Category Archives: Finance

EPIC Adds Trent Sullivan as a Producer in the firm’s Edgewood Healthcare Advisors Practice

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Trent Sullivan has joined the firm as a Producer in the firm's Edgewood Healthcare Advisors' Practice.

Sullivan will be responsible for new business development and the design and management of healthcare risk and insurance programs for clients. Sullivan brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare and municipal risk with successes in implementing creative and cost-effective solutions. Sullivan joins from OneDigital in Farmington, Connecticut.

Said Susan Tewhill, National Managing Principal, "Trent's extensive healthcare risk management background in both the client, carrier and consultant settings, as well as his in-depth understanding of the complex healthcare marketplace will provide immediate and long-term value to our clients. We are excited to add Trent to our growing national healthcare practice team."

"Trent's healthcare experience and successes in both the consultative and client roles will be of great value to our Edgewood Healthcare Advisor clients. We have thoughtfully built this practice with key players who share a common drive to provide exceptional solutions and service and I could not be more excited to have Trent join our team," said Matt LeBlanc, Edgewood Healthcare Advisor's Managing Principal.

Trent Sullivan can be reached at:
trent.sullivan@epicbrokers.com
860-713-8211(m)
860-521-8555(w)

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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*Image caption: Logo, Edgewood Healthcare Advisors, a division of EPIC.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Trent Sullivan has joined the firm as a Producer in the firm's Edgewood Healthcare Advisors' Practice.

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

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

After, Inc. to Share Predictive Analytics Insights at the 2020 Field Service Medical Conference

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc., the global leader in Warranty Analytics Solutions since 2005, announced today that it will be a major participant and sponsor at the Field Service Medical Conference in San Diego, California on February 24-26, 2020.

The conference brings together over 500 senior level service executives from the Medical Device Field Service community to share best practices and discover the latest topics and trends guiding the future of the industry.

After, Inc.'s SVP of Business Development, Dan Hulkower, will be speaking at the conference on the subject of "Leveraging Predictive Analytics to Optimize Field Service Performance and Customer Experience." To see a list of all the speakers as well as a full agenda, you can visit the Field Service Medical Conference site at https://fieldservicemd.wbresearch.com/.

Last year at this event, After, Inc. announced its launch of a suite of optimization solutions, specifically designed for the Field Service Medical industry.

CEO, Nate Baldwin, describes their new product suite: "Our set of predictive analytics solutions for Field Services organizations is changing the game. Our clients are now able to identify the major cost drivers in their businesses and accurately predict equipment failures. Our models help them be proactive and develop strategies to address equipment breakdowns before they happen, leading to higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty."

If you plan to be at the event, stop by the After, Inc. Booth (#101) to meet their senior executives and discuss how their Field Services Optimization Solutions can help your organization solve its current business challenges.

About After, Inc.

After, Inc. (http://afterinc.com/) is a global leader in the Warranty Services industry, providing predictive analytics, data-driven marketing strategies, reporting and program administration to some of the world's top brands. After helps manufacturers transform their warranty businesses, driving customer satisfaction post-purchase, higher product reliability, deeper brand equity and additional revenue / profit opportunities.

Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. and with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of EPIC Portfolio Group, a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm with over 2,600 employees across the United States.

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News from After Inc.

After, Inc., the global leader in Warranty Analytics Solutions since 2005, announced today that it will be a major participant and sponsor at the Field Service Medical Conference in San Diego, California on February 24-26, 2020.

Related link: http://afterinc.com/

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

LBA Ware Taps Silicon Valley Talent Veronica Mahler to Roll Out LimeGear BI Platform

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware™, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, has brought on Silicon Valley talent Veronica Mahler as business analyst. Mahler was hired to support the spring release of LBA Ware's turnkey business intelligence (BI) platform, LimeGear, by supporting post-implementation client experience in partnership with LBA Ware's client success team.

Mahler possesses 12 years' experience in customer and client advocacy spanning training, project management and relationship building. Immediately before joining LBA Ware, Mahler served as program manager at Fair, a billion-dollar startup and payment-based, used-car leasing app. At Fair, Mahler supported company growth by scaling its Phoenix-based customer service center from two to 35 agents in just four months and managing the program for hundreds of agents across three sites.

"Veronica has helped scale tech startups from stealth mode through series-C funding - a skill set that will serve LBA Ware and our clients alike as we expand our product suite with the rollout of LimeGear," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "Her energy and experience is a great addition to the team and will help lenders tap into the full potential of their operational and production insights."

"I am passionate about helping customers accomplish their business goals and maximize the value they obtain from the tools and services in which they have invested," said Mahler. "LBA Ware's commitment to driving lender performance is highly compatible with my professional values."

About LBA Ware™:

LBA Ware is a leading provider of cloud-based software for mortgage lenders. Since 2008, LBA Ware has been on a mission to help mortgage companies reach new heights with software that integrates data, incentivizes performance and inspires results. Today, lenders of all sizes, including some of the nation's top producing mortgage companies, use LBA Ware's award-winning technology to enhance lender experiences and maximize the human potential within their organizations. A 2019 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company, LBA Ware is headquartered in Macon, Georgia.

For more information, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare #PeopleMovers #mortgageindustry #newhires

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*Photo caption: Veronica Mahler to Roll Out LimeGear BI Platform.

News from LBA Ware

LBA Ware™, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, has brought on Silicon Valley talent Veronica Mahler as business analyst. Mahler was hired to support the spring release of LBA Ware's turnkey business intelligence (BI) platform, LimeGear, by supporting post-implementation client experience in partnership with LBA Ware's client success team.

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

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

MPI REPORT: Wide Range of Private Market Fund Returns Could Explain Ivy Endowments’ Lackluster Fiscal 2019 Performance

SUMMIT, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Markov Processes International (MPI), a leading provider of investment research, analysis and reporting solutions for the global wealth and asset management industry, today announced the publication of its annual Ivy League endowment performance analysis for the latest fiscal year, "Measuring the Ivy 2019: Decoding the Performance Gap."

The report shows that the average Ivy endowment return for FY 2019 was just 6.7%, significantly underperforming a reference 60-40 domestic portfolio. Between the best performing Brown at 12.4% and Columbia at 3.8%, Ivies also experienced the second widest dispersion of returns in the past decade and saw a shift in the historical positioning of performance leaders (e.g., Yale and Princeton) and laggards (e.g., Harvard and Brown).

MPI uses endowments' annual return data and returns-based techniques to decode what may have happened in FY 2019 and suggests endowments' private market investments were the likely root of the year's anomalous results. MPI points to the fact that in a typical year the range of potential outcomes of private market investments is two- to three-times greater on both the upside and the downside versus a universe of U.S. equity mutual funds. Such dispersion in private market returns could explain both the lackluster returns of most Ivies as well as the wide range of results in FY 2019.

Report co-author Megan Woods, CFA, Director of Quantitative Research at MPI, said, "Even in the absence of considerable allocations to U.S. public equities and bonds, both of which had a solid year, the seeming inability of elite endowments' large exposures to private markets to push portfolio returns beyond their middling figures in fiscal 2019 is noteworthy and tells of the challenges in getting PE and VC investing consistently right. The range of outcomes of PE funds makes it very difficult to underestimate the risk in private equity relative to just looking at average returns shown by an index. In many years, more than 25% of funds have negative returns, even though the index may register a positive return in the double digits. We hope our report helps the many investors who are seeking to evolve the measurement of the performance and risk of their private market investment portfolios."

Michael Markov, MPI CEO and report co-author, stated, "This report offers a cautionary tale. Investors, both institutional and retail, are seeking greater access to the private market opportunity set - however, even the most sophisticated investors with access to elite managers aren't immune from potential performance downturns and can suffer in a year that was, on average, good for private markets. At a time when the amount of dry powder waiting to invest in richly valued markets sits near historic levels, it could be wise for investors to scrutinize private markets deals, managers and portfolios with renewed diligence using the latest quantitative tools."

For more information about the report or MPI's solutions, please email info@markovprocesses.com or call +1 908 608 1558.

About MPI
Markov Processes International (MPI) is a leading independent provider of quantitative investment research, technology, analytics and indices for the global investment management industry. MPI's flagship Stylus solutions are used by hundreds of firms to make smarter investment research, portfolio construction and optimization, performance analysis, risk surveillance, distribution and reporting decisions. MPI Stylus can be delivered as a desktop, enterprise-hosted or cloud-deployed solution. MPI's Enterprise Solutions team also offers customized configuration and implementation services to meet your organization's specific needs.

Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI, connect with us on LinkedIn and read the latest MPI research at https://www.markovprocesses.com/category/blog/.

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

News from Markov Processes International

Markov Processes International (MPI), a leading provider of investment research, analysis and reporting solutions for the global wealth and asset management industry, today announced the publication of its annual Ivy League endowment performance analysis for the latest fiscal year, "Measuring the Ivy 2019: Decoding the Performance Gap."

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

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

Fairport Wealth Announces 2020 Community Beacon Recipient

CLEVELAND, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- Fairport Wealth is pleased to announce its support of Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) as its 2020 Community Beacon recipient. For 50 years, SC4K has been removing barriers to school attendance by providing essential school supplies such as school shoes and uniforms for kids in need. Its efforts help reduce chronic absenteeism and improve self-esteem, school attendance and graduation rates, and directly align with Fairport's mission to inspire families.

Terry Uhl, Executive Director of SC4K says, "We are thrilled to have a chance to be the next Fairport Community Beacon. We know the impact Fairport had at Merrick House, last year's Community Beacon, and we look forward to building upon that to continue to help the kids in Cleveland who need our help most."

How SC4K Helps Children Succeed

When students don't have access to the appropriate clothing or supplies necessary for school it's a barrier to attendance. SC4K wants to establish a community in which all children have access to the basic supplies they need to become engaged learners and succeed.

Fairport's Commitment to the Children

In addition to financial support, Fairport Wealth will team up to collect items to support SC4K programs, provide mentorship support and serve as title sponsor for their 50th Anniversary culmination celebration this year. Fairport team members will also volunteer onsite and conduct workshops to help empower teachers with the skills needed to teach students about financial responsibility.

