Advertise on podcast: Lykken on Lending

The Lykken on Lending Weekly Mortgage Update delivers expert commentary and timely insights from across the mortgage industry. Each episode features a curated lineup of respected thought leaders and analysts: Adam DeSanctis with the MBA Mortgage Minute, providing key updates from the Mortgage Bankers Association.Les Parker’s TMSpotlight offers a macroeconomic perspective with his signature musical parodies.Matt Graham of MBS Live, breaking down market activity and interest rate movements.David Kittle, CEO of The Mortgage Collaborative, sharing insights on mortgage originations and industry trends.Alice Alvey of Union Home Mortgage, delivering essential regulatory and legislative updates.Allen Pollack, with the Tech Report, spotlighting emerging technologies impacting mortgage operations.Bill Corbet, presenting Bill's Bullet Commentary with focused insights on loan servicing and capital markets.Marc Helm, offering Marc’s Rant, an unfiltered take on operational and agency-related developments. Together, this expert panel brings clarity, relevance, and a touch of personality to the ever-evolving mortgage landscape.

This podcast segment explores how mortgage technology is shifting from traditional LOS-centered systems to agentic AI platforms, driving dramatic cost compression, faster loan cycles, and a fundamental rewrite of how mortgage lending operates. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack, Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and software development. In today’s financial services push to all things Digital, Allen has been helping lenders and financial services solution providers align their digital transformation and technology strategies by removing the human element of risk, and automating processes that drive efficiencies and margins into profits. Over the course of his career, Allen has co-created and developed technology business models that have birthed highly successful, innovative solutions and companies. Allen co-founded and served as CTO of New York Loan Exchange (NYLX), a loan product eligibility and pricing engine (PPE) that made an immediate impact on the industry, scaling the company quickly and forming partnerships with multiple mortgage and financial lending companies. In 2012, Allen was a co-founder of a merger between NYLX and Aklero Risk Analytics that created LoanLogics, A Mortgage Loan Quality and Performance Analytics company. Allen served as CTO where he continued to bring new and innovative product solutions to the market that made a significant impact to mortgage lenders that reduced risk, scaled business channels, and grew profits in a very competitive and highly regulated market. Allen is also is mortgage and finance technology contributor on a weekly live industry podcast, Lykken on Lending, and is launching a new podcast soon to be released, TechStack Radio, dedicated to technology and innovation in Financial Services.

This podcast segment provides a legislative update on HUD and FHA oversight hearings, the status of major housing bills in Congress, and ongoing questions around investor restrictions and their real impact on housing affordability. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey, Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectiveness. Prior to UHM, Alice served as Senior Vice President at Indecomm leading the Indecomm-Mortgage U division, Internal QA and Compliance and SaaS technologies. Indecomm acquired Mortgage U in 2013, where Alice was President/Co-founder, providing training and consulting since 1996. Prior to MU she served as SVP of Operations at a national bank overseeing operations for wholesale, retail and correspondent from underwriting through servicing, and compliance. She has been in the trenches of mortgage lending operations from application through servicing for over 30 years. Her authoring work in training content, policies and procedures and the FHA/VA Practical guides illustrates her ability to bridge regulatory requirements with day-to-day operations. Alice has been a weekly contributor to the Lykken on Lending show since its beginning in April 2009 and has made her weekly contributions to 450+ episodes!

This podcast segment explains how President Trump’s $200 billion MBS purchase announcement overshadowed economic data and the jobs report, driving a sharp MBS rally, tightening mortgage spreads, and reshaping mortgage rate dynamics. ----------------------------------------------------- Matt began as an originator in 2002. He fell in love with the idea of following MBS in real-time but felt that existing products were only scratching the surface. Thus was born MBS Live in 2007, the first-of-its-kind platform with real-time market data/analysis, and live chat with analysts, traders, and originators around the country. He is currently the Founder and CEO of MBSLive! He's been covering bond/mortgage markets, writing commentary, alerts, and chatting with the live community every business hour of every business day ever since. Matt also serves as the Chief of Operations for mortgagenewsdaily.com, where he is one of the industry's most respected mortgage rate experts, frequently quoted in the media. Mortgage News Daily's rate index is used as the definitive resource on day-to-day mortgage rate averages. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son, where he enjoys skiing, fishing, coaching youth sports, playing the guitar, and more DIY projects/hobbies than he'd care to admit.

