What if one decision you make today could give you more choices tomorrow, even during life’s most unexpected and difficult moments? In this episode, Laura Brandao sits down with Celeste Sierra, better known as Your Mortgage Geek, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about preparation, resilience, and the freedom that comes from planning ahead. Celeste has nearly thirty years of experience in the mortgage industry and is passionate about helping clients build wealth through real estate. But her story goes far beyond mortgages. She shares how a decision she made five years ago to plan for retirement ended up giving her the freedom of choice when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer earlier this year. She opens up about her journey, from the shock of diagnosis to researching alternative treatments and using the living benefits from her policy to fund her care. She also talks about why she chose to share her story publicly and what she hopes other women will take away from her experience. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #FreedomOfChoice #Resilience #LivingBenefits #FinancialPlanning #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 28 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 255 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: John McLaughlin (Broker & Owner of McLaughlin Mortgage) This week’s episode features John McLaughlin, who started in real estate as a top 1% agent before transitioning into the mortgage space. After two years in retail lending, John made the jump to the broker channel and hasn’t looked back. He shares how he built his tech stack from the ground up, why treating realtor partners as valuable assets is key to long-term success, and how the Brokers Are Best community has been instrumental in his growth as a broker owner. Key Takeaways: – How the retail experience pushed him toward the broker channel. – Treating realtor partners as valuable assets, not just transaction facilitators. – The value of community and why the Brokers Are Best Facebook group is a must-join. – Why tech stack fragmentation is a challenge and how AI can bring clarity. – Why getting control of your calendar is the first step to getting control of your business. Golden Nugget: “Coming from retail, your world is your little bubble. In the broker channel, you need something, ask. Someone will step in and help out. You will always learn something by asking a question.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #RetailToBroker #TechStack #RealtorRelationships #MortgageBroker #CommunityMatters #BrokerLife #JohnMcLaughlin #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: John McLaughlin – Ep. 255 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 72: Reverse Engineering Success with Michelle Mikel Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Michelle Mikel, author of The Black Line and creator of Beyond The Method. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by returning guest Michelle Mikel for a conversation about reverse engineering your business, building a prospecting process that actually works, and why the path to success is rarely a straight line. Broker Buzz – Whether a conventional loan can close with a DACA borrower whose documents have expired, and why the lender’s guidelines matter more than the title company’s flexibility. – FHA guidelines for employment gaps due to childbirth and infant care, including the return to work rule and potential waiting periods. – How to handle a divorce scenario where the ex-spouse stopped paying the mortgage, including the importance of the divorce decree timeline. Sales Training | Reverse Engineering Your Business  Michelle shares how she reverse engineered her swimming career to become a top competitor, and how that same process now drives her business. She explains her Drivers and Levers framework, starting with identifying what you actually need booked on your calendar, then using a personal or professional connection as the bridge, then crafting the message itself, and finally projecting ninety days out. Most people do not lack ambition. They lack a path to follow. Story Time | October Will Be a Month of Happiness  The fortune cookie this week looks ahead to October with a promise of joy and contentment. Jonathon connects it to the post-Fuse recovery period and his commitment to staying focused on health. Michelle shares that October will be two months after her return to the speaking circuit. Tommy plans to celebrate with a Penguins game and a hiking trip. This episode is a great reminder for us all. Rest is NOT a reward. It’s the cost of staying in the game. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #ReverseEngineering #SalesTraining #Prospecting #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #ProfessionalDevelopment #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 72 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 254 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Joseph Dionne (Managing Partner at appli Home Loans) This week’s episode features Joseph Dionne, who took a job out of college as a real estate assistant and built it up into a thriving mortgage brokerage. It wasn’t always easy! His turning point came after a car accident left him with a broken back and a choice to make. Let the injury define him or push past every limitation being placed on him. Joseph shares how ultra marathon training taught him discipline, consistency, and the importance of surrounding himself with people who pour into him. Key Takeaways: – How applying ultra marathon discipline to business creates sustainable success. – Why you have to reach out to your team, not just be available when they need you. – The importance of being the “I know a guy” person so clients call you for more than just mortgages. – Why structure and planning matter more than hustle alone. Golden Nugget: “You can’t fake dedication. If you don’t consistently do the boring stuff, you go from being at your peak to being the guy on the sidelines who can’t get off the couch.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #LeadershipMindset #Discipline #MortgageBroker #ScalingYourBusiness #UltraMindset #RelationshipBuilding #appliHomeLoans #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Joseph Dionne – Ep. 254 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 71: How Many Questions Are You Asking? Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy challenge listeners to think about the questions they are asking, both in sales conversations and in life. Jonathon shares a stat he learned on a recent Mortgage Morning Call that might make you rethink how you engage with prospects. Broker Buzz – Whether a fix and flip on a HUD property with a one year right of redemption is worth pursuing, and why red flags are everywhere. – FHA guidelines for employment gaps due to childbirth and infant care, including the return to work rule and potential waiting periods. – What to do when a 4506-C is rejected despite everything being correct, and why having the client pull their own transcripts is often the fastest fix. Sales Training | Ask More Questions   The average man asks only 1.7 questions on a first date. Jonathon texted his wife to ask how many he asked on theirs. Her answer: easily twenty five. The difference is curiosity. If you are struggling to connect with prospects, ask yourself how many questions you are actually asking. Record your calls, tally them up, and watch what happens when you stay curious. Story Time | Your Monday Mindset Will Attract Opportunities How you start your week sets the tone for everything that follows. Tommy uses Mondays to plan his entire week and prioritize what actually matters. Jonathon had a follow up to a major meeting scheduled for Monday right after reading this fortune. Plan ahead, stay focused, and watch opportunities find you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #SalesTraining #AskMoreQuestions #Curiosity #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #ProfessionalDevelopment #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 71 appeared first on AIME.