"Fairport Wealth stands firmly committed to SC4K and we look forward to being a visible presence as the organization moves into its next 50 years," says Kristen Lucas, Fairport Wealth Chief Marketing Officer.

Past Fairport Community Beacon Recipients:
* Merrick House
* YWCA Greater Cleveland
* Cleveland Museum of Natural History
* The First Tee of Cleveland
* The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
* The Cleveland Foundation
* Jewish Federation of Cleveland
* Cleveland Go Red for Women/American Heart Association
* Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

About Fairport Wealth

Fairport Wealth inspires families by providing comprehensive wealth management solutions to high net worth individuals. Our team of credentialed professionals, including CPAs, CFP® certificants and CFA® charterholders have experience in guiding corporate executives, business owners and women of wealth. We help our clients with life's transitions including succession, retirement and liquidity planning, marital/partnership changes or loss of a spouse. Our clients value our depth of talent and experience, along with our collaborative and approachable style. For more information, visit https://www.fairportwealth.com/.

About Luma Wealth

Luma Wealth Advisors is a division of Fairport that provides women with personalized wealth planning, experienced investment management, and a supportive, enriching community where they can learn, connect, and celebrate with other women. For more information, visit https://www.lumawealth.com/.

About Hightower

Hightower is a national wealth management firm that provides growth capital and front- to back-end support services to independent-minded financial advisory businesses. Operating as a Registered Investment Advisor, Hightower provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices. Corporate services include 401(k) consulting and corporate cash management. For more information, visit https://www.hightoweradvisors.com/.

Securities offered through Hightower Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC, Hightower Advisors, LLC is a SEC registered investment Adviser.

More information: https://www.fairportwealth.com/index

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:
For more information, please contact
Kristen T. Lucas
Chief Marketing Officer
Fairport Wealth
kristen.lucas@fairportwealth.com
216-431-3000

News from Fairport Wealth

Fairport Wealth is pleased to announce its support of Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) as its 2020 Community Beacon recipient. For 50 years, SC4K has been removing barriers to school attendance by providing essential school supplies such as school shoes and uniforms for kids in need.

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

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

IDS Strengthens State-Specific Mortgage Document Preparation Functionality

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today that it has enhanced eSign tools for state-specific document functionality in its flagship document preparation platform idsDoc. The addition of this functionality enables IDS clients to automatically access state-specific documents that are electronically fillable, where allowed by law.

"Because of the variances between state regulators, maintaining compliance at the state level is in many ways even more burdensome for lenders than doing so at the federal level - especially when adding digital mortgages to the mix," said IDS Vice President and General Manager Mark Mackey. "State-level compliance has always been a hallmark of the IDS platform. We are thrilled to make our digital mortgage functionality available to clients for use in the execution of state-specific documents and to help them maintain compliance while supporting their individual digital mortgage strategies."

The IDS library of state-required documents puts the standard collection of state documents at lenders' fingertips. This library is a collection of expansive regulatory research and is maintained and updated regularly by the IDS Compliance Department. In addition, the department maintains the "IDS State Disclosure Matrix," a reference document which lists the state-specific documents available in idsDoc and notes the default parameters used to determine when specific documents should be included in a loan package. This Matrix is available through the Customer Portal and in the IDS Help Center.

In addition, clients can have all disclosure documents electronically signed in the eSign Room with a unique login and secure email link for each document signer. Through this functionality, reviewing is verified and reported, and all compliance requirements, including timing requirements, are met. In the event the eSignatures cannot be verified, a physical disclosure package can be automatically sent by the IDS Fulfillment Center.

With IDS' expanded signing tools, loan officers and processors save time with the document verification process as completed by the borrowers. The review and signing functions have been expanded to allow the filling of text boxes and check boxes. These tools can be used with the standard documents as well as any custom documents the lender wants to include. This feature also eliminates the need to pre-disclose or include printed documents that require borrower selections and data input.

"As technology continues to improve the digital mortgage experience, IDS strives to meet its clients' every anticipated need in idsDoc," Mackey added. "By adding this functionality to our already expansive multi-state document preparation offering, we are simplifying things for our clients even more while maintaining our continued commitment to providing compliance support at all levels."

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/

News from International Document Services Inc.

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today that it has enhanced eSign tools for state-specific document functionality in its flagship document preparation platform idsDoc.

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

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

GreenState Credit Union Drives First-Lien Mortgage Production with the Help of SimpleNexus

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers and real estate agents, announced that loan officers (LO) at GreenState Credit Union (GreenState) are using the SimpleNexus digital mortgage app to achieve record first mortgage production. In 2019, GreenState's 26 LOs produced more than 7,600 first-lien mortgage units, exceeding the lender's previous best by 1,600 units despite having fewer support staff on payroll.

GreenState adopted SimpleNexus in 2018 to streamline the lending process and improve its online lending functionality. Now the lender receives 63 percent of all mortgage applications through the SimpleNexus platform, amounting to more than 10,000 applications per year.

In addition to enabling GreenState to collect more loan applications, SimpleNexus has also helped the lender move those applications forward more quickly. Once borrowers complete an application, SimpleNexus prompts them to upload and submit verification documents right from their mobile phone or other web-enabled device. Similarly, LOs can review applications, order credit reports and send pre-approval letters from their preferred device, even if they're not in the office.

"I was a loan officer for 15 years, so every time I look at technology, I do it from the perspective of what we would need if I was still lending," said Ryan Doehrmann, vice president of mortgage lending at GreenState. "When we saw that our LOs could pull up an application, pull credit and send a pre-approval letter from a phone or tablet, we were sold. That kind of agility is a huge advantage - especially if your competition doesn't have it."

"SimpleNexus prides itself in building a product that helps our customers achieve measurable ROI while improving their teams' quality of life," said SimpleNexus Founder and CEO Matt Hansen.

"We have enjoyed partnering with GreenState Credit Union to bring its loan officers a more agile way to review loan applications and guide borrowers to close."

About GreenState Credit Union:

GreenState Credit Union, formerly known as University of Iowa Community Credit Union, is a member-owned financial cooperative with 19 office locations. Since 1938, GreenState Credit Union has grown to become the largest credit union in Iowa, with almost $6 billion in assets and 205,000 members. GreenState Credit Union's "members first" philosophy has enabled it to be consistently ranked in the top 1% nationally for Return to Member.

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, send pre-approvals and sign disclosures - all on the go.

Twitter: @SimpleNexus @GreenStateCU #digitalmortgage

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading digital mortgage platform for loan officers, borrowers and real estate agents, announced that loan officers (LO) at GreenState Credit Union (GreenState) are using the SimpleNexus digital mortgage app to achieve record first mortgage production.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

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

FormFree Returns as Anchor Sponsor of NEXTWINTER20 Women’s Executive Mortgage Summit

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced its anchor sponsorship of NEXT's upcoming event, #NEXTWINTER20, being held February 23-25 at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas.

On Monday, February 24, FormFree's Cindy Snow will join Housing Finance Strategies President Faith Schwartz and Quicken Loans VP of Public Policy Nicole Booth for a morning session titled "DC Update: Housing Policy in an Election Year." Snow, who serves as FormFree's product and integrations lead, will help attendees interpret pending legislation and other public policy developments through a technology lens.

Later Monday afternoon, FormFree Director of Partner Relationships Christy Moss will moderate "Growing through Partnerships," a panel that examines how lenders can leverage business-to-business partnerships to grow revenue. Speakers include Tawn Kelley, president of Taylor Morrison Home Funding, and Daniela Bigali, SVP of sales and marketing for Homestead Funding.

On Tuesday, FormFree will take the stage to demo the latest capabilities of its Passport all-in-one verification service as part of a technology showcase that includes Agent Find, DocMagic, Ellie Mae, EXOS Technologies, Global DMS, MCT Capital Trading, Mortgage Cadence, ReverseVision, Roostify and Snapdocs.

"FormFree made the decision to become a premier sponsor of NEXT mortgage events last year, and we have never looked back," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "Since launching in 2018, NEXT has quickly become one of the most relevant and value-adding event series in the mortgage industry. The thoughtful content, intimate environment and careful curation of attendees attracts the highest level of senior executive and decision makers."

NEXT hosts lender-centric events three times each year. Its flagship winter and summer events deliver experience-based intel on topics relevant to today's top mortgage executives. NEXTDC, held in the fall and produced in partnership with Housing Finance Strategies, focuses on housing policy and fintech.

For more information or to register for #NEXTWINTER20, visit https://nextmortgagenews.com/nextwinter20/.

About FormFree®

FormFree® is a market-leading fintech company whose revolutionary products AccountChek® and Passport(tm) are changing the credit decisioning landscape and encouraging lenders nationwide to incorporate a more holistic view of each borrower's financial DNA. To date, thousands of U.S. lenders and brokers have ordered millions of FormFree's patented verification reports representing over a trillion dollars in loan verifications. FormFree delights borrowers and lenders with a paperless experience, reduces origination timelines by up to 20 days and offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and investors using a secure ReIssueKey(tm). A HousingWire TECH100(tm) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Athens, Georgia.

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

Twitter: @RealFormFree #NEXTWINTER20

News from FormFree

FormFree® today announced its anchor sponsorship of NEXT's upcoming event, #NEXTWINTER20, being held February 23-25, 2020 at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas.

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

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

Silk Title Co. Focuses on Digital Mortgage Closing Experience, Triples Client Base, Achieves Single-Month Record in 2019

PROVIDENCE, R.I. /ScoopCloud/ -- Silk Title Co., the leading provider of digitally-driven mortgage closing services, announced it achieved record growth in 2019, enabling the firm to deliver on its "service at scale" promise to its institutional bank and independent mortgage lender clients nationwide.

Throughout the year, Silk Title Co. tripled its client base and maintained a zero percent client attrition rate, enabling it to achieve several successive record months. The firm experienced a 582% increase in revenue over 2018, requiring the addition of just 13 employees to its staff due to its strategic infrastructure investments.

