Jesse Allen, President, Rate. Highlights include: reverse mortgages--niche to necessity; regulatory reforms have made reverse mortgages safer; distribution and awareness are the biggest constraints and future growth requires innovation in tech, training and messaging.

Brian Boyles, National Sales Manager, Middleton Advisory Group. Highlights include: recruiting is still the #1 priority but needs a smarter approach; compensation is over-discussed; leadership quality and culture drive recruiting decisions; the industry is litigious and lacking flexibility; and aging workforce & lack of succession planning is a ticking time bomb. Brian has spent over 25 years in the mortgage banking industry.

Jerry Rader, SVP, Strategic Growth & Development, ALCOVA Mortgage. Highlights include: face-to-face communication builds trust; incentivizing retention with shared upside; retention requires a post-sale strategy; cultural fit beats highest bid and respecting people as stakeholders is the #1 retention lever. Jerry has been in the mortgage industry for over 30 years.

Brian Vieaux, President & COO, FinLocker. Highlights include: point of thought matters; hybrid sales model; trusted financial educator; customer centric stories and franchise with no rules. Brian has been in the industry for over 30 years.

Michael Cush, Owner, Mortgage Startup Consulting. Highlights include: mortgage industry resists change—and it’s dangerous; AI and outside forces are disrupting the status quo; industry still doesn’t prioritize customer experience; executives are not preparing for the future and bold, not incremental, change is needed. Mike is a 25 year mortgage veteran.

Jeff Scheuren, EVP, President, COO at Fulton Mortgage. Highlights include: volatility is unprecedented and driven by emotion, not fundamentals; hedging must be hyper-responsive and continually reassessed; communication and tools are vital for loan officer confidence; profitability relies on cost control and technology investment and first-time buyers and new construction are driving activity. Jeff has been with Fulton Mortgage for over 15 years.

Rob Robertson, Author. Highlights include: your pain can become your purpose; don’t freeze in the face of life’s hits; support systems matter; the NFL taught him more than football and plug into others when your battery is low. Rob has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years and is currently with First Citizens Bank.

Connor Bartley, Content Creator and Podcast Host, The LO Down. Highlights include: build by design, not by default; internal alignment and realism are crucial; prioritize quality over quantity; leverage technology and community and recruit through relationship, not just offers. Connor has over 20 years in production and recruiting.