Loan Officer Life podcast with Brian Vieaux
Insights, Stories, Strategies & Tech to Ignite Your Mortgage Mojo
Ginger Bell, an AI Consultant and founder of AI Beehive, breaks down how loan officers can integrate AI into their daily operations without losing that personal touch that makes them successful.
Key takeaways:
• How to create an AI toolkit that actually works for your business
• Strategies for combining AI efficiency with traditional relationship building
• Smart ways to identify and connect with potential agent partners
• Building authentic personal branding that scales and still sounds like you
• Why your local market advantage is more powerful than ever
Ginger also shares practical advice on forming an AI Taskforce at companies to evaluate tools and streamline operations while cutting costs.
Brian Vieaux talks with Paige Hernandez, a trailblazing mortgage broker from Chino Hills, California and founder of Notorious WMN, a fast-growing community empowering woman in the mortgage industry.
With raw honesty and infectious energy, Paige shares how she built a profitable investor-focused business on her own terms, no CRM, no website, just relationships and results.
But the real story? Paige built a stage for others. In 2023, she launched Notorious, an all-women’s mastermind and event series that’s now a movement.
From a 50-person retreat in Austin to filming a YouTube series in Cabo, Paige is proving that representation, vulnerability, and community aren’t side stories…they are the strategy.
Abdel Khawatmi explains how he is navigating the current challenges in this tough mortgage and real estate market to be a successful producing branch manager in the PRMG President’s Club.
Abdel shares his CLEAR VICTORY strategy, which emphasizes content, leveraging technology, building your reputation, and maintaining strong follow-up systems to build trust with clients. You’ll have to listen to the #podcast for details of the full acronym.
They cover the importance of local networking, understanding market dynamics, and the need for an ownership mentality to thrive in a competitive environment. Abdel’s approach combines authenticity with strategic execution, showcasing how to create opportunities even in tough times.
Brian Vieaux welcomes back Andrew Pawlak, founder and CEO of rebel IQ, to advise loan officers on how to create a robust pipeline and build stronger agent relationships.
They discuss what’s working in today’s market, from creating your own lead generation systems to becoming indispensable to top-performing agents, including:
- The truth about lead conversion and why most LOs struggle
- How to show up like a pro online and why your digital presence matters to build trust
- A proven strategy to flip agent relationships from passive to productive
Brian Vieaux discusses the power of video for business and sales, with Mike Faraci, founder of Red Button Media, and Kyle Draper, wearer of many hats, including motivational event speaker and author/founder of the Rethink Everything books.
They explore how engaging with borrowers early in their homebuying journey leads to increased trust and customer satisfaction and how video can serve as a powerful communication tool.
Drawing on personal experiences, they share the challenges of creating video content, with tips to overcome your fears and become a confident communicator. Plus, insights gained from writing their new book, Rethink Everything: The Power of Video for Business and Sales.
Bruce Gehrke, Head of Lending Intelligence with J.D. Power, previews fresh data from the in-progress 2025 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study, with Brian Vieaux.
With three out of four survey waves completed, Bruce shares real-time insights into how borrower demographics and behavior is continuing to shift, and what that means for loan officers trying to build sustainable, referral-worthy businesses and long-term relationships with clients.
If you’re a mortgage professional trying to future-proof your career in the face of big-bank ecosystems and AI-powered consumers, this episode delivers the playbook you’ve been waiting for.
“Those who serve our communities shouldn’t be priced out of them.”
Brian Vieaux talks with Sam Royer, Marine veteran and MLO with Salute Home Loans, about the HELPER Act – legislation that could revolutionize how you serve essential workers in your market.
Sam shares the political challenges, the grassroots efforts, and why loan officers like YOU are the key to making this happen.
150 podcasts. 25 years of MISMO.
And a conversation every loan officer needs to hear.
Richard Hill, President of MISMO, and Amy Moses join Brian Vieaux to discuss:
- What MISMO actually does
- How it’s helped drive faster closings, better products, and lower costs
- Why its AI working group could shape the next decade of mortgage
- How you can get involved no matter your role or company size
Brian Vieaux and Geoff Zimpfer, Chief Truth Teller with the Mortgage Marketing Institute, explore current challenges and opportunities within the mortgage market.
Geoff highlights several key strategies for loan officers to navigate these market conditions effectively, including:
• Communicating positive stories to clients and partners.
• Leveraging education to build realtor relationships:
• Building communities for conversations:
Brian Vieaux meets with Natalie Overturf, VP of the NW Division at CMG Financial, to unpack what it really takes for loan officers to stand out in today’s competitive market, including:
- Leveraging LinkedIn to build your brand and relationships
- How to be your client’s long-term homeownership advisor
- Using data to understand and serve your customers better
- Building a strong team culture to create and retain a high-performing team
Brian Vieaux catches up with Jason Frazier, CMO of Empower LO and co-author of the Green Zone Project.
They discuss making bold moves and big mindset shifts:
• Why “growth” is replacing “marketing” in 2025
• How loan officers can adopt the “Me Inc.” mindset and become their own brand
• Tactical moves to dominate YouTube
• How Jason’s daily podcast (Growth Notes) is keeping LOs in the game
• The mindset shift that turns stuck LOs into standout leaders
Scott Hudspeth just launched the ultimate LO coaching community – MLOLive.com, which we’ve made available to LOs subscribing to KeySteps.
