Category Archives: Finance

HousingWire Honors SimpleNexus COO Ben Miller for Driving SimpleNexus’ Quadruple-Digit Growth

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers and real estate agents, today announced that company President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Miller has been named one of HousingWire's 2019 HW Rising Stars(TM). Now in its sixth year, the HW Rising Stars awards program recognizes the housing industry's most influential professionals aged 40 and under.

Miller was recognized for his instrumental role in driving SimpleNexus' meteoric growth and helping the company evolve from one of the industry's best-loved mobile tools to an all-around digital mortgage platform that leads its product category. Under Miller's guidance, company revenue grew by quadruple digits in three years, a feat that earned SimpleNexus a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing companies.

"Ben's steady leadership has helped SimpleNexus set the bar for what a digital mortgage platform can be. We're thriving by doing what we love best: helping mortgage loan officers generate more revenue, happier customers and more loyal referral partners," said SimpleNexus CEO Matt Hansen. "HousingWire couldn't have chosen a more deserving recipient of this honor. The entire SimpleNexus team extends our congratulations to Ben and his fellow honorees."

"This year's group of Rising Stars represents a rising generation of strong, innovative and motivated leaders taking the mortgage industry by storm," said HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins. "Each of these individuals has accomplished a great deal, but we believe they are still at the early stages of their ultimate impact on the housing economy."

Today, SimpleNexus empowers more than 18,000 loan officers to "do more" while serving more than 220 mortgage companies, including 15 of the top 25 retail lenders in the United States. For more information, visit https://simplenexus.com/domore.

Profiles of all the sixth annual HW Rising Stars honorees can be viewed in the June edition of HousingWire or at https://www.housingwire.com/articles/49144-housingwires-class-of-2019-rising-stars.

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 and real estate agents 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 and send pre-approvals - all on the go.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the nation's most influential source of news and information for U.S. mortgage markets, boasting a readership that spans lending, servicing, investments and real estate market participants as well as financial market professionals.

Winner of numerous awards, including a 2012 Eddie Award for national editorial excellence in B-to-B Banking/Business/Finance, HousingWire has been recognized for excellence in journalism by the Society of Business Editors and Writers, the American Society of Business Press Editors, the National Association of Real Estate Editors and Trade Association Business Publications International.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @HousingWire #HWRisingStars #digitalmortgage

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers and real estate agents, today announced that company President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Miller has been named one of HousingWire's 2019 HW Rising Stars.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

Showbiz Shows a Better Way to Pay: Insurance Industry Alert issued by EraNova Institute

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Today the EraNova Institute issues a business alert: "Showbiz shows a better way to pay." EraNova's Director and author of the report, Dick Samson, says, "For non-employees in entertainment and insurance, getting the money due you has often been a chore. Now, for the likes of Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga, it's more of a breeze; and soon may be for everyone involved in insurance."

For decades complexity has been a sore spot in both industries, according to the alert. Then in 2011, Mike Hurst and Jason Hiller established Exactuals, LLC in Los Angeles.

Focusing initially on entertainment, their objectives were clear. "We wanted to get rid of the millions of tiny payment checks," says Hurst. "So we built a model to accomplish that and more, saving studios, unions and other entertainment entities a tremendous amount of time and money."

Hurst and Hiller also attacked the issue of fair compensation. "Musicians and composers were losing about $2 billion per year in unpaid royalties," says Hurst. "This was due to irregularities such as confused coding embedded in digital media."

Their solution was PaymentHub, an automated software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. "It's designed to help large enterprises pay thousands of non-employees who are compensated through multiple means such as commissions, royalties, and residuals," says Hiller.

Exactuals soon acquired other technical assets such as R.AI (Royalty Artificial Intelligence), which uses machine learning to track songwriting information and rights.

Then the company went through growth pains that can now profit the insurance industry:
* Raised $20.6 million.
* Used the money for development, trials, and deployment with film and TV studios, unions, music labels, publishers, and payroll companies.
* Secured large industry players like SAG-AFTRA, the union representing film and TV actors and other showbiz professionals worldwide.
* Delivered new efficiency. For example, all of SAG-AFTRA's 160,000 members can now have their residuals deposited directly into their bank accounts.
* Increased visibility and trust by making statements accessible online.

Implications for Insurance

According to an insurance executive who is evaluating payment technology, "Our industry is only marginally better off than entertainment before Exactuals. There are fewer paper checks than there used to be, and some carriers consider themselves technically advanced. But it's a hodgepodge. There's a lack of standardization and grey areas where information gets sidetracked."

"The entertainment industry is living proof that a fully-functional, high-tech digital system really works," the executive continues. "It has the potential to supercharge all complex payments in our $5 trillion industry."

Two steps toward insurance deployment

STEP 1: In August 2018, Exactuals was acquired by RBC's US banking arm, City National Bank, long known as "the bank to the stars." City National provides Exactuals with deep pockets for expansion and potential customers in all industries (including insurance).

STEP2: In September 2018, Exactuals hired finance and insurance veteran Andrew Mauritzen as CFO. According to a company statement, "Mauritzen will now spearhead entry into the insurance market, adapting Exactuals' best-in-class payment and royalty technology to streamline insurance commissions, refunds, and claims payments while establishing partnerships with insurance carriers and brokerages."

Alternatives?

There are many "fintech" and "insurtech" suppliers but no known competitors offering the breadth and depth of Exactuals' payment services for large organizations.

In specialized niches, however, big change appears afoot, Samson reports. In May, 2019, JP Morgan announced acquiring health-care payments firm InstaMed, which automates medical billing in the $3.5 trillion U.S. health-care market. "This deal shows that banks view the fast-changing world of payments as a space they need to be active in."

The full report is available at: https://medium.com/eranova-institute/insurance-industry-alert-showbiz-shows-a-better-way-to-pay-ff1b40f47447

About EraNova Institute:

The EraNova Institute is a small think tank with a big mission: helping selected changemakers implement their solutions faster, ushering in an advanced, sustainable future. Learn more at: https://medium.com/eranova-institute.

Learn more about Exactuals LLC at: https://www.exactuals.com/#home-intro.

Twitter: @Exactuals #EraNovaInstitute #RoyaltyAI #fintech #InsuranceTech #Insurtech

Today the EraNova Institute issued a business alert: "Showbiz shows a better way to pay." EraNova's Director and author of the report, Dick Samson, says, "For non-employees in entertainment and insurance, getting the money due you has often been a chore. Now, for the likes of Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga, it's more of a breeze; and soon may be for everyone involved in insurance."

Related link: https://medium.com/eranova-institute

Kraft Technology Group Achieves HIPAA Compliance with Compliancy Group

NASHVILLE, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Kraft Technology Group, a Nashville-based managed IT service provider, is pleased to announce that we have achieved compliance with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) through the use of Compliancy Group's proprietary HIPAA methodology, The Guard(R) compliance tracking software, and HIPAA Seal of Compliance(R).

As a managed service provider serving healthcare clients, Kraft Technology Group is a "Business Associate" under the definition of HIPAA (45 CFR §160.103) and therefore subject to HIPAA regulations designed to protect electronic protected health information while supporting our "Covered Entity" clients.

Kraft Technology Group has completed Compliancy Group's Six Stage Implementation Program, adhering to the necessary regulatory standards outlined in the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, HIPAA Omnibus Rule, and HITECH. These standards have been heavily vetted against the letter of the law and meet federal NIST requirements. Kraft Technology Group's good faith effort toward HIPAA compliance through the use of The Guard has been verified by the HIPAA subject matter experts and Compliance Coaches(R) at Compliancy Group.

A recent HIPAA Journal article, "The Top HIPAA Threats Are Likely Not What You Think," made the point that the top cybersecurity threats are employees. The article refers to an IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Report which points to this surprising statistic: 71 percent of recorded data breaches in the healthcare industry are attributable to employee actions. Whether those employees are working for a Covered Entity or a Business Associate, the Health & Human Services enforcement of HIPAA regulations can be severe.

The important intersection between HIPAA compliance and data security is often lost on I.T. providers working in the health care space. Clients are becoming more aware of the requirements of HIPAA compliance - and forward-thinking providers like Kraft Technology Group choose the HIPAA Seal of Compliance to differentiate their services.

The HIPAA Seal of Compliance is issued to organizations that have implemented an effective HIPAA compliance program through the use of The Guard, Compliancy Group's proprietary compliance tracking solution.

About Compliancy Group:
Compliancy Group simplifies HIPAA compliance so that health care professionals can confidently run their practice. The Guard(TM) is our simple, cost-effective, web-based solution. Users are guided by our team of expert Compliance Coaches(TM) to Achieve, Illustrate, and Maintain(TM) total HIPAA compliance.

Visit https://www.compliancy-group.com or call 855.854.4722 to learn how simple compliance can be.

About Kraft Technology Group:
Part of the KraftCPAs family of companies since 1992, Kraft Technology Group has been providing Computer Services, I.T. Security, Network Support, and Managed I.T. Services in the greater Nashville Tennessee area and beyond. Our mission is to empower small and midsize businesses to efficiently and securely utilize best of breed technology, so they can focus on reaching and exceeding their strategic goals.

Visit https://www.kraftgrp.com/healthcare-compliant-it-services/ to learn more.

Verify our Seal of Compliance at: https://compliancy-group.com/hipaa-compliance-verification/

Kraft Technology Group, a Nashville-based managed IT service provider, is pleased to announce that we have achieved compliance with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) through the use of Compliancy Group's proprietary HIPAA methodology, The Guard(R) compliance tracking software, and HIPAA Seal of Compliance(R).

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

Paragon Strengthens Winery and Brewery Programs with the Promotion of Brendan Wright and addition of Nick Faragasso

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA (Managing General Agency) based in Avon, Conn., today announced the addition of insurance professional Nick Faragasso and the promotion of Brendan Wright.

Faragasso will be based in Sacramento, Calif. and Wright, who has been a key part of Paragon's wine team for the past 5 years, will remain in San Francisco. Both report to Paragon Regional President, Erik Kriens.

Faragasso joins as Vice President, bringing over 20 years of underwriting experience and expertise to Paragon. He will work across the WineryPlus and BreweryPlus programs. Faragasso has served as an underwriter to the wine industry for the past three decades and will add significant depth, experience and knowledge to the Paragon Winery team, in particular.

Wright is broadening his role and responsibilities as Program Manager of Paragon's Winery Programs. Paragon underwrites and manages insurance programs serving over 700 wineries across the nation and Wright will continue to bring his unique and valuable skill set to these clients and the retail brokers who serve them. Wright has over 10 years of industry experience, with the past 5 at Paragon focused on the wine industry from an underwriting perspective.

