Advertise on podcast: AIME Podcast Network

What if you stopped chasing a hundred loans a month and started focusing on the two families you could truly help instead? In this episode, Nike T. Ojo sits down with Meredith Herr, co-owner of Lake Tahoe Mortgage, for a warm and honest conversation about building a mortgage business that fits your life, not the other way around. Meredith shares how she went from IPO consulting to working alongside her dad, why she calls herself a “mortgage coach,” and how she helps first-time homebuyers get prepared long before they ever step foot in a house. They dive into the misconceptions that trip buyers up, the power of starting the conversation early, and why the broker space is the perfect place for women who want flexibility, especially those raising young kids. Meredith also opens up about finding her people in WMN and why having a community of women cheering you on is absolutely irreplaceable. This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to be a top-tier producer. You just have to show up, help families, and build a business that works for you. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #MortgageCoach #FirstTimeHomebuyer #BrokerLife #WorkLifeBalance #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 20 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 247 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Paul Messina (VA Loan Specialist at Canopy Mortgage) This week’s episode features Paul Messina, a former paramedic, firefighter, police detective, and military veteran who found his way into the mortgage industry after a chance meeting with a loan officer who challenged him to “do his effing job.” Paul shares his remarkable journey from healthcare and public safety to becoming a VA loan specialist, and how attending Ascent, AIME’s VIP retreat in Puerto Rico, gave him a new perspective on purpose, legacy, and the importance of self awareness. Key Takeaways: Why the VA loan is one of the most underutilized benefits available to veterans. The importance of committing fully to a career in mortgages and not treating it as a part time endeavor. Why being a good human and putting good karma into the world leads to sustainable business growth. The value of embracing technology while avoiding shiny object syndrome. Golden Nugget: “Just be a good human. Whatever way you choose to serve your fellow man, just be a good human.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #VALoans #Veterans #Ascent #PersonalGrowth #MortgageAdvice #ServiceMatters #LegacyBuilding The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Paul Messina – Ep. 247 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 57: AI, Objections, and Knowing the Difference Between ‘an answer’ and ‘The Answer’ Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy explore how artificial intelligence is changing the way borrowers prepare for conversations with loan officers. They share practical strategies for staying ahead of AI-informed clients, handling objections with confidence, and knowing when to trust the technology and when to trust your own expertise. Broker Buzz – Whether the two-year waiting period for a dismissed Chapter 13 bankruptcy still applies under Fannie Mae guidelines. – Whether a borrower with no credit score, insufficient history, and twenty percent down can qualify for a loan, and which non-QM or hard money options might work. – How to compete against credit unions offering no MI products and builders offering aggressive incentives, including when to tell a client to take the better deal and how to win them back later. Sales Training | Handling Objections by Asking Better Questions Jonathon shares a prompt designed to help loan officers move beyond generic responses to the three most common mortgage objections: wanting to shop around, wanting to wait, and wanting to talk to a spouse. He demonstrates how a question like “What is the best way for me to communicate to you without you being upset that I believe you are making a mistake?” forces a client to think rather than react. Story Time | Your Heart Will Have Capacity for Love The fortune cookie this week arrives with a strange and slightly uncomfortable phrasing. Jonathon turns it into a conversation about purpose, loss, and keeping your heart open even when life makes it hard. He shares the story of his grandmother, who passed away in January and was the reason he got into mortgages. On her birthday last week, he registered for college classes before visiting her grave, fulfilling a promise he made to her and rediscovering a sense of love for the process. The message is simple. If you have been hurt, if you have closed yourself off, find a purpose and move toward it. The opportunities are endless when your heart stays open. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #SalesTraining #AI #ObjectionHandling #BorrowerEducation #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #SalesTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #CreditUnions #BuilderIncentives #DSCRLoans #NonQM #HardMoney #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 57 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 56: Framing, AI, and the Art of Asking Better Questions Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy explore how the right mindset and the right questions can transform your sales conversations. They dig into listener questions about real-world borrower challenges and share practical advice on using AI as a practice tool rather than a crutch. Broker Buzz – Why an IRS tax lien that transfers from property to property can kill a deal, and how payment plans work when the lien does not attach to the property itself. – Whether reverse mortgages are worth learning, including the critical step of getting family members on the phone before moving forward. – The great AI debate: Claude versus ChatGPT, and why switching too often might cost you more time than it saves. Sales Training | Whoever Frames the Conversation Controls the Outcome Jonathon shares a personal story from his teenage years about overpaying for a simple tire repair because he did not know the right questions to ask. He explains why you should assume your clients are using AI before they ever talk to you, and how you can use the same tools to practice framing, pressure test your questions, and walk into any sales call with confidence. Story Time | A Positive Outlook Will Lead You to Success Jonathon reflects on why positivity is not just a nice idea but a prerequisite for success. The most successful people he knows do not tolerate negativity in their circles. They cultivate environments where optimism and action go hand in hand. Tommy adds that a simple smile or a laugh with a friend can reverse an entire day. Your thoughts shape your actions, and your actions shape your results. If you want to win, start with the belief that you can. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #SalesTraining #Framing #AI #ConversationSkills #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #PositiveMindset #BrokerCommunity #MortgageIndustry #SalesTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #ReverseMortgage #TaxLiens #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 56 appeared first on AIME.