1-26-2026 Are Boring Markets "Coming Home?" -------------------------- Maybe, maybe, may, rates Coming Home to their peaceful sweet trading. Are the markets bored with peace? Gold continues to glitter. Over the last 5 months, Copper gained 50% and has held 80% of the move. Mortgages remain bullish while Treasuries cling to their newly minted bear trend. The 10-year T-Note yield dances between 4.32 & 4.22. But if it closes below 4.22, then look for boring trading between 4.32 and 4.13. You're the only range that we want, Wanna be around. (Singer Only) These views are mine. Discover micro-ranges at TMSpotlight.com. ----------------------- Song: Coming Home (2015) Leon Bridges   It was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

This podcast segment highlights HUD’s latest report showing FHA’s strong financial position and examines how renewed affordability discussions could lead to mortgage insurance relief for borrowers in 2026. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis, VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and media relations. He is widely considered to be an expert in a variety of communications, including advocacy, brand, executive, crisis, grassroots, and social media. In his career, he has been the MBA spokesperson on a wide variety of real estate research and advocacy-related issues, promoted MBA research and advocacy efforts to financial, political, and trade industry media and on MBA's social media channels, and secured media opportunities for MBA leadership on key real estate trends and issues, generated media coverage for MBA's research and data on mortgage applications, credit availability, homebuilder applications, mortgage forbearance/delinquencies, commercial real estate originations, and forecasts, and other industry analysis, developed key strategic initiatives for MBA's organizational public affairs plan, media relations and member communications support for mPower, MBA's Opens Doors Foundation and MBA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.

The U.S. housing market faces a historic single-family inventory shortage, driving affordability challenges and limiting access for aspiring homeowners. In this episode, David Lykken is joined by Phil Bracken, Vice Chairman of Falcon Capital Advisors, to unpack real-world, executable solutions that policymakers, lenders, builders, and communities can act on now. Drawing on decades of experience in mortgage banking, federal policy, and housing advocacy, Bracken outlines four critical levers to unlock supply: stimulating new construction, freeing up locked-in existing homeowners, rehabilitating underutilized housing stock, and converting vacant commercial properties into residential housing. This conversation moves beyond theory into pragmatic strategies that could materially improve affordability and access across America.

The Lykken on Lending Weekly Mortgage Update delivers expert commentary and timely insights from across the mortgage industry. Each episode features a curated lineup of respected thought leaders and analysts: Adam DeSanctis with the MBA Mortgage Minute, providing key updates from the Mortgage Bankers Association.Les Parker’s TMSpotlight offers a macroeconomic perspective with his signature musical parodies.Matt Graham of MBS Live, breaking down market activity and interest rate movements.David Kittle, CEO of The Mortgage Collaborative, sharing insights on mortgage originations and industry trends.Alice Alvey of Union Home Mortgage, delivering essential regulatory and legislative updates.Allen Pollack, with the Tech Report, spotlighting emerging technologies impacting mortgage operations.Bill Corbet, presenting Bill's Bullet Commentary with focused insights on loan servicing and capital markets.Marc Helm, offering Marc’s Rant, an unfiltered take on operational and agency-related developments. Together, this expert panel brings clarity, relevance, and a touch of personality to the ever-evolving mortgage landscape.

