Mortgage Tech Talks

Industry Update: Rocket, Bond Yields, Canadian Mortgage Awards

🚨 Rocket Mortgage Canada is out! What does this mean for brokers, lenders, and mortgage tech? 🚨
In episode 65 of Mortgage Tech Talks, we dive into the latest industry updates, including:✅ The exit of Rocket Mortgage Canada and its impact on the mortgage landscape.✅ The downward trend of bond yields and how it affects mortgage rates.✅ The Canadian Mortgage Awards—who made the list and what it says about industry trends.
🔍 Timestamps:00:00 – Bond yields are dropping—what it means for the market00:19 – How uncertainty affects mortgage brokers and their clients00:39 – Why this turbulence could be good news for brokers00:59 – Rocket Mortgage Canada exits—breaking it down02:17 – How the news broke and what led to the decision03:04 – Is this a response to tariffs?03:41 – The impact on mortgage tech and Finmo04:18 – Rocket Mortgage’s connection to Lendesk and what’s next05:20 – What does this mean for competition in Canada?07:05 – Canada’s lack of mortgage market competition—good or bad?08:15 – The effect of U.S. policies on Canadian mortgage rates09:36 – What falling bond yields mean for mortgage rates10:37 – How brokers can use this uncertainty to help clients12:57 – The Canadian Mortgage Awards—who made the list?13:37 – Service Provider of the Year category—who’s missing?14:02 – Digital innovation in brokerages—what’s changing?14:43 – New category: Innovator Champion of the Year15:53 – Who’s really leading innovation in the industry?16:08 – Is tech taking a backseat to broker and lender-led innovation?16:25 – Final thoughts—where is the mortgage industry headed?
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#MortgageNews #RocketMortgage #MortgageTech #CanadaRealEstate #MortgageRates

E64: How a 20-Year Veteran Uses Tech to Have AMAZING Conversions w Russ Morrison

In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, we're joined by 20-year mortgage industry veteran Russ Morrison, who shares game-changing insights on how brokers can shift from transactional selling to strategic advising.
🔍 Russ breaks down why brokers must move beyond rate-focused discussions, how to optimize lead conversion ratios, and the power of surrounding yourself with the right people in business. Plus, we dive into how his TMS (Tactical Mortgage Solutions) platform is transforming mortgage strategy conversations.
🔗 Timestamps:00:00:00 - The five reasons consumers come to brokers00:00:14 - Selling solutions vs. solving problems00:00:30 - The importance of having the right people around you00:01:09 - Introducing Russ Morrison & his mortgage journey00:01:56 - How Russ has optimized his strategy sessions00:03:17 - The power of a strong network in the mortgage industry00:05:47 - Virtual vs. in-person collaboration: What works better?00:07:57 - How to survive market cycles & inflation challenges00:10:05 - Facing industry struggles head-on & improving conversion rates00:12:25 - Why a CRM is crucial for broker success00:14:00 - Understanding lead-to-funding ratios & where business actually comes from00:17:11 - Surprising data on conversion rates from different lead sources00:21:26 - The two biggest factors for improving conversions00:22:23 - The importance of structured upfront conversations00:25:09 - The power of process: How to win over the right clients00:28:56 - Knowing when to say NO to bad-fit clients00:30:45 - Why brokers must shift from transactional to trust-based advising00:33:15 - TMS: The tool designed to streamline mortgage strategy conversations00:38:55 - The future of mortgage advising: Show, don’t tell00:42:41 - The tech side of mortgage brokering & growing a scalable business
📢 Enjoying the show? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment below with your thoughts! What’s your biggest challenge as a mortgage broker?
#MortgageTech #RealEstateFinance #MortgageBroker #FinancialStrategy #BusinessGrowth

E63: How to Beat AI at Marketing

🚀 As AI takes over more marketing tasks, where does that leave mortgage brokers?
In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, Tom Hall breaks down the hidden gaps AI leaves in the market and how mortgage brokers can stand out in an increasingly noisy digital world.
🔍 AI is revolutionizing marketing—big banks and Fortune 500 companies are doubling down on automated content. But there are three key areas where AI falls short, creating a massive opportunity for brokers who know how to leverage their personality, industry expertise, and communication skills effectively.
💡 Key Takeaways from This Episode:
The biggest weaknesses of AI-driven marketing and how to exploit them to your advantage
Why authentic personality is more valuable than ever in a sea of AI-generated content
How to use context to cut through the noise and build deeper client relationships
The power of concise communication—why short, natural messaging beats AI-generated fluff
How to tailor social media, email marketing, and SMS messaging to win in 2025
📌 Episode Chapters:
⏳ 00:00 - Intro: The AI revolution in marketing⏳ 01:14 - AI’s growing influence in mortgage marketing⏳ 03:32 - How Fortune 500 companies are using AI for content⏳ 05:57 - The rise of AI-generated blogs—what it means for brokers⏳ 07:51 - What AI is good at (and why you should still use it)⏳ 08:32 - The 3 major weaknesses of AI in marketing⏳ 09:02 - #1: AI lacks personality—why human connection matters more than ever⏳ 10:50 - #2: AI struggles with context—how to make your messaging more relevant⏳ 11:10 - #3: AI-generated content is too long—why concise messaging wins⏳ 12:06 - How to leverage social media to showcase personality⏳ 13:04 - Why email marketing with personalization beats AI-generated content⏳ 14:20 - How text messaging can be your secret weapon⏳ 16:14 - The importance of short, natural communication⏳ 17:53 - Final thoughts: How brokers can stay ahead in an AI-dominated world
🔥 If you're a mortgage broker looking to cut through the noise and dominate your market in 2025, this episode is a must-listen.
🎧 Tune in now and start winning in an AI-driven world!