What if you stopped trying to make a hundred phone calls and just focused on having five conversations instead? That simple shift changed everything for Kym Mason. In this episode, Julie Yarbrough sits down with Kym Mason, the creator of the Mason Method, for a raw and energizing conversation about habits, mindset, and the power of showing up as yourself. Kym shares how a traumatic brain injury forced her to rely on the systems she had built, why she stopped chasing someone else’s definition of success, and how she gamified her daily routine to make winning a habit, not an accident. They dive into the difference between being a producer and being a true business owner, why women need to stop waiting for someone to save them, and how shifting from “making calls” to “having mortgage conversations” can change your energy and your results overnight. If you have ever felt like you’re grinding without growing, or wondered how to make the hard stuff feel a little more fun, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #MasonMethod #MindsetMatters #MortgageConversations #HabitStacking #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 19 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 55: Ascent, Tone Setting, and ‘How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything’ Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. Fresh off the AIME Ascent VIP retreat in Puerto Rico, Jonathon and Tommy reflect on what it takes to bring together top producers, set the right tone, and create an environment where even the most successful people in the room can lower their guard and grow. Broker Buzz – Navigating hard money and credit union options for borrowers with challenged credit but significant equity in free and clear properties. – The risks of issuing a pre-approval to a client who has not filed taxes in five to six years, and why referring them to a financial advisor is often the right move. – The best AI tools for creating professional flyers and marketing materials, including the AI-powered design tool available exclusively to AIME members. Sales Training | How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything Jonathon shares the philosophy behind the Ascent retreat and why setting the tone matters more than any sales script. Set the tone early. At AIME Ascent and for viewers at home, Jonathan challenges listeners to examine how they approach their own introduction calls, presentations, follow-ups, and post-close processes. Your words matter. Don’t minimize them. Story Time | Lessons from Ascent Tommy reflects on being surrounded by billions of dollars in production and what it felt like to watch top producers interact with other up-and-coming brokers in a space that felt safe, open, and free of clicks. Jonathon and Tommy both came away with new habits, new connections, and a renewed appreciation for what happens when you bring the right people together with the right intentions. Whether you were in Puerto Rico or listening from home, the invitation is the same. Show up open minded, set your tone, and remember: how you do anything is how you do everything. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #SalesTraining #Leadership #AIMEAscent #PersonalDevelopment #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #BrokerCommunity #SalesTips #MortgageIndustry #MindsetMatters #BusinessGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 55 appeared first on AIME.

What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want isn’t your business, but your belief that you have to do it all alone? In this episode, Nicole Ahles sits down with one of the most respected leaders in the mortgage industry, Cindy Ertman. Cindy spent nearly three decades as a top producing loan officer, a branch manager, and an executive leader before stepping into her true calling: helping others rise. Cindy gets real about the moment she realized she needed help, how she built systems to protect her time and energy, and the non-negotiables that kept her family close through it all. She shares the exact exercise that helped her uncover what was draining her, why hiring a personal assistant was the best investment she ever made, and how she learned to stop chasing perfection and start focusing on progress. Whether you’re struggling to delegate, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of work and home, or just looking for permission to ask for the support you deserve, this conversation has what it takes to leave you feeling seen, empowered, and ready to take the next step. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #Delegation #MindsetMatters #WomenInLeadership #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 18 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 246 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Kyle Koller (Branch Manager at UMortgage) This week’s episode features Kyle Koller, a ten year mortgage veteran who has built his entire career in the broker channel. He shares his unconventional start in the industry, after receiving a text from a former student. Kyle talks with Marc about the mindset shifts, practical strategies, and relationship building tactics that have sustained his business through countless market cycles. Key Takeaways: How to best utilize your most loyal past clients and existing Google reviews. The importance of educating clients in simple terms, especially during volatile markets. Why blended rate conversations are essential for helping clients see the full picture. Why being an advisor, not just a transaction facilitator, leads to true longevity. Golden Nugget: “This job gives you a flexible schedule. Stop treating it like a nine to five and start taking advantage of the freedom it actually offers.