., a leader Warranty Analytics Solutions since 2005, announced today that it will be the Platinum Sponsor for the 11th Annual Extended Warranty and Service Contract Innovations Conference, to be held virtually due to COVID-19. The company will host multiple sessions over the two-day event including: "Alternative Revenue Streams in a Pandemic", "Emerging Product Registration Technologies", and "Sales and Marketing Strategies Designed for Today and Post-Pandemic - Capitalizing on Emerging Trends."

"After, Inc. has over 15 years of experience delivering innovative warranty offerings to some of the world's largest manufacturers," says Dan Hulkower, SVP of Business Development for After, Inc. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be the Platinum Sponsor of Warranty Innovations this year. COVID-19 has brought new challenges and opportunities for manufacturers, especially as it relates to connecting with customers and building alternative revenue streams. Paul Swenson, After's EVP of Business Development, and I look forward to sharing our experiences around these topics and gaining new insights from the incredible list of industry heavyweights that will be speaking at and attending the conference."

About After, Inc.

After, Inc. (www.afterinc.com) is a pioneer in the warranty business - providing product registration, marketing, analytics, and program administration to warranty organizations across a wide range of industries. Founded in 2005, After has over 15 years of experience delivering innovative warranty offerings to manufacturing clients.

After, Inc. partners with some of the world's top brands to help transform their warranty businesses, driving customer satisfaction post-purchase, higher product reliability, deeper brand equity and additional revenue/profit opportunities. Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, and with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of the EPIC Insurance Group, an innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm with 2,800 employees across the United States.

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

MEDIA CONTACT:
Justine Tassitano
After, Inc.
(203) 515-8480
info@afterinc.com

News from After Inc.

After, Inc., a leader Warranty Analytics Solutions since 2005, announced today that it will be the Platinum Sponsor for the 11th Annual Extended Warranty and Service Contract Innovations Conference, to be held virtually due to COVID-19. The company will host multiple sessions over the two-day event .

Related link: http://afterinc.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Promontory MortgagePath Hires Theresa Sloan as Managing Director, National Mortgage Operations

DANBURY, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage origination and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, announced today it has hired industry veteran Theresa Sloan as Managing Director, National Mortgage Operations. In this role, Sloan will lead Promontory MortgagePath's national strategy for mortgage fulfillment while partnering with internal stakeholder groups such as sales, client strategy and technology to execute on Promontory MortgagePath's growth and fintech strategy.

"Theresa's expertise in mortgage technology, fulfillment, client services and implementation cultivated over decades in the industry makes her the perfect choice to lead our Danbury and Denver fulfillment management teams," said Promontory MortgagePath Chief Operating Officer Debora Aydelotte. "Under her leadership, we expect the fulfillment teams to continue their growth in both size and importance as community lenders increasingly rely on Promontory MortgagePath to provide the mission-critical support enabling them to cost-effectively expand their mortgage operations."

Sloan will also oversee the performance and effectiveness of Promontory MortgagePath's national mortgage operations, strengthening our culture of excellence in site performance, ensuring robust processes, redundant capacity and the highest quality for Promontory MortgagePath clients and their secondary market investors. Additionally, Sloan's expertise offers a broad view of the client lifecycle, which she and her team can leverage to further improve Promontory MortgagePath's overall client experience.

Sloan comes to Promontory MortgagePath from Volly, where she served as a client services executive. Possessing more than 20 years of industry experience, she has also held several management- and executive-level positions with Ellie Mae, Black Knight, Mortgage Cadence, Aurora Loan Services and Wells Fargo.

"My interest in Promontory MortgagePath was piqued by my desire to strengthen the fabric of commercial banks. My roots are in small-town banking, and I've seen first-hand the struggles community banks go through, particularly with mortgages," Sloan said. "In my role at Promontory MortgagePath, I see a real opportunity to bring value to local lenders and the communities they support by helping them become and remain competitive. I look forward to applying my expertise in technology and client service to implement the tech-driven processes that will help our fulfillment teams increase efficiency while positioning us to flex and grow with our current and future clients."

To learn more about open positions at Promontory MortgagePath, visit https://www.mortgagepath.com/careers/. Contact careers@mortgagepath.com to submit a resume or other inquiries.

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/.

News from Promontory MortgagePath

Promontory MortgagePath LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage origination and tech-driven fulfillment solutions, announced today it has hired industry veteran Theresa Sloan as Managing Director, National Mortgage Operations.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus Extends Ellie Mae Integration with Hybrid eClosings for Mortgage Lenders and Borrowers

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of its recently launched hybrid eClosing feature on the Ellie Mae(R) Digital Lending Platform.