Said Paragon's Erik Kriens, "We have known and respected Nick for many years and we are excited to add another top professional to the Paragon team. Brendan has been an outstanding performer and we are pleased and excited to recognize this with his promotion to Program Manager. Both Nick and Brendan have tremendous skill sets that are of significant value to our clients, insurance company partners, and other stakeholders."

About Paragon:

A broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners. Please visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA (Managing General Agency) based in Avon, Conn., today announced the addition of insurance professional Nick Faragasso and the promotion of Brendan Wright.

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

SimpleNexus Takes Home Silver Telly Award for Campaign Encouraging Mortgage Originators to ‘Do More’

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus, the industry's leading digital mortgage platform, has been named a silver winner of the 40th annual Telly Awards. Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards honor video and television made for all screens and are judged by The Telly Award Judging Council, a group of leading video and television experts from some of the most prestigious companies in entertainment, publishing, advertising and emerging technology.

SimpleNexus was honored for its 'Do More' promotional video, which encourages mortgage loan originators to get more done with the help of SimpleNexus' digital mortgage platform. The video was produced in partnership with Joseph Daniel of video production studio RoboGo.

"This award is a tribute to the talent and vision of its creators and a celebration of the diversity of work being made today for all screens," said Sabrina Dridje, managing director of the Telly Awards. "SimpleNexus is pushing the boundaries of video innovation and creativity at a time when the industry is rapidly changing."

"SimpleNexus is setting the bar for digital mortgage platforms, and we wanted to promote that with video content of an equally high caliber and a message that resonates with the mortgage lending community," said SimpleNexus VP of Marketing Sid Ewing. "We're proud to accept this Telly Award on behalf of the thousands of mortgage originators who have watched and shared our video."

Last year, The Telly Awards attracted more than 12,000 entries from top video content producers including Condé Nast, Netflix, Refinery29, RadicalMedia, T Brand Studio and Ogilvy & Mather.

The full list of 40th annual Telly Awards winners can be found at https://www.tellyawards.com/winners/.

About SimpleNexus:

SimpleNexus, LLC is a digital mortgage solution provider, enabling lenders to originate and process loans from anywhere. The platform connects loan officers to their borrowers and realtors to easily communicate and exchange data in a single location throughout the entire loan life cycle. Loan officers can manage their loan pipeline, order credit, run pricing, and send pre-approvals- all on the go. The app can easily be shared with borrowers and realtors, giving them the modern mortgage tools they want and need.

Using state-of-the-art mobile technology, SimpleNexus is dedicated to providing its wide array of services to mortgage corporations and branches, as well as individual loan officers. Today SimpleNexus serves more than 220 enterprise mortgage companies and more than 18,000 loan officers nationwide. To learn more visit https://simplenexus.com/.

About The Telly Awards:

The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council-an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include NAB, StudioDaily, Stash Magazine, Storyhunter, ProductionHub, VR/AR Association, The Wrap and Digiday.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @TellyAwards #digitalmortgage #domore

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/VlB9XXImx40

SimpleNexus, the industry's leading digital mortgage platform, has been named a silver winner of the 40th annual Telly Awards. Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards honor video and television made for all screens and are judged by The Telly Award Judging Council.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

Radford Taylor Partners – Singapore’s Economic Outlook Gloomy

TAIPEI, Taiwan /ScoopCloud/ -- The writing was on the wall for Singapore's economy when the country's non-oil exports extended their double-digit decline for the second straight month prompting renewed concern from Radford Taylor Partners analysts that GDP forecasts would be cut for 2019.

With no real end in sight to the trade tensions between China and the United States, Radford Taylor Partners analysts say Singapore's exporters will be in for a struggle this year as they also face the impact of a global economic slowdown and a tech down-cycle.

Radford Taylor Partners analysts' concerns were validated when Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry slashed its forecast for this year's GDP. The previously estimated range of growth was 1.5 to 3.5 percent but this was reduced to between 1.5 and 2.5 percent earlier this week.

The downgraded prediction followed the news that Singapore's economy expanded by less than expected during the period from January to March this year. Economists had anticipated that the country's trade-dependent economy would expand by 1.5 percent in the first quarter but disappointing data revealed expansion of only 1.2 percent. Radford Taylor Partners analysts say this makes this year's first quarter the worst performing for almost a decade.

Radford Taylor Partners analysts blamed the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China as well as a regional slowdown for the disappointing growth. In addition, exports including electronics have been steadily declining over the past few months.

Although Singapore's Minister of Trade Relations stated last week that the country was not yet concerned about the impact of global trade tensions, Radford Taylor Partners analysts say the updated outlook indicates otherwise. Slowing growth in China, a key trading partner, the escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies and uncertainty in Europe surrounding the outcome of Brexit will likely pose a strong threat to Singapore's economic expansion in 2019.

Learn more about the company at: https://www.radfordtaylor.com/

The writing was on the wall for Singapore's economy when the country's non-oil exports extended their double-digit decline for the second straight month prompting renewed concern from Radford Taylor Partners analysts that GDP forecasts would be cut for 2019.

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

Strategic Benefits Advisors Taps Leslie Olds as Senior Benefits Consultant

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) has hired veteran retirement plans leader Leslie Olds for the role of senior benefits consultant. A retirement benefits consultant of 28 years, Olds will advise SBA's plan sponsor clients on managing all aspects of their broad-based and executive retirement programs, including financing, design, implementation, administration and compliance.

Immediately before joining SBA, Olds was a partner in Aon's (NYSE:AON) retirement division, where she oversaw business operations for six markets in the south region. Before that, Olds spent more than 15 years at global advisory, brokerage and solutions company Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), where she was a senior consultant in the firm's retirement practice.

Olds' areas of specialty as a retirement benefits consultant include qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, post-retirement welfare plans, the design and implementation of new retirement programs, retirement plan merger and acquisition strategies and the alignment of benefits funding and accounting policies with business objectives. She has led major retirement plan projects for Fortune 500 companies, helping her clients generate hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings.

"Leslie is a leader in retirement benefits consulting with a demonstrated track record of driving business performance, developing high-performing teams and delivering superior client service," said SBA Co-Founder and Principal Mindy Zatto. "We are proud to have a professional of her talent solving plan sponsors' benefits challenges as part of the Strategic Benefits Advisors team."

Olds holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's degree in applied mathematics from Northwestern University. She has earned the designations of Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), Enrolled Actuary (EA), Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA).

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 issues for clients ranging from 500 to over 250,000 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 20 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 http://www.sba-inc.com/.

Twitter: #EmployeeBenefits #PeopleMovers #BenefitsConsulting

Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) has hired veteran retirement plans leader Leslie Olds for the role of senior benefits consultant. A retirement benefits consultant of 28 years, Olds will advise SBA's plan sponsor clients on managing all aspects of their broad-based and executive retirement programs, including financing, design, implementation, administration and compliance.

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

Hurricane Season 2019 Kicks Off Earlier Than Expected: 5 Tips for Finding the Right Travel Insurance Plan

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Atlantic Hurricane Season got off to an early start this year, with Subtropical Storm Andrea forming on May 20, marking the record fifth year in a row that the hurricane season arrived early. This, along with experts predicting an above average hurricane season, means that travelers could be facing an uphill battle, according to TravelInsurance.com, a leading online comparison site.

"Mother Nature may be unpredictable, but the Atlantic Hurricane season has consistently produced six or more hurricanes over the last few years, of which two to three are considered major hurricanes," said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com. "During this time of the year, travel insurance is an important consideration to help protect against losses from cancellations and delays, and it's never too early to purchase and plan for upcoming travel."

To assist travelers navigating the many ways travel insurance can protect them this hurricane season, TravelInsurance.com has put together a list of the top things to keep in mind:

Purchase Before a Storm is Named. Once a storm is named, it's too late to purchase travel insurance. Since travel insurance is designed to cover unknown events, the date when a storm is first identified by the National Weather Service or the National Hurricane Center usually marks the date the storm becomes a "known risk." Beginning on that date, travel insurance will no longer be available to purchase to cover losses from that particular storm, unless you purchase a plan with optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage, which must be purchased within a set amount of days from your initial trip payment along with insuring 100 percent of your pre-paid and non-refundable trip costs

- Insider Tip: Purchase travel insurance early to lock in your coverage and provide coverage against future storms. Follow a storm tracking service such as the National Hurricane Center (Twitter: @NWSNHC) to stay on top of the weather.

Look for Hurricane-specific Coverage. Almost all Trip Cancellation plans provide trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay coverage due to severe weather causing either a shut-down in services or preventing you from getting to your destination. In addition to coverage due to severe weather, many plans provide coverage terms that are specifically relevant to hurricanes.

- Insider Tip: Travel insurance terms can vary by plan and insurance carrier. By using a comparison site like TravelInsurance.com, you can quickly compare those differences and find a plan that is best for your unique circumstances. For hurricane-related coverage, look for the following covered reasons under a plan's Trip Cancellation coverage: (a) inclement weather; (b) accommodations if your destination becomes uninhabitable; (c) mandatory evacuation at your destination; and, (d) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane warning at your destination.

You Can Be Covered if a Hurricane Damages Your Destination Prior to Your Arrival. If a hurricane severely damages your hotel or vacation rental close to your trip dates, Trip Cancellation coverage will likely apply if the damage is significant. Your accommodations have to be made uninhabitable by the hurricane and it has to occur within 14-30 days of your travel dates.

- Insider Tip: Look in the plan's Description of Coverage for the keyword "uninhabitable." The general rule is that the damage has to cause an immediate safety risk. If it's just damage to the pool or tennis courts, as inconvenient as that may be, trip cancellation coverage won't apply.

Evacuation at Destination Must Be Official. If local government authorities at your destination order a mandatory evacuation you, likely have coverage under Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption.

- Insider Tip: The key considerations are that the evacuation order must be an official order and it must be mandatory. A recommendation by a local newscaster isn't sufficient to cancel under this coverage.

A NOAA Hurricane Warning May Be Enough. If you are within 48 hours of your trip departure date and NOAA issues a hurricane warning at your destination, you may have trip cancellation coverage. It's important to note that your cancellation under this covered reason must occur more than 14 days from your effective date (15 days from your purchase date).

- Insider Tip: This covered reason is less common than the other covered reasons listed above. Look for the Worldwide Trip Protector Plan or Worldwide Trip Protector Plus Plan for this coverage.

For more information and travel tips, visit https://www.travelinsurance.com/.

About TravelInsurance.com:
TravelInsurance.com helps simplify the complicated world of travel insurance by providing consumers with the easiest way to compare and buy trip insurance coverage online. A member company of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, owned and operated by DigiVentures Holdings, LLC, a licensed agency that works with some of the largest travel insurers in the industry. Purchases can be made directly through the website, with policies sent via email within minutes.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season got off to an early start this year, with Subtropical Storm Andrea forming on May 20, marking the record fifth year in a row that the hurricane season arrived early. This, along with experts predicting an above average hurricane season, means that travelers could be facing an uphill battle, according to TravelInsurance.com, a leading online comparison site.