"'Service at Scale' is a motto we take seriously, and to that end we have invested considerable resources in developing a business model that maximizes our people, processes and technology to deliver virtually flawless title, settlement and closing services significantly faster and cheaper than the competition," said Silk Title Co. President and CEO Marc Trachtenberg. "Our organization is fully committed to executing mortgage closings as digitally as possible, and our like-minded mortgage lending clients have reaped the benefits of this commitment through reduced costs, faster closing times and an overall better experience for their borrowers and real estate agent partners."

"Our industry assumes that technology is a panacea to the operational problems in loan manufacturing and closing. At Silk Title we've observed that injecting innovative technology into a fundamentally broken process is far from the cure-all everyone assumes," Trachtenberg explained. "That's why we crafted our proprietary process first and then built out our customized technology environment to support it. As a result, we've cultivated a tech-driven, process-oriented client base that recognizes the value of a centralized operating environment and is committed to collaborating with Silk to deliver a seamless closing experience to their borrowers."

About Silk Title Company

Silk Title Co. provides title insurance, search and settlement services across the nation to the top institutional banks and independent mortgage lenders. Additionally, the firm also provides services for foreclosure, default, REO, and traditional real estate transactions. Leveraging a proprietary blend of people, process and technology, Silk Title Co. is able to deliver digital mortgage closing services at scale, resulting in some of the fastest turn times in the industry while delighting homebuyers, real estate agents and lenders alike.

To learn more, visit https://silktitleco.com.

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*Photo Caption: Silk Title Co. President and CEO Marc Trachtenberg.

News from Silk Title Company

Silk Title Co., the leading provider of digitally-driven mortgage closing services, announced it achieved record growth in 2019, enabling the firm to deliver on its "service at scale" promise to its institutional bank and independent mortgage lender clients nationwide.

Related link: https://silktitleco.com

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

DocMagic Named a Top Mortgage Employer by National Mortgage Professional Magazine for the Fourth Straight Year

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it has again been selected by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine as a 'Top Mortgage Employer' for the fourth year in a row.

NMP arrived at the 2020 winners after polling readers regarding their employers, which was based on the following criteria: corporate culture, compensation, day-to-day management, internal communications, organizational agility, employee training, company resources, marketing, business strategy, ingenuity, innovation, technology usage, overall reputation, and industry participation.

The magazine states that based on the above criteria, it weighted the reasons that were the most important to readers, collected nominations and votes, and factored in industry reputation to create the annual list of Top Mortgage Employers.

DocMagic was identified as a mortgage software provider where employees thrive based on being tech-savvy, service-oriented, highly-motivated, and take extreme pride in what they do.

"We are honored to once again be selected as a Top Mortgage Employer for 2020. Our employees are the backbone of what makes DocMagic one of the most innovative, successful, and forward-thinking technology companies in the mortgage industry," stated Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic.

Notable is that DocMagic's Total eClose(tm) platform is the eClosing leader based on market share, overall satisfaction and lender loyalty in STRATMOR Group's 2019 Mortgage Technology Insight Study. A second DocMagic technology, the company's document generation solution, also holds the highest market share in its category. Together, Total eClose and DocMagic's dynamic document generation can provide lenders with 100 percent paperless eClosings. DocMagic continues to innovate, enhance, and deliver leading-edge digital mortgage automation solutions for lending entities of all types and sizes.

NMP is a well-respected, long-time industry source for extensive news coverage spanning mortgages, origination, compliance, secondary marketing, servicing, settlement, technology, trending, and more.

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 1987 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 www.docmagic.com.

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

Social: @DocMagic #TopMortgageEmployer #eClosingLeader #TotaleClose #MortgageTechnologyInsightStudy #MortgageDocumentGeneration

News from DocMagic, Inc.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it has again been selected by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine as a 'Top Mortgage Employer' for the fourth year in a row.

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

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

Mid America Mortgage Bolsters Servicing Department with New Hires

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that it has added John Bargas, Donnell Mitchell and Wendy Strawn to its servicing department. Bargas will lead the department as Executive Managing Director of Servicing and the combined experience and expertise of all three hires will make an immediate impact.

"Since bringing our servicing in-house in late 2019, we've worked continuously to strengthen the department," said Mid America Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bode. "Bargas and his team bring invaluable knowledge and capability to Mid America, elevating our servicing department to new heights."

Bargas is a seasoned mortgage servicing professional with over 20 years of experience in financial services. Most recently, he served as Director of Mortgage Servicing at Texas Capital Bank and has also held multiple leadership roles in mortgage banking, including at Saxon Mortgage, Capital One and Newbold Advisors. He brings a wealth of experience in servicing, mortgage banking, accounting and managing servicing quality control programs.

Bargas shaped his career by working directly in various areas of residential servicing. He is a subject matter expert in GSE/Regulatory compliance and optimizing servicing technology. Bargas is skilled in leading servicing organizations by focusing on optimizing servicing performance and enhancing the customer experience.

Mitchell comes to Mid America from Rushmore Loan Servicing, where he held a leadership position in servicing operations for two years. With nearly 20 years of experience in loan servicing, Mitchell has a diverse background spanning operational management, technical understanding and service delivery. Additionally, Mitchell has managed servicing operations at Capital One and Pacific Union Financial.

Strawn has over 25 years of experience in customer service and cash operations, including 12 years at Saxon Mortgage where she first crossed paths with both Bargas and Mitchell. Strawn has proven success in process cost reduction, payment processing and configuration, customer service and financial reporting.

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

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

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

Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join its growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit http://www.midamericamortgage.com/careers/.

News from Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that it has added John Bargas, Donnell Mitchell and Wendy Strawn to its servicing department. Bargas will lead the department as Executive Managing Director of Servicing and the combined experience and expertise of all three hires will make an immediate impact.

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

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

EPIC Adds Wesley Carson as Senior Vice President, Expanding Employee Benefits Team

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Wesley Carson has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits in their Sacramento, California office.

Carson, will be responsible for employee benefits consulting and the design, placement and management of custom programs. He will primarily focus on mid to large group plans with EPIC clients.

Carson brings over 20 years of experience in health and benefits consulting. His background includes experience in employee benefits, health insurance, professional liability, property & casualty insurance. Prior to joining EPIC, Carson held positions as senior vice president, health and benefits and vice president with Aon and Hub International.

Carson has studied at the University of Nevada, Reno and earned a Business degree in Finance from California State University, Chico.

"We are thrilled to add another employee benefits expert to our growing team, Wesley brings strong skills in this area and will be a great addition," said John Connell, Regional President, Employee Benefits, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, Concord, CA.

Wesley Carson can be reached at wesley.carson@epicbrokers.com or (415) 640-7460.

"Wes' experience, proven track record of success and strong focus on client solutions make him an excellent addition to our talented benefits team," adds Kevin Harnetiaux, Senior Vice President and COO, Pacific North Region.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Wesley Carson has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits in their Sacramento, California office.

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

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

Loan Officers Executing Automated Marketing Campaigns Close Twice the Deals, Earn Double the Revenue, Top of Mind Finds

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today released data revealing that loan officers (LOs) who utilize automated lead, prospect and nurture campaigns on average see double the number of closed loans and revenue production.

Top of Mind calculations derive from fourth quarter 2019 user behavior and productivity data for individual loan officers at its top 25 percent revenue generating lender clients. Automated marketing campaigns were highly correlated with improved LO performance when outbound marketing campaigns preceded the receipt of a loan application.

In the analysis, LOs leveraging Surefire's automated marketing campaigns closed an average of twice as many loans and produced twice the revenue, in contrast with LOs who did not engage prospects with automated marketing campaigns.

As reported by STRATMOR Group, Top of Mind's flagship CRM and marketing automation platform Surefire is deployed by 74 percent of lenders using similar solutions, making its users' behaviors a best practice indicator for improving LO performance and revenue generation, such as engaging leads with automatically executed, targeted marketing campaigns.

"The most profound insight from our data analysis is that using Surefire not only works as expected, but has the very real ability to substantially lift average closed loan volume and revenue produced by every loan officer," said Top of Mind CEO Bill Hayes. "Even at the simplest macro scale, this is meaningful evidence that using automated marketing campaigns succeeds as a best practice."

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks (https://www.topofmind.com/) has grown from a bootstrapped post-close, follow-up solution into the leading CRM/marketing automation firm in the mortgage industry. Their Surefire platform is widely regarded as the gold standard in enterprise CRM, automating best practice throughout a borrower's prospect-to-repeat-customer lifecycle.

Twitter: @mortgagecrm

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S2P-STORYID:56448

News from Top of Mind Networks

Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today released data revealing that loan officers (LOs) who utilize automated lead, prospect and nurture campaigns on average see double the number of closed loans and revenue production.

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

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

EPIC Adds Blake Chauvin as Vice President – Will Further Expand EPIC’s Risk Management Capabilities

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Blake Chauvin has joined the firm as a Producer in their Concord, California office.

Chauvin, will be responsible for risk management consulting and the design, placement and management of property and casualty insurance programs. He will primarily focus on Private Equity and M&A clients and their unique needs.

Chauvin brings over 20 years of experience in risk management and business consulting. He has a wealth of knowledge in working with clients in technology, energy, and healthcare, large retail and real estate. Prior to joining EPIC, Chauvin held positions with Alliant Insurance Services, Zurich North America and CNA Insurance.

Chauvin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance from California State University, East Bay where he graduated Cum Laude. He is a licensed property & casualty underwriter and holds an Associate in Risk Management designation.

"We are excited to have Blake join our firm, he will be able to bring significant expertise to our clients in the private equity and M&A space," said Curt Perata, Regional President, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, Concord, CA.

Blake Chauvin can be reached at blake.chauvin@epicbrokers.com or (925) 915.6620.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Blake Chauvin has joined the firm as a Producer in their Concord, California office.

