Fintech Hunting

AI is no longer a future topic in mortgage lending. It is the force separating the companies that adapt from the ones that get outpaced.In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Jim Deitch, Co-Founder and CEO of Tera Verde, to talk about the hard truth facing mortgage leaders right now:AI is either coming to you or coming for you.This is not a surface-level conversation about shiny tools or hype.Jim breaks down what AI disruption really means for the mortgage industry, why speed matters more than ever, how weak workflows get exposed faster, and why leaders who fail to rethink process, profitability, and customer experience will lose ground to competitors who do. The episode centers on AI as a present-day competitive force in lending, not a distant trend. You’ll hear a sharp conversation on:why AI is changing how mortgage companies competewhy faster technology does not fix broken operationshow AI can improve decision-making, customer experience, and efficiencywhat lenders need to rethink before the market shifts againwhy leadership mindset may be the real differentiator in the next era of mortgage lendingJim is also the author of Disruptive AI, a book that challenges leaders to decide whether AI will become their advantage or their threat. Even better, proceeds from the book support MBA Open Doors, which helps families with critically ill children make mortgage or rent payments while caring for their child. Buy Jim Deitch’s book, Disruptive AI:https://www.amazon.com/Disruptive-AI-Its-Coming-You/dp/B0GQJSPFNZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Z0NTK4W0GGCN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6-fbC0ndpzRiQP0l4Kt9ulq4MvyEHSoVbnzuGUbFXUU.xY1TZsZORFYsBrOFM_KBsYWkxagOfWQ93qUeLhKHYuE&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+deitch+books+AI+Disruptor&qid=1776691616&sprefix=james+deitch+books+ai+disrupto%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1If you work in mortgage lending, fintech, financial services, digital mortgage, or AI strategy, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, competition, and the future of lending.Subscribe for more conversations on mortgage AI, fintech innovation, lending strategy, digital transformation, and the leaders shaping the future of financial services.#MortgageAI #JimDeitch #FinTechHuntingPodcast #MortgageLending #Fintech #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalMortgage #LendingInnovation #FinancialServices

AI is everywhere in mortgage right now. Results are not.In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Michael Vandi, CEO of Addy AI, for a direct conversation about the growing gap between AI hype and real execution in mortgage and fintech.Why are lenders hearing endless AI pitches but still struggling to create meaningful operational change? Why are so many tools impressive in a demo but disappointing in the real world? And what actually has to happen for AI to improve workflows, reduce friction, and create real business value?This episode breaks down:Why AI fatigue is growing in mortgage and fintechWhy most AI solutions fail inside real lending environmentsWhat lenders actually need from automation todayWhere AI can create leverage in loan setup and underwritingWhy workflow-specific execution matters more than flashy softwareWhat separates true innovation from vendor hypeIf you work in mortgage, lending, banking, fintech, or AI, this is a conversation about what is really changing, what is not, and where the biggest opportunity is being missed.Subscribe to FinTech Hunting for conversations with the leaders building the future of financial services, mortgage technology, AI, and digital transformation.#FinTechHunting #MortgageAI #FintechPodcast #Lending #MortgageTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #Underwriting #Automation #FinancialServices #AddyAI

What does the future of mortgage lending look like when AI acts less like software and more like a true team member?In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Athan Zhang, Co-Founder of Copperlane, to talk about how agentic AI is changing the mortgage industry. From proactive borrower engagement and document review to condition clearing, compliance guardrails, and 24/7 support, Athan shares how Copperlane is helping lenders rethink productivity, efficiency, and the role of the loan officer. This conversation covers:What agentic AI actually means in mortgageHow an AI loan officer can support borrowers and lendersWhy AI should enhance the human side of lending, not replace itThe real reasons many lenders are still slow to adopt AIHow to think about compliance, safety, and trust in AI systemsWhy lowering the cost to originate is now mission-criticalHow lenders can use AI to create a more scalable, flexible growth model Athan also explains why the lenders waiting on the sidelines may fall behind, and why the winners in this next chapter of mortgage will be the ones who learn how to combine human connection with AI-driven execution. If you are a:mortgage lenderlending executiveloan officerfintech leadermortgage operations leaderAI-curious industry professionalthis episode is for you.Connect with Copperlane:Website: copperlane.aiRequest a demo directly on their siteEmail: [email protected] FinTech Hunting PodcastFinTech Hunting features conversations with leading voices in mortgage, fintech, sales, growth, and innovation—focused on the ideas and technologies shaping the future of the industry.#MortgageAI #FintechHunting #MortgageLending #AthanZhang #Copperlane #LoanOfficer #MortgageTechnology #AgenticAI #ArtificialIntelligence #LendingInnovation #MortgageIndustry #FintechPodcast###Michael Hammond, Founder & CEO of NexLevel Advisors, is the leading fractional CMO in mortgage and mortgage technology, specializing in AI-powered growth strategy and audience development.