Brian Vieaux and Scott discuss:
- The power of real community, live learning and ride or die accountability
- Insights from top-performing loan officers
- The Instagram strategy driving $25M+ in production
- Why the best marketing is human connection, not templated posts and scripts
Brian Vieaux and Bruce Gehrke, Snr Director of Financial Services Intelligence with J.D. Power, discuss the results of the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study and explore why early engagement, education, and trust are now the name of the game for loan originators, including:
- How loan officers can own their zip code
- Why the digital generation wants more face-to-face, not less
- Why education-based marketing is your competitive edge
- What you can learn from Rocket and Veterans United, and how to beat them at their own game
Jake Vermillion, CMO with Mortgage Champions, shares what’s working now for top-producing loan officers, including:
• The most successful lenders are investing in their people, not just their tech stack
• Stop “sending the link” and start co-piloting applications with your clients
• Face-to-face meetings are your competitive advantage against big online lenders
• Consider debt consolidation strategies for both purchase and refinance customers
• Successful loan officers are changing their approach, not waiting for the market to change
Brian Vieaux focuses on advocacy with impact with Jamey Lynch, AVP, Political Affairs and Bill Killmer, SVP, Legislative & Political Affairs with Mortgage Bankers Association, along with the Mortgage Action Alliance’s newest member, Kyle Draper, marketing expert and co-author of Rethink Everything: You Know About Being A Next Gen Loan Officer.
Together, they discuss the power of the Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), a free, nonpartisan grassroots network lobbying for the mortgage industry in Washington D.C. and state capitals across America.
Brian Vieaux sits down with Devin Dubuc, National Sales Director at Premier Lending, for a conversation that connects past wisdom with future-forward thinking:
- How conversations still drive the best referral business.
- Using AI to amplify (not replace) real human interaction.
- Why showing up authentically on social builds real trust.
- The new due diligence: your online presence matters more than ever.
- How to future-proof your loan officer career.
Brian Vieaux is joined by Michelle Berman-Mikel, owner of Berman Media and a social media prospecting coach who teaches realtors and loan officers to create content that connects, creates conversations, and ultimately converts.
Brian and Michelle discuss:
- Building leverage the right way
- Reverse engineering content to earn trust
- Why authenticity is your shortcut to relevance
- Her upcoming book The Black Line (this story is incredible)
Brian Vieaux talks with Carlos Scarpero, a top mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance, who has scaled his business by successfully leveraging YouTube to connect with veterans through VA loan education.
Carlos shares insights on understanding your audience, building a community by creating valuable content, and how to increase engagement on your YouTube channel. He also explains how he uses YouTube as a business development tool, sharing his strategies for converting leads into clients.
Kristin Messerli, Executive Director of FirstHome IQ, talks with Brian Vieaux about the recently released 2025 NextGen Homebuyer Report — one of the most important annual reports in our industry – that she authors each year.
Kristin and Brian discuss:
- The trust gap and how LOs can close it
- What Gen Z and Millennials are really thinking
- How loan officers can be the financial literacy leader in their community
- How FirstHome IQ and tools like FinLocker help build trust and long-term business
Abdel Khawatmi, a Producing Branch Manager with Got Mortgages at Paramount Residential Mortgage Group Inc. (PRMG Inc.), talks with Brian Vieaux about the intersection of technology and mortgage lending.
They discuss the importance of client engagement, navigating market fluctuations, and the role of technology in enhancing the client experience throughout the mortgage process. Abdel shares his approach to communication with his clients and internal team, the tools he uses to automate, streamline and evolve processes, and the importance of being accessible and responsive to building long-term client and agent relationships.
Lynn Goss with the Divorce Lending Association, talks with Brian Vieaux about the emotional complexities of working with clients going through divorce, the importance of loan originators becoming a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP)to empathetically serve clients and work with family law attorneys, and the need for compliance and professionalism in divorce mortgage planning.
Lyn details how the DLA provides CDLPs with ongoing coaching and business development resources to help them seek, build and nurture relationships with professionals in the divorce legal space.
Rob Chrane, Founder & CEO of Down Payment Resource, explains to Brian Vieaux how down payment assistance (DPA) programs can help first-time homebuyers and be a valuable financial education topic for loan officers to attract new consumers at the top of the funnel.
They discuss resources for loan officers to educate themselves about DPA programs in their region and the opportunity for lenders to stand out in their communities by offering these programs. Rob also notes the significant demand from real estate agents for loan officers who can help homebuyers with DPA programs.
Mike Faraci, the Founder and CEO of Red Button Media, talks with Brian Vieaux about the challenges of building a successful business and how LinkedIn’s new in-feed video carousels make it necessary to create consistent video content to elevate your brand.
Plus, you’ll get inspired hearing how creating video content has helped Mike and Brian build their businesses, fostered relationships and connected them with new audiences.
Laura Witte, owner of the Truth and Lending team at Highland Mortgage, shares with Brian Vieaux her journey to establishing her own transparent and client-focused mortgage business.
Laura discusses the strategies she uses to maintain a pipeline of prospective homeowners at various stages of the homebuying process, including the role of automation in providing regular communication and personal touches.
Watch the recording on LinkedIn
Scott Schang joins Brian Vieaux to show you how to use Google Bard and ChatGPT to identify the hottest first-time homebuyer markets and their pain points and desires. He’ll demonstrate live how to create engaging content to build your pipeline today with tomorrow’s homebuyers.
Michael McAllister, Empower LO, shows loan officers how to reinvigorate your marketing and borrower communication and strengthen realtor relationships.
Geoff Zimpfer, Mortgage Marketing Institute, advises how to leverage social media and digital marketing to build a compelling personal brand.
Michael Kelleher, Adopt the Brand, shares his expertise in helping loan officers build a strong personal brand and leverage innovative strategies to achieve sustainable growth
Learn how to stay on top of social media trends and build your database by creating engaging content that resonates with prospective homebuyers while keeping you connected with your homeowners from:
- Joshua Dobson, BluPrint Home Loans
- Rebecca Richardson, UMortgage
- Minh Nguyen, What’s a Mortgage