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

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

EPIC Continues Expansion of Employee Benefits Practice with a new Pharmacy Practice Leader

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today they are continuing to expand their employee benefits resources with the addition of a new Pharmacy Practice Leader, Bob Eisendrath. We are also pleased to announce that we have promoted Craig Hasday to President, National Employee Benefits Practice leader and Cindy Santangelo to National Voluntary Benefits Practice Leader.

Bob Eisendrath brings a strong background in pharmacy benefit management. He brings experience both in sales and national account management, with CVS Caremark for 20 years where he was most recently Area Vice President for Coalition Business. "The addition of Bob will further strengthen our Pharmacy consulting practice as he leads the team through the rapidly changing legislative and therapeutic landscape as our clients grapple with increasing pharmacy prices, one of the most problematic components of escalating cost," said Craig Hasday, National Employee Benefits Practice Leader.

Craig Hasday has been promoted to President, National Employee Benefits Leader. Said Steve Denton, President, EPIC Holdings, "For the past eighteen months, Craig has led EPIC's National Employee Benefits Operations Board. In that role, Craig has worked closely with the geographic employee benefits leaders and has done an incredible job bringing our national teams together."

During this time, EPIC has seen increased communication and enhancements across the board in service offerings for our clients. Further, EPIC has seen great improvement in revenue growth, profitability, and integration of its vast employee benefits platform. Employee Benefits revenue of over $170 million which represents over 20% of EPIC's retail revenue.

Promoting Cindy Santangelo to the new national role as lead of EPIC's Voluntary Benefits practice highlights EPIC's growing focus on the changing workplace dynamic of offering personalized benefits. Santangelo has been with EPIC for 12 years and spent the past 5 years building and growing the Voluntary Benefits practice within EPIC's national Employee Benefit platform. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her role in employee paid worksite benefits consulting as she fully understands how to create a customized program to meet individualized needs.

"We are fortunate to have someone with her expertise on our team to support our clients and other EPIC consultants," said John Gaffney, VP. National Employee Benefits Operations.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

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 2,600 team members operating from more than 70 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 $730 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today they are continuing to expand their employee benefits resources with the addition of a new Pharmacy Practice Leader, Bob Eisendrath.

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

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

IDS Enhances Audit Worksheet Functionality in idsDoc

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), today announced that it has redesigned the audit worksheet feature in its flagship document preparation platform idsDoc. Now, the audit worksheet dynamically displays vital loan information, including a record of audits and tests conducted, in a single, easy-to-read document, providing investors and auditors with a full understanding of the loan file.

"Today's lenders are required to conduct more testing than ever to ensure their loans meet both regulatory and investor requirements, but without proper documentation to prove these tests were conducted, lenders can miss opportunities to pass the first-glance eye test as well as to reference pending due diligence efforts," said IDS Vice President and General Manager Mark Mackey. "This document has quickly become accepted as a compliance certification for many investors' policies. By providing our clients with an easily referenced summary of audit activities, IDS is fulfilling on its promise to our customers to support their compliance efforts and deliver loan packages that are as precise as possible."

In addition to information on which tests and checks were performed, the audit worksheet also includes calculated values on data related to state, local and custom fields, thus providing an additional layer of security regarding compliance. The document is also intended to serve as a reference point to illuminate inaccuracies or differences between regulatory interpretations.

"Between human error and the often obscure nature of regulatory language, data discrepancies are bound to occur in the origination process," Mackey added. "The IDS audit worksheet serves as an added check to help lenders identify these instances before they cause issues or come to the attention of investors and regulators, thus preserving loan quality and lenders' reputations with these key stakeholders, and so far, the worksheet has proven to be an effective tool for achieving these goals."

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. (https://info.idsdoc.com/)

News from International Document Services Inc.

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), today announced that it has redesigned the audit worksheet feature in its flagship document preparation platform idsDoc.

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

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

Allegent FCU steps up to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Challenge, Cranberry Twp., Pennsylvania

WEXFORD, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Capturing the buzz of a current Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter commercial spot - Allegent FCU actually sells Reese's Peanut Butter Cups at a financial institution! The Hershey Company's branded Reese's spot teased the Federal Credit Union into accepting the challenge and partnering with Reese's in fulfilling the commercial spot's thought: that Reese's are "sold literally everywhere business is done, I'm pretty sure you could buy them at a bank."

You can view the spot here:
https://youtu.be/dHYB9qBAiBs

Mark Bruno, Vice President of Allegent, states, "We love to partner with other successful and grounded companies. We viewed the commercial and said, lets act on it, were all about the buzz."

In another statement, Allegent CEO Angelo Lucatorto adds to the conversation, "We're all about the community, and yes, we are an integral part of the Credit Union industry with deep, financially-sound, responsible roots, but our staff likes a fun-loving challenge as well."

Proceeds from the sales benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

About Allegent Federal Credit Union:

Allegent Community Federal Credit Union, formerly known as Allegheny Co. (PA) U.S. Government Employees Federal Credit Union, was chartered on March 7, 1935. Since 1935, the credit union has grown to over 14,000 members, many locations, and over 140 million in assets. Their mission is to be a full-service financial institution and to continuously strive to provide their members with an ever-growing range of quality products and services mixed with one-on-one personal attention that everyone deserves, all while maintaining a safe and sound credit union.

For more info visit https://www.allegentfcu.org/

News from Allegent Federal Credit Union

Capturing the buzz of a current Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter commercial spot - Allegent FCU actually sells Reese's Peanut Butter Cups at a financial institution! The Hershey Company's branded Reese's spot teased the Federal Credit Union into accepting the challenge and partnering with Reese's in fulfilling the commercial spot's thought: that Reese's are "sold literally everywhere business is done, I'm pretty sure you could buy them at a bank."

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

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

ARMCO Reports Strong 2019, Eyes Further Growth and Expansion in 2020

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- After a remarkable 2019, ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of enterprise financial risk mitigation solutions, is looking ahead to 2020 for what promises to be an outstanding year. In addition to adding several lenders to its growing roster of clients - including Bay Equity Loans, KWIK Mortgage, The KLR Group and multiple top-25 mortgage companies - ARMCO also achieved a company record in 2019 of one million audits conducted in a single year in its flagship audit platform ACES Audit Technology(TM).

ARMCO also launched several product enhancements in 2019, including a parallel workflow capability that saves time and reduces turn times while maintaining the quality of staff output to the ACES Audit Technology platform. Other noteworthy enhancements include an auto-answer feature that automatically answers audit questions based on available loan data, as well as an enhanced single sign-on that can reduce on-boarding time by more than 50 percent. Encouraged by these accomplishments, the company plans to expand its footprint in 2020 to support risk management, compliance and quality control for financial institutions with multiple loan products and lines, including consumer lending.

"One of the biggest strengths of ACES Audit Technology is its ability to function as an enterprise solution - providing organizations with one platform and removing the need for disparate software solutions and manual processes," ARMCO CEO Trevor Gauthier said. "In 2020, ARMCO seeks to share its technology with new markets, as ACES Audit Technology has proven it is not just a tool that can be used for mortgage quality control, but for any loan quality initiative in a financial institution."

2019 marked the beginning of ARMCO's relationship with New Capital Partners. The private-equity firm partnered with and invested in ARMCO, strengthening ARMCO's position in the industry and enhancing continued growth and innovation. ARMCO also bolstered its ranks with several key hires and promotions in 2019 and early 2020, including Gauthier's appointment as CEO in October 2019. Kyle Kehoe was hired as executive vice president of sales and Cassie Vosburgh joined as executive vice president of finance. Additionally, Sharon Reichhardt was promoted to executive vice president of operations. There have also been a number of additional hires within operations, product and engineering to round out the team and industrialize the platform and organization.

Throughout 2019, ARMCO and its employees were recognized for multiple industry awards. ARMCO was recognized as an innovative technology company and earned its fifth consecutive HousingWire Tech 100 award. For the third year running, ARMCO was named to National Mortgage Professional's Top 100 Mortgage Employers list, and individually, Reichhardt was named one of HousingWire's inaugural Tech Trendsetters.

"In addition to our award-winning technology, our staff is one of the biggest assets ARMCO possesses," Gauthier added. "Whether they are on the front lines helping to improve loan quality or behind the scenes keeping the operational wheels turning, our team of highly capable, caring employees are all dedicated to supporting our clients' success, and the key hires and promotions made in 2019 and early this year will help ARMCO continue to fulfill on that commitment."

After introducing an initiative during the 2018 holiday season, ARMCO also launched ARMCO CARES in 2019, a company-matching gift program. Available to both part-time and full-time employees, ARMCO CARES offers a dollar-for-dollar match of employee donations to a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization of the employee's choice.

"Giving back is one of ARMCO's key values. Our employees have always been the fuel behind ARMCO's success, and we are grateful to be able to use our success to support those causes that are near and dear to our employees' hearts," Gauthier said. "To date, ARMCO has contributed thousands of dollars to 25 charities through ARMCO CARES, and we look forward to continuing these efforts in 2020."

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.

S2P-STORYID:056292

News from ARMCO ACES Risk Management

After a remarkable 2019, ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of enterprise financial risk mitigation solutions, is looking ahead to 2020 for what promises to be an outstanding year. In addition to adding several lenders to its growing roster of clients ARMCO also achieved a company record in 2019 of one million audits conducted in a single year in its flagship audit platform ACES Audit Technology.

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

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

Velocity Credit Union commits to downtown Austin with construction of its new branch

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Velocity Credit Union, a fixture of the Austin financial scene since 1947, has begun site preparation for its new branch office in downtown Austin. To be located on the southeast corner of 12th and Sabine Streets, the new facility is being built immediately across Sabine Street and just to the east of Velocity's current downtown location (610 E. 11th Street). The credit union's headquarters have been at this location for many years. Construction for the new branch is imminent and it is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2020. Once the facility is completed, the old headquarters site will be used for new development.