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

Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. Partners with ReverseVision to Launch HECM and Reverse Lending Division

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) industry, today announced that it has partnered with North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. Mortgage Division (Blue Ridge Bank).

ReverseVision's RV Exchange (RVX) loan origination system (LOS) was implemented by Blue Ridge Bank to support the recent launch of a HECM and reverse lending division that will expand the number of financial planning options offered to the depository lender's senior customers. To date, Blue Ridge Bank has already closed more than $25 billion dollars in forward residential home loans.

"The creation of a reverse lending division led by industry veterans and powered by the industry's leading reverse origination software is part of Blue Ridge Bank's larger initiative to offer a comprehensive portfolio of home lending products capable of helping every customer attain their home ownership and financial goals," said Foster Vaught regional market sales manager at Blue Ridge Bank. "Between the functionality of RVX and the support of ReverseVision's team, I am confident that we are well-equipped to execute our reverse division's strategy of steady, measured growth."

Used by all of the top-ten producing HECM lenders, RVX provides loan originators with an end-to-end reverse origination platform that facilitates a first-class lending experience. From the point-of-sale to post-closing, RVX instantly connects lenders, brokers, investors and service providers in a seamless loan production pipeline that expedites time to close.

"RVX's HECM and senior lending platform will empower Blue Ridge Bank to execute on a Generational Lending strategy that serves their many decades-long customers at every stage in life," said ReverseVision Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel. "With RVX, Blue Ridge Bank is well supported to extend an exceptional customer experience to borrowers of senior lending products."

About Blue Ridge Bank, N. A. Mortgage Division:

Blue Ridge Bank's Mortgage Division is headquartered in Greensboro, NC and is a division of Blue Ridge Bank N.A. Blue Ridge Bank N.A. was chartered and organized in 1893 as a state institution under the title "Page Valley Bank of Virginia." The Bank officially opened for business on Monday, January 3, 1894. Blue Ridge Bank is extremely proud of its more than a century of customer based service, and looks forward to serving its current and new customers for many years to come, with the attention and service that only a locally owned independent community bank can provide. A full listing of retail locations and loan production offices can be found at https://www.mybrb.com/.

About ReverseVision:

ReverseVision, Inc. is the leading software and technology provider for the reverse mortgage industry, offering products and services focused exclusively on the home-equity conversion mortgage (HECM) and related reverse mortgage programs. With nearly 10,000 active users, ReverseVision technology is used by 10 out of 10 top reverse mortgage lenders and supports more reverse mortgage transactions than all other systems combined. The company's comprehensive product suite also includes reverse mortgage sales and education tools and a dedicated professional services team. ReverseVision partners with some of the finest and fastest-growing banks, credit unions and lending organizations in the United States to provide its reverse mortgage technology to brokers, correspondents, lenders and investors.

A four-time HousingWire TECH100(TM) company, ReverseVision has also been recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500(TM) listing. The company continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements aimed at boosting users' reverse mortgage volume, workflow efficiency and data analysis capabilities.

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

Ref: OTC Pink: BRBS / OTC:BRBS

ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) industry, today announced that it has partnered with North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. Mortgage Division (Blue Ridge Bank).

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

Jaime Steers Joins Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors as Director, Wealth Advisor

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors (KFWA), a leading wealth management firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under management, is pleased to announce that Jaime Steers has joined the firm as a Director, Wealth Advisor. In this role, Ms. Steers will be responsible for relationship management and advising our individual clients and their families on a range of wealth management issues.

Ms. Steers was most recently in a similar role at Truvvo Partners. She earned her B.A. from Kenyon College and her M.B.A. from Fordham University Graduate School of Business.

"Adding an experienced and dedicated relationship professional like Jaime to our team reinforces our commitment to providing our clients with a high level of expertise and service," said Ken Pollinger, CEO and Co-Chairman of KFWA.

"We look forward to introducing Jaime to our client base who will benefit from her proactive guidance and utilization of all of the resources and solutions that KFWA offers."

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

Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors (KFWA), a leading wealth management firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under management, is pleased to announce that Jaime Steers has joined the firm as a Director, Wealth Advisor.

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

DocMagic to Again Support Annual Red Nose Day Fundraising Event

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that the company will participate in Red Nose Day for the second year, transpiring on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Now in its sixth year, Red Nose Day is a collective effort focused on ending child poverty both in the U.S. and some of the poorest areas throughout the world.

"Being a part of Red Nose Day helps an incredibly good cause and we are happy to join together to support the event," said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Our employees enjoy celebrating the day, giving back in the process, and most importantly assisting children in need."

Since the launch of Red Nose Day in 2015 as a registered U.S. public charity operated by non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc., the fundraising campaign has collectively raised nearly $150 million. Funds are evenly split to support both domestic and international programs to create awareness, keep children safe, healthy and educated.

NBC will host Red Nose Day on Thursday, May 23 beginning at 8 p.m. EDT. The two-hour event features Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Kate McKinnon and other TBA celebrity appearances.

This year, DocMagic plans to incorporate a new twist into Red Nose Day, introducing a variety of fun red props. A brief video of DocMagic employees partaking in Red Nose Day last year can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/D9epRV9vk2Y. DocMagic videos and photos of the 2019 event will be posted to the company's blog after May 23.

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, compliance, eSign and eDelivery solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web- based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. 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 http://www.docmagic.com/.

About Red Nose Day:
Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc., a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity. Red Nose Day started in the U.K., built on the foundation that the power of entertainment can drive positive change, and has raised over $1 billion globally since the campaign's founding in 1988. Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015 with a mission to raise money and awareness to end child poverty, and has raised over $95 million to date for the cause.

Money raised goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which supports programs that keep children in need safe, healthy and educated, both in America and abroad. Beneficiaries include the Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity: water; Children's Health Fund; Covenant House; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Laureus Sport for Good; National Council of La Raza; Oxfam America; Rotary/End Polio Now; Save the Children; and The Global Fund. Since launching in the U.S., Red Nose Day has received generous support from millions of Americans, hundreds of celebrities and many outstanding partners, including Walgreens, NBC, Mars, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information, visit the Red Nose Day website at http://www.rednoseday.org/. Follow @RedNoseDayUSA on Twitter and Instagram, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RedNoseDayUSA.

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

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that the company will participate in Red Nose Day for the second year, transpiring on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

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

MCT Officially Launches Trade Auction Manager to Enable Electronic TBA MBS Trading

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that it has officially launched Trade Auction Manager(TM) (TAM) to enable more efficient bidding of TBA mortgage-backed securities used by lenders to hedge their open mortgage pipelines. The browser-based software module is accessible via MCTlive!, the company's award-winning comprehensive capital markets platform.

TAM completely digitizes a formerly manual communication process to confirm time-sensitive TBA trades that were once largely phone-based. TBA trading, particularly with regional broker-dealers, is the last remaining secondary marketing function that relies on telephone communications, which TAM now successfully automates.

MCT developed TAM in collaboration with multiple lender clients and broker-dealers who participated in the testing and successful soft launch in early 2019. With the introduction of TAM, the mortgage industry now has a powerful TBA trading platform that allows broker-dealers to compete for a higher volume of trade requests, while lenders gain thanks to expansion and automation of the competitive bidding process.

"TAM is a seismic shift for the mid-sized lender - increasing execution, liquidity, and transparency, while connecting them digitally with their regional dealers for the first time," said Phil Rasori, COO at MCT. "The initial experience is showing that TAM will deliver a significant enhancement in execution for MCT clients."

Additional benefits of TAM include greater accuracy, increased speed, and a reduction of data entry errors. When using TAM all transactions are automatically recorded, creating heightened reliability and trackability of trades. TAM leverages a single database of record, which centralizes critical data and simplifies trade reconciliations. TAM integrates seamlessly with MCT's hedging and loan sale platforms or it can be utilized independently as a standalone solution.

The launch of TAM follows in the footsteps of MCT's wildly successful rollout of its award-wining Bid Auction Manager (BAM) whole loan trading platform, which encrypts and automates the bid tape process for lenders and investors to achieve best execution on loan sales.

MCT clients have been leveraging TAM to transact with a wide array of broker-dealers since the initial rollout earlier this year. Learn more about TAM's features, participating parties, and the Fannie Mae TBA Trade Desk connectivity by joining MCT's industry webinar on TAM to be held June 6, 2019.

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, MCT also has California offices in Healdsburg and Los Angeles, as well as sites in Dallas and Philadelphia. 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 value. For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

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

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that it has officially launched Trade Auction Manager(TM) (TAM) to enable more efficient bidding of TBA mortgage-backed securities used by lenders to hedge their open mortgage pipelines. The browser-based software module is accessible via MCTlive!, the company's award-winning comprehensive capital markets platform.

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

FirstBank Mortgage Reduces Loan Originator Compensation Processing Time by 75 percent with CompenSafe

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, announced today that FirstBank Mortgage has optimized the execution of its incentive compensation with CompenSafe(TM). By replacing spreadsheets with CompenSafe, FirstBank Mortgage has reduced the time it takes to calculate loan compensation by 75 percent.

A division of FirstBank, the third largest Tennessee-headquartered bank and one of the state's top-ranked workplaces, FirstBank Mortgage has 198 employees, including 87 loan originators (LOs) producing an average of $1 billion in retail loan volume a year. Director of Retail Mortgage Banking Lee Townsend wanted to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the mortgage lender's complex incentive compensation structures. He selected CompenSafe for the platform's flexible configuration and direct integration with FirstBank Mortgage's loan origination system, Encompass(R) by Ellie Mae(R).

"Our compensation plans aren't just for LOs; some plans pay up to twelve employees on a single loan. This level of complexity, when done manually, is prone to errors," said Townsend. "But CompenSafe has managed it with ease. The LBA Ware team understands mortgage compensation is not one-size-fits-all, and they partnered with us to ensure we were maximizing CompenSafe's capabilities to meet our unique needs."

Since implementing the web-based platform, FirstBank Mortgage employees not only see how much they are getting paid before payday, they also see how and why their compensation was calculated for every loan. This added visibility has empowered employees, improved communication and provided a new level of insight into the business.

"Out of all the technologies we have out there, the return on CompenSafe is by far the best. It's more than a process improver; it's a repository of HR insights, payroll insights and performance insights all in one place," Townsend said. "CompenSafe is a game changer."

"We take pride in helping our clients maximize production and strengthen relationships within lending teams by reining in the challenge of compensation plan management," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "CompenSafe is the only mortgage technology that empowers lenders to not only manage compensation at scale, but also harness valuable compensation data to work in their favor."

