Category Archives: Finance

TRID and Loan Package Documentation Defects Comprise Over 68 Percent of Reported Defects

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of financial quality control and compliance software, announced it has released the ARMCO Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report for the fourth quarter of 2016 and calendar year 2016.

Some of the report's noteworthy findings include:
* Over 68 percent of defects reported in 2016 involved TRID-related and/or loan package documentation issues
* The benchmark Critical Defect Rate increased slightly, from 1.27 percent in Q3 2016 to 1.50 percent in Q4 2016
* In fourth quarter 2016, purchase transactions among the subject group comprised 51 percent of the benchmark data, up from 48 percent in the previous quarter

"The data suggests lenders are getting more adept at complying with critical TRID-related issues. However, new areas of concern are beginning to spring up and an early correlation can be linked to a more purchase-focused market," said Phil McCall, COO of ARMCO. "Lenders need to learn from their own defects if they want to protect themselves against compliance-related issues, but they also need to stay apprised of changing trends if they want to mitigate the increased risk of fraudulent activity that is inherent with a purchase-driven market."

Each quarter, ARMCO releases the ARMCO Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report, which is based on post-closing quality control loan data captured by the company's ACES Analytics benchmarking software. The ACES Analytics benchmarking dataset includes post-closing quality control data from over 65 lenders, comprising more than 75,000 unique loans selected for random full-file reviews. Defects are categorized using the Fannie Mae loan defect taxonomy. The company issues a one-year analysis for the calendar year with each fourth quarter Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report.

Each ARMCO Mortgage QC Industry Trends report includes easy-to-read charts and graphs, a summary that outlines ARMCO's overall findings, a breakdown of defect rates for each Fannie Mae loan defect category, and a short conclusion. The current and previous reports also contain an analysis of the top credit-related critical defects, which is now a regular feature of the report.

To obtain a copy of the report, please visit http://www.armco.us/knowledge/mortgage-qc-industry-report-2016-q4.

About ARMCO:
ARMCO - ACES Risk Management delivers web-based audit technology solutions, as well as powerful data and analytics, to the nation's top mortgage lenders, servicers, investors and outsourcing professionals. A trusted partner devoted to client relationships, ARMCO offers best-in-class quality control and compliance software that provides U.S. banks, mortgage companies and service providers the technology and data needed to support loan integrity, meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk and drive positive business decisions.

ARMCO's flagship product, ACES Audit Technology(tm), is available at any point in the mortgage loan lifecycle, to any size lender, and is user-definable. ACES standardizes audit requirements, ties pre-funding reviews to post-closing quality control audits, enables seamless trend analysis, identifies credit, compliance and process deficiencies and helps create manageable action plans.

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

ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), the leading provider of financial quality control and compliance software, announced it has released the ARMCO Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report for the fourth quarter of 2016 and calendar year 2016.

Kiel Mortgage Selects ReverseVision RVX Loan Origination Software to Support Expansion of Its HECM Division

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, today announced that Kiel Mortgage has chosen RV Exchange (RVX) loan origination software (LOS) to power its home-equity conversion mortgage (HECM) division.

Founded three decades ago by a husband-and-wife team, Kiel Mortgage is a privately-held mortgage lender serving three states in the Pacific Northwest region. After originating a handful of HECMs over the years, Kiel Mortgage Co-founder Laura Kiel decided to add HECMs as a permanent part of Kiel Mortgage's product line and created a reverse lending division under her supervision.

"Even before establishing our reverse mortgage division, we were originating a few HECMs per year. With each transaction, we saw how helpful this product is and how much comfort and peace of mind it brings to borrowers," Kiel said. "Once HUD revamped the HECM program to offer even greater borrower benefits and security, we knew HECMs would become an important opportunity for many people over the age of 62 and decided to establish a specialty in reverse mortgages."

Committed to educating the Pacific Northwest on all things HECM, Kiel makes a monthly appearance on "Aging Options," a radio show that focuses on a wide range of issues affecting seniors. Hosted by an elder law attorney, "Aging Options" is the number one-rated Saturday morning radio program in the Seattle area. In addition, Kiel Mortgage hosts its own weekly radio show on Sundays to educate listeners on the Seattle-area housing market and answer questions on real estate financing options, including HECMs.

"As both a dedicated originator of HECM loans and passionate advocate for borrower and industry education, Kiel Mortgage represents the very best in reverse mortgage lending. We are thrilled to help facilitate their growth in the reverse mortgage space," said ReverseVision Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel. "With product-specific technology from ReverseVision, Kiel Mortgage is well placed to continue expansion of its reverse mortgage division and offer seniors in the Pacific Northwest options for purchasing a home or aging in place comfortably."

RVX, ReverseVision's flagship product, provides a single platform in which all participants in the reverse mortgage lifecycle can connect to exchange documents and data for each part of the origination process. The system also encompasses functionality to power a lender's entire reverse mortgage operations, including point-of-sale, processing, underwriting, funding, post-closing and secondary marketing.

"All of the investors we work with use RVX, so it made total sense for us to deploy it as our reverse LOS. We didn't even consider another option," Kiel said.

To support Kiel Mortgage's implementation of RVX, ReverseVision's Professional Services team conducted on-site installation and training at the lender's Renton, Washington, headquarters over the course of two days.

Having recently expanded its reverse mortgage division to include dedicated personnel in California, Kiel says the company plans to add additional staff in Oregon to support its HECM origination efforts.

"Reverse mortgages are truly an emerging market; it's a specialized product that requires dedicated attention and care," Kiel added. "Thanks in part to our education efforts, we're seeing a dramatic, positive shift in the perception of reverse mortgages in our area."

About ReverseVision:

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

A 2017 HousingWire TECH100(TM) company, ReverseVision has also been recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500(TM) listing. ReverseVision's annual user conference, the only event of its kind in the industry, brings together more than 200 lenders, vendors and educators each year to advance reverse mortgage lending. The company continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements aimed at boosting users' reverse mortgage volume, workflow efficiency and data analysis capabilities.

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

About Kiel Mortgage:

Headquartered in Renton, Washington, Kiel Mortgage is a privately-held mortgage lender that has been originating mortgages in the great Pacific Northwest for over three decades. Its highly trained and supportive team members are committed to building strong client relationships by listening to individual needs and shaping mortgage programs that are specifically tailored to meet individual needs and goals.

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

ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, today announced that Kiel Mortgage has chosen RV Exchange (RVX) loan origination software (LOS) to power its home-equity conversion mortgage (HECM) division.

IDS Builds Mortgage Document Preview Feature for LendingQB Integration

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has incorporated a new document preview feature into its integration with LendingQB's cloud-based loan origination solution (LOS). The feature allows LendingQB users to preview mortgage documents, such as the Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure, before they are submitted to fulfillment, enabling lenders to spot and correct errors prior to the creation of the final document.

"When it comes to executing compliant, error-free mortgage transactions, the stakes are higher than ever. Quite often, lenders are drawing fresh sets of documents each time a change is made because they have no other recourse for ensuring that changes are reflected accurately in the final document," said Mark Mackey, vice president of IDS. "The document preview feature with LendingQB enables our mutual customers to see how changes will affect the final document in real time, eliminating the need to draw multiple docs or doc packages and reducing the probability of an outdated or incorrect document making it to the final document package."

As a result of the 'lights out' integration between LendingQB and IDS, users are able to preview docs from the idsDoc system directly within the LendingQB platform. Preview docs are displayed as a PDF, the same format in which the final document package is delivered, but with a "SAMPLE" watermark, ensuring that the preview document cannot be mistaken for the final document.

"Accurate generation of mortgage documents is really the primary goal of any LOS," said Tim Nguyen, president of LendingQB. "That is why the preview feature with IDS is so important. It provides our lenders with another tool to mitigate errors in the document generation process, saving them a significant amount of time and money throughout the closing process and beyond. IDS has been a key partner of ours for several years, and we're happy to see them innovate in ways that provide tangible benefits to our mutual clients."

About LendingQB:

LendingQB is a provider of Lean Lending solutions. The Lean Lending solution consists of a 100 percent web browser-based, end-to-end mortgage loan origination system, best of breed integrations with key industry partners and "Adoptimization" services that result in faster cycle times and lower costs per loan. For more information, please call 888-285-3912 or visit http://www.lendingqb.com.

About IDS, Inc.:

IDS, a Reynolds and Reynolds company, was founded in 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a nationwide provider of mortgage documents and compliance. IDS services include electronic signatures, 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. (http://info.idsdoc.com/)

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has incorporated a new document preview feature into its integration with LendingQB's cloud-based loan origination solution (LOS). The feature allows LendingQB users to preview mortgage documents, such as the Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure, before they are submitted to fulfillment.

EPIC Insurance Presents CSRA SHRM Strategic Session

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it will host the CSRA SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Mini Conference on Thursday, June 8 from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at The Legends Club in Augusta, Georgia.

At the strategic session, experts from EPIC will discuss the latest news and trends in human resources and employee benefits consulting and compliance.

Chief Actuary Davin Millholland will provide insight on better ways to measure and manage your company's healthcare spend. Director of Employee Benefits Compliance Carl Pilger will discuss what impact the Trump administration is having on benefits, tax and employment compliance.

HR and Benefits Technology Specialist Mimi Bush will provide an update on the HR and benefits technology landscape. Senior Benefits Consultant Jim Baker will provide a carrier update on what the major healthcare underwriters are doing and what questions you should be asking.

Click here to RSVP to the event: http://www.csrashrm.org/index.php/events/rsvp?eventId=9&controller=event&task=individualRegister

About the Society for Human Resource Management CSRA SHRM Chapter:

As a SHRM affiliated local chapter in Augusta, GA, CSRA SHRM strives to provide a forum for personal and professional development for members by offering quality programming, networking opportunities, community resources and current information that may impact state, federal and national human resource management issues. Information: http://www.csrashrm.org/.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With roughly $280 million in run rate revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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*Photo Caption: EPIC's Davin Millholland, Carl Pilger, Mimi Bush and Jim Baker will share their knowledge and expertise.