"We want to assure our members that, in spite of the hardhats, demolition and construction crews they might see, our current downtown office, ATMs and drive-through teller lanes remain fully operational," said Debbie Mitchell, Velocity's president and CEO. "Velocity has operated from our east 12th Street location since 1961 and we remain committed to our downtown members and business relationships. The credit union looks forward to being a vital part of, and partner to those leading, the re-development of the Waller Creek area, the medical center and the evolving residential and entertainment community. This area has been our home for almost 60 years and Velocity Credit Union will continue to serve downtown Austin for many more years to come."

The new branch was designed by Mente Sowell Architects of Austin and will be constructed by Austin Canyon Corporation. At just over 5,000 square feet, the branch will feature a full service lobby, safe deposit box services, and four drive-thru lanes equipped with state-of-the-art Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs). The branch will employ a staff of 8-10, who can handle all member service needs including teller transactions, opening new accounts, wealth management services and loan services.

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

About Velocity:

Velocity Credit Union is one of the largest Austin-area credit unions with branches located in Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park. Chartered in 1947, the institution serves a five-county area, and enjoys a broad and diverse community membership. The credit union employs more than 200 people in the area, has assets of approximately $856 million and serves more than 84,000 members. To learn more about Velocity Credit Union's products and services, visit https://www.velocitycu.com/.

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*Caption: Velocity Downtown Branch Render.

News from Velocity Credit Union

Velocity Credit Union, a fixture of the Austin financial scene since 1947, has begun site preparation for its new branch office in downtown Austin. To be located on the southeast corner of 12th and Sabine Streets, the new facility is being built immediately across Sabine Street and just to the east of Velocity's current downtown location (610 E. 11th Street).

Related link:

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

EPIC Launches National Farm and Ranch Practice

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today they are expanding their insurance offering in the Farm & Ranch Insurance market with the practice being led by Chris Moore (President, EPIC Farm & Ranch). The Farm & Ranch practice will be a culmination of specialists in Indiana and Florida serving clients across a national footprint.

Chris joined EPIC from ONI Risk Partners where he led the Farm & Agribusiness practice. ONI Risk Partners was a part of the acquisition of Prime Risk Partners by EPIC in November 2019. Chris currently works with over 100 farm clients across 12 states. Chris has co-created specialty insurance products beyond standard property & casualty products.

Chris created the first health insurance product that protects hog producers against PRRS and PEDv (two major viruses that disrupt production) as well as the first Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) insurance program to exist in the United States. Chris understands that new risks emerge as farms evolve.

The Farm & Ranch practice's primary focus is working with their clients to proactively manage emerging risks. By proactively managing their risks, farmers and ranchers can move forward in confidence knowing their downside is protected.

In partnership with the team from the Jerry Parks Agency, a division of EPIC and their specialty expertise in equine insurance, it is a perfect match to build a strong practice and partnership moving forward offering our clients the best in farm and ranch insurance consulting.

For more information please contact:

Chris Moore via email chris.moore@epicbrokers.com or via phone at (317) 650-4519.

Scott Davis, President, National Specialty Group, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, said, "We are very excited about expanding our capabilities in the area of Farm, Ranch and Equine business and know that with Chris at the helm of the practice we will see much success."

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today they are expanding their insurance offering in the Farm & Ranch Insurance market with the practice being led by Chris Moore (President, EPIC Farm & Ranch).

Related link:

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

Bank of Southern California N.A. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2019 Results

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL) today reported results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. Total assets ended the year at $830 million at December 31, 2019, an increase of 8.1% compared to December 2018. Total loans increased 6.6% to $677 million and total deposits increased 7.0% to $672 million compared to the prior year as well.

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, was $1.64 million, compared to $1.72 million in Q3 2019 and $2.00 million in Q4 2018. Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2019, were $6.77 million up 29% from $5.26 million for the year ended December 2018. Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.78 for the year ended December 2019 versus $0.71 in the year ended December 2018.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Highlights
* Announced plan of merger with CalWest Bancorp, expected to close in Q2 2020
* Announced completion of capital offering and plans to form Holding Company

Nathan Rogge, President and CEO of Bank of Southern California said, "We produced solid results for 2019 and continue to increase meaningful loan and deposit relationships while maintaining strong credit quality across our portfolio. Specifically, we reported strong commercial and industrial loan growth, increased non-interest bearing DDA, and a rise in total assets, largely attributed to our recent capital raise."

The Banks' focus on C&I lending is not only reflected in a 14% increase in outstanding C&I loans during the year, but also in undisbursed C&I commitments, which increased 46% during the year. Non-interest bearing demand deposits, increased 22% during 2019, a result of our emphasis on relationship-based banking.

"As we enter 2020, we remain focused on advancing and driving growth in the Southern California market. Our strategic merger with CalWest Bank will provide us with an expanded branch presence covering Orange County and the Inland Empire as well as operational synergies and efficiencies, thus allowing us to better serve the business community. The merger is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2020," concluded Rogge.

John Farkash, Chairman of the Board said, "We are pleased to report another solid quarter to close out 2019. The Bank has achieved good momentum in executing our strategy and moving towards a relationship-focused approach to banking. As we look ahead, we remain focused on driving long-term value for our customers and shareholders."

Additional Financial Highlights
* Total loans decreased $8 million during the 4th quarter to $677 million at quarter end; the reduction was primarily related to construction loans, which declined $10 million during the quarter as projects paid off as planned. The pace of total loan payoffs slowed in the second half of 2019 to $37 million, down from the $62 million pace set in the first six months of the year. Compared to the first half of the year, new loan origination units increased by 28% in the second half of the year resulting in $155 million in total gross loan commitments in 2019.
* During 2019, the Bank has focused on improving its core deposit portfolio. This is not only reflected in the 22% growth in noninterest-bearing demand (DDA) during 2019, but also in the growth of money market deposits, which increased $26 million, or 12%, during 2019. This core deposit growth allowed the Bank to decrease reliance on higher cost time deposits, which declined 9% during 2019.
* Noninterest expenses grew $3.6 million in 2019 compared to 2018. However, both years include non-recurring costs associated with merger and restructuring expenses, $2.1 million in 2018 related to the merger with Americas United Bank, and $592k in 2019 associated with the plan of merger with CalWest Bank.
* Nonperforming assets continue to be very low and were 0.23% of total assets at December 31, 2019, compared to 0.60% at December 31, 2018. The allowance for loan losses (ALLL) was 0.79% of total loans at December 31, 2019, up from 0.69% at December 31, 2018. When including $1.9 million in loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM), the ALLL and LFVCM represent 1.07% of total loans versus 1.10% at December 31, 2018.

[Quarterly Financial Highlights Table Follows]

More details about our quarterly results are available on our website and through the following link to our most recent quarterly results and trends: https://www.banksocal.com/about-us/financials.

About Bank of Southern California
A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, California, 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 eleven branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as a production office in 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.
Contact:
Amanda Conover
Bank of Southern California
aconover@banksocal.com
858.847.4762

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

Bank of Southern California

Quarterly Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
QuarterlyAnnual
($$ in thousands except per share data)2019 2019 2019 2019 2018
4th Qtr3rd Qtr2nd Qtr1st Qtr4th Qtr2019 2018
EARNINGS
 Net interest income$7,7367,7957,6257,6988,03130,85424,900
 Provision for loan losses$2003002003004501,0001,600
 NonInterest income$3216955194205261,9542,803
 NonInterest expense$5,5125,7115,7055,1985,27922,12518,571
 Income tax expense$7097636677718232,9102,274
 Net income$1,6361,7161,5721,8492,0056,7735,258
 Basic earnings per share$0.190.200.190.220.240.800.74
 Average shares outstanding8,578,1028,410,5228,410,5228,409,2728,402,2518,452,1047,091,176
 Ending shares outstanding9,405,1908,410,5228,410,5228,410,5228,408,0229,405,1908,408,022
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
 Return on average assets0.79%0.87%0.82%0.99%1.07%0.87%0.87%
 Return on average common equity5.93%6.37%6.02%7.30%7.91%6.39%6.57%
 Yield on loans5.23%5.44%5.59%5.66%5.63%5.47%5.39%
 Yield on earning assets4.88%5.21%5.24%5.36%5.40%5.17%5.01%
 Cost of deposits0.88%0.99%0.98%0.96%0.84%0.95%0.70%
 Net interest margin4.01%4.24%4.28%4.41%4.59%4.23%4.36%
 Efficiency ratio68.42%67.26%70.05%64.03%61.70%67.44%67.04%
CAPITAL
 Tangible equity to tangible assets12.58%10.83%11.62%11.29%11.01%12.58%11.01%
 Book value (BV) per common share$12.8112.7712.5612.3012.0612.8112.06
 Tangible BV per common share$10.8510.5610.3410.079.8110.859.81
ASSET QUALITY
 Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)$(11)36(9)(7)(0)9303
 Allowance for loan losses (ALLL)$5,3635,1534,8884,6794,3735,3634,373
 ALLL to total loans0.79%0.75%0.78%0.74%0.69%0.79%0.69%
 Loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM)$1,9062,0302,2492,4792,5941,9062,594
 ALLL and LFVCM to total loans1.07%1.05%1.14%1.14%1.10%1.07%1.10%
 Nonperforming loans$1,9112,2252,0333,2984,5741,9114,574
 Other real estate owned$0000000
 Nonperforming assets to total assets0.23%0.27%0.27%0.43%0.60%0.23%0.60%
END OF PERIOD BALANCES
 Total loans$676,655684,717623,424628,538634,651676,655634,651
 Total assets$830,186839,060766,730768,823767,948830,186767,948
 Deposits$671,914692,899632,246635,676627,816671,914627,816
 Loans to deposits100.71%98.82%98.60%98.88%101.09%100.71%101.09%
 Shareholders' equity$120,523107,400105,619103,481101,360120,523101,360
 Full-time equivalent employees979610096949794
AVERAGE BALANCES (QTRLY) | | (YTD)
 Total loans$678,015664,946623,541629,799627,544649,251495,252
 Earning assets$766,012730,165714,889707,920694,190729,844571,450
 Total assets (net of AFS valuation)$818,989783,043766,960755,842741,463781,386604,727
 Deposits$671,443641,867633,478628,950626,433644,045517,546
 Shareholders' equity$109,464106,853104,745102,707100,500105,96380,078

News from Bank of Southern California NA

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL) today reported results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. Total assets ended the year at $830 million at December 31, 2019, an increase of 8.1% compared to December 2018. Total loans increased 6.6% to $677 million and total deposits increased 7.0% to $672 million compared to the prior year as well.

