Spotlight Podcast
Summary In this interview, Cole—an LO and branch leader in Mount Dora, Florida—shares how he produced his best year ever in 2025 with 132 closings and $32.5M, despite a challenging market. His success stems from a disciplined, multi‑layered marketing strategy, obsessive time management, community involvement, and intentional team building. Cole emphasizes the importance of a media mix approach: combining micro (1:1 meetings, community events) and macro (CRM email campaigns, online advertising) marketing to ensure broad visibility while maintaining personalized relationships. He uses his...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Executive Summary This interview was a year-end recap of best practices shared by top performers and coaches in the mortgage industry. The discussion centered on strategies for scaling production, leveraging technology, building strong client relationships, and maintaining intentionality in business operations. Key themes included simplicity, delegation, database engagement, CRM utilization, consistency, and niche specialization. The conversation emphasized that success is rooted in fundamentals—intentional actions, consistent rhythms, and clarity of purpose—rather than relying on complex...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Allie Lord, Regional Sales Director at Movement Mortgage, shared her proven approach to business planning and personal growth. Her journey highlights the power of coaching, habit stacking, and structured planning to achieve consistent success. Allie emphasizes starting early (October), leveraging tools like the Warrior Challenge and Sales Test, and creating a clear execution plan. She advocates for balancing professional and personal goals through the Wheel of Life and maintaining accountability systems. Her formula combines preparation, planning, and disciplined execution to drive...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary: “Think Bigger, Act Faster—Kickstarting 2026” As 2025 winds down, Coach Kevin and Bill Hart challenge mortgage professionals to lean in while others ease off. Drawing inspiration from The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, they advocate for a mindset shift: dream bigger while shortening the timeframe for achievement. Through real-life examples and coaching insights, they emphasize the importance of treating mortgage work as a scalable business, not just a job. The conversation encourages listeners to simplify systems, remove constraints, and take bold action toward...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Quinn shares his inspiring journey from working at a sandwich shop in Tallahassee to becoming a top-producing mortgage loan officer at Movement Mortgage. He reflects on the early challenges of entering the mortgage industry with no prior experience, the importance of mentorship, and the turning point when he committed to taking massive action. Quinn emphasizes the value of customer service, operational efficiency, and adapting to market shifts. He discusses leveraging CRM tools like More, maintaining visibility through social media, and hosting customer appreciation events to build...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Libby shared her journey of scaling her mortgage business while staying grounded in her core values: Do your job, Find a solution, Be intentional. Her story is highly relatable because, despite growing from $37M to $80M in annual production, she emphasizes relationships and authenticity over purely transactional business. Key themes included: Core Values as a North Star: Libby’s team distilled their values by flipping frustrations into guiding principles—never cutting corners, always solving problems, and being intentional in communication. Balancing Relationships with Scale:...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Grant’s journey in the mortgage industry highlights the power of discipline, focus, and sustainable growth. In just under five years, he transitioned from a Loan Officer Assistant to a top-producing originator funding close to $40M annually. His success stems not from flashy tactics but from a methodical system built on consistency, measurable lead indicators, and deep relationships. Grant emphasizes the importance of tracking the right activities—calls, meetings, follow-ups—rather than obsessing over lagging outcomes like closed loans. He has carved out a niche serving...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Edwin emphasized shifting from chasing outward success to building significance—creating lasting impact through authenticity, intentionality, and a legacy-driven approach. Inspired by Zig Ziglar, he encouraged professionals to focus on meaningful contributions over numbers, aligning actions with core values. He urged leaders to regularly step out of daily operations to view their business as a CEO, introducing a four-hat framework: CEO/CFO, Chief Relationship Officer, Chief Marketing & Branding Officer, and Loan Officer. This perspective brings clarity, accountability, and...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary Today we discussed the enormous but untapped opportunity for loan officers (LOs) to partner with financial advisors. Traditionally, realtors and client databases have been the primary lead sources for LOs, while financial advisors have been overlooked. Yet, with tens of millions of Americans underprepared for retirement and trillions in unused home equity, the potential for collaboration is significant. Chuck Ruddy, a former financial advisor and marketing director, shared how he developed the HERO Program (Home Equity Retirement Options). The program is designed to integrate home...