About LBA Ware:

Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organizations. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency. For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare @FBMortgage #mortgagebanking #digitalmortgage #CompenSafe

LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, announced today that FirstBank Mortgage has optimized the execution of its incentive compensation with CompenSafe(TM). By replacing spreadsheets with CompenSafe, FirstBank Mortgage has reduced the time it takes to calculate loan compensation by 75 percent

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

Simplifile Adds 38 Eastern US Jurisdictions to E-recording Network

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that 38 additional recording jurisdictions located in 12 states throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast U.S. have joined Simplifile's e-recording network.

"As we continue our push to deliver e-recording capabilities to every recording jurisdiction in the U.S., we've seen a persistent increase in adoption jurisdictions in the Eastern portion of the country," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "What is particularly striking is that five of the 10 states with the largest number of counties - Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee - are all located in this region, thus providing abundant opportunities to expand e-recording access to jurisdictions along the Eastern seaboard and throughout the Southeast."

The newest additions to Simplifile's e-recording network are:

* Colbert County, Ala.
* Morgan County, Ala.
* Arkansas (Dewitt) County, Ark.
* Arkansas (Stuttgart) County, Ark.
* Pike County, Ark.
* Sevier County, Ark.
* City of Danbury, Conn.
* City of West Haven, Conn.
* Clayton County, Ga.
* DeKalb County, Ga.
* Jackson County, Ga.
* Jefferson County, Ga.
* Marion County, Ga.
* Screven County, Ga.
* Walton County, Ga.
* Worth County, Ga.
* Oxford (Western District) County, Maine
* Waldo County, Maine
* Baltimore City, Md.
* Calvert County, Md.
* Caroline County, Md.
* Somerset County, Md.
* Union County, Miss.
* Cattaraugus County, N.Y.
* Montgomery County, N.Y.
* Saluda County, S.C.
* Carter County, Tenn.
* Cocke County, Tenn.
* Gibson County, Tenn.
* Knox County, Tenn.
* Wayne County, Tenn.
* Carroll County, Va.
* Grayson County, Va.
* Henry County, Va.
* Martinsville City, Va.
* Mecklenberg County, Va.
* Winchester City, Va.
* Jefferson County, W.V.

As the nation's largest e-recording network, Simplifile covers more than 80 percent of the U.S. population, enabling counties and other recording jurisdictions to drive down processing times by securely reviewing, stamping, recording and returning documents electronically. To date, 1,929 jurisdictions have joined Simplifile's e-recording network.

For a current list of all jurisdictions in Simplifile's e-recording network, visit https://simplifile.com/services/e-recording/e-recording-counties/.

About Simplifile:
Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share and track documents, data and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800.460.5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that 38 additional recording jurisdictions located in 12 states throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast U.S. have joined Simplifile's e-recording network.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

After, Inc. Announces Publication of ‘First of its Kind’ Study of Millennials and Extended Service Plans (ESPs)

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- In December 2018, After, Inc. launched its "Millennials and Extended Service Plans" study, to investigate the attitudes and behavior of Millennials regarding manufacturers' product warranties and Extended Service Plans (ESPs).

The After, Inc. study surveyed 500 Millennials age 22-37 who had purchased new products in the last six months across five categories: smartphones, tablets, laptops/desktops, printers and digital cameras. Participants were segmented by gender, household income, personal vs. business usage, where they bought the products, and whether or not they purchased an Extended Service Plan.

Some key findings of the After, Inc. study include:

1. ESP attach rates were higher among men, higher income households (except smartphones where income is not a factor) and business vs. personal users.
2. The highest ESP attach rate was with digital and video cameras (76%). Less than half of Millennials purchased ESPs in the other categories.
3. The higher the device cost, the higher the ESP attach rate.
4. Millennials want to learn about ESP benefits and cost before or at time of purchase.
5. The primary reasons Millennials purchase ESPs is "to extend product life", "peace of mind" and "high repair/replacement cost".
6. Reasons for not purchasing include "manufacturer warranty is enough" and "not a good value".
7. Millennials are highly influenced by reviews from customers and friends.

Based on their research, After, Inc. has three recommendations for ESP providers:

1. Consider offering multiple ESP plans: a) less coverage for a lower price, which may encourage more price elastic Millennial buyers, and b) separate plans for personal vs. business, with lighter personal coverage and more robust small business coverage.
2. Highlight your ESP offerings and benefits on your website so Millennials can conduct research before they purchase.
3. Encourage product reviews on the Internet - incorporate into your ESP solutions page, social media, Amazon website, or other retailers' websites. Make sure to monitor reviews and respond to create a two-way dialogue.

To request a complete copy of the study results, contact Dan Hulkower, SVP Business Development, After, Inc. at dhulkower@afterinc.com.

Find additional insights on the After, Inc. blog: http://afterinc.com/news-archive/.

About After, Inc.

After, Inc. ( http://www.afterinc.com/ ) is a global leader in the warranty services industry. Its predictive analytics, data-driven marketing strategies, reporting and program administration are second to none.

After, Inc. has partnered 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, Conn. with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of the EPIC Holdings family of companies, which also includes EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants and PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services.

In December 2018, After, Inc. launched its "Millennials and Extended Service Plans" study, to investigate the attitudes and behavior of Millennials regarding manufacturers' product warranties and Extended Service Plans (ESPs).

Related link: http://afterinc.com/

ReverseVision Launches Interactive Tool to Help Originators and Consumers Compare HECM Loans with HELOCs, First- and Second-Lien Mortgages

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and senior lending industry, today announced the release of the Comparison Calculator within RV Sales Accelerator (RVSA). The Comparison Calculator is an interactive tool that allows loan originators to give consumers side-by-side comparisons of how HECMs and their unique features, such as the adjustable rate HECMs' line-of-credit that grows over, performs against other home equity loan products over the projected life of the loan.

ReverseVision developed its Comparison Calculator in response to a compelling study by the National Council of Aging, which found that when presented with a blind comparison of HECM and Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loans, seniors choose the HECM over the HELOC 58 percent of the time. The Comparison Calculator is the first tool of its kind to offer consumers side-by-side comparisons of HECM lines of credit against other loan types, such as home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and traditional first- and second-lien mortgages. This powerful feature gives consumers alternative options to dipping into their retirement, equity and other savings accounts when managing their finances.

"With seniors holding more than six trillion dollars in accumulated home equity in the United States, consumers need to know that they have options to tap into their financial resources - and originators need tools to help them describe the differences in how these options perform over the long term," said ReverseVision Product Manager Jason Price. "We are proud to introduce a tool that takes the Generational Lending concept and puts to practice helping borrowers as their needs change over time."

"Additionally, we are pleased to empower mainstream-loan officers with access to this technology by releasing it onto our new platform," continued Price. "Now any company can leverage these tools in their own portal, CRM or point-of-sale solution."

"The Generational Lending Scenario Builder is exactly what the industry needs to help loan officers reach senior borrowers who would be better served by HECMs than 'comfortable,' traditional loan types," explained Wendy Peel, vice president of sales and marketing for ReverseVision. "Equipped with this tool, originators can visually demonstrate how a HECM can perform against other loan types, thereby empowering borrowers with a more comprehensive understanding of their financial options and strengthening borrower trust in both the HECM product and their loan originator."

About ReverseVision:

ReverseVision, Inc. is the leading provider of technology and training for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) origination. With nearly 10,000 active users, ReverseVision technology is used by 10 of the top-ten reverse mortgage lenders and supports more HECM transactions than all other systems combined. The company's comprehensive product suite also includes HECM sales and education tools and a dedicated professional services team. ReverseVision partners with some of the finest and fastest-growing banks, credit unions and lending organizations in the United States to provide its HECM technology to brokers, correspondents, lenders and investors.

A four-time HousingWire TECH100(TM) company, ReverseVision has also been recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500(TM) listing. The company continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements aimed at boosting users' HECM volume, workflow efficiency and data analysis capabilities.

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

Twitter: @ReverseVision #reversemortgage #HECM

ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and senior lending industry, today announced the release of the Comparison Calculator within RV Sales Accelerator (RVSA).

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

ACEC Business Insurance Trust and Greyling/EPIC Announce New Trustee Appointment

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Business Insurance Trust (BIT) and Greyling/EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants announced today that Paul Boyce, P.E., PG, has been appointed a Trustee for the ACEC Business Insurance Trust.

Paul Boyce, President and CEO of P.W. Grosser Consulting, Inc., has been associated with Bohemia, NY-based P.W. Grosser Consulting, Inc. (PWGC), an environmental engineering and consulting firm with more than 60 employees, for the past 26 years. Mr. Boyce, who is a third-generation engineer, earned a BS in Civil Engineering from SUNY Buffalo and an MS in Environmental Engineering from Polytechnic University.

He is a licensed professional engineer in the states of New York - where he is also a professional geologist - and Pennsylvania. Over the span of his career, Mr. Boyce has dedicated himself to the engineering profession by volunteering his time and energy to strengthen and grow PWGC and advancing the industry. In 2018, Mr. Boyce was named "Engineer of the Year" by the New York State Society of Professional Engineers Long Island Chapter for his contributions to the engineering profession.

Mr. Boyce's ACEC experience includes having served as treasurer, secretary, vice chair and chair of ACEC-NY's Long Island Region. He currently serves as regional board member. At the state level, he has served on ACEC-NY's Board of Directors, as chair of the membership committee. Currently, he is on the membership and standards of practice committees. Mr. Boyce is also affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association, Long Island Professional Geologists Association, National Groundwater Association and New York State Society of Professional Engineers.

The ACEC BIT is responsible for providing quality business insurance responsive to engineering firms' unique needs, delivering exceptional service to ACEC members, and offering valuable and relevant member benefits. The Trustees strive to meet and exceed member firm's expectations and are committed to helping the Program keep pace with changes in the profession.

For additional information regarding the ACEC BIT Program, please contact Jeff Connelly at Greyling/EPIC (833-223-2248 or jeff.connelly@greyling.com) or any of the following BIT Trustees:

Robin S. Greenleaf, P.E., LEED AP, F.ACEC
Phone: 617.542.0810
Email: rgreenleaf@arcengrs.com

Robert A. Overfield, P.E.
Phone: 307.587.4911
Email: robertov@eaengineers.com

Michael D. Klingner, P.E.
Phone: 217.223.4456
Email: mdk@klingner.com

Doris I. Willmer, P.E., LEED AP, F.ACEC
Phone: 770.939.0089
Email: dwillmer@willmerengineering.com

Rachel Hayden, P.E.
Phone: 214.753.8100
Email: Rachel@haydenconsultants.com

Armando Ramos, P.E., LEED AP
Phone: 626.993.6786
Email: aramos@ramoscs.com

Paul Boyce, P.E., PG
Phone: 631.589.6353
Email: paulb@pwgrosser.com

Marc Alper, P.E., S.E., F.ACEC
Phone: 314.432.8600
Email: marc.alper@alperaudi.com

Gary E. Loesch, P.E. DEE
Phone: 631.756.8000
Email: gloesch@h2m.com

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,800 team members operating from 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $575 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed and sponsored by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For more information, visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Business Insurance Trust (BIT) and Greyling/EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants announced today that Paul Boyce, P.E., PG, has been appointed a Trustee for the ACEC Business Insurance Trust.

