Today Skip and Kayla welcome Laura Witte, a seasoned loan officer and co-owner of Highland Mortgage, to discuss her impressive 25-year career in the mortgage business. As someone that has closed over a billion and a half dollars in loans and is one of the top five producers in Georgia, she knows a thing or two about delivering for homebuyers. Laura describes 2023 as the hardest year of her career, even harder than the market crash, but emphasizes the importance of mindset, decision-making, and hustle in overcoming adversity. Skip, Kayla and Laura discuss adapting to the tough market by focusing on educating clients and agents through classes and advice on navigating through high rates and market instability. They also talk about finding success by being problem solvers and going above and beyond to find solutions for clients. Find more about Laura hereFind more about Highland Mortgage

Kevin Ducey, VP of Business Development for Kama Insurance, joins Skip and Kayla on today's episode. He discusses his time in the mortgage and insurance industries, the importance of building relationships, and creating generational wealth through homeownership. Kevin shares his view on the value of empathy in sales, owning an insurance business, and the impact of helping families achieve the American dream. Most importantly, they discuss remembering your why to avoid burnout.

Today's show comes full circle. Skip welcomes back his very first guest Steve Barsby, Assistant Athletics Director and Head Tennis Coach at Georgia College and State University, to talk about recruitment across various industries. Steve shares his insights from his 24 years of recruiting athletes, emphasizing the shift towards a more recruit-centered approach and the critical aspect of establishing trust and setting proper expectations during the recruitment process. He and Skip discuss best practices for recruiting, such as being honest, setting clear expectations, focusing on the process rather than solely on outcomes, and broader issues related to company culture and relationship-building in recruitment.

Today's episode is a treat - The one and only Jeff Bajorek, speaker, leader, trainer, coach, and podcast host, returns to the show. He shares insights into his recent projects, including the challenges and rewards of integrating into multiple corporate cultures simultaneously. He tells some personal stories, his dislike for macaroni and cheese due to childhood trauma, to highlight the importance of adaptability and human connection in sales and leadership. He emphasizes the critical role of being part of a company's culture while managing the distractions it can bring, and stresses the significance of understanding the human element in sales organizations, beyond just selling skills and processes. Jeff and Skip discuss the concept of fractional management and leadership, focusing on the value of adaptability in changing market conditions, especially in the mortgage banking and real estate sectors.

On today's show,Skip brings back a favorite guest from the past, Erica, who previously appeared on the 'Top Producing Women in Mortgage' episode. Erica shares her experiences of transitioning from a direct lender to a broker, highlighting the benefits she discovered in terms of pricing control and personalized service. She emphasizes the importance of having a solid CRM system and staying consistent in business practices. Erica gives some keys to building strong professional relationships, and how adapting to changes like new social media trends and other technological advancements is integral for longevity and success in the industry.

Today, Camryn Hinton, the Associate Director of Member Relations and Events at ACUMA (American Credit Union Mortgage Association), joins the Big Skip Energy Podcast. She talks about ACUMA's operations, services, and its commitment to educating credit union mortgage professionals. Camryn discusses the recently formed Young Professional Network at ACUMA, which provides educational content and networking opportunities for hopeful upcomers in the finance field.

Today's show isn't like any other you've heard from Skip and Kayla before. Matt Cox, who was once on the FBI's and Secret Service's Most Wanted list for mortgage fraud joins the show. He shares his story of running a mortgage and development company and engaging in fraudulent activities, how he navigated the system, fixing loans and creating identities which enabled him to defraud banks of millions. After being on the run for three years, he was eventually arrested and served 13 years of a 26-year federal prison sentence. Matt now uses his experience to caution others about the pitfalls of fraudulent activities and the life-changing consequences they bring.

Today Skip and Kayla welcome Raquel Borras, a LinkedIn influencer with almost 30K followers. She shares her journey in the mortgage industry, starting in 2014 and how she has been particularly successful in personal branding and social media, to leverage opportunities. She discusses her youth initiative and the importance of mental health, inspired by her own experiences. Drawing on her mantra of focusing on the positive, she understands the challenges faced by Gen Z and urges empathy, understanding, and mentoring.to make the mortgage industry  more vibrant and accessible to the younger generation.

It’s a BIG show today! Skip and Kayla welcome the one and only Jeb Blount, CEO of Sales Gravy and author of 15 of some of the best sales books on the shelves. Together they discuss the art of selling and the importance of goal setting. They delve into the importance of a balanced approach to various sales techniques, including telephone prospecting and social selling. Jeb emphasizes the need for salespeople to strive for progress not perfection. He talks about the significance of surrounding one's community with value and focusing on the things that truly matter when setting goals to stay motivated and efficient in your personal and professional life.