info_outlineSpotlight Podcast
Summary – Interview with Nicole Rueth Nicole Rueth’s journey in lending, investing, and wealth-building demonstrates the transformative power of niche focus, consistent action, and value-driven leadership. Initially operating broadly, Nicole’s career accelerated when she narrowed her focus to a specific niche—creative, strategic, and scalable lending for investors—and positioned herself as an authority through education, data interpretation, and community engagement. Her early pivot from recruiting to becoming a “rainmaker” led her to create Agent Ignite, a recurring educational...
info_outlineSummary: Interview with Joey
— Building a Scalable Mortgage Business Through Simplicity, Systems, and Presence
Joey, a former high school teacher turned high-performing loan officer, shares his rapid ascent in the mortgage world after transitioning from Movement Mortgage’s consumer-direct channel to a local retail model. In just two years, Joey grew from zero to over $37M in annual production. This growth came not through complex strategies, but by simplifying his workflow, leveraging automation, and staying laser-focused on meaningful client and referral partner interactions.
His approach focuses on measuring success in moments, not minutes; trusting and empowering a capable team; and removing friction through smart tech tools that allow him to stay fully present. Joey shares how he delegates, automates, and adapts his processes—proving that sustainable growth doesn’t require burnout, just clarity and commitment.
5 Practical Application Steps
1. Measure Success in Moments, Not Minutes
“It’s not how much time you spend, it’s the impact you make in each moment.”
-
Shift focus from grinding long hours to maximizing the quality of key moments — with clients, referral partners, and family.
-
Joey eliminated stress-inducing tasks like note-taking by using call recording + AI transcription to document and share client conversations automatically.
-
This allowed him to be fully present in every call, pick up on buying signals, and build deeper connections — increasing referrals and satisfaction.
2. Automate Documentation Using Tech Tools
“I’m not good at note-taking — so I let AI do it for me.”
-
Use a call-recording app (e.g., native Google Pixel feature or Ploud device) to capture borrower conversations.
-
Upload the transcript to a custom chatbot (e.g., Gemini or ChatGPT) that extracts:
-
🔹 Internal bullet points for your team
-
🔹 Email recaps for the client
-
🔹 Agent update emails
-
This creates a consistent client experience without draining time or energy.
3. Focus on What You Need to Do, Not Just What You Want to Do
“I was overcomplicating the strategy. I just needed to call people.”
-
Joey admits he once obsessed over what he wanted to happen (e.g., big builder accounts, cool marketing strategies), when what he needed was simple: connect with more people.
-
He re-committed to the basics — phone calls, Annual Mortgage Reviews (AMRs), and face-to-face conversations.
-
The outcome? Greater consistency, higher conversion, and a better use of his time.
4. Simplify Your Process Around Your Strengths
“I’m not a details guy — I’m a relationship guy.”
-
Instead of forcing himself into complex checklist systems, Joey:
-
Delegated most of the loan lifecycle to his seasoned team
-
Focused on his unique value: connecting with clients and generating leads
-
Used tools like the SRT team for refis — leading to 3 extra deals from a single client without additional effort
-
Build your business around your zone of genius, and let others thrive in theirs.
5. Turn Good Intentions into Unstoppable Impact
“You don’t have to be the only one driving the result.”
-
Joey realized that trying to control everything created burnout, not excellence.
-
Instead, he shifted his mindset to trusting his team and building a clear, shared process.
-
He celebrates when reviews mention his teammates — because it means the system is working, and the client experience is replicable and scalable.
Bonus Habit: Use the “Start / Stop / Keep” Reflection Each Quarter
Joey and his team regularly review:
-
Start: What new strategies or habits will we try?
-
Stop: What is no longer serving us?
-
Keep: What’s working that we’ll double down on?
This simple cadence ensures the business is always evolving — without ever getting off track.
Key Takeaways:
-
Simplicity scales — success isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most, better.
-
Presence builds trust — when you’re not distracted by notes or multitasking, you catch details others miss.
-
Systems free you — automation doesn’t replace human connection; it enhances it by removing friction.
-
Trust your team — delegation enables freedom, consistency, and a truly referable experience.
💬 Final Words from Joey:
“You don’t need 10 years to build something great. You just have to do the work, trust your team, and stay focused on connection.”
📨 Need help implementing this?
Reach out to getcoaching@movement.com to learn how to set up tech workflows, define your process, or simplify your client experience.