Despite a constant stream of geopolitical tension, political speculation, and policy headlines, mortgage rates continue to defy expectations by remaining locked in a well-defined trading range. In this segment of Lykken on Lending, industry veterans unpack why the bond market—not the news cycle—ultimately dictates rate movement, and why traditional concepts like “flight to quality” no longer behave the way they once did. The discussion explores GSE MBS buying speculation, Fed independence chatter, global conflict risk, and investor behavior, helping mortgage professionals cut through the noise and focus on the signals that actually matter when navigating today’s rate environment.

This podcast segment explores how social change, global geopolitical turmoil, and evolving workforce realities contrast with the surprising resilience of U.S. financial and mortgage markets.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Marc Helm, CEO, and AuthorMarc Helm serves as a Principal Partner at Transformational Mortgage Solutions, bringing over 46 years of extensive experience in the financial services and mortgage banking industry. Currently serving as the President and CEO of both ReverseAmerica Advisors, Inc. and Mortgage Consultants of America (MCA), Marc has established a proven track record of leadership and accomplishments, both within and beyond the mortgage banking sector. In his notable role as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc. (RMS), Marc played a pivotal role in steering RMS to become one of the largest Ginnie Mae Securitizers, originators, and servicers/sub servicers in the reverse mortgage industry. His influence has reached various key positions in the industry, including serving as Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Loan Administration Committee and Chairman of the MBA Technology Committee. Recognizing his expertise, he has been honored with memberships in prestigious advisory boards such as the Fidelity (LPS) Information Systems Mortgage Servicing Advisory Board and the National Reverse Mortgage Lender Association’s (NRMLA) Board of Directors. Marc's commitment to community involvement and philanthropy is evident in his roles as a Board Member of the American Heart Association (AHA), his past chairmanship of the AHA's "Open Your Heart Campaign" for the Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of The Year Award, and his service on the boards of additional organizations such as The Helm Foundation. His dedicated support extends to various causes, including initiatives for children, veterans, military service organizations, and the welfare of homeless mothers and children. Marc's dedication to philanthropy is complemented by his prior involvement in various committees and campaigns, such as his role as the Former Chairman for the Houston Area Special Olympics Campaign and Former Chairman of the Houston Area United Way Campaign. Beyond his professional achievements and community engagement, Marc Helm is a family man, celebrating 49 years of marriage to Sallie Fortner Helm. Together, they have two children, Thomas Charles Helm and Dr. Jean Ann Helm Allen, and five grandchildren. Holding a BS Degree (Summa Cum Laude) and an MS Degree from Troy University, Marc showcases his commitment to education and continuous learning. Currently pursuing a PHD in Organizational Psychology, Marc Helm's multifaceted expertise, leadership roles, and philanthropic contributions make him an invaluable Principal Partner at Transformational Mortgage Solutions and reinforces his active role as a Co-Host of the “Lykken on Lending” Podcast.

This podcast segment explores how mortgage technology is shifting from traditional LOS-centered systems to agentic AI platforms, driving dramatic cost compression, faster loan cycles, and a fundamental rewrite of how mortgage lending operates. ----------------------------------------------------- Allen Pollack, Tech Consultant Allen Pollack, a Mortgage & Financial Services Technology Advisor, is a subject matter expert in the mortgage origination process along with software product management and software development. In today’s financial services push to all things Digital, Allen has been helping lenders and financial services solution providers align their digital transformation and technology strategies by removing the human element of risk, and automating processes that drive efficiencies and margins into profits. Over the course of his career, Allen has co-created and developed technology business models that have birthed highly successful, innovative solutions and companies. Allen co-founded and served as CTO of New York Loan Exchange (NYLX), a loan product eligibility and pricing engine (PPE) that made an immediate impact on the industry, scaling the company quickly and forming partnerships with multiple mortgage and financial lending companies. In 2012, Allen was a co-founder of a merger between NYLX and Aklero Risk Analytics that created LoanLogics, A Mortgage Loan Quality and Performance Analytics company. Allen served as CTO where he continued to bring new and innovative product solutions to the market that made a significant impact to mortgage lenders that reduced risk, scaled business channels, and grew profits in a very competitive and highly regulated market. Allen is also is mortgage and finance technology contributor on a weekly live industry podcast, Lykken on Lending, and is launching a new podcast soon to be released, TechStack Radio, dedicated to technology and innovation in Financial Services.