Today is a special episode, where Skip and Kayla are brining you a big bite of wisdom from every guest that has been on the show this season. From sales to socials to financials to focus, the guests this season didn’t disappoint. So have a fun listen to seasoned industry leaders and the best and brightest of the new generation of pros.  Here from: Ally Carty Larry Levine Laura Brandao Jessica Stokes Drew Kessler Bill Bodner Andrew Martin Brian Vieaux Jordan Nutter Loretta Salzano Brock Cassidy Steven Cooley Ashley Yarabinec Kyle Draper   We here at The Big Skip Energy Podcast hope that you had a wonderful holiday and we look forward to a big, bright, and successful 2024!

Today Skip and Kayla are joined by Ashley Yarabinec, the Associate Director of Relations at the Mortgage Bankers Association, who also chairs the Residential Impact Networking Group for young professionals in the mortgage real estate finance field. Ashley discusses her career journey, her passion for networking and professional development in the mortgage industry, and the importance of advocacy in shaping the industry's future. She highlights the MBA's role in providing resources and amplifying the voices of its members, the importance of education and understanding the ‘why’ behind industry decisions and offers advice to mortgage lenders on improving their skills and getting more involved in industry-shaping activities.

Social media can be an area that many real estate professionals can feel hesitant to dive into. Today, Skip and Kayla are joined by social media expert and self-proclaimed video marketing therapist, Kyle Draper. Kyle recounts his diverse professional journey which finally led to becoming a recognized social media guru. Discussing the common struggles people experience with video marketing, Kyle emphasizes the importance of showing authenticity and relatability rather than constantly selling. He advises listeners to operate from a 'why' of serving others rather than self and discusses his recently launched 'Rethink Everything Bootcamp',

Today Skip and Kayla are joined by Steven Cooley, Founder and Owner of Art vs. Math and Mortgage Advisor Tools, He offers insights into the significance of technology in the mortgage sector. He shares how Mortgage Advisor Tools, regarded as the 'CAPTERRA' or the 'Yelp' for mortgage tech, assists lenders, loan officers, and brokers with a comprehensive list of technology services, products, and companies in the industry. The most sought-after tool, according to Steven, is lead generation. Looking at the ever-growing Gen Z demographic, Steven emphasizes the need for lenders to embrace technology.

Continuing our Merry Mortgage Week, Skip is joined by Brock Cassidy, CRO of Newzip. He and Skip talk about the impact of MBA conferences and the amazing networking that is involved at the events. Brock explains the concept behind Newzip, a tech startup aimed at streamlining transactions involving multiple parties in real estate. He highlights the importance of patience, creating strong advocates, and offering clear benefits in tech sales targeted to financial institutions. And Brock is bullish on the mortgage market, predicting a return to normal conditions during 2024.

In this episode of the Big Skip Energy Podcast, Skip and Kayla welcome Loretta Salzano, a Compliance Attorney with a law firm in Atlanta She offers insights into the world of real estate compliance and social media marketing. She discusses her journey and secrets to success, including capitalizing on her legal expertise, harnessing her energetic personality, and building a reputation through word-of-mouth referral. Loretta details the delicate balance between risk-taking and respecting laws and regulations, when engaging in social media marketing and to make sure there is alignment of marketing efforts with the company's compliance rules.

Skip and Kayla welcome mortgage lender Jordan Nutter to the show. Jordan discusses the vital role of social media in educating individuals about mortgage lending and homeownership. Drawing from her experience as Vice President of NFM Lending's influencer division, she underscores the necessity of clear, accessible information for potential homebuyers. Jordan also shares her unique initiative of traveling around the U.S in a motorhome, providing homeownership education to individuals and real estate professionals directly. Jordan uses social media channels such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to cater especially to Gen Z audiences and advocates for the importance of authenticity, personal connection, and 'edutainment' in the world of social media marketing.

Today Skip and Kayla welcome Brian Vieaux, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Finlocker, to discuss the role of financial education in the mortgage and real estate sectors. Finlocker's mission is to help consumers understand their housing and mortgage readiness. They talk about the challenges in the industry among originators to provide relevant financial education and content, and emphasizes the need for industry professionals to embrace long-term strategies that include early engagement and education of potential home buyers to build trust and lasting relationships.

Forget Tom Cruise. Today Skip welcomes Jessica Stokes, Master Trainer and Coach at Sales Gravy. She and Skip discuss Jessica's role and strategies on nurturing deals and leads, her personal story to successful prospecting, and her transition from the air force to a career in sales. Jessica's belief is that regular communication, personal touches, and a passionate approach can increase sales success rates.

Today Skip welcomes Drew Kessler. They discuss Drew's transition into her role as SVP of Sales at Genesys Technology Group, involving sales tactics, overcoming imposter syndrome, and advice for young individuals entering the banking or fintech sector. Then followed by some fun discussion on Drew’s fantasy football league.

Today Skip and Kayla welcome Bill Bodner, Chief Revenue Officer of Tabrasa and the Chief Market Analyst for thier Mortgage Market Guide  They get into the current state of the mortgage market, interest rates, and the impact of the Federal Reserve's policies. They also touch on the challenges faced by loan officers in the industry, the importance of education and staying informed, and potential future trends in the market.