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Top of Mind Co-founder Sherwood Lawrence Steps into Dual Role as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Creative Officer

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced Sherwood Lawrence will take on the role of chief marketing officer in addition to his current position as chief creative officer.

Lawrence has held a number of c-suite roles since the founding of Top of Mind in 2003, including oversight of the firm's finance, technology and creative departments. As chief marketing officer, he will align Top of Mind's marketing strategy with the organization's sales and user adoption goals. Lawrence will also continue to serve Surefire clients as Top of Mind's chief creative officer.

"It's humbling to know that we've built the mortgage industry's number-one CRM almost exclusively by letting our clients' successes speak for themselves," said Lawrence. "Yet we've been hearing from our clients, partners and industry friends that it's time for us to be more vocal about the great work we do together.

Since 2003, we've been creating customers for life by combining an intelligent marketing automation platform, a vast creative library of content, and an ever-evolving array of capabilities and integrations to fully engage customers along their entire customer journey," continued Lawrence. "It's my pleasure to take on this new role and share with the market more broadly how Top of Mind and its partners continue to help our clients win every day. You'll be hearing a lot more from us in 2020."

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks (https://www.topofmind.com) has grown from a bootstrapped post-close, follow-up solution into the leading CRM/marketing automation firm in the mortgage industry. Their Surefire platform is widely regarded as the gold standard in enterprise CRM, automating best practice throughout a borrower's prospect-to-repeat-customer lifecycle.

@mortgagecrm

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News from Top of Mind Networks

Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced Sherwood Lawrence will take on the role of chief marketing officer in addition to his current position as chief creative officer.

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Don Baham invited to join Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust

NASHVILLE, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Don Baham, President of Kraft Technology Group, LLC (KTG), has been invited to join Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust, an exclusive community for influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Middle Tennessee.

Don was chosen for membership by the Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust Selection Committee due to his experience, leadership and influence in the local business landscape and beyond. Don is responsible for delivering IT strategic planning and virtual CIO services, the development of client relationships, bringing new solutions to the market, and leading the strategic direction of KTG.

As an invited member, Don will contribute articles to the Nashville Business Journal website and participate alongside fellow members in Expert Panels. He will connect and collaborate with a vetted network of local leaders in a members-only directory and a private forum on the group's mobile app. Don will also benefit from leadership and business coaching, an Executive Profile on the Nashville Business Journal website, select partner discounts and services and ongoing support from the community's concierge team.

"I am honored to be selected to the Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust as the first Managed IT and Security leader to join," said Don Baham. "I'm looking forward to contributing to the community through the Trust and engaging with the other 10 leaders currently part of the group. There are so many great leaders in Nashville, it will be exciting to see this group continue to expand."

The Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust team is honored to welcome Don to the community and looks forward to helping him elevate his personal brand, strengthen his circle of trusted advisors and position him to further impact the Nashville business community and beyond.

About Business Journals Leadership Trust

Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust is a part of Business Journals Leadership Trust - a collective of invitation-only networks of influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in your community. Membership is based on an application and selection committee review. Benefits include private online forums, the ability to publish insights on bizjournals.com, business and executive coaching and a dedicated concierge team. To learn more and find out if you qualify, visit https://trust.bizjournals.com.

About Kraft Technology Group, LLC

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/ to learn more.

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News from Kraft Technology Group LLC

Don Baham, President of Kraft Technology Group, LLC (KTG), has been invited to join Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust, an exclusive community for influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Middle Tennessee.

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KROST Kicks Off the Year by Announcing Merger with BPE&H an Accountancy Corporation

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- KROST CPAs and Consultants, a firm based out of Los Angeles, has merged in BPE&H out of Woodland Hills effective January 1, 2020. Seven principals will join the leadership team at KROST, including Scott Eisner, Martin Belak-Berger, Bob Price, Phil D'Amico, Scott Gilmore; and founding BPE&H principals Jerry Block and Jane Plant. With the addition of 30 team members total, KROST's practice will expand to 200 team members firmwide and grow its presence in the thriving Woodland Hills area.

The new KROST management and staff will remain at the 21300 Victory Boulevard office until next summer when the two Woodland Hills office locations will move into a new space together. KROST has locations around the Greater Los Angeles area, including offices in Pasadena, West Los Angeles, Valencia, and Woodland Hills.

"Joining with KROST makes sense from a resource standpoint. We now have in-house recruiting and other corporate support systems to alleviate workload on our leadership so we can spend more time with our clients. The firm's industry task forces are also a great complement to our manufacturing and real estate expertise. Overall, we are thrilled about this new chapter and ready to hit the ground running," remarked former BPE&H Principal, Martin Belak-Berger.

"Merging with BPE&H made sense for us on several levels. Their mission and vision, as well as dedication to superior customer service, resonates with our core values and the principles that we stand by here at KROST. Our tax, accounting, and advisory teams will benefit from the added resources; all of which will allow us to continue to support our clients," said KROST's Managing Principal Greg Kniss.

ABOUT KROST CPAS & CONSULTANTS

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

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

News from KROST CPAs and Consultants

KROST CPAs and Consultants, a firm based out of Los Angeles, has merged in BPE&H out of Woodland Hills effective January 1, 2020. Seven principals will join the leadership team at KROST, including Scott Eisner, Martin Belak-Berger, Bob Price, Phil D'Amico, Scott Gilmore; and founding BPE&H principals Jerry Block and Jane Plant.

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LBA Ware Onboards Chris Gassel as Strategic Sales Specialist to Support Release of LimeGear Business Intelligence Platform

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, has appointed Chris Gassel as strategic sales specialist. Gassel was brought on board to support the release of LBA Ware's highly anticipated, turnkey business intelligence (BI) platform, LimeGear.

Gassel brings to bear a successful 14-year career in the residential and commercial real estate industries. Prior to joining LBA Ware, Gassel served as a loan officer at such independent mortgage banks as USA Mortgage and Paramount Bank. Before that, Gassel oversaw the development and management of hotel franchises as vice president of development for Brimark Builders. Gassel spent his early career as a commercial real estate agent at Central Realty.

"As a former originator, Chris has first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by today's lenders, making him ideally suited to introduce lenders to LimeGear's transformative BI capabilities," said LBA Ware Director of Business Development Finn Klemann. "I look forward to working in partnership with Chris to improve our customers' ability to draw insights from their own data and help them build strategies that use this knowledge to produce better operational outcomes."

"I have long been an advocate for leveraging analytics to better understand critical sales performance intelligence, such as referral sources and pull-through rates," said Gassel. "I share LBA Ware's belief that data drives performance and am thrilled to be part of the team."

About LBA Ware(TM):

LBA Ware is a leading provider of cloud-based software for mortgage lenders. Since 2008, LBA Ware has been on a mission to help mortgage companies reach new heights with software that integrates data, incentivizes performance and inspires results. Today, lenders of all sizes, including some of the nation's top producing mortgage companies, use LBA Ware's award-winning technology to enhance lender experiences and maximize the human potential within their organizations. A 2019 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company, LBA Ware is headquartered in Macon, Georgia. For more information, visit https://lbaware.com.

News from LBA Ware

LBA Ware, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, has appointed Chris Gassel as strategic sales specialist. Gassel was brought on board to support the release of LBA Ware's highly anticipated, turnkey business intelligence (BI) platform, LimeGear.

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FormFree Founder Brent Chandler Commends CFPB Proposal to Eliminate DTI, Citing Ability to Pay as a ‘Best Consumer Borrowing Risk Indicator’

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree(R) Founder and CEO Brent Chandler today responded to this week's news that Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger indicated the bureau's decision to propose amending the Ability to Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule so as to "move away" from debt-to-income (DTI) calculations as a mortgage underwriting factor:

First, I commend the CFPB for their courage to engage in thoughtful discussion of alternative methods for assessing a borrower's ability to afford a loan and calculating what is affordable for them specifically.

DTI is an archaic evaluation that has outlived its usefulness for consumers, and particularly mortgage-seeking consumers. DTI has left tens of millions of consumers in the cold because they do not meet this threshold, when in fact, based on their actual cash flows, they could afford a loan and possibly even be a superior borrower to someone who does meet it.

With the advent of and 10 years' success using digital data to dependably deliver voluntary 'source truth' on users' personal solvency or money management lifestyle, we can calculate ability to pay definitively based on residual and discretionary income.

In other words, digital financial tools allow us to clearly identify what consumers can afford based on their money management habits better and more transparently than a rigid one-size-fits-all formula. That's why ability to pay is the best consumer borrowing risk indicator.

It is gratifying that the CFPB and the powers that dictate what makes a safe and solvent loan have begun acknowledging technology as a useful tool for creating more efficient, safer, more secure, more accessible models of lending.

Our board member and close industry advisor Faith Schwartz reminds me that the myriad policy considerations driving the CFPB's proposal are not limited to technology-driven advances. While I am not blind to other considerations, I see the world through the lens of how technology is driving positive change. I am fascinated by and ardent about the doorway we are finally stepping through as an industry that lives or dies, fails or thrives, based on its ability to lend responsibly to consumers.

About FormFree

FormFree(R) is a market-leading fintech company whose revolutionary products AccountChek(R) and Passport(tm) are changing the credit decisioning landscape and encouraging lenders nationwide to incorporate a more holistic view of each borrower's financial DNA. To date, thousands of U.S. lenders and brokers have ordered millions of FormFree's patented verification reports representing over a trillion dollars in loan verifications.