Ellie Mae, now a part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), is the leading cloud-based loan origination platform provider for the mortgage industry. The Ellie Mae Digital Lending Platform empowers lenders and investors to engage homebuyers and efficiently originate, close, sell and purchase loans that maximize ROI across their business all from a single system of record. The platform delivers a true digital mortgage experience across the entire mortgage workflow for every channel, every loan transaction and every customer type.

"A lender's need for simple, effective eClosing solutions has never been greater," said SimpleNexus CEO Matt Hansen. "SimpleNexus eClosing delights borrowers and turbocharges closing team efficiency, resulting in loans that can be sent off to investors sooner and with fewer errors. By shrinking the gap between loan funding and shipping, lenders can save money by reducing their dwell time on warehouse lines of credit. Additionally, borrowers now have one single portal from home search to home closing."

"We are thrilled to have SimpleNexus join our existing eClosing partners to extend the availability of hybrid eClosing solutions within the Ellie Mae Digital Lending Platform," said Ellie Mae Vice President of Business Development Bob Hart. "This partnership is a key step in expanding our ability to provide our lender customers with easy access to digitally closing loans quickly and safely."

SimpleNexus eClosing enables lenders to conduct hybrid closings for purchase and refinance loans, resulting in higher quality loans and faster delivery of those loans to investors. In a hybrid eClosing, borrowers electronically sign (eSign) home loan documents that do not require notarization before meeting with a settlement agent or notary to finalize the closing. Closing appointments are reduced to only a few minutes, since relatively few documents require in-person signatures.

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

SimpleNexus is the digital mortgage platform that enables lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The company's best-in-class, easy-to-use app connects loan officers to their borrowers, real estate agents and settlement service providers to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipelines, order credit, run pricing, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @EllieMaeInc #digitalmortgage #mortgagelending #domore #eClosing

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-0724s2p-simplenexus-300dpi.jpg

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced the availability of its recently launched hybrid eClosing feature on the Ellie Mae Digital Lending Platform.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

VIP Mortgage Implements Surefire Power Messaging by Top of Mind, Generates Hundreds of Extra Deals in Q2 2020

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Arizona-based independent mortgage lender VIP Mortgage reported that it has generated hundreds of extra deals in Q2 of 2020 with the help of Surefire Power Messaging from Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry.

Surefire CRM is the most popular CRM and marketing automation platform in the mortgage industry. The award-winning technology delivers personalized, actionable intelligence throughout the entire homeownership lifecycle to every client and prospect. Launched April 1, 2020, Power Messaging is a Surefire CRM feature that makes it easy for lenders to engage prospects and customers with personal and timely text message communications, giving lenders control over when, to whom and under which circumstances messages are sent. Lenders have the ability to automate text communication using conditional rules and advanced workflows.

An early adopter of Power Messaging, VIP Mortgage began using the feature in April 2020 to target refinance prospects. During Q2, loan officers (LOs) at VIP Mortgage closed an average of 56% more loans per month compared to LOs at similarly-sized peers who hadn't yet adopted Power Messaging. In all, VIP Mortgage's Power Messaging campaigns generated a total of 332 deals over the course of Q2, of which 38.6% converted to closed loans with an average loan amount of $303,000.

"Our LOs that have incorporated Power Messaging into their multimedia refi campaigns have experienced such great success that now any time an LO does a refi campaign, I recommend the use of Power Messaging as a best practice," said VIP Mortgage Director of Marketing Cheri Booth. "With Surefire CRM features like Power Messaging, we've been able to create a marketing service that our LOs absolutely love."

"Power Messaging enables lenders to deliver high-touch text communication at scale," said Top of Mind CEO Bill Hayes. "This feature is especially relevant in today's market because it can be built into automated workflows, which multiplies originator productivity."

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 @VIPMortgageInc #SurefireCRM

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-1230s2p-topofmind-logo-300dpi.jpg

News from Top of Mind Networks

Arizona-based independent mortgage lender VIP Mortgage reported that it has generated hundreds of extra deals in Q2 of 2020 with the help of Surefire Power Messaging from Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Partnership Kicks Off 5G Tech Jobs and Research in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico /ScoopCloud/ -- Celeres Capital, an investment and advisory firm based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, announced that the U.S. territory has secured a leadership role in communication technology with the Puerto Rico 5G Zone initiative. This laboratory is primed to enable companies, government entities, and academia to test applications and build new use cases for 5G networks, securing Puerto Rico's future success.