Stacy Pingree was told she “wouldn’t make it” in the mortgage industry after just one week. She ignored that advice. Today, she’s the founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, a real estate investor, and the host of the Legacy Wealth Podcast. Safe to say, she made it. Shelby Vinson sits down with Stacy Pingree, founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, real estate investor, and host of the Legacy Wealth Podcast, who shares a powerful message about leveraging the mortgage industry to build generational wealth. They talk about the importance of mindset, setting clear financial goals, and creating systems that help loan officers scale their businesses and build their wealth at the same time. Stacy opens up about navigating the ups and downs of the market, the power of partnership, and why harmony beats balance time after time. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #LegacyWealth #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #MindsetMatters #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 27 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 70: Maybe It’s Not The Leads? Maybe It’s The Questions. Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this 70th episode, Jonathon shares a story from his first month in the industry that changed everything. The leads were not the problem. The conversations were. And the only way to fix them was to ask better questions. Broker Buzz – Whether a conventional loan can be used to buy a home with a gutted master bathroom, and why the appraiser’s determination matters. – HELOC options for a home already listed for sale, including bridge loans as a better alternative. – How to use a daughter’s Social Security disability income to help a mother qualify for a loan, and why the payee must be updated first. Sales Training | Ask Better Questions  In his first month as a loan officer, Jonathon was getting hung up on constantly. The breakthrough came when he stopped blaming the leads and started changing his questions. He started researching the client’s area before calls, and learned to match his cadence to the client. Meet the clients where they are and don’t expect them to come to you naturally. If you are struggling, it is probably not the leads. It’s like the questions that need changing. Record your calls, listen to yourself, and ask something different. Story Time | Stay Open to Constructive Criticism  The fortune cookie this week delivers a message about staying open to feedback. Jonathon admits that early in his career, he hated criticism from people he did not know. Now he craves it from people he trusts. Tommy adds that criticism only has value when it comes with direction. Just saying “I do not like this” is not helpful. Saying “Here is how we can make it better” is. Feedback is a gift when it comes from the right people with the right intent. Stay open, stay curious, and keep improving. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #SalesTraining #LeadGeneration #ConstructiveCriticism #AskingBetterQuestions #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 70 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 253 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Kathy Dey (Director of Operations at Apex Processors) This week’s episode features Kathy Dey, a mortgage operations veteran who started her career in telemarketing at 16 and has since held roles in origination, compliance, underwriting, and processing management. Now leading operations at Apex Processors, Kathy shares her unique perspective on the broker-processor partnership, why contract processing is changing the game for LOs at every production level, and how finding the right “work spouse” can transform your business. Key Takeaways: – Why processors should own the file from submission to CTC, so you can focus on originating. – The importance of personality matching when pairing LO’s with their processors. – How empowering processors through community and training can benefit the entire brokerage. – How trust is built over time and why grace and resolution matter more than perfection. Golden Nugget: “Your processors know just as much, if not more, than you do. Leave the processing to the pros. You originate.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #MortgageTech #Loans #Processing #Operations #Excellence #LoanOfficerSupport #TeamWork #Trust #ApexProcessors #ClosingMadeEasy #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Kathy Dey – Ep. 253 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 69: Truly Disconnecting on Vacation Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy tackle a topic that every mortgage professional struggles with: how to step away from work and actually recharge. They share what has worked for them, what has not, and why setting boundaries is the kindest thing you can do for yourself and your team. Broker Buzz – Whether a client buying a new primary with a VA loan must sell their current home with a reverse mortgage before closing. – How to handle a self-employed roofer switching to W-2 income before a VA loan assumption, and why the underwriter is likely to ask questions. – The best PDF software alternatives to Adobe, and how this sparked dozens of passionate comments in the Facebook group. Sales Training | Disconnect to Stay Productive  Tommy shares how he stopped telling everyone “just reach out if you need me” and designated a select few people who truly understand what an emergency is instead. Jonathon admits he still struggles to disconnect but found that planning activities, bike rides, and historical trips helps him shift his focus after a brief bout with anxiety. You are not that important that the company will fall apart without you. If you cannot step away for a week, that is a problem with your systems, not your work ethic. Story Time | Delay Is the Deadliest Form of Denial  This week’s cookie arrives with a clear message (and a small typo) to keep things honest. Delaying the things you know you need to do is a form of denial. Jonathon connects it to his own tendency to push things off, and Tommy shares how he keeps a checklist and clears his plate so his team never gets paused waiting on him. The message is simple. Do not let the things that matter most sit on your list. Attack them, clear them, and move forward. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #WorkLifeBalance #Vacation #Disconnect #SalesTraining #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #ProfessionalDevelopment #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 69 appeared first on AIME.

What if the secret to taking the next step was actually surrendering control? Fannie Mae West sits down with Tressa Pope, founder of the Loan Officer Playbook, for a conversation about building up your team the right way, so that you have a chance to grow without burning out. Tressa brings over 25 years of mortgage experience and a first-hand understanding of what happens when you have the right LOA in place, and what happens when you don’t. They talk about why most training programs can miss the mark, how to train an LOA who actually understands what you’re asking of them, and the one thing that loan officers need to be doing before they even start the hiring process. If you feel like you’re doing everything yourself and wondering how to take the next step, this episode can show you the guide to building a team that works for you. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #LOA #LoanOfficerAssistant #SystemsAndProcesses #MortgageJourney #ScalingYourBusiness #TeamBuilding #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 26 appeared first on AIME.