FormFree delights borrowers and lenders with a paperless experience, reduces origination timelines by up to 20 days and offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and investors using a secure ReIssueKey(tm). A HousingWire TECH100(tm) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Athens, Georgia.

More information: https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

Twitter: @RealFormFree #digitalmortgage

News from FormFree

FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler today responded to this week's news that Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger indicated the bureau's decision to propose amending the Ability to Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule so as to "move away" from debt-to-income (DTI) calculations as a mortgage underwriting factor.

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Kaplan Partners Announces Nicholas DeMedio as Principal

WYNNEWOOD, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Kaplan Partners, a leading boutique executive search and talent advisory firm, today announced Nicholas DeMedio ("Nick") has joined the firm as a Principal. With more than 20 years of Executive Search, Talent Management and Human Resources experience, Nick comes from a regional Human Resources consulting firm where he oversaw the financial services executive search practice.

In this role, Nick led a number of Chief Executive Officer and C-Level searches, working directly with Boards of Directors and Executive Management teams in all facets of senior level recruiting, executive compensation and talent consulting.

Nick previously served as a senior executive at Royal Bank America, a publicly traded community bank based in suburban Philadelphia. In this key leadership role, Nick managed both strategic and hands-on initiatives of the human resources department, including executive recruiting, the design and administration of the executive and staff compensation infrastructure, management of various employee benefit programs, executive on-boarding, talent management and succession planning.

"We are thrilled to welcome Nick to the Kaplan Partners team," said Alan J. Kaplan, founder and CEO of Kaplan Partners. "His experience lends itself well to the firm's high standards for advising CEOs and boards on leadership succession, corporate governance, talent management, and enhancing diversity. Nick's combination of experiences as both a trusted advisor and human resources leader will significantly benefit our clients."

Nick holds a Bachelor of Business of Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Temple University, as well as the Senior Professional of Human Resources ("SPHR") certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

ABOUT KAPLAN PARTNERS

For 25 years, Kaplan Partners has served as strategic human capital advisors specializing in Executive Search, Board Advisory Services, and Management Assessment and Succession Planning for the nation's leading institutions, including: regional and community banks, asset management firms, private equity and venture capital firms, FinTech firms, mortgage and insurance companies, credit unions, technology companies and high growth organizations. Kaplan Partners employs a holistic approach and proven methodology to find the best solutions in support of evolving client leadership needs.

The firm works directly with CEOs, boards, and investors to identify and evaluate leadership potential, leveraging best practices in corporate governance and succession management to ensure its clients' continued success in today's demanding markets.

For more information, visit: https://kaplanpartners.com/.

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News from Kaplan Partners

Kaplan Partners, a leading boutique executive search and talent advisory firm, today announced Nicholas DeMedio ("Nick") has joined the firm as a Principal. With more than 20 years of Executive Search, Talent Management and Human Resources experience, Nick comes from a regional Human Resources consulting firm where he oversaw the financial services executive search practice.

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Scott Morrison, one of the founders of After, Inc., returns to company after sale to EPIC Holdings

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- After, Inc., the global leader in Warranty Marketing and Analytics Solutions since 2005, has just announced the return of Scott Morrison, an original founder, to lead new business development and strategic innovation for the company.

Morrison has been named Executive Vice President, and will use his extensive experience in Warranty Analytics, Warranty Marketing, and Warranty Innovation to help bring incremental revenue and cost reductions to each client's Warranty Operations.

"Scott has considerable strategic, analytical, and marketing operations knowledge and expertise. which will greatly benefit our clients, both new and existing," said Nate Baldwin, CEO of After, Inc.

Morrison has over 20 years of experience, optimizing Warranty and Service Contract profitability across many verticals, including; Automotive, Marine, Avionics, Power Sports, Power Equipment, Appliances, Consumer Electronics and Medical Devices.

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, Connecticut. and with offices in New York City, After, Inc. is part of EPIC Holdings.

News from After Inc.

After, Inc., the global leader in Warranty Marketing and Analytics Solutions since 2005, has just announced the return of Scott Morrison, an original founder, to lead new business development and strategic innovation for the company.

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EPIC Adds Kevin Melvin as Director of the firm’s Southeast Charter School Practice

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Kevin Melvin has joined the firm as Director of the firm's Southeast Charter School Practice.

Melvin will report to Joffrey Clark, EPIC's National Charter School Practice Leader. In his new position, Melvin is responsible for new business development and the design, placement, and management of property and casualty insurance programs, providing risk management strategies and solutions to Charter Schools in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

Melvin joins EPIC from F.N.B. Corporation, where he served as Vice President and Risk Management Advisor. Focused on emerging operational risk while improving the bottom line and risk profile for organizations, he coached clients through implementing effective risk management practices by looking at the total cost of risk. Melvin also spent a large part of his career with McGriff Insurance Services and BB&T.

"Kevin's extensive background supporting Charter Schools brings a wealth of knowledge and rich industry experience to the team," said Joffrey Clark. "I could not be more excited to have Kevin join us."

"We are thrilled to continue the growth of our National Charter School Practice," said KJ Wagner, EPIC's President of the Southwest Region. "This team has been built with key players who share an acute focus and background delivering strategic solutions to Charter Schools, and we're proud to keep attracting impressive talent to support the industry."

Kevin Melvin can be reached at kevin.melvin@epicbrokers.com or 704-207-5239.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Kevin Melvin has joined the firm as Director of the firm's Southeast Charter School Practice.

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Best Financial Life Launches Deliberate Money Moves Podcast

DANVILLE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Greater East Bay financial planning firm Best Financial Life announces the launch of the Deliberate Money Moves podcast. Deliberate Money Moves was developed as a new avenue to educate clients and prospects on a wide variety of money and financial wellness topics so they can discover how to make better, more beneficial decisions when it comes to their financial landscape.

"I'm always amazed by how many people I talk to, or meet with, who only experience financial planning that comes from optimizing singular strategies or revolve around a certain product," says founder and principal Joe Morgan. "This is just a tweak on your overall financial situation and nothing more. Instead, everyone should be seeking vast improvement that can be implemented and maintained across a lifetime, helping you hit all the goals you want in life.

"I'm honored for the opportunity to bring thought-provoking discussions to the airwaves in an approachable and easy-to-consume manner that will make you want to take action so you can truly live your best financial life."

Upcoming Deliberate Money Moves Episodes Include:
* Podcast Episode #01: Finding Financial Fulfillment
* Podcast Episode #02: What Do You Value?
* Podcast Episode #03: Net Worth
* Podcast Episode #04: The Truth About Your Income
* Podcast Episode #05: No Budgets for Old Dogs
* Podcast Episode #06: Optimism Is the Only Realism

Each episode will run about 10-15 minutes long, and the show will run bimonthly after our initial six-episode launch. Deliberate Money Moves is now available to listen to on Apple Podcasts and https://bestfinlife.com/podcast/.

About Joe Morgan:
Joe's work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, and in the local monthly Blackhawk Living Magazine. Joe is a recognized keynote speaker of the MedTech Conference and presenter on financial clarity. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the XY Planning Network, and the San Ramon Valley Rotary and is a graduate of Leadership San Ramon Valley. Joe is also associated with the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, CFA Institute, and the CFP Board.

About Deliberate Money Moves:
What financial situation or environment is challenging you right now? If you don't quite have the answer or don't want to say it out loud just yet, that's okay. I do, however, urge you to start at episode one and hit play. Together we will navigate and translate your financial state so you can take purposeful action with your money based on your specific needs. We will uncover your true values and motivations to develop clear goals that will ultimately help you move forward, and guide you, eliminating any unnecessary anxiety. It's time to find a quiet spot, take a deep breath, grab a pen and a piece of paper, and join me, your thinking partner. Because together, we will point you in a direction to live your best financial life and make Deliberate Money Moves.

About Best Financial Life:
While most financial planning firms provide advice and strategies geared toward certain products or services, Best Financial Life takes a different approach. As a fee-only financial advisor, Joe Morgan provides non-biased advice and conversation based on each client's specific needs. Joe translates personal finance by uncovering each client's areas of struggle and providing the knowledge, insight, and inspiration to address these pain points. Learn more: https://bestfinlife.com/

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:
Susie Hays
CMO, Q2Mark
For Best Financial Life
862-324-2921
Susie@Q2Mark.com

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0121s-joe-morgan-300dpi.jpg
Caption: Head shot of Joe Morgan.

News from Best Financial Life

Greater East Bay financial planning firm Best Financial Life announces the launch of the Deliberate Money Moves podcast. Deliberate Money Moves was developed as a new avenue to educate clients and prospects on a wide variety of money and financial wellness topics so they can discover how to make better, more beneficial decisions when it comes to their financial landscape.

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

CardTapp and Top of Mind Offer Combined Solution Aimed at Improving Loan Officer Productivity and Lead Response Time

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- CardTapp, your always-on digital assistant, today announced an integration with Surefire by Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry. The integration brings together Surefire's new Power Calls capability with CardTapp's digital assistant solution to increase loan officer productivity and enable speedier borrower outreach.

CardTapp's digital assistant technology connects loan officers, referral partners and borrowers to simplify communications and deliver services just in time. Surefire's new Power Calls feature improves the speed and ease with which loan officers reach out to borrowers, enabling them to convert more leads into loans.

Surefire's modern tech stack enables a rich, bidirectional connection between the two applications, with fully automated delivery of a loan officer's personal CardTapp app to potential borrowers as leads arrive in Surefire.

The integration also supports CardTapp's simplified referral system. Referrals generated in CardTapp are automatically incorporated into Surefire, eliminating the time and potential for error associated with manual data entry.

"The integration between CardTapp and Top of Mind exemplifies the passion both our companies have for exceeding customer expectations and equipping loan officers with tools that both maximize conversion in the short term and contribute to repeat business and referrals for higher lifetime customer value," said Top of Mind Chief Product Officer David Orisini.

"Understanding borrower behavior prior to any mortgage transaction is at the heart of CardTapp," said Ben Brashen, CardTapp's CEO. "Our integration with Surefire by Top of Mind allows companies to leverage that understanding to create more meaningful interactions between consumers and loan officers, ultimately improving the customer experience and closing more deals."