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Twitter Tags: @EPIC_Insurance #EPICCSRASHRM #CSRASHRM

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it will host the CSRA SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Mini Conference on Thursday, June 8 from 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at The Legends Club in Augusta, Georgia.

EPIC Insurance Expands and Strengthens Six Year Relationship with California New Car Dealers Association

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, and the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) jointly announced today that CNCDA has expanded their relationship with EPIC, appointing the insurance broker/consultant as their exclusive licensed broker to provide health and welfare insurance consulting to CNCDA members across the state.

EPIC was previously the CNCDA appointed health and welfare insurance broker/consultant in Northern California only, and this new agreement extends their reach and responsibilities to CNCDA members across Southern California, as well.

According to Brian Maas, CNCDA's President, "EPIC has consistently offered outstanding service and value to our members and has demonstrated a strong commitment to the association since we began working together in 2011. As the CNCDA-licensed broker in California, EPIC will continue to provide dealers with the help they need to navigate the increasing complexity of the California health insurance market."

John Connell, EPIC's West Region President, Employee Benefits said, "We are pleased and honored to have Brian Maas and his team at the CNCDA recognize the strength of our partnership and commitment to their members by further expanding our relationship in this way. The entire EPIC organization will work hard every day to continue earning the trust, respect and confidence of CNCDA and their members across California."

About the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA):
The California New Car Dealers Association is the country's largest state association of franchised new car and truck dealers representing over 1,100 dealer members. CNCDA members are primarily engaged in the retail sale and lease of new vehicles, and also engage in automotive service, repair and part sales. CNCDA promotes fair and ethical business practices through a wide range of educational programs, services and industry publications. Learn more about CNCDA at: http://www.cncda.org/.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit: http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

Twitter Tags: @CNCDA @EPIC_Insurance #EPICCNCDA

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, and the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) jointly announced today that CNCDA has expanded their relationship with EPIC, appointing the insurance broker / consultant as their exclusive licensed broker to provide health and welfare insurance consulting to CNCDA members across the state.

DocMagic’s SmartCLOSE and Total eClose Solutions Receive ALTA ‘Elite Provider’ Designation

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it has been accepted into the Elite Provider Program for American Land Home Title Association (ALTA).

Applicants to the ALTA Elite Provider Program must provide their five most recent balance sheets demonstrating the company's financial stability and a list of ten references. Each is assessed based on its financial strength, its commitment to the overall industry, its national distribution capabilities, and reference checks with existing customers.

Acceptance into this program means that DocMagic now joins an elite group of premier service providers that promote the highest industry standards and benefits for the title and settlement services industry. In addition, as an Elite Provider DocMagic is now able to offer all ALTA members various discounts on its solutions and services.

"This designation underscores DocMagic's mission to deliver critical, robust technology solutions that address complex compliance issues and needs for both lenders and title companies," said Tim Anderson, director of eServices at DocMagic. "ALTA's rigorous vetting process and high standards mirror DocMagic's own internal guidelines, and we're pleased not only to be named to the Elite Provider Program, but also to demonstrate the soundness of our solutions and our practices to the title community."

DocMagic's solutions, which are currently being leveraged by the title and settlement services industry, deliver a comprehensive, easy-to-use collaboration system for live fee data exchange and paperless eClosing between lender and title systems. To date, solution adoption has been well-received and continues to gain momentum.

Key initiatives that helped make DocMagic an ALTA Elite Provider:
* SmartCLOSE(TM) - a robust collaborative closing portal for TRID compliance that connects lenders, settlement provider and other real estate entities to ensure that all data is accurate, complete and compliant before documents are drawn.

* Total eClose(TM) - a comprehensive digital mortgage solution that ensures all documents (not just the final CD) are completed consistently, compliantly and more efficiently, which greatly increases loan funding turn times by reducing any post-closing trailing docs and potential buy back issues.

* Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) approved technology - DocMagic is now certified by both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to deliver copies of the borrower CD and XML data at the time of closing, as well as any data changes made 90 days after closing.

DocMagic' solutions have been proven to solve the title and settlement services industries' mounting challenges regarding data integrity, document versioning, process accuracy and compliance via real-time collaboration tools and final approval by lenders. Data updates are automatically validated inside DocMagic's industry-leading compliance engine to ensure that clients are always within tolerance thresholds; final documents cannot be generated until all conditions are cleared.

DocMagic will be attending the 2017 National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) being held June 7-9 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. To arrange a meeting with DocMagic at the show, contact Tim Anderson at 904-608-3966 or tim@docmagic.com.

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance, eSign, eDelivery and comprehensive eMortgage services for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy.

For more information on DocMagic, visit http://www.docmagic.com/.

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

DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it has been accepted into the Elite Provider Program for American Land Home Title Association (ALTA).

FormFree Names Douglas Brewer Director of its Enterprise Architecture

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree today announced the appointment of senior software developer Douglas Brewer to the role of director of enterprise architecture. Brewer, who first joined FormFree in 2014, will be responsible for managing the retention and growth of FormFree's software development team, overseeing enterprise software design and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of software updates.

An experienced architect of custom software, web-based user interfaces and APIs, Brewer specializes in signal processing, machine learning and other enabling technologies that rely on advanced algorithms and mathematical models to analyze data. Prior to joining FormFree, Brewer loaned his programming expertise to companies in diverse industries ranging from manufacturing to e-commerce to traffic control and spent five years as co-owner of BlackBox Software. He earned his bachelor's degree and doctorate, both in computer science, from the University of Georgia.

"Doug has been the powerhouse behind FormFree's technology assets as we've built out game-changing solutions for our customers," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "His commitment to quality, creativity and leadership has been integral to the innovations we've brought to market as well as those still under development."

FormFree's flagship product, AccountChek, is an automated asset verification app that streamlines the loan underwriting process for both borrowers and lenders, reducing the time it takes to close loans and resulting in higher borrower satisfaction.

"Thanks to its founders' vision, leading FormFree development team has been a gratifying professional challenge and opportunity," said Brewer. "It is not every day that you have a chance to change the world."

About FormFree:

Leading lenders trust FormFree's automated verification solutions that streamline the loan origination process and provide better intelligence on borrowers' ability to repay. FormFree's flagship app, AccountChek(R), eliminates the hassle of collecting paper statements from borrowers by using direct-access data untouched by human hands to consolidate, analyze and verify assets. AccountChek securely delivers automated asset verification data and on-demand reports to more than 350 leading U.S. lenders. A HousingWire TECH100(TM) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information, visit http://www.formfree.com/.

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FormFree today announced the appointment of senior software developer Douglas Brewer to the role of director of enterprise architecture. Brewer, who first joined FormFree in 2014, will be responsible for managing the retention and growth of FormFree's software development team, overseeing enterprise software design and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of software updates.

Industry Veteran Joins Mortgage Technology Vendor, LBA Ware

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lending and retail banking, announced it has hired Finn Klemann as director of business development. In this role, Klemann will bring his more than 20 years of business development and sales experience in forging new relationships for LBA Ware in the financial services industry, with a specific focus on targeting growth in the mortgage industry.

"With the mortgage industry on the cusp of true digital transformation, now is the time for LBA Ware to expand its footprint in order to deliver innovation to the industry's back-office processes, like LO compensation," said Lori Brewer, founder of LBA Ware. "Finn's deep background in mortgage technology, coupled with his extensive experience in financial services business development, make him the ideal candidate to lead LBA Ware's next phase of growth."

Prior to joining LBA Ware, Klemann was vice president of sales for the Northeast territory at LoanLogics, a mortgage technology and outsourced services provider. Klemann has also held several high-level sales positions with financial services companies such as Interthinx (now First American Mortgage Services), Ascendant Capital Partners, Haverford Financial Services, Envestnet and Lincoln Financial Distributors.

"In the decade since I first entered this space, I've observed the mortgage industry's gradual transition into the digital world, and with solutions like CompenSafe and LOS Talker, LBA Ware is well positioned to deliver efficiency and process optimization to the back-office side of the mortgage transaction," Klemann said. "As Director of Business Development, I look forward to uncovering new opportunities for growth for LBA Ware and nurturing its existing relationships."

About LBA Ware:

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Macon, Ga., LBA Ware is a leading provider of mortgage and retail banking technology solutions. With over 25 lending-oriented applications still in operation today, LBA Ware provides cutting edge solutions that leverage automation and system integration to ease the pain points of repetitive manual workflow, empowering lenders to maximize productivity and operational efficiency.

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

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*PHOTO Caption: Finn Klemann to head business development at LBA Ware.

LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lending and retail banking, announced it has hired Finn Klemann as director of business development. In this role, Klemann will bring his more than 20 years of business development and sales experience in forging new relationships for LBA Ware in the financial services industry, with a specific focus on targeting growth in the mortgage industry.

EPIC Insurance Kicks Off 2017 Energy Forum in Houston

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today the successful launch of their 2017 Energy Forum in Houston and that they will host two additional Energy Forum presentations in Dallas and Oklahoma City next week.

EPIC's Ascende Division, their southwest regional hub and the premier benefit consultant for the oil and gas industry, kicked off its annual Energy Forum roadshow in Houston on Thursday, May 25 moments after OPEC announced it would extend the status quo an additional nine months-curbing oil output until the end of March 2018.

The event attracted 50 different energy companies for a total showing of nearly 200 HR executives and consultants.

The EPIC Energy Forum provides HR professionals in the energy industry the opportunity to learn the results of EPIC's annual Energy Acumen Employee Benefit Plan Survey and network with their peers facing similar market challenges. The Energy Acumen survey is the leading source of benefits benchmarking information for the oil and gas industry and provides sector-specific reports, as well as a unique report on international assignee benefits to companies that participate in EPIC's Global Employee Benefit Plan Survey.

In addition to a detailed overview of EPIC's employee benefit plan survey data, Houston attendees also heard from a panel of HR executives representing Archrock, Diamond Offshore and Pioneer Energy Services, who candidly discussed key HR issues impacting energy companies.