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #UMortgage #BlendedRate #WorkLifeBalance #LoanOfficerLife #MortgageIndustry #ScalingYourBusiness #FinancialAdvisor #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Kyle Koller – Ep. 246 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 54: Compliance, Culture, and Managing Conflicts Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy dig into listener questions about the real-world challenges of running a brokerage, from compliance gray areas to keeping the peace among producing loan officers. Broker Buzz – Whether an affiliated business agreement is needed when a realtor also owns a mortgage company and handles both sides of a transaction. – How to set clear weekend and after-hours expectations for junior loan officers, including why putting it in writing and incentivizing the right shifts matters. – A battle-tested method for handling LO referral partner conflicts without tearing your team apart, including when to let the realtor choose and when to set firm boundaries. Sales Training | Showing Up When It Counts Jonathon and Tommy reflect on what sales training really looks like behind the scenes and why it’s not always just about the scripts and techniques. Sometimes, it’s about showing up for your teammate when it’s time for a hard conversation. Story Time | The Fortune Cookie Flashback Six months ago, a fortune cookie promised that March would be a month of change. Jonathon set a calendar reminder for himself and Tommy to revisit it. That reminder finally arrived, sending Tommy on a hunt through old footage to figure out what it meant. The result is a conversation about time, perspective, and the slow burn of personal development. The message is clear: Growth is not a sprint. It is showing up every single day. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #Compliance #TeamBuilding #Leadership #SalesTraining #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #CompanyCulture #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 54 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 53: The Five Ps of Brokerage Success with Jeremy Millar Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Jeremy Millar, CEO of Amarlo. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by Jeremy Millar for a deep dive into what it really takes to transition from being a solo loan officer to running a profitable, scalable brokerage. Broker Buzz – The best tools for automating rate and market updates to realtor partners without breaking the bank. – Whether hard money or traditional financing is the right path for a client seeking renovation funds just one month after closing. – How a properly structured divorce decree can solve DTI challenges when an ex-spouse still appears on an investment property mortgage. Sales Training | The Five Ps of Brokerage Success Jeremy introduces his five Ps framework: Presence, Process, People, Production, and Profit. He explains why these five numbers are the key to unlocking control over your business and breaks down how to measure lead volume, track conversion rates, analyze average comp per loan, and use that data to make smarter decisions. Jonathon emphasizes the importance of simplifying KPIs and reviewing them monthly rather than waiting until year end to realize you’re off pace. Story Time | Who You Surround Yourself With Matters Jonathon closes the episode with a reminder that success is rarely built alone. He encourages listeners to take stock of the people in their inner circle and ask whether those relationships are elevating them or holding them back. In a world full of noise and negativity, protecting your mindset and curating your community is not optional. It is essential. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #Amarlo #BusinessOwner #KPIs #SalesTraining #LeadGeneration #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #FinancialStory #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 53 appeared first on AIME.

If you’ve ever thought, “I can do it better myself” or “It’s just easier if I handle it,” this conversation is likely to hit home. Samantha Shelton sits down with Irene Duford, founder of Loan Team Training and a nationally recognized trainer with 26 years in the mortgage industry. Together, they dive into the one thing that holds so many high-performing women back: our own inner critic. Irene gets real about the self-talk that keeps us stuck, the fear of delegating, and why our instinct to be the fixer can actually limit our growth. She shares practical strategies for rewiring those inner thoughts, building systems that actually work, and knowing exactly when it’s time to bring on a loan partner. Whether you’re overwhelmed, under supported, or just tired of carrying it all yourself, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and ready to take the next step. Subscribe to our channel and join the movement! Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #WMN #WomenInMortgage #SelfTalk #LoanOfficerLife #Delegation #MindsetMatters #TeamBuilding #Empowerment #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network #MortgageJourney The post Women’s Mortgage Network Podcast: Episode 17 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 245 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Jason Sharon (Owner of Home Loans Inc.) This week’s episode features a returning guest and owner of Home Loans Inc., Jason Sharon. A retired Navy veteran and longtime AIME supporter, Jason has built a thriving brokerage across seven states by mastering the art of delegation, creating new systems and harnessing the power of virtual assistants. Key Takeaways: Why it’s important to check your ego and let go of tasks that don’t require you. How to build a virtual team that feels like family, not contractors. The power of utilizing checklists and creating repeatable steps in any industry. Hiring based on heart and the ‘tell me about your childhood’ interview question. Golden Nugget: “You don’t hire skill, you hire heart. If you don’t have a plan, if you don’t have a checklist, it’s going to fail.