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

LBA Ware Receives Best of Macon Award for 5th Consecutive Year

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, has been selected for the 2019 Best of Macon Award in the Software Company category by the Macon Award Program. As a five-time winner of the Best of Macon Award, LBA Ware was also inducted into the 2019 Macon Business Hall of Fame.

LBA Ware invests heavily in its hometown of Macon through participation in community programs including the Macon's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), startup catalyst SparkMacon and the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. The fintech firm also has an office in Atlanta by virtue of its participation in Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) incubator at Georgia Tech.

LBA Ware's college recruitment programs offer internship and employment opportunities to students and graduates of Macon-area institutions Mercer University and Georgia College & State University as well as Georgia Tech and other Atlanta-metro universities.

"LBA Ware is proud to promote economic prosperity in Georgia while serving the mortgage banking industry nationwide," said LBA Ware founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "Being recognized for excellence at both the national and local levels is a great honor. We are excited to grow our business in downtown Macon, provide jobs for graduates from area universities and contribute directly to the area's revitalization."

Each year, the Macon Award Program identifies local companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local communities and business categories. These companies enhance the positive image of small business in Macon and help make the area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2019 Macon Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity; winners were determined based on information gathered internally by the Macon Award Program as well as data provided by third parties.

About LBA Ware:
Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organizations. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency.

For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare #Macon @telegraphga @ajc #localbusiness

LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, has been selected for the 2019 Best of Macon Award in the Software Company category by the Macon Award Program. As a five-time winner of the Best of Macon Award, LBA Ware was also inducted into the 2019 Macon Business Hall of Fame.

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

Paragon Further Strengthens Operations with its Promotion of Erik Kriens to Regional President in the West

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA (Managing General Agency) based in Avon, Conn., today announced the promotion of Erik Kriens to Regional President. Kriens is based in Paragon's San Francisco office and reports directly to Paragon CEO and Co-founder Ron Ganiats. Kriens has served as Senior Vice President of Business Development since joining Paragon in September 2015.

In his expanded role, Kriens will assume all P&L responsibility for Paragon's WineRe, WineryPlus and BreweryPlus programs. Working closely with the teams dedicated to both programs, Kriens will create and lead strategic growth plans for these important business segments. He will also continue to work directly with the Insurance Boards of Paragon's Pest Control and Rental Equipment Programs.

Said Paragon's Ron Ganiats, "Erik has been a top performer since joining Paragon, and has played a key role in the success we have achieved to date and in positioning Paragon to fully capitalize on the significant market opportunities we see ahead in both the winery and brewery industries. His leadership as Regional President will be critically important to driving further value to our clients, insurance company partners, and other stakeholders."

Erik Kriens can be reached at ekriens@paragoninsgroup.com or at 415-300-6820

About Paragon:

A broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners. Please visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC ("Paragon"), a national multi-line specialty MGA (Managing General Agency) based in Avon, Conn., today announced the promotion of Erik Kriens to Regional President. Kriens is based in Paragon's San Francisco office and reports directly to Paragon CEO and Co-founder Ron Ganiats.

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

Bank of Southern California NA Names Sean Dlal Managing Director of Business Banking

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, is pleased to announce that Sean Dlal has joined the company as Managing Director of Business Banking in Del Mar. He will be responsible for expanding Bank of Southern California's client base by actively seeking new business opportunities in the San Diego region.

Mr. Dlal is a 12-year banking veteran with a wealth of in-market knowledge and a commitment to helping local businesses grow and succeed. Prior to joining Bank of Southern California, he served as a top-ranked Business Relationship Manager with JP Morgan Chase in San Diego. Mr. Dlal holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from San Diego State University.

"We are excited to welcome Sean to our growing team of Managing Directors. He is a deeply rooted and experienced banker with a proven history of delivering custom-tailored financial solutions to small and mid-sized business throughout San Diego," said John Chung, Group Managing Director.

"Sean embraces Bank of Southern California's relationship-centric approach and commitment to providing superior service and will be a strong addition to the group," concluded Chung.

About Bank of Southern California

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients.

The Bank currently operates ten branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as production offices in Orange County and West Los Angeles. For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL / OP: BCAL

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, is pleased to announce that Sean Dlal has joined the company as Managing Director of Business Banking in Del Mar. He will be responsible for expanding Bank of Southern California's client base by actively seeking new business opportunities in the San Diego region.

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

Simplifile Joins the Arbor Day Foundation’s Time for Trees Initiative

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that it is joining the Arbor Day Foundation for the launch of its Time for Trees(TM) initiative, a commitment to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities worldwide by 2022, alongside its partners. Simplifile has previously partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of Earth Month and has helped to plant 7,882 trees since 2014.

This year, Simplifile is sponsoring the planting of 2,289 trees with the Arbor Day Foundation. The trees will be planted in the Georgia Upper Altamaha Watershed, which the Arbor Day Foundation has identified as its greatest area of need. The Altamaha River watershed supports the largest concentration of rare species of any river in the state. More than 10 rare endangered plant and animal species are found in or along the river.

"We founded Simplifile Cares in 2015 because we wanted to be able to give back, not just to our community, but to worthy causes nationwide," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "Bringing together our employees, customers and communities to support the Arbor Day Foundation in its launch of the Time for Trees initiative is an honor, and we look forward to doing all we can to help drive awareness around trees as a scalable solution to the world's most critical environmental issues."

The Time for Trees initiative will leverage trees as a simple, powerful way to reverse the damage done by climate change and address the urgency of preserving the necessities of life - like clean air and water, healthy food and a livable climate - which are becoming increasingly compromised. This initiative is unique in that it will be powered by corporations, communities as well as individual citizens, showcasing the simplicity of tree planting - in one backyard or at scale. As part of this call to action, the Arbor Day Foundation is also inspiring 5 million tree planters to join in this initiative through existing partnerships and community programs.

"The Time for Trees initiative is an important step in protecting the necessities of life, but we can't do it alone. We're thrilled that partners like Simplifile are committed to coming together to drive change," said Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation.

To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation's Time for Trees initiative or how to get involved, please visit https://timefortrees.org.

About Simplifile:

Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share and track documents, data and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com/ or call 800.460.5657.

About Arbor Day Foundation:

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 45 years, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees.

More information is available at https://www.arborday.org/.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that it is joining the Arbor Day Foundation for the launch of its Time for Trees initiative, a commitment to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities worldwide by 2022.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

Adam Glick Appointed Principal of Frenkel and Company – an EPIC Company in New York

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Adam Glick has been appointed Principal of the firm's operations in New York.

Glick is based in EPIC's New York, NY office at 350 Hudson Street and reports to Phil Remig, New York City President & COO.

As Principal, Glick will be responsible for new business development; management of property/casualty insurance programs; developing employee benefits programs; and providing risk management strategies and solutions to mid-market and large clients across a range of industries. In particular, Glick has a specialty focus on the complex needs of advertising/media companies; financial services firms, law firms, and the real-estate industry.

"We are excited about Adam's continuing growth and success, and how he has helped his clients understand, mitigate and successfully manage a wide range of risk management challenges," said Phil Remig. "He is highly regarded for his professional knowledge; for building strong, positive relationships; and for providing exceptional service to his clients. Adam's expanded role and responsibilities will help to further deepen and strengthen our exceptional team, both regionally and across the country."

Glick attended Miami University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organization Behavior and Human Resources Management. Glick also holds a Master Degree from Fordham University.

Adam Glick can be reached at aglick@frenkel.com or 212.488.0390 (office).

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,800 team members operating from 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $575 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed and sponsored by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, including inquiries about employment, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Adam Glick has been appointed Principal of the firm's operations in New York. Glick is based in EPIC's New York, NY office and reports to Phil Remig, New York City President & COO.

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

RMA and CJF Marketing International Introduce ‘Investment Tourism’ Platform

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- To celebrate Travel & Tourism Week and Economic Development Week coinciding in 2019, the principals of RMA (rma.us.com) and CJF Marketing International (www.cjfmarketinginternational.com) are introducing their new platform, "Investment Tourism." The economic development firm and the international marketing leader, both multi-award winners, will focus on creating strategies for their municipal, county, state and private developer clients who want to identify and market their economic opportunities to traditional travelers.

"Major foreign investment in our cities has long been courted, and tourism is an established economic development tool, but until now, no one has developed a tailored action plan for converting regular visitors into investors for specific areas," said Sharon McCormick, Director of Business Attraction & Marketing for RMA. "In my economic development career, I have seen it occur by happenstance on many occasions. But through Investment Tourism, we turn serendipity into a strategy."

The experts will provide clients with a multi-faceted approach, beginning with research, data analysis and positioning. From there, they will develop investment attraction strategies, investment alliance programs and business development & marketing strategies tailored to connect the area to the right type of tourists. Once travel and tourism tactics are in place and message points secured with the proper communications, then the team will launch into the economic development tactics, establishing initiatives to make it easy for a visitor to invest by having all the resources in place from expediting the permitting process to working with lending institutions, brokers and the legal process.

"Our goal is to capitalize and strengthen what we already know is happening by chance," explained Carolyn J. Feimster, CRX, CMD, Founder and President of CJF Marketing International. "When people visit places they like, they are often open to opportunities to purchase an additional property, expand their business or invest in a project. Investment Tourism connects the visitor to the destination opportunities and illustrates the business-friendly atmosphere and quality of life through targeted messaging strategies."

Although just officially launched, RMA and CJFMI are already working with two South Florida cities who are interested in building investment in their communities through this initiative. The new website, http://www.investmenttourism.com/ is currently in process.

For more information or to set up a consultation, call Sharon West McCormick +1 954-695-0754 or Carolyn J. Feimster at +1 732-249-6080.

Learn more about RMA at: https://rma.us.com/
Learn more about CJF at: http://www.cjfmarketinginternational.com/

Media Contact:
Kay Renz
Kay@krprmediagroup.com
561-654-8151

To celebrate Travel and Tourism Week and Economic Development Week coinciding in 2019, the principals of RMA and CJF Marketing International are introducing their new platform, "Investment Tourism."

Related link: http://www.rma.us.com/

BlackFin Group Officially Launches Financial Services Consulting Practice

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- lackFin Group - a boutique-style consulting firm focused on mortgage banking and financial services - announced that it has formally launched operations with the goal of bringing a unique method to projects that drastically deviates from the way traditional consulting practices work with clients. The essence of BlackFin Group's business model and value proposition is to offer fixed project pricing, well-defined completion deadlines and full transparency throughout each engagement.