Employers use the survey's benchmarking data to gauge where their company stands among peer companies in the industry, leveraging the survey's reported trends to support their strategies with executive leadership.

"The first words out of my CEO's mouth when we talk benefits strategy is 'What is the market doing?'" said Jane Johnapelus Munoz, director of Global Employee Services at Diamond Offshore. "The second question out of my CEO's mouth is 'Are we going to hit the Cadillac Tax, and when?'"

The panel also encouraged putting heightened focus on employee retention, since no one can afford to lose key talent. The key is communicating each employee's total rewards and not failing to promote benefit offerings that help your company stand out, panelists noted.

By using the survey's benchmarking data to realign HR programs and benefit strategies so that they offer better value to employees at a lower cost, companies can make more meaningful decisions employees will appreciate.

"2017 may not be the year of growth, but for us, it's the year of the employee," said Sharon Paul, VPHR at Archrock. "Give your savings back to your employees. This year, we put our savings back into our employees' pocket by increasing HSA contributions and lowering premiums."

EPIC's Carl Pilger, director of Employee Benefits Compliance Services also delivered an ACA compliance update to a crowd of HR executives who agreed they'd rather keep compliance issues in their broker or consultant's hand so they can divert attention back to their employees.

Companies who weren't able to make the kickoff presentation in Houston are encouraged to join EPIC in Dallas - Fort Worth, Texas on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Hilton - Arlington or in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Thursday, June 8 at 3 p.m. at the Tasting Room.

Click here to RSVP to the event: http://go.epicbrokers.com/l/322651/2017-05-03/34yb.

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0308-epic-insurance-300dpi.jpg

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today the successful launch of their 2017 Energy Forum in Houston and that they will host two additional Energy Forum presentations in Dallas and Oklahoma City next week.

Skyline Financial Corp. Lays Groundwork for New Reverse Mortgage Division with Technology, Training from ReverseVision

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, has forged a partnership with Skyline Financial Corp. (Skyline Home Loans and NewLeaf Lending) to support the lender's growing reverse mortgage division with RV Exchange (RVX) loan origination technology and RV University (RVU) training programs.

One of the nation's top 50 mortgage lenders and a leading national issuer of Ginnie Mae securities, Skyline has originated a modest number of FHA-insured home-equity conversion mortgages (HECMs) over the years, mostly on a hybrid correspondent basis. According to industry veteran and recently appointed Division Vice President Joe Renner, Skyline is now ready to focus on becoming a full-fledged reverse mortgage lender.

"The home-equity conversion mortgage is often overlooked as a viable home-equity alternative, and it's especially underutilized as a means of purchasing a home. By growing our retail efforts and expanding HECM products to our wholesale channel, we can better serve the needs of Skyline customers," said Rinner. "Getting the right technology and training from ReverseVision was our first step."

ReverseVision's RVX serves as a centralized exchange, connecting all participants in the lifecycle of a reverse mortgage and allowing them to log in to a single system to share documents and information for each part of the loan process. The system encompasses everything from point-of-sale, processing and underwriting to funding, post-closing and secondary marketing.

"ReverseVision is proud to support a lender of Skyline's size and influence in making HECM loans available to more consumers," said Wendy Peel, vice president of sales and marketing for ReverseVision. "Skyline serves as the model for how large lenders can leverage an established network of traditional loan officers to create a thriving reverse mortgage line of business."

ReverseVision also offers live and online training programs through its RVU education platform, including a three-day course specifically designed to help companies like Skyline that have yet to establish their own HECM training accelerate the origination process.

Patrick Trolley, a mortgage planner and senior account executive with Skyline and NewLeaf, attended ReverseVision's accelerated loan originator training in April. An experienced traditional lender, Tromley had no specific knowledge of reverse mortgage lending. He enrolled in the training not only to springboard his own HECM origination efforts, but to better support his network of broker clientele.

"It was a great experience. I learned a lot and left the training feeling confident enough to line up two leads within a week," said Tromley. "I would recommend this training to anyone who is contemplating getting into the HECM space."

About ReverseVision:

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

A 2017 HousingWire TECH100(TM) company, ReverseVision has also been recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500(TM) listing. ReverseVision's annual user conference, the only event of its kind in the industry, brings together more than 200 lenders, vendors and educators each year to advance reverse mortgage lending. The company continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements aimed at boosting users' reverse mortgage volume, workflow efficiency and data analysis capabilities.

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

About Skyline Home Loans/NewLeaf Lending:

Skyline Financial Corp. is a full-service, direct mortgage lender based in Calabasas, California. It operates as a retail lender under the name of Skyline Home Loans and is in the wholesale space as NewLeaf Lending. Consistently ranked one of Mortgage Executive Magazine's top 50 mortgage companies, Skyline has been in business for over 30 years. With more than 40 branches throughout the nation and nearly 600 employees, the company's mission statement is to" put the power of the home mortgage in the hands of our customer, through human connection, trust and our intelligent mortgage platform."

To learn more, visit https://www.skylinehomeloans.com/ and http://www.newleafwholesale.com/.

ReverseVision, the leading provider of software and technology for the reverse mortgage industry, has forged a partnership with Skyline Financial Corp. (Skyline Home Loans and NewLeaf Lending) to support the lender's growing reverse mortgage division with RV Exchange (RVX) loan origination technology and RV University (RVU) training programs.

ACSIA Partners Offers Decision Funnel for Quick and Easy Long-Term Care Choices

KIRKLAND, Wash. /ScoopCloud/ -- Many Americans spend hours investigating long-term care options online, only to come away confused and dispirited. Now there's another way to go. It's a by-phone Decision Funnel designed to cut through the complexity. Offered by ACSIA Partners, the service will be delivered by real human specialists, not phone robots.

Available in all states, the specialists are licensed long-term care agents trained to cut through the confusion, make choices clear, and leave it at that. ACSIA Partners is one of the nation's largest long-term care insurance agencies.

Going quickly down the Decision Funnel, "Our specialists will be in educator mode, not sales mode," says Denise Gott, the company's CEO. "They will quickly determine whether LTC protection is called for, and if it is, what kind might make sense. Then the call will end, often in just minutes."

If information about specific financial instruments is desired, it may be supplied on a subsequent call, according to Gott.

Depending on individual needs and financial circumstances, the instruments may be:
* Traditional long-term care insurance
* A variety of products offering long-term care riders
* Savings, such as a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account.

The by-phone Decision Funnel sessions are available in all states for consumers, financial advisors on behalf of their clients, and companies exploring LTC protection for their employees.

Decision Funnel sessions may be requested at (866) 471-4072.

About ACSIA Partners:

ACSIA Partners LLC -- https://www.acsiapartners.com/ -- is one of America's largest and most experienced long-term care insurance agencies serving all states. The company is also a co-founder and sponsor of the "3in4 Need More" campaign, which encourages Americans to form a long-term care plan.

*IMAGE for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0531s2p-acsia-funnel-300dpi.jpg
*Image Caption: Decision Funnel service from ACSIA Partners.

Many Americans spend hours investigating long-term care options online, only to come away confused and dispirited. Now there's another way to go. It's a by-phone Decision Funnel designed to cut through the complexity. Offered by ACSIA Partners, the service will be delivered by real human specialists, not phone robots.

Simplifile E-Recording Network Now Available in 15 Midwestern, Western Jurisdictions

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has expanded its industry-leading e-recording network to include 15 additional recording jurisdictions across the Western and Midwestern United States.

"E-recording continues to gain momentum as more settlement agents and recording jurisdictions are realizing the time- and cost-saving benefits and the positive impact on borrower and lender satisfaction that e-recording provides," said Paul Clifford, president of Simplifile.

"With the addition of these new jurisdictions, Simplifile continues its efforts to expand the availability of e-recording nationwide."

The new jurisdictions are:
* Butte County, Calif.
* Carroll County, Ind.
* Saginaw County, Mich.
* Murray County, Minn.
* Sainte Genevieve County, Mo.
* Williams County, Ohio
* Brook County, Ore.
* Gilliam County, Ore.
* Lake County, Ore.
* Malheur County, Ore.
* Sherman County, Ore.
* Corson County, S.D.
* Moody County, S.D.
* Hot Springs County, Wyo.
* Park County, Wyo.

As members of the Simplifile e-recording network, which is the largest in the nation, settlement agents in these jurisdictions can now electronically submit documents directly to the county recording office via Simplifile's secure e-recording service. Within minutes, the county recorder is also able to review, stamp, record, and return documents electronically through the Simplifile system. The secure platform also reduces errors and eliminates check-writing costs by allowing settlement agents to electronically pay recording fees and other associated expenses.

Throughout the United States, more than 1,622 county recording offices now electronically record deeds, mortgages, and other documents electronically using Simplifile. For a current list of all jurisdictions within the Simplifile e-recording network, visit https://simplifile.com/e-recording-counties.

About Simplifile:

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

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has expanded its industry-leading e-recording network to include 15 additional recording jurisdictions across the Western and Midwestern United States.

More Than Two Thirds of Americans Not Prepared for Disability

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The average American Fidelity Assurance Company long-term disability is nearly three years. Even though one in five adults experiences a long-term disability, most Americans are ill-prepared to cover expenses if they are unable to work (note 1). The average American could not cover a $400 emergency without selling some of their possessions and 69 percent have less than $1,000 in savings (notes 2, 3).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings of full-time workers in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $849 (note 4). Based on that weekly earning amount, workers would need $132,444 in savings to cover the lost income from the average long-term disability claim length of three years. On top of that, they would need funds to cover any medical expenses not covered by major medical insurance and their co-pay and/or deductible.

American Fidelity provides Disability Income Insurance to help protect Customers if they can't work due to a covered injury or sickness. It provides steady benefits to cover expenses, paying a percentage of the Customer's gross monthly earnings. American Fidelity provides disability insurance and many other supplemental benefits through employers in the education, municipal, auto and healthcare industries.