This podcast segment reflects on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by examining the importance of fair lending laws, HMDA reporting, and why these protections remain essential to accountability, equity, and trust in mortgage lending. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Alice Alvey, Master CMB Vice President Partner Education and Training at Union Home Mortgage She handles development of their World Class Training program designed to support UHM partners and organizational effectiveness. Prior to UHM, Alice served as Senior Vice President at Indecomm leading the Indecomm-Mortgage U division, Internal QA and Compliance and SaaS technologies. Indecomm acquired Mortgage U in 2013, where Alice was President/Co-founder, providing training and consulting since 1996. Prior to MU she served as SVP of Operations at a national bank overseeing operations for wholesale, retail and correspondent from underwriting through servicing, and compliance. She has been in the trenches of mortgage lending operations from application through servicing for over 30 years. Her authoring work in training content, policies and procedures and the FHA/VA Practical guides illustrates her ability to bridge regulatory requirements with day-to-day operations. Alice has been a weekly contributor to the Lykken on Lending show since its beginning in April 2009 and has made her weekly contributions to 450+ episodes!

01-20-2026 Bonds are "Breaking the Habit" ---------------------- Memories consume the breaking of the wound It’s picking bulls apart again. The bears won Friday in Treasuries, while mortgages remained steady as they await details on GSE buying. The chatter over Fed independence is irrelevant. The Fed follows Bonds. And when they run their failed experiments, like Quantitative Easing, who holds them accountable? Only the bond market. Expect the 10-year yield to find buyers between 4.25 and 4.35. The global questions around war, growth, and inflation remain, yet volatility measures are low. Bonds know it's not alright. So, they’re breaking the rate range. They’re breaking their habit out right. These views are mine. Understand breaks at TMSpotlight. ---------------------- Song: Breaking the Habit (2003) Linkin Park

This podcast segment highlights HUD’s latest report showing FHA’s strong financial position and examines how renewed affordability discussions could lead to mortgage insurance relief for borrowers in 2026. ------------------------------------------------------------- Adam DeSanctis, VP of Communications at Mortgage Bankers Association As a strategic public affairs and communications executive with nearly two decades of experience, Adam has deep expertise in strategy, management, and media relations. He is widely considered to be an expert in a variety of communications, including advocacy, brand, executive, crisis, grassroots, and social media. In his career, he has been the MBA spokesperson on a wide variety of real estate research and advocacy-related issues, promoted MBA research and advocacy efforts to financial, political, and trade industry media and on MBA's social media channels, and secured media opportunities for MBA leadership on key real estate trends and issues, generated media coverage for MBA's research and data on mortgage applications, credit availability, homebuilder applications, mortgage forbearance/delinquencies, commercial real estate originations, and forecasts, and other industry analysis, developed key strategic initiatives for MBA's organizational public affairs plan, media relations and member communications support for mPower, MBA's Opens Doors Foundation and MBA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program

Why Mortgage Lenders Keep Failing at AI—and What the Winners Understand explores a hard truth facing the mortgage industry: most AI initiatives fail not because of lack of ambition, but because leaders misunderstand what AI actually requires to succeed. In this episode, David Lykken sits down with mortgage technologist Pavan Agarwal to unpack why short-term thinking, investor pressure, and “plug-and-play” AI promises are leading lenders down costly dead ends. Drawing on decades of real-world experience building mortgage technology the right way, they explain why patient capital, deep technical understanding, and a long-game mindset separate true innovators from expensive experiments—and why AI isn’t an LOS enhancement, but a fundamental reinvention of how mortgages are manufactured, managed, and de-risked.