In this powerful episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael sits down with Christine Beckwith, Founder and CEO of 2020 Vision for Success, for a heartfelt and honest conversation about what it really takes to lead in a difficult mortgage market. Christine shares what she’s hearing from loan officers and production leaders across the country, why so many originators are approaching rate conversations the wrong way, and how mortgage professionals can stop “selling themselves into a corner” by becoming trusted advisors instead of transactional rate watchers. The conversation goes deeper than rates and refinance strategy. Christine opens up about personal hardship, leadership under pressure, the emotional weight many professionals are carrying right now, and why coaching is not a luxury in hard markets, but a lifeline. This episode is a reminder that in financial services, the greatest advantage is not just market knowledge. It is belief, clarity, empathy, and the courage to keep showing up. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why loan officers must stop leading with rate aloneHow to build trust by thinking like a true advisorWhat “believability” means in sales and marketingWhy waiting for the perfect refi boom is a losing strategyHow coaching helps professionals survive and grow in tough marketsWhat resilience looks like when business and life both get heavy This is a must-watch for loan officers, mortgage leaders, financial services professionals, and anyone navigating change, uncertainty, and growth.###Michael Hammond, Founder & CEO of NexLevel Advisors, is the leading fractional CMO in mortgage and mortgage technology, specializing in AI-powered growth strategy and audience development.

In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Kortney Lane-Schafers of MMI (Mobility Market Intelligence) for a powerful conversation about where the mortgage industry is headed—and what still matters most as technology moves faster than ever.Yes, AI is changing the game.Yes, data is more available than ever.But here’s the deeper question:In a market driven by automation, what still creates trust, momentum, and real growth?Kortney shares how MMI One is helping mortgage professionals turn data into action—not just reports, dashboards, or noise, but real business decisions around recruiting, retention, market expansion, customer outreach, and borrower opportunity.This episode goes beyond product talk. It gets to the heart of what many leaders are wrestling with right now:How do you use mortgage data in a way that is actually useful?What role should AI play in relationship-driven industries?How can lenders, servicers, banks, and credit unions better activate their databases?Why do authentic human relationships still outperform transactional selling?What makes an industry experience memorable instead of forgettable?Kortney also shares her perspective on why connection still matters, why the best networking is never just about selling, and how thoughtful experiences can create lasting impact across the mortgage and fintech ecosystem.If you work in mortgage, fintech, lending, servicing, banking, credit unions, proptech, sales, recruiting, or growth strategy, this conversation will give you both practical insight and a meaningful reminder:Technology may accelerate business, but relationships still move it forward.Key takeaways from IMB and why optimism is returning to mortgage in 2026What MMI One is and how it unifies mortgage data, communications, and monitoringHow lenders can use data for market growth, recruiting, retention, and referral developmentWhy actionable data matters more than just having more dataHow mortgage teams can use triggers and insights to deliver the right message at the right timeThe growing role of AI, automation, CRM integration, and credit monitoringWhy live events, networking, and authentic connection still matter in a digital-first worldHow meaningful experiences build stronger business relationships in mortgage and fintechKortney Lane-Schafers is a respected voice in mortgage and fintech, known for her work at MMI, her leadership in building authentic industry relationships, and her ability to connect data, strategy, and people in a way that creates real impact.The mortgage industry does not need more noise.It needs more clarity.More intentionality.And more leaders who understand that the future belongs to the organizations that can blend data, AI, and human connection the right way.If that’s the future you’re building toward, this episode is for you.Connect with Kortney Lane-Schafers on LinkedInLearn more about MMI: MMI.ioSubscribe to FinTech Hunting for more conversations with the leaders shaping mortgage, fintech, AI, marketing, growth, and the future of financial services.In this episode, we cover:About Kortney Lane-Schafers Why this conversation matters.###Michael Hammond, Founder of NexLevel Advisors, is the leading fractional CMO in mortgage and mortgage technology, specializing in AI-powered growth strategy and audience development.