One teacher recently learned of the benefits of Disability Income Insurance as she prepared for surgery. "I was so surprised to find that my benefits would cover my extended recuperation even though it was summer time. Teachers don't take the summer 'off,' as they have mandatory trainings, planning sessions and continuing education classes. Unfortunately, my medical condition was going to make me ineligible for these salary earning opportunities. Having surgery is very stressful. The fact that I did not face financial worries at the same time is priceless." Deborah Sullivan, Seneca Valley High School, Germantown, Maryland.

Learn more about Disability Income Insurance at: https://americanfidelity.com/for-individuals/employee-benefits/disability-insurance/.

About American Fidelity:
American Fidelity Assurance Company is a supplemental benefits provider with a focus on offering a different opinion for Customers in education, municipality, auto retail and healthcare. It serves more than 1 million Customers across 49 states. More information can be found at https://americanfidelity.com/.

American Fidelity has earned an "A+" (Superior) from the A.M. Best Company since 1982. One of the nation's leading insurance company rating services, A.M. Best conducts a strict review process for financial stability every year.

American Fidelity has recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America" by global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work(R) and Fortune Magazine 11 times.

The Company was also selected for several other lists by Fortune in the past year, including, Best Workplaces in Finance and Insurance, Best Companies for Giving Back, Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces for Diversity and the Human Capital 30: Companies that Put Employees Front and Center.

Contact:
Lindsey Sparks
Senior Public Relations Specialist
Lindsey.Sparks@americanfidelity.com
405-523-5901

Melody Wortmann
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications, Creative Services and Culture
Melody.Wortmann@americanfidelity.com
405-523-5979

NOTES -- Sources:
1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, April 20, 2015 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/features/key-findings-community-prevalence.html
2. Federal Reserve, May 2016 https://www.federalreserve.gov/2015-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201605.pdf, page 9
3. GOBankingRates.com Survey 2016 https://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/data-americans-savings/
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan. 24, 2017 https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

ESB-5796-0517

The average American Fidelity Assurance Company long-term disability is nearly three years. Even though one in five adults experiences a long-term disability, most Americans are ill-prepared to cover expenses if they are unable to work (note 1). The average American could not cover a $400 emergency without selling some of their possessions and 69 percent have less than $1,000 in savings (notes 2, 3).

Mid America Mortgage Purchases eNote from First eClosing Transaction in North Carolina

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has purchased the eNote from North Carolina's first eMortgage transaction. The transaction, which was completed entirely electronically on May 5, was a refinance for a property in Winston-Salem and was executed by Hickory-based North State Bank. Upon completion of the closing, Mid America was able to purchase the resulting eNote within one business day after receiving the final loan package.

In a statement issued on May 9, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said: "This was our first North Carolina eClosing. It is not our last. We want this to become a regular option for lenders and their customers because of the many advantages eClosing offers versus the slower, traditional paper-based system.... We stand ready to work with all other North Carolina lenders to get them up to speed on this. One thing we all noted during this closing was that even though we tried to make it into a real ceremony -- it was still so fast and easy that we had a hard time not being finished in just a few moments."

"Given Mid America's desire to see full eClosings implemented nationwide, we were happy to play a role in this transaction by serving as the investor for this deal," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode.

"We launched our eCorrespondent division with the specific intent of converting emerging mortgage bankers to eClosings and purchasing their eNotes. Having also implemented eClosings in our retail division, we've seen first-hand how eClosings can reduce errors in the closing process, resulting in lower origination costs and more satisfied borrowers. With origination volume expected to decline this year, now is the time for lenders to get on board with eClosings."

"As Secretary Marshall noted, eNotarization is an essential component in moving not just mortgages, but all legal filings, into the digital age," Bode added. "As such, Mid America has been working closely with the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association to move the Texas Remote Notary bill through the state legislature, and we feel confident that eNotarization will soon become legal in the state of Texas."

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. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, most recently with its adoption of electronic mortgage closings (eClosings) and promissory notes (eNotes). 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.

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.midamericacareer.com/.

Additional information about Mid America Mortgage, Inc. can be found on the company's website at http://www.midamericamortgage.com/about/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0802-jeff-bode-300dpi.jpg

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has purchased the eNote from North Carolina's first eMortgage transaction. The transaction, which was completed entirely electronically on May 5, was a refinance for a property in Winston-Salem and was executed by Hickory-based North State Bank. Upon completion of the closing, Mid America was able to purchase the resulting eNote within one business day after receiving the final loan package.

Simplifile Adds 14 Counties in American Northeast to Its E-Recording Network

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has added more than a dozen new recording jurisdictions in five states across the American Northeast to its e-recording network, the nation's largest.

"The Northeastern United States is home to some of our nation's oldest counties and most established recording offices, with property records dating back hundreds of years," said Paul Clifford, president of Simplifile.

"It's a privilege to help settlement agents and recorders in these storied jurisdictions transition to a more modern system of recording that is more efficient and less costly - both in terms of time and money - for all participants."

The 14 new jurisdictions are:
* Town of Brooklyn, Conn.
* Town of Cromwell, Conn.
* Town of Salisbury, Conn.
* Town of Southbury, Conn.
* Town of Warren, Conn.
* Anne Arundel County, Md.
* Queen Anne's County, Md.
* Cambria County, Pa.
* Huntingdon County, Pa.
* Belknap County, N.H.
* Chemung County, N.Y.
* Columbia County, N.Y.
* Fulton County, N.Y.
* Schenectady County, N.Y.

Effective immediately, settlement agents in these jurisdictions can scan and submit documents directly to the county recording office using Simplifile's secure, web-based e-recording service. In just minutes, the county recorder can review, stamp, record, and return documents to the settlement agent using the same electronic system. Settlement agents can also pay recording fees and associated payments securely through the Simplifile service, reducing payment errors and eliminating check-writing costs.

More than 1,622 county recording offices throughout the United States now record deeds, mortgages, and other documents electronically using Simplifile. For an up-to-date list of all jurisdictions currently e-recording with Simplifile, visit https://simplifile.com/e-recording-counties.

About Simplifile:

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

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has added more than a dozen new recording jurisdictions in five states across the American Northeast to its e-recording network, the nation's largest.

Hoge Fenton Introduces Student Loan Repayment Benefit for Associates

SAN JOSE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Hoge Fenton, a leading Northern California law firm, announced today that they have signed on with Boston-based Gradifi, the industry's first provider of the Employer SLP Plan(TM) (Student Loan Paydown Plan) to introduce a new benefit for its associate attorneys: financial assistance with student loans.

Hoge Fenton is the first law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area to join the ranks of other progressive companies, including PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in taking on our nation's student loan debt crisis.

Gradifi's SLP Plan(TM), announced in 2015, gives businesses the opportunity to help put a dent in the $1.3 trillion student loan problem. Companies contribute directly - through structured and secure channels - towards their employees' student loan principal each month, which can take years off loan balances. Beginning in June 2017, Hoge Fenton will supplement eligible associates' regular student loan payments with a monthly contribution through the Gradifi-managed SLP Plan(TM).

"With the high cost of living in Silicon Valley, our associates experience more financial pressures than their peers in other parts of the country. And after four-plus years of college and three years of law school, student loans often account for a significant portion of their overall debt," commented Grace Carr Lee, Hoge Fenton's Executive Director. "By supplementing the payments on our associates' loans, Hoge Fenton can help them retire those loans more quickly. It's one small but meaningful way in which we can help."

"The burden of having student debt has an indisputable impact on the financial stability of an employee, not to mention the paralyzing effect loans have on the overall economy," said Tim DeMello, Gradifi founder and CEO. Hoge Fenton's move to offer Gradifi's SLP Plan as a benefit shows their commitment to helping alleviate that burden for its associates, as well as exhibiting leadership for others to follow suit to tackle this national crisis."

ABOUT HOGE FENTON:
Hoge Fenton is a multi-service law firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, with highly focused practitioners who can meet most of its clients' ongoing needs. As a member of Mackrell International, a premier network of independent law firms in 60 countries, the firm's reach extends around the world. Mackrell International has been named a Top Ranked Chambers Global Leading Law Firm Network. More information: http://www.hogefenton.com/ and http://www.mackrell.net/.

About Gradifi:
Gradifi is a best-in-class employer-based student loan repayment solution aimed at tackling the nation's $1.3 trillion student loan debt problem. Gradifi helps employers attract and retain talent by enabling them to make direct contributions to their employees' student loans, accelerating the pay-off of the debt. Acquired by First Republic Bank (NYSE:FRC) in 2016 and based in Boston, Gradifi is a pioneer of this employee benefit and the SLP Plan(TM) (Student Loan Paydown). To learn more about Gradifi, visit https://www.gradifi.com/ or https://twitter.com/gradifi.

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0524s2p-gcarr-300dpi.jpg
*PHOTO Caption: Grace Carr Lee, Hoge Fenton's Executive Director.

Hoge Fenton, a leading Northern California law firm, announced today that they have signed on with Boston-based Gradifi, the industry's first provider of the Employer SLP Plan(TM) (Student Loan Paydown Plan) to introduce a new benefit for its associate attorneys: financial assistance with student loans.

Ann Fulmer Joins FormFree as Chief Strategy and Industry Relations Officer

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree(R) today announced that it has hired mortgage loan quality subject matter expert and analyst Ann Fulmer as its chief strategy and industry relations officer. FormFree's flagship product, AccountChek(R), is an asset verification app that streamlines the loan underwriting process for both borrowers and lenders, resulting in higher borrower satisfaction and shaving more than a week off the time it takes to close a loan.

In her role, Fulmer will drive FormFree's strategic planning and implementation, manage the firm's institutional relationships and interactions with federal and state regulators and oversee outreach to industry associations and advocacy groups. In addition, she will spearhead the firm's long-term development of a comprehensive mortgage compliance solution.

"Ann Fulmer has been a FormFree friend and advisor for years, so we already know that she is a tremendous asset with unmatched expertise in data-driven loan quality methodologies," said FormFree Founder and President Brent Chandler. "Her role is integral as we implement strategies for building even greater value and functionality into AccountChek and explore further asset-related innovations in consumer lending."