Leading BlackFin Group is industry veteran Keith Kemph, CEO and founder of the firm, who possesses a wealth of knowledge in the areas of business strategy, sales and marketing, operations, technology, training and culture transformation. Mr. Kemph holds an array of experience working at consulting firms, technology companies, service providers, lending entities and banks.

"I founded BlackFin with the underlying concept that clients should have complete confidence in fixed pricing and full visibility into where the project is at all times," said Kemph. "All too often, projects can get out of hand from a cost and focus perspective, failing to deliver on expectations. At BlackFin, we're on a mission to prevent prolonged engagements, unexpected costs and project disappointments. We are laser-focused on building a reputation and brand that is known to be on target, on time and on budget - with every project, every client and with the promise of stellar results."

BlackFin Group offers a wide-range of management consulting services that cost effectively solves multifaceted business problems, identifies untapped business opportunities and successfully implements positive organizational change. The firm aims to vastly simplify what many advisors can turn into overly complicated, expensive and prolonged engagements. Instead, BlackFin Group seeks to significantly reduce time and costs while delivering measurable results.

Kemph adds, "At the cornerstone of BlackFin Group is integrity, transparency and honesty coupled with innovative ideas, personalization and the successful execution of each project. Upholding a sterling reputation that embodies our elevated values and produces exceptional client results will always be paramount to the success of BlackFin Group."

BlackFin Group has formed an extensive network of partners that embrace its high standards of excellence and effectively supports the company's growing clientele. With an initial concentration in mortgage and financial services, BlackFin Group is also equipped to serve multiple vertical markets and cater to horizontally focused organizations.

About BlackFin Group:

BlackFin Group is a boutique management consulting firm that specializes in the five critical disciplines of business to help with your specific needs. We are skilled in the successful execution of your firms' critical initiatives. When considering over 65 percent of all strategic initiatives fail (business and technology projects) - your firm needs to know you have the right business partner in place that ensures success.

For more information, contact the company at (949) 326-5675, info@BlackFin-Group.com, or visit its website https://www.blackfin-group.com.

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

BlackFin Group - a boutique-style consulting firm focused on mortgage banking and financial services - announced that it has formally launched operations with the goal of bringing a unique method to projects that drastically deviates from the way traditional consulting practices work with clients.

Related link: https://www.blackfin-group.com/

MQMR Hires Mortgage Compliance Executive Jeff Christensen as Vice President of Sales

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR) announced today that it has hired Jeff Christensen as Vice President of Sales. In this role, Christensen will be responsible for leading sales, driving new business opportunities and expanding awareness of the MQMR brand in the market.

"Compliance is one of the main core competencies upon which MQMR hangs its hat, and to have someone that has been as deeply immersed in mortgage compliance as Jeff Christensen is a tremendous win for our organization," MQMR President Michael Steer said. "It took me more than two years and countless interviews to find the right fit for our unique corporate culture, and I look forward to seeing the next phase of MQMR's growth with such a talented and knowledgeable individual like Jeff leading the way."

Christensen brings more than 10 years of mortgage compliance experience to MQMR, having served as both the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Compliance Advisors (MCA), of which he was a founding member in 2008. MCA was a residential mortgage outsource provider for quality control and risk management solutions with more than 400 clients. When MCA was acquired in 2014, Christensen worked with the executive team to continue to improve and grow the combined business.

"I've known Mike Steer for years and have always been impressed with the solutions MQMR provides and the manner in which MQMR services its customers," Christensen said. "When the opportunity to join the firm presented itself, the decision was an easy one to make - especially when one considers the company's reputation for client-focused service and industry-leading expertise in mortgage compliance, audit and risk management - and I look forward to helping the firm reach its next stage of growth while delivering invaluable services to the mortgage industry."

Christensen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Utah.

About Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC:

MQMR helps its clients climb higher by bridging the gap between risk and compliance through its suite of risk-related services. MQMR provides mortgage compliance consulting throughout the origination process, conducting internal audit risk assessments and ongoing internal audit support, servicing QC and subservicing oversight to master servicers, and filling the void of meeting vendor management oversight requirements. With 2,000+ operational reviews of mortgage companies, subservicers, document custodians, and vendors annually, MQMR prides itself on being the mortgage industry partner of choice for audit, risk and compliance. To learn more, visit https://www.mqmresearch.com/, https://subsequentqc.com/, and https://hqvendormanagement.com/.

Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR) announced today that it has hired Jeff Christensen as Vice President of Sales. In this role, Christensen will be responsible for leading sales, driving new business opportunities and expanding awareness of the MQMR brand in the market.

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

IDS Announces Conversion to ZenDesk to Improve Mortgage Doc Prep Customer Service

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has converted its customer service platform to ZenDesk. The move is designed to better serve IDS customers and help the firm maintain its commitment to responding to all customer inquiries and requests effectively and efficiently.

"Responsive customer service has been a cornerstone of the IDS brand since its inception, and as a company, we're always looking for ways to improve the customer experience and ensure we are addressing all incoming customer communications in a timely manner," said IDS Vice President and General Manager Mark Mackey.

ZenDesk Support provides IDS a simple system for tracking, prioritizing and solving customer support tickets. By keeping all customer support interactions in one place, communication is seamless, personal and efficient, aiding in customer service productivity and customer satisfaction. In addition, ZenDesk supports easy collaboration between the IDS Client Support Team and other internal departments on the same ticket to address complex support issues. The simplified dashboard also allows customers to easily submit and track help tickets.

"Not only is this move good for our internal team, but it also provides our customers with a portal that allows them to more clearly see what is happening with their support request, thus providing additional assurances that the IDS team is on the case," Mackey added.

In addition, ZenDesk's Help Center functionality allows IDS Client Support representatives to tag old tickets by topic for easy sorting and reference, creating an ever-growing repository of common support questions to enable faster support resolution.

"Migrating to ZenDesk helps our customer service team streamline the support ticket process, ensuring that system issues, customization requests and all other inquiries are addressed promptly and to our customers' satisfaction every single time," Mackey said.

About ZenDesk:

The best customer experiences are built with Zendesk. Our customer service and engagement products are powerful and flexible, and scale to meet the needs of any business. Zendesk serves businesses across hundreds of industries, with more than 125,000 paid customer accounts offering service and support in over 30 languages. Zendesk is headquartered in San Francisco, and operates worldwide with 16 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Learn more at: https://www.zendesk.com/.

About IDS, Inc.:

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

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has converted its customer service platform to ZenDesk. The move is designed to better serve IDS customers and help the firm maintain its commitment to responding to all customer inquiries and requests effectively and efficiently.

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

EPIC to Exhibit at 2019 Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it will exhibit at the Gulf Coast Symposium on May 15-17, 2019 at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.

The Gulf Coast Symposium is the largest conference for human resource professionals on the Gulf Coast. Recognized as the center point for all things HR, the Symposium gives attendees the opportunity to connect to knowledge, relationships and solutions as they prepare to lead into the next decade. Guests can expect over 175 sessions covering a variety of HR industry topics and can earn up to 17 recertification credit hours toward their SHRM or HRCI certifications.

EPIC will be exhibiting at booth 224 in the Exhibitor Hall. Business Development Manager Mike Lopez and Consultant Will Herold will be manning the booth to discuss EPIC's offerings related to compensation and benefits, employee relations, technology, health, wellness and safety.

Click here for additional details: https://www.hrhouston.org/mpage/GCS19_Home.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,800 team members operating from 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $575 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed and sponsored by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, including inquiries about employment, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it will exhibit at the Gulf Coast Symposium on May 15-17, 2019 at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.

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

Bank of Southern California NA Announces First Quarter 2019 Results and Reports Growth Amidst Expansion

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. Total assets grew to $769 million for the first quarter of 2019, a 47% increase compared to the first quarter of 2018. Quarterly net income increased 72% to $1.85 million compared to $1.07 million in Q1 of 2018. Total loans ended the quarter at $629 million and total deposits were $636 million.

First Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights
* Total Assets end at $769 million vs. $768 million at December 31, 2018 and $522 million at March 31, 2018, an increase of 47% over the prior year
* Quarterly Net Income of $1.85 million compares to $2.00 million in Q4 2018 and is up 72% compared to $1.07 million in Q1 2018
* Comparisons are affected by the acquisition of Americas United Bank ("AUB") on July 31, 2018

Nathan Rogge, President and CEO of Bank of Southern California said, "Our first quarter results highlight operating improvements in several key financial areas while we also successfully integrated people, processes, and culture as a result of our recent expansion in the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County regions. As we move forward through 2019, we will remain focused on driving profitable growth as we continue to optimize how we deliver banking services to our customers with an emphasis on speed to market."

"To further support the Bank's growth goals, we have completed an internal restructuring leading to the promotions of Tony DiVita to Chief Operating Officer and Gaylin Anderson to Chief Banking Officer. Additionally, we hired two seasoned Group Managing Directors to lead our growing Business Banking and Branch Banking business units. We are optimistic about the opportunities that are ahead of us as we continue to build Bank of Southern California as a leading community business bank in Southern California," added Rogge.

John Farkash, Chairman of the Board said, "We are pleased with the Bank's year over year results which are attributed to the growth and the efficiencies realized from the acquisition as well as our continued solid organic growth. Overall, we remain confident that our strategic priorities will deliver greater value to our shareholders as we progress through the year and beyond."

Additional Financial Highlights
* Total Deposits - the Bank has been focused on repositioning its deposit portfolio mix to lower cost, non-time deposits while reducing reliance of non-core deposits. While total deposits increased approximately $8 million since December 31, 2018, non-time deposits grew by $25 million as time deposits decreased by $17 million, including $11 million of CDARs time deposits. The Bank expects to continue to reposition its deposit portfolio focused on organic non-time deposit growth. This will have a temporary effect on asset growth, but a longer-term positive impact on net interest margin.
* Total Loans declined $6 million during the quarter to $628 million at quarter end. While new loan production slowed modestly during the quarter, total loans paid off were over $30 million during Q1 2019, primarily from longer term real estate loans, as competition increased with refi-rates moving lower during the quarter.
* Net interest income for Q1 2019 decreased $333 thousand, or 4.1%, to $7.7 million, from $8.0 million in the prior quarter, despite a 2.0% increase in average earning assets. The accretion of fair value discount on the loan portfolio, which added 16 basis points to net interest margin in Q1 2019, declined $118 thousand compared to the prior quarter. Net interest margin declined to 4.41% in Q1 2019 from 4.59% in Q4 of 2018, partially due to cost of deposits, which increased from 0.84% in Q4 2018 to 0.96% in Q1 2019.
* Nonperforming assets were 0.43% of total assets at March 31, 2019, compared to 0.60% in the prior quarter. The allowance for loan losses (ALLL) was 0.74% of total loans at March 31, 2019, up from 0.69% in the prior quarter. When including $2.5 million in loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM), the ALLL and LFVCM represent 1.14% of total loans, up from 1.10% at December 31, 2018.
* The Bank continues to be "well-capitalized", reporting total risk-based capital of 14.6% as of March 31, 2019.