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #VirtualAssistants #ScalingYourBusiness #VALoans #MortgageProcess #TeamCulture #BusinessSystems #DelegateToGrow #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Jason Sharon – Ep. 245 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 52: AI, Root Access, and Protecting the Broker Channel Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy tackle the trends and tools dominating the mortgage space, from AI-powered lead gen to the timeless value of human connection. Broker Buzz – How to balance AI bots and in-house ISAs for maximum lead conversion without losing the personal touch. – Why speed to lead and conversion metrics must drive your hiring and firing decisions. – Strategies for combating misleading servicer mailers by re-engaging past clients with transparency and trust. Sales Training | The Danger of Root Access Jonathon sounds the alarm on a growing trend: loan officers giving AI “root access” to their computers in exchange for automation. He explains why this poses a massive risk; not just to individual brokers, but to the entire independent channel. With regulators already tightening AI rules and retail competitors watching for any misstep, protecting client data has never been more important. Tommy reinforces that sentiment and shares why he draws a hard line between using AI as a tool and letting it operate autonomously. Story Time | If You Want to Go Far, Go Together The episode opens with a fortune cookie message that sets the tone: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Jonathon and Tommy reflect on what that means for brokers today, and why things like community, collaboration, and having the right people around you are the true foundation of long-term success. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #MortgageBroker #AI #LeadGeneration #SalesTraining #HousingMarket #RealEstate #Lending #DataSecurity #FinTech #BrokersAreBest #BrokerPowerUp #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 52 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 244 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Christopher Griffith (Founder of Vetted VA) This week’s episode features Chris Griffith, a longtime friend of AIME and founder of Vetted VA, a training community built to help mortgage professionals serve veterans with confidence and capability. Chris shares the heart behind Vetted VA, why education should focus on understanding over memorization, and how to navigate market cycles without losing your footing. Key Takeaways: What Vetted VA is and how it enables those in the industry to better serve veterans. The difference between theory based training and reality based application. Why asking questions and admitting what you don’t know is a strength, not a weakness. How to use slower market seasons to expand your capacity and sharpen your skills. Golden Nugget: “If you’re waiting on rates to do something for you to be sustainable, you’re probably not sustainable. Focus on what you can control, expand your capacity, and invest your time wisely.” Subscribe to Broker to Broker on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Join AIME: aimegroup.com/membership #VALoans #Veterans #VettedVA #BrokersAreBest #MortgageTraining #CommunityOverCompetition #Homeownership #VeteranSupport #BrokerToBroker #MortgageTech #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker to Broker Podcast: Christopher Griffith – Ep. 244 appeared first on AIME.

Episode 51: Infrastructure, Relentless Sales, and Building What Scales Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, and featuring special guest Michelle Berman-Mikel, author of The Black Line and creator of Beyond the Method This episode brings a powerful guest to the table for a deep-dive discussion on accountability, structure and what it truly means to be relentless in this industry. Broker Buzz – Navigating non-QM files with gaps in rental history & re-establishing credit documentation. – Why borrowers cannot act as their own general contractor on construction-to-perm loans and how risk drives those decisions. – Structuring complex acreage and multi-parcel transactions and when private money becomes the realistic path forward. Sales Training | Leveraging Relationships the Right Way Michelle breaks down her proven framework for outbound prospecting and explains why the “lever” strategy is so impactful. Instead of blindly sending messages to cold leads, brokers can learn how to identify mutual connections, clearly explain the relationship and create context that earns a response. Jonathon reinforces the importance of coaching and accountability, emphasizing that even high performers need someone in their corner asking, “Who did you prospect today?”. Story Time | Infrastructure Over Hype In a unique shift from traditional loan officer messaging, Michelle shares how she built a keynote around serving infrastructure professionals rather than front-facing salespeople. The theme: what is invisible determines what is scalable. In a culture obsessed with speed and shortcuts, she challenges the industry to respect systems, governance, and the slow mile instead of chasing the sprint. The result is a grounded reminder that success is built on structure, discipline, and relentless execution. Listen wherever you get your podcasts Subscribe on YouTube for new episodes every week #LoanOfficerTips #Lending #LO #RealEstate #Finance #BrokerCommunity #SalesTraining #Leadership #Development #EntrepreneurMindset #ProspectingStrategy #HousingMarket #BusinessGrowth #BrokerPowerUp #BrokersAreBest #AIME #Podcast #Network The post Broker Power-Up Podcast: Episode 51 appeared first on AIME.