A nationally recognized strategist, thought leader, speaker and author specializing in data integrity, fraud and federal/Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulatory compliance in mortgage loan originations, Fulmer has been a mortgage industry mainstay for more than 17 years.

Most recently, Fulmer was vice president of industry relations and strategy for First American Mortgage Solutions following its 2014 acquisition of mortgage fraud solutions provider Interthinx, a groundbreaking data and analytics innovater she joined in 2005. Previously, Fulmer built her grassroots mortgage fraud expertise in metro Atlanta in her roles as DeKalb County district attorney and in the county's tax assessor's office, where she helped develop metrics to identify mortgage fraud in property transactions.

"Thanks to the maturation of augmented intelligence and other digital solutions that automate data-intensive processes, the mortgage industry is poised to solve some of its most deeply-rooted challenges, and FormFree has led the way with its AccountChek asset verification app already transforming both the borrower and lender experience," said Fulmer. "Given my decades-long obsession with risk management and fraud mitigation in mortgage lending, joining FormFree as an employee feels a lot like coming home."

About FormFree(R):

Leading lenders trust FormFree's automated verification solutions that streamline the loan origination process and provide better intelligence on borrowers' ability to repay. FormFree's flagship app, AccountChek(R), eliminates the hassle of collecting paper statements from borrowers by using direct-access data untouched by human hands to consolidate, analyze and verify assets. AccountChek securely delivers automated asset verification data and on-demand reports to more than 350 leading U.S. lenders. A HousingWire TECH100(TM) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information, visit http://www.formfree.com/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0522s2p-formfree-300dpi.jpg

FormFree(R) today announced that it has hired mortgage loan quality subject matter expert and analyst Ann Fulmer as its chief strategy and industry relations officer. FormFree's flagship product, AccountChek(R), is an asset verification app that streamlines the loan underwriting process for both borrowers and lenders, resulting in higher borrower satisfaction and shaving more than a week off the time it takes to close a loan.

EPIC Insurance adds Broker/Producer Nick Pedisich

CONCORD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Nick Pedisich has joined the firm as a Transportation Industry-focused insurance broker/producer. Pedisich will be responsible for new business development and the design and management of insurance and risk management programs for transportation clients and those in related industries. He will be based in EPIC's Concord, Calif. office and report to Curt Perata, President of EPIC's Pacific North Region.

Prior to joining EPIC, Pedisich spent almost 10 years with Paul Hanson Partners Transportation Insurance in Napa, Calif., where he was part of the commercial insurance sales and service teams providing risk management solutions to transportation, warehousing and logistics companies across California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.

Pedisich attended the University of California Santa Barbara prior to completing his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing at California State University - Sacramento.

Said Curt Perata, "We are excited to add another dynamic young professional to our growing operations here in Northern California and the West. Nick's energy, knowledge of the transportation industry, strong consulting skills and customer service orientation will be of considerable value to the EPIC clients we serve."

Nick Pedisich can be reached at:
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
nick.pedisich [at] epicbrokers.com
925-822-9154 - Direct
707-344 6401 - Mobile.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,000 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With roughly $280 million in run rate revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com.

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0522s2p-Pedisich-300dpi.jpg

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Nick Pedisich has joined the firm as a Transportation Industry-focused insurance broker/producer.

Jordan & Jordan Announces Separation from John Powter Insurance Agency

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Linda Jordan ended her business partnership with Powter Insurance, and launched Product Liability Specialty, LLC doing business as Jordan and Jordan Insurance Group. This structural change will have little to no impact on daily business operations with the agency. Any correspondence and checks will continue to bear the Jordan & Jordan name, as they always have.

"We are excited to begin this new chapter in the life of the agency, and look forward to a bright future," said Alison Roberts, Agency Manager.

Linda requests all business partners to please update the mailing address on file for Jordan & Jordan to show our current address: 16801 Addison Rd, Suite 300, Addison, TX 75001, and any necessary paperwork be forwarded to Alison Roberts at ar@j-jins.com.

We appreciate your assistance in this time of transition, and we look forward to more profitable years together.

"Reliable Protection is the key to prosperity."

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Alison Roberts at 972-398-6222 or email at ar@j-jins.com.

Website: http://jordanjordaninsurance.com/.

Linda Jordan ended her business partnership with Powter Insurance, and launched Product Liability Specialty, LLC doing business as Jordan and Jordan Insurance Group. This structural change will have little to no impact on daily business operations with the agency. Any correspondence and checks will continue to bear the Jordan & Jordan name, as they always have.

IDS Receives Certification from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac for Its UCD XML File

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced its Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) XML file has been certified to meet all UCD requirements by both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ahead of the GSE's September 25 deadline for UCD delivery. To have its UCD XML file certified by the GSEs, IDS underwent an extensive testing process to ensure the dataset was delivered in a GSE-acceptable format.

"With the implementation deadline for UCD looming, we knew we wanted to get ahead of the changes to ensure our clients have a seamless transition once implementation is required, and having our XML file certified by the GSEs is a major step in that direction," said Mark Mackey, vice president and general manager of IDS. "To be the first mortgage document vendor to have its XML file certified by the GSEs is a testament to IDS's commitment to keeping our clients ahead of the compliance curve and enhance their ability to deliver defect-free loan documents and data."

According to the GSEs, the UCD "is a component of the Uniform Mortgage Data Program(R) (UMDP(R)), an ongoing effort by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at the direction of our regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to provide a common industry dataset to support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Closing Disclosure."

Beginning this fall, lenders selling to the GSEs will be required to submit the XML file, which includes a PDF copy of the Closing Disclosure (CD), prior to delivery of the final loan package for all loans with a Note Date on or after September 25, 2017. In this initial phase, the GSEs will only require the borrower CD and associated data. After a year, lenders will then have to provide the seller CD and associated data in the UCD file as well. The UCD XML file created by IDS is already capable of embedding and delivering the CD and data for both the borrower and the seller.

"The aim of the UCD is to provide the mortgage industry with consistency, clarity and transparency - all of which are also long-held goals for the mortgage industry - so this is one of the few instances where change is welcome," Mackey added. "IDS has always strived to provide our clients with strong LOS integrations to deliver a uniform experience that maintains the integrity of the data being exchanged, and the UCD simply helps us take that enterprise to the next level."

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 electronic signatures, 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. Information: http://info.idsdoc.com/.

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced its Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) XML file has been certified to meet all UCD requirements by both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ahead of the GSE's September 25 deadline for UCD delivery. To have its UCD XML file certified by the GSEs, IDS underwent an extensive testing process to ensure the dataset was delivered in a GSE-acceptable format.

Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage Reports Stellar Customer Satisfaction Results

RIVERSIDE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage, a division of Finance of America Mortgage, announced today the findings from its Q4 2016 customer satisfaction surveys. Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage is a long-time lender within the home building and REALTOR(R) industry. The latest survey results included 138 responses with an overall average score of 92.9 percent for the lender.

The survey is administered by Eliant Inc., and asks respondents if the mortgage company explained the loan process and document requirements, provided timely responses to questions, was reliable and met commitments, and kept the applicant informed of loan status without him or her having to ask.

Respondents are also asked about timely notification of funds and documents needed for closing and if they would recommend this lender to a friend.

"Our home buyers and builders need a lender they can count on," said Todd Waterson, Vice President, Builder Division at Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage. "Customer service is an integral part of our business model."

"In the builder space, we have a lot of possible scenarios, so we need faster communication and a high degree of confidence in our ability to do the loan. As a division of Finance of America Mortgage, we're able to deliver on both," added Waterson.

"Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage provides mortgage financing for a large number of our home buyers and we're very pleased with their performance," said Jay Moss, Chief Marketing Officer, Woodside Homes. "Woodside Homes is committed to providing the knowledge, high quality experience, and processes that our customers deserve and Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage consistently delivers that same commitment," added Mr. Moss.

About Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage:

Since inception in 1985, Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage's success is focused on providing the builder and realtors and their clients with service, fulfillment, products and competitive rates. With offices in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Riverside, Calif., Roseville, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage services home builders and home buyers throughout California and Nevada. NMLS# 1071. Equal Housing Opportunity.

More information: https://pacificsunbeltmortgage.com/.

About Woodside Homes:

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Woodside Homes is a privately held company and one of America's top 30 homebuilders. The company has built more than 40,000 homes across the U.S., with current operations in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah -- earning the trust and confidence of families who seek the very most from their homeownership experience. More information: http://www.woodsidehomes.com/.

Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage, a division of Finance of America Mortgage, announced today the findings from its Q4 2016 customer satisfaction surveys. Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage is a long-time lender within the home building and REALTOR industry. The latest survey results included 138 responses with an overall average score of 92.9 percent for the lender.

DocMagic’s Total eClose Solution Facilitates First State Sponsored eClosing in North Carolina

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it completed North Carolina's first 100 percent paperless eClosing. The DocMagic-driven eClosing was completed on Friday, May 5th at North State Bank and was carried out in the presence of borrowers Jason and Karen Boccardi, the North Carolina Secretary of State, a closing paralegal, an eNotary, and members of the media who documented the historical event.

Attorneys from the Hunoval Law firm attended via interactive video. The entire eClosing took only about 20 minutes to complete.

DocMagic's Total eClose(TM), which contains all the components to facilitate a fully compliant, 100 percent paperless digital closing, served as the single platform that enabled the entire transaction. eNotarization was facilitated by long-time DocMagic strategic partner World Wide Notary (WWN).

DocMagic facilitated four of the five statewide-first eClosings, as well as the CFPB's eClosing pilot program. The North Carolina eClosing was part of a state sponsored eClosing Pilot Program that was established in 2016 by North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall to create a best practices guide for mortgage lenders seeking the heightened security, speed and efficiency of eClosings.

North State Bank is the only lender in North Carolina, and one of only a handful of lenders nationwide, to have successfully completed a 100 percent paperless eClosing. The eNote was registered on the MERS eRegistry and made available to Mid America Mortgage, the investor in the transaction-within minutes of being executed by the borrowers.