* 5G technology has now advanced to testbed applications.

* The Puerto Rico 5G Zone is a collaboration with Celeres Capital, the Indiana 5G Zone, public and private sectors, and academia.

Rear Admiral Peter Brown, President Trump's Special Representative for Puerto Rico's Disaster Recovery along with Eric Burger from the Office of Science Technology Policy offered their support for the Puerto Rico 5G Zone during today's conference.

Established through a memorandum of understanding between Celeres Capital and the Indiana 5G Zone, the new Puerto Rico 5G Zone represents a comparative advantage for early stakeholders, including XQ Message, a Silicon Valley-based cyber and communications security platform.

RADM. Peter Brown, stated that, "Improving the capability, reliability, and resiliency of Puerto Rico's communications infrastructure is critical to a number of economic sectors and the quality of life for the people of Puerto Rico. The Trump Administration is working hard to bring pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing back to Puerto Rico in larger scale, and communication connectivity is vital to those industries and many others.

"Attracting new businesses and technologies will also be enhanced with the innovations of new 5G networks and possibilities. Two additional areas where quality of life can be significantly improved for the people of Puerto Rico include distance learning and telemedicine, which have had significant access challenges for remote and rural communities. The 5G Zone shows great promise to more equally distribute access to information networks for all of the people of Puerto Rico, and I am pleased to be able to support the project from my role at the White House."

For his part, Randy Clark, Vice Chairman of the National Spectrum Consortium stated, "5G is the underpinning wireless platform that is going to usher in digital modernization and accelerate this nation's economic development while at the same time increasing the operational efficiency of our government."

Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (IN-05), reflected on the announcement, "I am proud to see Indiana partnering with Puerto Rico on this ongoing project to make America a leader in 5G. This decision not only validates Indiana's forward-looking approach in the race to 5G by founding the Zone in 2019 but further strengthens the state's position as national leader in this field. As Founder and Co-chair of the 5G caucus in The U.S. House of Representatives, I know that the U.S. must continue to innovate and lead in this space for Hoosiers, Americans, and the world as a whole. I look forward to seeing what innovations will be announced as a result of this valuable partnership."

Kurt Pfluger of Celeres Capital noted that the Puerto Rico 5G Zone stands to benefit from the expertise of the Indiana 5G Zone team, the first 5G public private partnership led by a state. The partnership between Indiana and Puerto Rico underscores a shared commitment to making the U.S. and its territories a leader in 5G tech. "Indiana has done great work in establishing best practices in different verticals deploying 5G services. We are excited to share those experiences with the Puerto Rico 5G Zone."

The Puerto Rico 5G Zone will attract companies and government entities by offering a secure lab and test-bed environment to de-risk 5G investment. Indiana's 5G experience provides Puerto Rico with a proven blueprint to follow in the development and operations of its program. Strategic 5G uses include advanced manufacturing, resilient energy, intelligent logistics, digital agriculture, national security, and public safety.

The Puerto Rico 5G lab will provide a secure network leveraging technology offered by XQ Message. This innovative company provides network security through quantum-safe based edge encryption, to secure communication and data in all network environments. Brian Wane, CEO of XQ Message, remarked "I am very excited that XQ has the opportunity to bring our expertise in modern quantum-safe encryption to the Puerto Rico 5G Zone initiative. We are looking forward to doing our part to bring secure connectivity for the people of Puerto Rico."

Rodrick Miller, CEO of Invest Puerto Rico (InvestPR), the island's official public-private partnership for economic development, noted, "That an undertaking of this magnitude is taking place in Puerto Rico speaks volumes of the island's capabilities to support businesses in a variety of sectors, including business, industry, academia, R&D, and others. The Puerto Rico 5G Zone not only validates our forward-looking approach to economic development, it also showcases our commitment to leveraging the power of strategic partnerships to create opportunities that really push the envelope in terms of the real-world applications of cutting-edge tech."

Celeres Capital is partnering with the stakeholders to create opportunities for 5G in Puerto Rico and LATAM where advanced manufacturing, energy resiliency and IoT are economic development priorities. The Puerto Rico 5G Zone will allow the island to better leverage its human capital and become a hub for tech in Latin America. According to the Puerto Rico Information Technology Cluster, the island graduates 10,000 scientists, engineers, and IT professionals each year.

Founding Members include: Indiana 5G Zone, XQ Message, Wovenware and Palm.