[Quarterly Financial Highlights Table Follows]

More details about our most recent quarterly results and trends are available on our website, by clicking here: https://www.banksocal.com/wp-content/uploads/BSC-Quarterly-Trends-1Q19.pdf

About Bank of Southern California
A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, CA, is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients. The Bank currently operates ten branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as production offices in Orange County and West Los Angeles. For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and Bank of Southern California intends for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of that Act.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Future events are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this news release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Bank to successfully execute its business plan; changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; changes in demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and non-traditional competitors; changes in banking legislation or regulation; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies and assessments; the impact of technological advances; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; and changes in the national and local economy.

Bank of Southern California undertakes no obligation to update or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:
Amanda Conover
Bank of Southern California
aconover@banksocal.com
858.847.4762

* LOGO Link for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/18-0118s2p-bank-so-cal-300dpi.jpg

Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS: BCAL / OP: BCAL

###

Bank of Southern California Quarterly Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
		Quarterly					1st Qtr Prior Years
($$ in thousands except per share data)		2019	2018	2018	2018	2018
		1st Qtr	4th Qtr	3rd Qtr	2nd Qtr	1st Qtr	2017	2016
EARNINGS
Net interest income	$	7,698	8,031	6,736	5,282	4,851	3,919	3,526
Provision for loan losses	$	300	450	450	400	300	169	138
NonInterest income	$	420	526	577	602	1,098	404	299
NonInterest expense	$	5,198	5,279	5,587	3,652	4,053	2,972	2,830
Income tax expense	$	771	823	401	526	524	472	353
Net income	$	1,849	2,005	875	1,306	1,072	710	504

Basic earnings per share	$	0.22	0.24	0.11	0.19	0.20	0.14	0.12
Average shares outstanding		8,409,272	8,402,251	7,689,827	6,991,327	5,281,297	5,140,497	4,307,538
Ending shares outstanding		8,410,522	8,408,022	8,398,092	6,998,750	6,953,720	5,140,497	4,307,538

PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets		0.99%	1.07%	0.52%	1.00%	0.90%	0.67%	0.59%
Return on average common equity		7.30%	7.91%	3.77%	6.85%	8.53%	6.37%	5.78%
Yield on loans		5.66%	5.63%	5.30%	5.38%	5.13%	4.89%	4.87%
Yield on earning assets		5.36%	5.40%	4.87%	4.78%	4.78%	4.27%	4.66%
Cost of deposits		0.96%	0.84%	0.72%	0.62%	0.53%	0.34%	0.28%
Net interest margin		4.41%	4.59%	4.23%	4.22%	4.27%	3.95%	4.40%
Efficiency ratio		64.03%	61.70%	76.40%	62.06%	68.13%	68.75%	73.99%

CAPITAL
Tangible equity to tangible assets		11.29%	11.01%	11.14%	14.54%	14.14%	10.24%	9.90%
Book value (BV) per common share	$	12.30	12.06	11.77	11.00	10.79	8.83	8.13
Tangible BV per common share	$	10.07	9.81	9.49	10.81	10.59	8.54	7.69

ASSET QUALITY
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)	$	(7)	(0)	(29)	341	(9)	(54)	(0)
Allowance for loan losses (ALLL)	$	4,679	4,373	3,922	3,443	3,385	3,143	2,565
ALLL to total loans		0.74%	0.69%	0.65%	0.83%	0.83%	0.90%	0.82%
Loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM)	$	2,479	2,594	2,834	681	759	1,311	1,766
ALLL and LFVCM to total loans		1.14%	1.10%	1.11%	0.99%	1.01%	1.28%	1.38%
Nonperforming loans	$	3,298	4,574	3,733	2,747	1,272	2,040	2,054
Other real estate owned	$	0	0	0	0	0	146	98
Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.43%	0.60%	0.51%	0.53%	0.24%	0.51%	0.59%

END OF PERIOD BALANCES
Total loans	$	628,538	634,651	606,753	414,925	409,196	349,348	313,971
Total assets	$	768,823	767,948	734,923	521,437	522,118	430,334	367,122
Deposits	$	635,676	627,816	632,803	442,046	444,300	382,991	312,321
Loans to deposits		98.88%	101.09%	95.88%	93.86%	92.10%	91.22%	100.53%
Shareholders' equity	$	103,481	101,360	98,865	77,006	75,016	45,367	38,050
Full-time equivalent employees		96	94	94	65	73	65	64

AVERAGE BALANCES (QTRLY) \| \| (YTD)
Total loans	$	629,799	627,544	540,165	407,779	403,693	332,308	301,535
Earning assets	$	707,920	694,190	632,508	501,776	460,636	402,698	321,752
Total assets (net of AFS valuation)	$	755,842	741,463	670,942	525,934	484,628	426,831	343,841
Deposits	$	628,950	626,433	569,424	446,815	425,641	379,957	303,409
Shareholders' equity	$	102,707	100,500	92,091	76,440	50,983	45,175	37,992

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. Total assets grew to $769 million for the first quarter of 2019, a 47% increase compared to the first quarter of 2018. Quarterly net income increased 72% to $1.85 million compared to $1.07 million in Q1 of 2018. Total loans ended the quarter at $629 million and total deposits were $636 million.

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

A New Light in Fort Collins – Brightscape Investments Integrity, Truth, and Trust

FORT COLLINS, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Brightscape Investments (Brightscape Investment Centers) was founded by Eric Weiss, a Certified Financial Planner(TM) professional, who saw clients' best interests not being served while working at a large financial institution. This experience motivated Eric to start a company that put the client's interest first.

Eric has worked hard to change the financial conversation from selling products for commission to working one on one with clients to fit their investments to achieve their life goals. The sense of community and beautiful mountains brought Brightscape Investments to Fort Collins in 2018.

"Taxes play an important role in personal finance so Brightscape works closely with the client to find tax-efficient investing strategies, limiting taxes during distribution, and gifting strategies," says Weiss.

Brightscape Investments knows that each client is unique, and all have different financial concerns, the company's number one focus is creating and maintaining a unique financial plan that fits the particular needs of each client.

All too often, people are sold complex and costly solutions to achieve the transfer of assets to beneficiaries without probate when the same can be accomplished by simply titling accounts correctly. Brightscape takes pride in finding clients this simple solution in their own portfolio.

Diversification increases the chance of investment success. Brightscape uses alternative assets to help diversify portfolios to achieve optimum risk and reward levels of each individual client.

Retirement benefits has become a needed option for employees, Brightscape helps companies select, implement, and manage their own employee retirement plan based on their unique situation.

Brightscape Investments is a company committed to growing clients' knowledge and removing the financially harmful emotions of fear and greed from decision making.

As Eric always says "clients' interests are best served through objective recommendations presented in the most transparent way."

Learn more about Brightscape Investment Centers at: https://brightscape.com/.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Eric Weiss at (786) 547-4966.

Brightscape Investments (Brightscape Investment Centers) was founded by Eric Weiss, a Certified Financial Planner(tm) professional, who saw clients' best interests not being served while working at a large financial institution. This experience motivated Eric to start a company that put the client's interest first.

Related link: https://brightscape.com/

EPIC Acquires Book of Business of Brokers Insurance Mart, Inc. (BIM)

LIVERMORE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it acquired in an asset sale the book of business of Brokers Insurance Mart, Inc. (BIM) on April 15, 2019.

Founded in 1974, Livermore, Calif.-based BIM specializes in providing Auto, Homeowners, Renters, Small Commercial, Personal and Commercial Umbrella, and RV/Boat policies, as well as Mechanical Breakdown insurance.

BIM is led by owner and principal Mitch Carter, who will remain with EPIC in a consulting capacity to assist with the transition of current BIM clients into EPIC's Personal Insurance/Private Client Services operations.

Said Mitch Carter, "BIM has proudly and successfully served the needs of our California clients for 45 years. In making this transition it was extremely important to find a partner who shares our client-focused beliefs and values and a commitment to service excellence. EPIC is just such a partner, and our clients will only benefit from their 'people first' philosophy and access to EPIC's broad, comprehensive, industry-leading services and support."

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,800 team members operating from 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $575 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed and sponsored by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, including inquiries about employment, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it acquired in an asset sale the book of business of Brokers Insurance Mart, Inc. (BIM) on April 15, 2019.

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

Multi-Flow Industries, LLC is pleased to announce the acquisition of Draft Beer Services of Atlanta, Georgia

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Following the acquisition of Lenox Martell (Boston) in 2017, Total Systems Control and Jordan's Draft Services (Pittsburgh) and Main Street Beverage (Philadelphia) in 2018 and now Draft Beer Services of Atlanta, Multi-Flow is able to offer a full range of beverage dispensing and service solutions to its customers in seven new markets.

These include: customized draft beer installations, liquor control systems, specialty beer line cleaning, soda and juice dispensing systems and all of the quality soda & juice products required to run these systems.

Edward Merry, President and COO of Multi-Flow Industries states that, "Draft Beer Services is a well-established beverage service company focusing on the draft beer industry, doing business in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, with a systematic beer line cleaning program and customized draft beer and liquor control system installations. With Multi-Flow as the independent leader in bag-in-the-box soda-syrup and juice production and DBS as the distinct Southeast leader in beer system installation and service; it is a most-perfect marriage."

He adds, "We will be sharing expertise in both directions and we will be incrementally rolling out the DBS products and services in Multi-Flow's 15-operating divisions and offering Multi-Flow's premium juice and soda programs to DBS's extensive customer base."

This dynamic combination will give Multi-Flow a significantly broader geographical reach and will allow Multi-Flow to pursue a much more diverse and larger customer base. In addition, we are continuing to search for other strategic acquisitions that will round out our offerings and allow us to maximize our services and growth.

About Multi-Flow Industries:

Multi-Flow Industries has a dynamic 85-year history of producing high-quality, diverse beverage products, providing state of the art dispensing systems and delivering exceptional customer and associate care. In addition to being a full service fountain beverage company, we also offer private labeling and contract manufacturing. Our customer base would include any away-from-home eating establishment including restaurants, bars, caterers, sports venues, theme parks, convenience stores, and institutional customers like hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities and military establishments.