Unlike hybrid systems that still require various documents to be papered-out, DocMagic's eClosing system enables a 100 percent paperless process-this means that the eClosing requires zero paper from any party whatsoever, including documents requiring notarization.

"There's a big difference between 100 percent paperless eClosings, and semi-paperless eClosings when it comes to quality, speed, security and efficiency," stated Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Together, DocMagic and our partner World Wide Notary provided the most comprehensive, advanced technology solution to enable the safest, highest quality, fastest, most efficient experience-not only for the borrowers, but also for the lender, investor, and every settlement services provider at the closing table."

"This was our first North Carolina eClosing; it is not our last. We want this to become a regular option for lenders and their customers because of the many advantages eClosing offers versus the slower, traditional paper-based system," Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said in a statement.

Secretary of State Marshall has been a leading advocate for modernizing traditional business practices in North Carolina to better compete at the national and international levels.

"We're proud to have been selected by the state of North Carolina to participate in this historic event and to work with progressive lenders like North State Bank who are moving the industry forward into a faster, safer and more efficient closing process," said Iannitti. "We're looking forward to further supporting Secretary of State Marshall's efforts to elevate the competitiveness of businesses in North Carolina."

DocMagic's digital mortgage suite includes all the critical components required to execute a 100% paperless eClosing transaction. The single-source platform creates a highly-efficient, transparent and fully compliant eClosing process that guides users through every step, logs all activities and creates an irrefutable audit trail.

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance, eSign, eDelivery and comprehensive eMortgage services for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy.

For more information on DocMagic, visit http://www.docmagic.com/.

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

DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it completed North Carolina's first 100 percent paperless eClosing. The DocMagic-driven eClosing was completed on Friday, May 5th at North State Bank and was carried out in the presence of borrowers Jason and Karen Boccardi, the North Carolina Secretary of State, a closing paralegal, an eNotary, and members of the media who documented the historical event.

AccountChek by FormFree Automates Asset Verification for Users of Black Knight Financial Services’ LoanSphere Empower Loan Origination System

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree(R) today announced the direct integration of its AccountChek(R) automated asset verification service with the LoanSphere(R) Empower(R) loan origination system (LOS) offered by Black Knight Financial Services, a leading provider of integrated technology, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries.

LoanSphere Empower enables lenders to originate both first mortgages and home equity loans and lines of credit on a single system, improving data integrity and security, significantly reducing errors and eliminating the need for duplicate entry associated with managing multiple systems. The seamless integration with AccountChek provides LoanSphere Empower users the ability to verify and share asset and deposit information with their lenders in seconds without uploading bank statements.

"One of the many ways LoanSphere Empower helps lenders remain competitive is through seamless integrations with industry leading capabilities like AccountChek," said Jerry Halbrook, president of Black Knight's Origination Technologies and Enterprise Business Intelligence divisions. "Automated asset verification through AccountChek can reduce the loan approval process by days."

AccountChek was the first asset verification provider approved for participation in Fannie Mae's Day 1 Certainty(tm) initiative, which gives lenders that use the Desktop Underwriter(R) (DU(R)) Validation Service reps and warrants relief for validated components of a loan. The AccountChek integration with LoanSphere Empower enables users to benefit from the reps and warrants relief available with this program.

AccountChek streamlines the loan underwriting process for both borrowers and lenders, resulting in quicker decisions and higher borrower satisfaction. The mobile-optimized asset verification app securely connects with virtually any financial institution to consolidate, analyze and verify assets and deposits, delivering a safe and hassle-free experience for borrowers and greater purchase certainty for lenders.

"Black Knight shares our belief that a better borrower experience can co-exist with a more efficient, accurate and profitable lending workflow," said FormFree Founder and President Brent Chandler, who addressed attendees of Black Knight's 2017 Information Exchange in Orlando on April 24. "With AccountChek, LoanSphere Empower users relieve their customers of the burden of manual document submission while benefitting from the speed and accuracy of systematized asset review and analysis."

About FormFree(R):

Leading lenders trust FormFree's automated verification solutions that streamline the loan origination process and provide better intelligence on borrowers' ability to repay. FormFree's flagship app, AccountChek(R), eliminates the hassle of collecting paper statements from borrowers by using direct-access data untouched by human hands to consolidate, analyze and verify assets. AccountChek securely delivers automated asset verification data and on-demand reports to more than 350 leading U.S. lenders. A HousingWire TECH100(tm) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit http://www.formfree.com/.

About Black Knight Financial Services, Inc.:

Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:BKFS) is a leading provider of integrated technology, data and analytics solutions that facilitate and automate many of the business processes across the mortgage lifecycle.

Black Knight Financial Services is committed to being a premier business partner that lenders and servicers rely on to achieve their strategic goals, realize greater success and better serve their customers by delivering best-in-class technology, services and insight with a relentless commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity and leadership. For more information on Black Knight Financial Services, please visit http://www.bkfs.com.

FormFree(R) today announced the direct integration of its AccountChek(R) automated asset verification service with the LoanSphere(R) Empower(R) loan origination system (LOS) offered by Black Knight Financial Services, a leading provider of integrated technology, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries.

EPIC Insurance adds Reba Mathew, Pharm.D., R.Ph to Employee Benefits Consulting Pharmacy Practice

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Reba Mathew Pharm.D., R.Ph has joined the firm's Employee Benefits Consulting Practice as Pharmacy Practice Director.

Dr. Mathew will be based in Houston, Texas and will report to Cliff Caldwell, Chief Operating Office of Ascende - a Division of EPIC.

Dr. Mathew completed her Managed Care Pharmacy Residency with one of the largest Medicare health plans. During her residency she worked on several pharmacy initiatives such as medication therapy management, pay for performance, and quality improvement.

In addition to residency, Dr. Mathew has worked as a clinical pharmacist in both the hospital and retail setting. Her significant clinical experience led her to the pharmacy consulting practice for two of the world's largest brokerage services, managing nearly $250 million annually in pharmacy benefits.

Dr. Mathew was able to achieve significant clinical goals for her clients, including improvement in generic dispensing rates and medication adherence, implementation of customized and standard utilization management programs and formularies, and reduction in total pharmacy spend.

Said Cliff Caldwell, "We are pleased and excited to have Reba join Robin Rankin R. Ph in leading our Pharmacy Practice team and the Ascendent Pharmacy Coalition. Her knowledge, depth of experience and strong, client-focused consulting skills deepen and strengthen the resources and services available to EPIC clients across the country."

Dr. Reba Mathew can be reached at:
Ascende - a Division of EPIC
Office: 832-476-8454
Mobile: 713-515-8058
reba.mathew@epicbrokers.com
rmathew@ascende.com

About the Ascendent(R) Pharmacy Coalition:

Launched in 2002, the Ascendent(R) Pharmacy Coalition brings the power of a purchasing coalition to mid-market clients looking for a more effective means of delivering transparent pharmacy pricing and discounted rates. Participants in the coalition realized over $100 Million dollars in savings in 2016.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,000 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With roughly $280 million in run rate revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dave Hock
650-295-4608
dave.hock@epicbrokers.com

Nicole Conley
408-295-4309 x104
nicole.conley@taniscomm.com

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0516s2p-Reba-Mathew-300dpi.jpg

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Reba Mathew Pharm.D., R.Ph has joined the firm's Employee Benefits Consulting Practice as Pharmacy Practice Director.

William Reyes Joins Wholesale Trading Insurance Services in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Wholesale Trading Insurance Services, LLC (WTIS) announced today that industry veteran William Reyes has joined the firm as Director/Casualty Broker in Laguna Niguel, Calif.; he will work in conjunction with the firm's principal office in San Francisco.

"With over 17 years in casualty broking and underwriting throughout California and the Western U.S., Bill brings WTIS and its retail broker-clients significant experience and knowledge of all facets of complex casualty brokerage. In addition, his expertise in real estate, construction, distribution and hospitality are recognized by the key carriers that participate in those sectors," said Kristopher Bauer, President of WTIS.

Reyes joins WTIS from Risk Placement Services, where he was a Senior Vice President and worked for over twelve years. Prior to his tenure at RPS, Reyes was a senior property and casualty underwriter at Chubb.

WTIS is a privately-held wholesale insurance broker created and managed by industry veterans whose goal is to better align the business interests of the retail broker, the wholesaler and insurance carriers for the benefit of the buyer. WTIS has substantial expertise in Property, Casualty and Professional/Management Liability. WTIS is a JenCap Holdings Company.

For more information about WTIS, visit: http://wtisllc.com/.

About JenCap Holdings, LLC:
JenCap Holdings is a consolidator of specialty insurance distribution and program management businesses, including managing general agencies, specialty program underwriters, transactional wholesale brokers and captive managers. JenCap Holdings will drive organic growth and strategic acquisitions leveraging technology and advanced data analytics. JenCap Holdings is headquartered in New York.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Les Ross, of WTIS
415-442-8502
lross@wtisllc.com

Nicole Conley
650-422-3156
nicole.conley@taniscomm.com

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0215s2p-wtis-300dpi.jpg

Wholesale Trading Insurance Services, LLC (WTIS) announced today that industry veteran William Reyes has joined the firm as Director/Casualty Broker in Laguna Niguel, Calif.; he will work in conjunction with the firm's principal office in San Francisco.

The Mortgage Collaborative Welcomes LaNette Holley as Director of Strategic Initiatives

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's only independent mortgage cooperative, announced the hiring of LaNette Holley as their Director of Strategic Initiatives.

"Adding LaNette to our team further enhances our ability to create innovative solutions that will benefit our lender member's ability to compete more effectively in today's market," said Jim Park, CEO of The Collaborative. "LaNette brings hands-on industry experience and a genuine passion for the housing industry to the team."

LaNette Holley comes to The Mortgage Collaborative with over 25 years of experience in the area of mortgage lending. As Director of Strategic Initiatives, LaNette will help lead The Collaborative's efforts to continue to creatively expand the benefits of membership that the cooperative network delivers to its originating members.

Prior to joining TMC, Holley served for 15 years at Fannie Mae in many different aspects of their account management team. Prior to this most recent role, she spent six years as a mortgage loan originator and four years working as a processor and an underwriter.