MORE INFORMATION:

Celeres Capital: https://celerescapital.com/

InvestPR: https://www.investpr.org/

Puerto Rico 5G Zone: https://pr5gzone.org/

About Puerto Rico 5G Zone

The Puerto Rico 5G Zone is a public private partnership that is developing a 5G innovation center for test and development of next generation technologies leveraging 5G including Resilient Energy, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Agriculture, Cybersecurity and National Security. Members of the PR 5 Zone will have the opportunity to de-risk their 5G investment in the lab and sponsorships are available by contacting info@pr5gzone.org or visit https://pr5gzone.org/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carolyn Artman, APR
Account Director, MCCI (on behalf of InvestPR)
cartman@mccicorp.com
313-269-4729

Natalia Rosado
Communications Manager, InvestPR
nrosado@investpr.org
(939) 644-8276

News from Puerto Rico 5G Zone

Celeres Capital, an investment and advisory firm based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, announced that the U.S. territory has secured a leadership role in communication technology with the Puerto Rico 5G Zone initiative. This laboratory is primed to enable companies, government entities, and academia to test applications and build new use cases for 5G networks, securing Puerto Rico's future success.

Related link: https://pr5gzone.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Promontory MortgagePath’s Gene Ludwig Named 2020 HousingWire Vanguard

DANBURY, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- HousingWire, a national news source for the mortgage and housing industry, has named Promontory MortgagePath LLC founder and CEO Gene Ludwig as a recipient of the 2020 Vanguard Award based on his innovative service to the housing, mortgage, and finance industry.

"The achievements of this year's Vanguards are hard to overstate," said Sarah Wheeler, HousingWire editor in chief. "They are leading some of the most iconic and successful mortgage and real estate companies in the world, and adapting and innovating even in the midst of a global pandemic. The Vanguards represent the industry's best and brightest, and we are excited to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments."

Promontory MortgagePath is a leading provider of comprehensive digital mortgage origination and tech-driven fulfillment solutions. The HW Vanguard Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes C-level industry professionals and business unit leaders for their leadership in and contributions to their respective fields within housing and mortgage finance.

Ludwig founded Promontory MortgagePath with a mission to enable community lenders to participate profitably in mortgage lending by providing them the technology and scalability required to compete. The most recent example is the launch of Transform, a new service delivery model bundling licensed loan coordinators, point-of-sale (POS) technology, and fulfillment services to offer a complete mortgage operations platform from application to close.

Ludwig's leadership and direction have also resulted in significant company growth and client success, which include:

* Earning key endorsements from the American Bankers Association and state banking associations in Georgia, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas

* Adding more than 30 employees across all departments since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic

* Establishing a second fulfillment center in Denver to support the company's growing client base

* Successfully onboarding new clients during the COVID-19 pandemic

* Scaling mortgage operations for existing clients to manage double-digit increases in volume during the current mortgage/refi boom

* Increasing Promontory MortgagePath client pull-through rate by 30%

* Reducing investor delivery cycle times for Promontory MortgagePath's clients by 60%

Ludwig's success at Promontory MortgagePath is the latest in a career-long effort of building and evolving products designed to help community banks be competitive and profitable. A former federal regulator and banker, he served as U.S. Comptroller of the Currency under President Bill Clinton before becoming vice chairman and senior control officer of Bankers Trust/Deutsche Bank.

Ludwig then channeled his banking regulation, risk management, and fiscal policy expertise into establishing two of the nation's most well-respected financial services firms - risk and compliance consultancy Promontory Financial Group (PFG) and fintech provider Promontory Interfinancial Network (PIN). In addition to Promontory MortgagePath, Ludwig also founded Canapi Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early- to growth-stage fintech companies. Most recently, Ludwig published a book, "The Vanishing American Dream," which examines the plight of lower- and middle-income Americans.

"Mortgage lending and community banking both play a critical role in the U.S. financial system and in lives of everyday Americans. We support community banks' mortgage lending efforts by supplying the technology and services needed to profitably scale operations and compete in today's market," Ludwig said. "Promontory MortgagePath levels the playing field for community financial institutions across the nation. I am grateful to the staff at HousingWire for recognizing those efforts with this year's HW Vanguard Award. I share this honor with the entire Promontory MortgagePath staff who have worked so hard to get us here."

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.

News from Promontory MortgagePath

HousingWire, a national news source for the mortgage and housing industry, has named Promontory MortgagePath LLC founder and CEO Gene Ludwig as a recipient of the 2020 Vanguard Award based on his innovative service to the housing, mortgage, and finance industry.

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

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.