E62: How to actually make tech work for your business with WBS' Sara Hynes

Why do so many mortgage brokers struggle with tech adoption, while others thrive? In this episode of Mortgage Tech Talks, I sit down with
Sara Hynes from Western Brokers Services to break down the tech dilemma in the mortgage industry.
We discuss:✅ The biggest barriers brokers face when adopting CRM and automation (00:00:59)✅ How delegation (or "support") can transform a broker’s business (00:03:20)✅ Why many brokers resist switching platforms—even when they know they should (00:23:32)✅ The power of referrals in building a thriving mortgage business (00:06:38)✅ The unexpected return on investment from sending physical mail (00:16:35)✅ How brokers can simplify tech adoption without getting overwhelmed (00:27:31)
Sara Hynes shares insights from 16+ years in the industry, working closely with brokers across Canada. If you've ever felt stuck when it comes to implementing tech in your business, this episode is a must-watch!
📌 Follow Sara Hynes & Western Brokers Services:🌐 Website: westernbrokerservices.ca📱 Instagram: @westernbrokerservices
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61: How to Build Your Social Media Empire

In this episode, I share how mortgage brokers can transform their social media presence with a powerful three-pillar strategy, breaking down the intimidating world of social media marketing into manageable, actionable steps.
 
In this episode I cover:→ Production: Over-coming camera shyness, how to come up with content, and outsourcing content creation.→ Distribution: How to consistently and effectively post to different platforms and leveraging tools.→ Conversion: How to find your audience, leveraging niche content, and utilizing stories and DMs.
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60: Market Update - Renewal Cliff, Stargate, Tariffs

In this episode, I am back with another "Market Update" solo show, where I go over some of the latest news in mortgage tech in Canada.
 
In this episode I cover:→ The upcoming "renewal cliff" in the Canadian mortgage market, where over 50% of mortgages will be up for renewal in the next two years, presenting both challenges and opportunities for mortgage professionals.→ The $500 billion investment initiative called Stargate, led by companies like OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Oracle, aimed at developing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and what you can do to be ready for this tech.→ The potential impact of a 25% tariff from the US and Canada's retaliation, which could force the Bank of Canada to raise the overnight rate by 300 basis points, or 3%.
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59: How to Disrupt 20-Year Legacy Software with FundMore.AI's Chris Grimes

In this episode, we're joined by Chris Grimes. Chris is the Co-Founder & CEO of FundMore.ai, and has worked in the financial industry for 20 years. Gaining experience in wealth management, credit lending, and mortgage origination, he is passionate about advancing the mortgage industry through technology and forward-thinking initiatives. FundMore.ai is an automated underwriting system that uses machine learning to streamline the pre-funding process for loans. The mission? To make home-ownership more accessible.
 
In this episode we cover:→ Chris's journey in the industry and the transition from Broker to building lender software, the evolution of Fundmore.ai, and future features they hope to roll out.→ The challenges of the lender tech space, what keeps lender tech so stagnant and how to disrupt it, and societies "analysis paralysis" problem.→ The future of mortgage lending, how open banking, the blockchain, & AI could revolutionize the mortgage industry, and the need to address consumer trust and adoption concerns around emerging technologies.
 
Fundmore.ai Website: www.fundmore.ai
Fundmore.ai Instagram: @fundmore.ai
Fundmore.ai LinkedIn: @Fundmore.ai
Chris Grimes' LinkedIn: @ChrisGrimes
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58: What eSign Should I Use?

In this episode, I do a deep dive on the different electronic signature platforms, and what my recommendation is if someone is looking to use this tool.
 
In this episode I cover:→ Comparing and contrasting the top e-signing platforms.→ How deal submission platforms are integrated and who they're integrated with.→ What you need to consider when deciding on a platform to use.
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57: Top Mortgage Tech Tools I'm Paying Attention To

In this episode, I share 3 specific tech tools I have my eye on for 2025, and why you should also be considering them for your business.
 
In this episode I cover:→ Smart scheduling with AI-powered calendar, Reclaim.ai.→ Document scanning tools, if they should be done by third party companies or deal submission platforms, and who should be paying for it, lenders or agents.→ The battle of the various home-valuation tools attempting to break into the Canadian market and the challenge of adoption from agents.
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56: 2025 Mortgage Tech Predictions

In this episode, I try to forecast 3 big trends that we will see in Canadian mortgage tech in 2025, and what that says about the state of the industry and where it's headed.
 
In this episode I cover:→ How the pendulum has swung with how people think of software in the mortgage industry and is moving towards consolidation.→ Brokers & Agents shifting to different types of lending and how software could follow them.→ AI: Where it's been since 2023, trends that are forming, and where there are opportunities with it moving forward.
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***