LaNette maintains active involvement with several charities, including the Alzheimer's Association, Autism Speaks, March of Dimes, and the Children's Home & Aid Society.

The cooperative network also recently announced the dates and locations for their next two Lender Member Conferences, which will be held August 20-23, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. and February 11-14, 2018 in San Diego, Calif. The conferences provide The Collaborative's Lender Members a unique opportunity to interact with top industry leaders and to attend and participate in compelling educational and peer-to-peer networking sessions. Details on their recent and upcoming conferences can be found at www.mortgagecollaborative.com.

About The Mortgage Collaborative:

Based in San Diego, Calif., The Mortgage Collaborative was founded in 2013 to empower mortgage lenders across the country with better financial execution, reduced costs, enhanced expertise and improved compliance and to help its members access the dynamic and changing consumer base in America. The association is managed by its founding members: John Robbins, CMB; David Kittle, CMB; Gary Acosta, CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP); and Jim Park, former chair of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). Robbins and Kittle are former chairmen of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA).

For more information, visit http://www.mortgagecollaborative.com/.

The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's only independent mortgage cooperative, announced the hiring of LaNette Holley as their Director of Strategic Initiatives. Holley comes to The Mortgage Collaborative with over 25 years of experience in the area of mortgage lending.

DocMagic and BeSmartee Integrate, Creating a Fast, Fully Digital Application Process for Borrowers

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it completed an integration with BeSmartee, a leader in mortgage automation technology.

This integration creates a seamless connection between the two technologies, which fulfill the first two major events in the eMortgage process: online borrower application and electronic delivery of disclosures. Via this integration, DocMagic and BeSmartee are enabling borrowers to complete a loan application and receive disclosures in a matter of minutes, rather than the days or weeks that is typical with manual processes. Once the application is complete, disclosures are automatically created and presented to the borrower for electronic signature, with no additional effort by the lender.

"eMortgages offer better speeds, security, quality and accuracy, which translate to a better borrower experience and more efficient, economical operations for the lender," said Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "This integration further escalates those benefits by allowing two great technologies to operate at their peak collaborative performance."

BeSmartee connects borrowers and lenders directly with providers that instantly validates the borrower's income, asset and credit information, such as the IRS, financial institutions, and credit bureaus. The technology's auto-population feature helps borrowers complete the application in a fraction of the time, while its validation feature provides lenders with vetted information for a faster underwriting process.

DocMagic technology saves time by generating a fully-compliant electronic disclosure package based on the borrower's information in a matter of minutes, rather than the days it takes with even the fastest manual processes. That package is then instantly presented to the borrower, who can review and execute the documents on-screen, once again reducing a traditionally days-long process to minutes.

"A true eMortgage uses no paper at all. It's a start-to-finish electronic process that requires collaboration among certain technology providers," said Iannitti. "DocMagic is proud to be the solution that connects not only those technologies, but also all of the entities that use them, to enable a truly electronic process. It's great to partner with progressive companies like BeSmartee who are helping to make eMortgages possible."

"The BeSmartee/DocMagic integration avails a level of speed that the industry hasn't experienced before but that, as more lenders discover its impact on sales and operations, more borrowers will come to expect," states Tim Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of BeSmartee. "Together, we're delivering the type of speed and service that Millennials have come to expect, which is key to securing new business from this coveted group of borrowers."

About DocMagic:
DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully-compliant loan document preparation, regulatory compliance, eSign, eDelivery and comprehensive eMortgage services for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops software, mobile apps, processes and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit http://www.docmagic.com/.

About BeSmartee:
BeSmartee develops automated mortgage origination software they private label and license to lenders. By utilizing artificial intelligence, BeSmartee's origination processes enables lenders to take their borrowers from the initial contact into underwriting in 20 minutes with a complete loan application, credit report, income/asset documents, eSigned/eDelivered disclosures and paid appraisal. Founded in 2007, with headquarters in Huntington Beach, Calif., the BeSmartee team has worked on the front and back-end of mortgage originations for over a decade, applying their knowledge to deliver a truly unrivaled user experience, with tools and features catering to the specific needs of lenders and their customers. To learn more, please visit http://www.besmartee.com/.

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

DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it completed an integration with BeSmartee, a leader in mortgage automation technology.

Arbor Day Foundation Partners with Simplifile to Plant Trees for Earth Month

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant more than 2,300 trees in Goethe State Forest (Florida) in honor of Arbor Day 2017 and April's worldwide Earth Month celebration.

"Since 2015, the Simplifile Cares program has brought together our employees and their communities to raise money for worthy organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "A fringe benefit of our technologies is that they help our clients and their customers reduce paper waste, so helping restore trees to our national landscape seemed like the perfect way to celebrate Earth Month."

"We are grateful to have Simplifile as a partner in stewarding our nation's forests, which are an important part of our legacy as a people and as a land," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Thanks to Simplifile's partnership, thousands of trees will be planted to help clean the air, protect our water resources, restore wildlife habitats, and add beauty to forests that have suffered devastation."

Simplifile joins dozens of like-minded companies and communities across America in commemorating Arbor Day as part of the month-long Earth Month celebration. Observed on April 28, this year's Arbor Day celebration marked the 145th year of the national tree-planting holiday. For more information or to get involved, visit: http://celebratearborday.com.

About the Arbor Day Foundation:

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 44 years, more than 250 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

For more information visit: https://www.arborday.org.

About Simplifile:

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

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant more than 2,300 trees in Goethe State Forest (Florida) in honor of Arbor Day 2017 and April's worldwide Earth Month celebration.

EPIC’s Carl Pilger to Present at ‘The First 100 Days: What the New Administration Means For Benefits, Taxes and Employment Compliance’

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Director of Employee Benefits Compliance Carl Pilger will present at "The First 100 Days: What the New Administration Means For Benefits, Taxes and Employment Compliance" seminar on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 a.m. at the Buckhead Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

With the current administration dominating the headlines, Pilger and experts from Aprio and Fisher Phillips will provide an in-depth analysis of how the administration's new initiatives will impact businesses and recommend best practices moving forward. Pilger will provide an update on the Affordable Care Act repeal and replace efforts, remind employers about ongoing compliance obligations and share insight into the DOL's current focus on audits and penalties.

Click here to view the full agenda: https://www.fisherphillips.com/resources-newsletters-1859.

About Carl Pilger, Director of Employee Benefits Compliance, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

Carl Pilger has advised and represented businesses as an ERISA attorney for more than 20 years. Across his career he has focused exclusively on ERISA compliance, including representing his clients in DOL and IRS audits. As EPIC's Director of Employee Benefits Compliance, he continues to consult with and advise clients on ERISA and ACA compliance. Pilger is based in Duluth, Georgia and reports to John Gaffney, EPIC's Director, National Benefits Operations.

Prior to joining EPIC, Pilger served as Vice President, Legal Counsel with Digital Insurance where he spearheaded ERISA and ACA compliance initiatives. Previously, he held positions with three prominent Atlanta law firms including; Taylor English Duma, LLP, Miller & Martin, PLLC, and Fisher & Phillips, LLP.

Pilger is a well-known subject matter expert on the Affordable Care Act and he has traveled the country speaking to numerous industry groups regarding the law's complexities.

Pilger earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism and a Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association.

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With roughly $280 million in run rate revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0119-Carl-Pilger-300dpi.jpg

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dave Hock, of EPIC
650-295-4608
dave.hock@epicbrokers.com

Nicole Conley
408-295-4309 x104
nicole.conley@taniscomm.com

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Director of Employee Benefits Compliance Carl Pilger will present at "The First 100 Days: What the New Administration Means For Benefits, Taxes and Employment Compliance" seminar on Tuesday, May 9 at 7:30 a.m. at the Buckhead Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

New Legislation Enables Massachusetts Jurisdictions to Electronically Record Land Court Documents

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced that it is now electronically recording Land Court documents in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the first time.

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, about 80 percent of real property is "recorded land" whose record keeping is conducted by the recorded land department. The remaining 20 percent of real property, called "registered land," is subject to stricter policies and managed by the registered land department, also known as the Land Court. Land registration documents related to registered land are commonly referred to as "Land Court documents."

Until recently, Massachusetts law dictated that recorders must retain original, hard-copy Land Court documents, making electronic recording of those documents impossible. Early this year, however, the governor of Massachusetts signed into law House Bill 3862, overturning the requirement and allowing registers of deeds throughout the state to e-record Land Court documents for the first time.

Hampden County, Norfolk County, and Southern Essex District were the first Massachusetts jurisdictions to record Land Court documents on April 12. All three jurisdictions have been e-recording recorded land documents for years and were eager to extend the benefits of e-recording to the Land Court.

"In 2004, the Hampden County Registry of Deeds was the first governmental agency on the east coast to perform an electronic recording. On April 12, 2017, we once again made history by being the first registry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to record a registered land document," said Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe. "These historic events would not be possible without Simplifile's hard work, dedication, and innovation in the field of electronic recording of documents."

E-recording enables document submitters to avoid the time and expense of mailing documents or making a trip to the registry of deeds. Instead, they can scan and securely submit documents directly from their home or office.

Registers of deeds also benefit from the efficiency of e-recording. If a submitted document has an issue that must be resolved before it can be recorded, the recording clerk can electronically reject the document, immediately informing the submitter why the document is ineligible for recordation. Without e-recording, it can take days to notify the submitter of a document error. With e-recording, the submitter can receive notification and re-submit a corrected document in minutes.

"Simplifile has been helping Massachusetts jurisdictions e-record documents related to recorded land since 2007," said Paul Clifford, president of Simplifile. "Registers of deeds throughout the commonwealth have come to appreciate the efficiency, cost savings and customer service benefits of e-recording - and now they can apply those benefits across their recording workload."

More than 1,606 recording offices throughout the United States now record deeds, mortgages, and other documents electronically using Simplifile. For an up-to-date list of all jurisdictions currently e-recording with Simplifile, visit https://simplifile.com/e-recording-counties.