About CardTapp:

CardTapp's mission is to empower individuals and businesses to build stronger personal connections and facilitate mutually beneficial business relationships. We work with sole proprietorships, small businesses, and sales professionals, as well as sales team managers, executives, and enterprises looking for ways to empower their businesses. Our technology provides business leaders with the ability to set themselves apart, close more business, and serve their customers better. For more information, visit https://www.cardtapp.com/.

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks (https://www.topofmind.com) has grown from a bootstrapped post-close, follow-up solution into the leading CRM/marketing automation firm in the mortgage industry. Their Surefire platform is widely regarded as the gold standard in enterprise CRM, automating best practice throughout a borrower's prospect-to-repeat-customer lifecycle.

News from Top of Mind Networks

CardTapp, your always-on digital assistant, today announced an integration with Surefire by Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry. The integration brings together Surefire's new Power Calls capability with CardTapp's digital assistant solution to increase loan officer productivity and enable speedier borrower outreach.

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Top of Mind Elevates Jonas Kruckeberg to Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relationships

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced it has elevated Jonas Kruckeberg to executive vice president of strategic partnerships and industry relationships.

After leading Top of Mind's sales function for more than eight years, Kruckeberg will step into a more strategic role with a focus on partner and industry relations and brand ambassadorship. In this position, he will work with industry associations, lender cooperatives and mortgage technology vendors to build out a robust partner ecosystem that benefits Top of Mind clients.

Before joining Top of Mind, Kruckeberg spent nearly a decade as a mortgage loan officer and branch manager serving customers in Southern California at such independent mortgage banks as Watermark Home Loans and First Priority Financial (later acquired by Caliber Home Loans).

"Top of Mind's best-in-class experience would not be the same without our strategic relationships with leading-edge vendors and industry partners," said Kruckeberg. "I look forward to nurturing these vital relationships for the benefit of our clients and their customers."

"Jonas' insight into lenders' needs, his strong representation of the Top of Mind brand and his reputation as an effective, genial working partner make him a shoe-in for developing and strengthening our partner relationships," said Top of Mind CEO Bill Hayes. I am proud of Jonas' contributions to Top of Mind and congratulate him on this career advancement."

About Top of Mind Networks:

Founded in 2003, Atlanta-based Top of Mind Networks (https://www.topofmind.com) has grown from a bootstrapped post-close, follow-up solution into the leading CRM/marketing automation firm in the mortgage industry. Their Surefire platform is widely regarded as the gold standard in enterprise CRM, automating best practice throughout a borrower's prospect-to-repeat-customer lifecycle.

News from Top of Mind Networks

Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, today announced it has elevated Jonas Kruckeberg to executive vice president of strategic partnerships and industry relationships.

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LBA Ware Releases 2019 LO Compensation Report

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, today released summary statistics on the state of mortgage industry compensation in 2019. The firm's analysis of year-over-year data from its CompenSafe(TM) ICM platform reveals compelling trends about how mortgage lenders nationwide are managing commissions for loan originators (LOs).

Methodology

LBA Ware reviewed account data for mortgage lenders that used CompenSafe to automate incentive compensation management for the full calendar years 2018 and 2019. The controlled, sample dataset consisted of retail, first-lien production from LOs that funded at least six loans in one of the calendar years. The LO commissions were for a wide range of large and small lenders across the United States, comprised of 68 percent independent mortgage companies, 27 percent banks and 5 percent credit unions.

Key Findings
* The sample group funded significantly more loans in 2019 than 2018, with the total number of closed loans up 18.28% and total loan volume up 29.44% year-over-year. Together, these unit and volume gains resulted in an additional 31.42% in LO commissions paid in 2019 vs. 2018.

* The average base commission earned by LOs in 2019 was 93.912 basis points, on par with 2018's average of 93.114. After accounting for commission tiers and minimum/maximum caps, LOs earned an average of 102.089 basis points per loan in 2019 compared with 2018's average of 100.594 basis points, an average increase of 1.49 basis points per funded loan.

* The average 2019 loan amount was $259,652, up 9.43% year-over-year. This higher average loan amount helped push the average LO commission per loan from $2,332 to $2,591 (an 11.11% year-over-year increase).

* Loan originators continue to account for the lion's share of compensation expenses, with LO commissions accounting for 69% of lenders' total incentive compensation expenditure.

* Overall LO employment was nearly flat for our sample group from 2018 to 2019, with the total number of LOs on payroll down a mere 0.14% year-over-year.

"Despite speculation that lender efforts to reduce operational costs would include curbing loan originator commissions in 2019, our analysis shows that base commission for LOs did not significantly change from 2018 to 2019," said LBA Ware founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "This data implies that lenders may not get serious about reducing LO commissions until they're in significant financial pain, which isn't predicted to happen until later in 2020, when refinance volume is expected to wane."

About LBA Ware(TM):

LBA Ware is a leading provider of cloud-based software for mortgage lenders. Since 2008, LBA Ware has been on a mission to help mortgage companies reach new heights with software that integrates data, incentivizes performance and inspires results. Today, lenders of all sizes, including some of the nation's top producing mortgage companies, use LBA Ware's award-winning technology to enhance lender experiences and maximize the human potential within their organizations. A 2019 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company, LBA Ware is headquartered in Macon, Georgia. For more information, visit https://lbaware.com.

News from LBA Ware

LBA Ware, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and business intelligence software solutions for the mortgage industry, today released summary statistics on the state of mortgage industry compensation in 2019. The firm's analysis of year-over-year data from its CompenSafe ICM platform reveals compelling trends about how mortgage lenders nationwide are managing commissions for loan originators (LOs).

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

Papa and Priority Health Announce Strategic Partnership Launch to Offer Senior Citizens More Freedom to Age in Place

MIAMI, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Papa Inc., a nationwide provider for seniors and caregivers announced today its newest partnership with Priority Health. Papa will provide "Grandkids On-Demand" for Priority Health's PriorityMedicare Edge(SM) and PriorityMedicare Ideal(SM) Medicare Advantage plan members. The launch went live January 1, 2020 and it will be the only insurance plan in Michigan to cover services for seniors such as transportation, technology services and companionship to qualified members.

This partnership will improve senior citizen's mental health and help reduce loneliness and social isolation to allow seniors to age in place.

"We are thrilled to partner with Priority Health and help support their Medicare Advantage PriorityMedicare Edge and PriorityMedicare Ideal members in Michigan for their needs as they age in place," said Founder and CEO Andrew Parker. "The partnership is exciting for both organizations."

Aging in place is becoming more popular with senior citizens. A recent survey from AARP (*see note 1) showed that roughly 90% of American seniors wish to live at home for as long as possible. The downside to aging in place is the social isolation it brings. A recent poll from The National Poll on Health Aging (*see note 2) found that more than a quarter of its respondents said they only had social contact once a week, or less, with family members they don't live with, friends and neighbors. Papa's partnership with Priority Health will give seniors more care and companionship.

"We are excited to be the first health plan in Michigan to provide the unique services which Papa provides," said CEO of Priority Health Joan Budden. "Most people are not used to a health care plan that provides in-home assistance to this degree, which is creating excitement in our Medicare community."

About Papa

Papa is a Miami startup that has Grandkids On-Demand who provides assistance and companionship to senior citizens throughout Florida, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois, and Kansas. Papa launched their service in January of 2018. For more information, visit https://www.joinpapa.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/join_papa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joinpapa/

About Priority Health Plan

With over 30 years in business, Priority Health is the second largest health plan in Michigan, offering a broad portfolio of health benefit options for employer groups and individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Serving more than a million members each year, and offering a network that includes 97 percent of primary care physicians in Michigan, Priority Health continues to be recognized as a leader for quality, customer service, transparency and product innovation. Priority Health is the smart choice for people seeking affordable, quality health insurance.

Sources:
*NOTE 1: AARP1: https://states.aarp.org/virginia/home-matters-survey
*NOTE 2: Healthy Aging Poll2: http://www.healthyagingpoll.org

News from Papa Inc.

Papa Inc., a nationwide provider for seniors and caregivers announced today its newest partnership with Priority Health. Papa will provide "Grandkids On-Demand" for Priority Health's PriorityMedicare Edge and PriorityMedicare Ideal Medicare Advantage plan members.

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EPIC Launches New National Specialty Practice: Asset Lifecycle Management

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants announced today the launch of a national specialty practice, Asset Lifecycle Management, providing risk consulting and risk transfer solutions focused on clinical and electronic equipment. Large healthcare systems, major universities, and financial institutions rely on electronic equipment to conduct daily operations.

EPIC is a leading provider of equipment maintenance management programs. EPIC's approach reduces a client's cost of maintaining a portfolio of equipment while delivering improved equipment performance, reduced downtime, enhanced internal customer satisfaction.

The EPIC team led by Managing Principals, John Bowman and Tony Gerrato, have extensive industry experience and technical expertise. "We are vendor neutral and recognize that it is critical to custom design our solutions to fit the unique needs of each customer. We use our knowledge and industry expertise to make certain that our clients receive the best value at the right price," said Tony Gerrato.

The EPIC Asset Lifecycle Management approach replaces multiple service agreements and extended warranties with one agreement that costs less and is more flexible than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements. The team provides a single point of contact for managing service events and our solution delivers coverage that includes the cost associated with parts, labor, travel, emergency repair, and preventative maintenance.

Scott Davis, President of EPIC's National Specialty Practice, said, "We are fortunate to have expertise of this caliber within EPIC bringing solutions to our clients and protecting their businesses."

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Holdings, Inc. is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform. The firm's core retail insurance brokerage business, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, now has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to EPIC clients.

EPIC 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 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, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

News from EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants announced today the launch of a national specialty practice, Asset Lifecycle Management, providing risk consulting and risk transfer solutions focused on clinical and electronic equipment. Large healthcare systems, major universities, and financial institutions rely on electronic equipment to conduct daily operations.

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