The company's product lines include a wide array of juices, fortified waters, sodas, cane-sugar sodas, energy drinks, and thickened water, bar mixes, iced tea, lemonade and coffee. We have over 250 quality items to serve our customers with; including national brands. We service our customers through distributors and through our growing network of 15-service centers east of the Mississippi. Multi-Flow Industries is owned by a group of private investors and managed by Falconhead Capital of New York City.

Learn more at: http://multiflow.net/

For additional information, please contact Ed Merry at Edward.Merry@multiflow.net.

Following the acquisition of Lenox Martell (Boston) in 2017, Total Systems Control and Jordan's Draft Services (Pittsburgh) and Main Street Beverage (Philadelphia) in 2018 and now Draft Beer Services of Atlanta, Multi-Flow is able to offer a full range of beverage dispensing and service solutions to its customers in seven new markets.

Related link: http://multiflow.net/

TRK Connection Integrates with Veri-Tax to Expand Collection of Income Verification Providers Available in Insight RDM

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- TRK Connection (TRK), a leading provider of mortgage quality control (QC) and origination management solutions, announced today that it has added 4506-T Income Verification from Veri-Tax, a trusted leader in verification solutions, to its flagship QC audit platform Insight Risk & Defect Management (RDM). The addition expands the range of integrated income verification providers Insight users can select to complete the post-closing QC reverification process.

"TRK's mission is to assist lenders by making the QC audit process easier, more intuitive and more efficient, thus enabling them to effectively manage and report on loan quality," said TRK Executive Vice President of Strategy Jeremy Burcham. "Our network of integrated reverification providers plays a key role in our ability to deliver on that promise, which is why we are pleased to add Veri-Tax to our roster of top-tier income verification providers available within Insight RDM."

Veri-Tax's 4506-T Income Verification service allows lenders to quickly validate income and uncover potential borrower misrepresentation. By auditing every order at multiple check-points, Veri-Tax reduces IRS rejections by 29 percent, and all tax transcripts include a customizable summary coversheet that highlights and calculates key income verification line items. The ability to order income verification from Veri-Tax directly through the Insight RDM platform, which also includes industry-first reverification eSign capabilities, enables lenders to create a paperless, streamlined reverification process designed to support lenders' loan quality initiatives.

"We are pleased to have supported the TRK Connection team from the very early stages of their platform development and integration of our industry leading verification services. We look forward to continuing our long partnership and serving our mutual clients," said Nick Lim, CEO of Veri-Tax.

About Veri-Tax:

Veri-Tax is the largest 'pure play' national verification specialist. Unlike competitors with more diffused if not distracted focus, Veri-Tax is sharply focused on verification services. We provide a simple but essential service to securely, reliably and promptly retrieve information (with opt-in consumer consent) from trusted third party sources. Our suite of fast and reliable ability-to-pay solutions include 4506-T Tax Transcripts, Verification of Income / Employment, SSN / EIN Verifications and Verification of Asset.

We are fortunate to have earned the trust and confidence of nearly 1000 large and mid-market clients across mortgage, banking, Fintech, financial services, education, and other industries. We ultimately differentiate ourselves on our unique "customer and employee happiness" culture rooted in positive psychology insights to drive grit, resilience, creativity, and nimbleness, and powered by a very diverse high performing team who punch above our weight.

About TRK Connection:

Founded in 2013, TRK Connection prides itself on its ability to develop technologies that allow businesses to surpass their organizational needs and meet their business objectives. As an innovator in the mortgage origination and quality assurance space, TRK continues to develop and refine solutions geared to promote and strengthen the loan origination process, pre/post-close loan audits and the defect remediation process.

Currently, TRK offers solutions that support Mortgage Audit & Quality Control (Insight Risk & Defect Management(TM)), Loan Origination Vendor Management (Core Connect(TM)), Complete LOS Connectivity Platforms and more. For more information, visit http://trkconnection.com.

TRK Connection (TRK), a leading provider of mortgage quality control (QC) and origination management solutions, announced today that it has added 4506-T Income Verification from Veri-Tax, a trusted leader in verification solutions, to its flagship QC audit platform Insight Risk & Defect Management (RDM).

Related link: http://trkconnection.com/

Idaho Now E-recording Statewide with Simplifile

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Nez Perce and Shoshone counties, Idaho, have adopted its e-recording service. Idaho is now the 11th state to implement e-recording statewide using Simplifile.

"We are thrilled to welcome Idaho as the third state this year to fully embrace e-recording," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "More than 80 percent of the U.S. population is covered by the Simplifile e-recording network as jurisdictions of all sizes embrace the efficiency and cost-savings e-recording provides. We hope jurisdictions currently contemplating e-recording will be inspired by Idaho's commitment to improving document recording services through technology."

In 2007, Washington County became the first jurisdiction in Idaho to adopt Simplifile's e-recording service. With the addition of Nez Perce County in January and Shoshone County this past week, all 44 Idaho counties now e-record with Simplifile.

Recording offices throughout Idaho can now leverage Simplifile's e-recording platform to electronically receive, stamp, record and return documents within minutes, while settlement agents can submit recording fees and other recording-related expenses directly through system.

Simplifile is the largest e-recording network in the U.S., with more than 1,900 jurisdictions nationwide e-recording on the platform. In addition to Idaho, 10 other states offer statewide e-recording through Simplifile, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada and Oregon.

For more information about e-recording in Idaho, call 800.460.5657 or visit https://simplifile.com. For a current list of all jurisdictions within the Simplifile e-recording network, visit https://simplifile.com/e-recording/e-recording-counties.

About Simplifile:

Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share and track documents, data and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com/ or call 800.460.5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Nez Perce and Shoshone counties, Idaho, have adopted its e-recording service. Idaho is now the 11th state to implement e-recording statewide using Simplifile.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

ARMCO Bolsters C-Suite by Hiring Kyle Kehoe as Chief Revenue Officer

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of enterprise financial risk mitigation solutions, has announced that it has hired Kyle Kehoe as chief revenue officer.

Kyle's focus will be accelerating ARMCO's organic revenue growth, from its strong base in the mortgage vertical into adjacent markets in financial services, both commercial and consumer. He will also help guide the development and commercialization of ARMCO's next generation of products and services, and ensure the company continues to deliver best-in-class customer experiences.

Across his 20-year career as an executive and revenue leader with CRIF Lending Solutions/MeridianLink, Yodlee and Equifax, Kyle has built and led exceptional enterprise sales, product and marketing teams.

"We are proud to announce Kyle as ARMCO's chief revenue officer, and thrilled to have him on our executive team," said Avi Naider, ARMCO's CEO. "His strategic vision, industry leadership, commercial acumen and personal integrity are the qualities we seek in our executive team."

"As provider of the most advanced quality control and compliance technology, ARMCO is in prime position for expansion," said Kyle Kehoe, CRO. "I look forward to helping lenders, servicers, banks and other financial institutions achieve the increased revenue, reduced risk, and enhanced client experiences that come from choosing ARMCO as a technology partner."

"I believe we drafted a high-impact player in Kyle, one who has delivered results across two decades and through some tough industry cycles," said Phil McCall, ARMCO's president.

ABOUT ARMCO:

Over half of the top 20 mortgage lenders in the U.S. choose ARMCO as their provider of risk management software. ARMCO's product line includes loan quality enterprise software, services, data and analytics. Its flagship product, ACES Audit Technology(TM), has set the bar for user definability in its category. It is used at virtually every point in the mortgage lifecycle, as well as for a wide range of risk-prone business operations outside traditional mortgage origination and servicing. ARMCO's consultative approach to customer relationships leverages 25 years of mortgage risk intel, assuring that its clients are using the most effective risk mitigation strategies, and are using the fastest, most reliable, most efficient means for preventing risk-related loss. ARMCO distributes the ARMCO Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report, a free quarterly analysis of industry-wide mortgage loan quality.

For more information, visit http://www.armco.us/ or call 1-800-858-1598.

ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of enterprise financial risk mitigation solutions, has announced that it has hired Kyle Kehoe as chief revenue officer. Kyle's focus will be accelerating ARMCO's organic revenue growth.

Related link: https://www.armco.us/

NotaryCam and Milo Credit Team Up To Complete International Remote Online Closing Transaction

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R), the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that it has partnered with Milo Credit to complete the lender's first remote online closing (ROC) transaction.

"Remote online notarizations and remote online closings are tailor-made for real estate transactions involving international borrowers," said NotaryCam Founder and CEO Rick Triola. "For a lender like Milo Credit that specializes in working with international borrowers purchasing properties in the United States, the ability to complete the closing ceremony - including document notarization - remotely provides tremendous value and helps ensure a smooth, error-free closing."

The transaction brought together a client in Venezuela, a lender in Miami, a notary in Virginia and a U.S.-based attorney from Brazil. The clients were able to complete a cash-out refinance on a property they have owned in Miami for some time.

"It was fantastic because we were able to quickly coordinate everyone and get the closing done on a Friday," said Josip Rupena, Founder and CEO of Milo Credit. "Digital closings are the future, and we are looking to pave the way for international consumers that want to buy properties in the U.S. or cash out their home's equity. Through our partnership with NotaryCam, we were able to deliver a better experience, close faster and make our consumer happy with the power of technology."

Milo Credit, a financial technology company that is reimagining the way international consumers access credit in the U.S. and lends three times faster than a bank, views ROC as a way to revolutionize the lending process, decreasing both time and money spent on the transaction.

"It's definitely something that changes the experience completely for the borrower," added Rupena. "Their normal process to close a loan requires them to fly to the U.S. and sign documents, which has a high cost associated with it."

"Alternatively, they can go to a U.S. embassy in their country - if there is one - where no one will explain the documents they're signing," Rupena continued. "This is very scary when you are taking out a sizeable loan, and no one is there to hold your hand and walk you through the closing documents. Additionally, they may be signing documents that are in a foreign language and don't completely understand. To make matters worse, if there's an error, they may have to go back to the embassy and sign these documents all over again."

After seeing the ease with which this transaction was completed, Milo Credit is looking to implement ROCs for all of its loan closings moving forward.

"Remote online closings are something that our consumers need and want right now. We view them as necessary," said Rupena. "Not only does the video recording component make the transaction more secure, but the fact that we're able to engage with the consumer face-to-face provides a better overall experience."

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 mortgage remote online closing (ROC) 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 145 countries. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction 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.

About Milo Credit:
Milo Credit is a financial technology company that is reimagining the way international consumers access credit and financial services in the U.S. Our first product is a cash out refinance loan that borrowers can access three times faster than through a bank. We are unlocking trapped equity and giving consumers the liquidity they want, when they want it. By implementing our proprietary technology, we are pioneering how we originate, underwrite and lend to international consumers.

Please visit https://www.milocredit.com for more details, and see how much equity you can access.

NotaryCam(R), the pioneering leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that it has partnered with Milo Credit to complete the lender's first remote online closing (ROC) transaction.

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