About Simplifile:

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

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced that it is now electronically recording Land Court documents in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the first time.

Mid America Mortgage Purchases $2.7 Billion in Mortgage Servicing Rights

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has acquired the mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) for $2.7 billion in government loans. The portfolio includes a number of delinquent VA- and FHA-insured loans.

"Mid America has achieved tremendous success in resolving delinquent government-insured mortgages," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "By purchasing this portfolio, and another like it, we are providing much-needed liquidity to smaller market players that might otherwise not have an outlet for their distressed servicing."

The sale was completed at the end of March, and LoanCare, Mid America's sub-servicer, will take possession of the purchased MSRs on May 2.

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. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, most recently with its adoption of electronic mortgage closings (eClosings) and promissory notes (eNotes).

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.

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.midamericacareer.com/.

Additional information about Mid America Mortgage, Inc. can be found on the company's website at http://www.midamericamortgage.com/about/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0802-jeff-bode-300dpi.jpg

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today it has acquired the mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) for $2.7 billion in government loans. The portfolio includes a number of delinquent VA- and FHA-insured loans. The sale was completed at the end of March, and LoanCare, Mid America’s sub-servicer, will take possession of the purchased MSRs on May 2.

Jim Paul Joins Bank of Southern California N.A.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) announced that Jim Paul has joined the Bank as Vice President, Business Banking at the Del Mar Corporate office. He will primarily focus on building new client relationships for the bank.

Mr. Paul has over twenty-five years of sales and business development experience, building long-term, profitable relationships in new markets both individually and through team efforts. Most recently, Jim was the Vice President of Business Banking at BBVA Compass Bank in Dallas, Texas.

"We are pleased to welcome Mr. Paul to San Diego and Bank of Southern California. He is a seasoned relationship banker with a strong track record of originating new business and developing profitable client relationships," commented Tony DiVita, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

"As we continue to expand our bank's business development division, we are excited that we are assembling a team of professionals with such diverse backgrounds, but with a shared focus of providing a high-level client experience," concluded DiVita.

About Bank of Southern California:

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professional, 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 seven branches in San Diego and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

REF: OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL / PINK:BCAL / OTC:BCAL

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL) announced that Jim Paul has joined the Bank as Vice President, Business Banking at the Del Mar Corporate office. He will primarily focus on building new client relationships for the bank.

Recently Formed Ventana Home Mortgage, LLC Partners with OpenClose to Help Launch its New Mortgage Conduit Business

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- OpenClose, an enterprise-class, multi-channel loan origination system (LOS) and mortgage software solutions provider, announced that Ventana Home Mortgage, LLC a residential mortgage conduit aggregator with a focus on the non-QM market, has signed with the company to utilize its OC Correspondent(TM) module. The web-based, turnkey solution will fully automate Ventana's new conduit business, and is expected to do so in less than 45 days.

"Our goal at Ventana is to purchase, aggregate and securitize quality residential non-QM loans through our network of over 100 lenders using both delegated and non-delegated options," said Joseph Kohout, SVP of Credit and Operations at Ventana. "We've worked with OpenClose in the past and know that their correspondent module efficiently and compliantly handles the automated review, acceptance and processing of quality closed loans. The solution gives us complete control and visibility over our entire procedure."

OC Correspondent enables Ventana correspondent lenders to electronically submit loans for swift review and acceptance. The solution consists of a robust seller-facing portal, automated eligibility and decisioning, quality controls, lock notifications, real-time pipeline status, custom-configured workflows, compliance, reporting, document management, an imaging system and more.

Ventana Home Mortgage is a subsidiary of Window Rock Capital Partners, LLC, an investment firm focused on opportunistic investment opportunities in the residential housing and credit markets. The newly formed Ventana acquired certain contractual rights that were previously used in connection with the residential mortgage conduit operated by WinWater Home Mortgage, LLC.

"Our correspondent module is ideal for organizations like Ventana that want to quickly and compliantly get into the correspondent business; or, to streamline an existing channel," said Vince Furey, SVP of Lending Solutions at OpenClose. "Right out of the gates, Ventana will be very efficient in kick-starting its correspondent business using our technology, which is very intuitive and easy-to-use. End users don't need much experience in correspondent lending to quickly begin utilizing our software."

OpenClose's OC Correspondent module functions as a stand-alone solution and also integrates with its multi-channel LOS.

About OpenClose:
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, OpenClose(R) is a leading enterprise-class, multi-channel loan origination system (LOS) mortgage software solutions provider that cost effectively delivers its platform on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) basis. The company provides a variety of 100 percent web-based solutions for lenders, banks and credit unions.

OpenClose's core solution, its LenderAssist(TM) LOS, is comprehensive platform that is completely engineered by OpenClose using the same code base from the ground up, thus avoiding the problems that often accompany assembling best-of-breed applications or acquiring disparate technologies in an effort to create an end-to-end platform. The company provides lending organizations with full control of their data and creating a truly seamless workflow for complete automation and compliance adherence. For more information, visit http://www.openclose.com or call (561) 655-6418.

About Ventana Home Mortgage, LLC:
Ventana Home Mortgage, LLC is a privately held residential mortgage loan aggregator, founded in 2016 with offices based in New York and Arizona. While focusing on opportunities in the residential mortgage sector - Ventana's founders have endeavored to create value in the residential mortgage market while working with 'outside the box' homeowners. Customer service is Ventana's number one priority. The company's executive team has well over 30 years of industry experience. For more information, visit http://www.ventanahomemortgage.com.

About Window Rock Capital Partners:
Window Rock Capital Partners, LLC is an investment management firm focused on opportunistic and strategic private investment opportunities which most recently have been in the residential credit market.

For more information, visit http://www.windowrock.com or email the company at info@windowrock.com.

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

OpenClose, an enterprise-class, multi-channel loan origination system (LOS) and mortgage software solutions provider, announced that Ventana Home Mortgage, LLC a residential mortgage conduit aggregator with a focus on the non-QM market, has signed with the company to utilize its OC Correspondent(TM) module. The web-based, turnkey solution will fully automate Ventana's new conduit business, and is expected to do so in less than 45 days.

Simplifile Hires Toni Carroll as National Settlement Account Manager

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced it has hired title and settlement industry veteran Toni Carroll as national settlement account manager. In this position, Carroll will maintain and improve Simplifile's settlement software vendor relationships while supporting the sales effort to deliver Settlement Collaboration to the real estate industry.

"Toni Carroll's more than 30 years of title and settlement expertise and her passion for improving settlement processes via technology make her ideally suited to drive the growth of Simplifile's Collaboration solution in the title and settlement market," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "She is a tremendous asset to our organization, and we are eager to see her bring her industry experience to bear."

Prior to joining Simplifile, Carroll was business development manager for First American Professional Real Estate Services, where she assisted the sales team in increasing its new customer base and provided subject matter expertise to the sales and development teams. Her other recent positions include state agency manager for the southeast and mid-Atlantic divisions of North American Title Insurance Company and vice president of sales for TSS Software Corporation, which was acquired by First American Title Insurance Company in 2013.

"Having conducted more than 3,000 closings in my title industry career, I am intimately familiar with the challenges title and settlement professionals face in collaborating with their lender partners," Carroll said. "Simplifile has a long-standing reputation of delivering efficient, cost-saving solutions to the settlement industry, and I am eager to continue that tradition with the advancement of the Settlement Collaboration solution."

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

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0426s2p-Toni-Carroll-300dpi.jpg

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced it has hired title and settlement industry veteran Toni Carroll as national settlement account manager. In this position, Carroll will maintain and improve Simplifile's settlement software vendor relationships while supporting the sales effort to deliver Settlement Collaboration to the real estate industry.

Mortgage Capital Trading Adds Cara Krause to its Growing Sales Team

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing technology firm, announced that Cara Krause has joined the company as regional sales director. Ms. Krause will handle business development efforts and client management for new lender clients in the Northeast region of the country.

Ms. Krause has more than 25 years of experience working in the mortgage banking industry and possesses extensive knowledge in the areas of secondary marketing, production, correspondent lending, the utilization of supporting technologies. She has a proven track record of expanding territories, increasing revenue, and providing hands-on customer service.

Ms. Krause comes to MCT from Impac Mortgage where she successfully developed key relationships with lenders that helped grow the company's correspondent business channel. Before Impac, she was vice president and regional account manager at Envoy Mortgage where she established a territory for delegated and non-delegated correspondent lending for a new division.

She has also worked at a senior sales capacity for companies which include: First Horizon Home Loans; Fleet Bank Boston/Washington Mutual; Carteret Savings Bank; and several other lenders and banks.

"We are pleased to welcome Cara to the MCT team. She is a veteran of the mortgage industry and brings extensive experience to help grow and nurture our list of lender clients," said Bill Wooten, managing director at MCT. "Cara has an excellent reputation and a long-standing track record of developing strong relationships with lenders of all types, adding depth to our sales efforts in the Northeast."

MCT continues to grow by way of its unique business model that combines hands-on daily trading support for secondary marketing departments and an industry-leading secondary marketing technology offering.

About MCT:
Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) is a capital markets-focused risk management and advisory services company providing independent analysis, training, hedging strategy and loan sale execution support to clients engaged in the secondary mortgage market. Founded in San Diego, California in May 2001, the company has expanded to include field sales and support offices in Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco and Charlotte. MCT is a recognized leader in the industry and currently supports more than 150 clients on the HALO (Hedging And Loan sales Optimization) Program.

The company also develops and supports MCTlive!(TM), an award-winning real-time, trading and best-execution secondary marketing platform. MCT's LockCentral(TM) is the industry's largest outsourced centralized lock desk service. In addition, MCT offers a suite of tools and supporting guidance for MSR needs. For more information, visit http://www.mct-trading.com or call (619) 543-5111.

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

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0426s2p-Cara-Krause-300dpi.jpg

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing technology firm, announced that Cara Krause has joined the company as regional sales director. Ms. Krause will handle business development efforts and client management for new lender clients in the Northeast region of the country.