<p>What if the biggest obstacle to faster closings isn’t underwriting… it’s <strong>title</strong>?</p><p>In this episode of <strong>Fintech Hunting</strong>, host <strong>Michael Hammond</strong> sits down with <strong>Meghan (Megan) F. Askin</strong>, <strong>Director of Lending Services at AFX Research</strong>, to unpack what’s really changing in the title space in <strong>2026</strong>—and why the future isn’t “AI replaces humans,” but <strong>AI + humans in the loop</strong>.</p><p>Meghan shares her surprising path from <strong>20 years in the wine industry</strong> (sales, marketing, and storytelling) into mortgage and title innovation—then explains how modern lenders can move faster with <strong>compliance-level title updates</strong>that are built for today’s digital workflows.</p><ul><li><p>Why <strong>title data is uniquely hard</strong> (hint: <strong>3,600+ recording venues</strong> and zero standardization)</p></li><li><p>What “<strong>human + AI hybrid</strong>” really looks like in real production workflows</p></li><li><p>How AFX delivers <strong>structured title data</strong> (including <strong>JSON via integration</strong>) to make reports truly usable</p></li><li><p>Why <strong>structured, usable data</strong> matters more than “more data”</p></li><li><p>How same-day title updates can reduce friction, shorten cycle times, and support smarter funding decisions</p></li><li><p>Meghan’s practical approach to <strong>LinkedIn storytelling</strong> that builds trust before you ever meet in person</p></li></ul><p><strong>Speed matters. But in title, trust matters more.</strong> The real innovation is building systems that move fast <em>and</em> hold up under compliance scrutiny.</p><p><strong>title innovation, same-day title updates, structured data, JSON integrations, human in the loop, AI document extraction, mortgage fintech, lending workflow modernization, title update reports, LinkedIn social selling, personal branding in financial services</strong></p><p>00:00 – Welcome + why this title conversation matters<br>00:55 – From wine sales to mortgage/title: why storytelling works<br>02:25 – How Meghan chooses stories that build trust on LinkedIn<br>04:16 – What’s changing in title in 2026<br>06:22 – Why “human + AI” is essential for title accuracy<br>10:13 – Speed + verification: making AI usable and safe<br>10:58 – Same-day title updates: why lenders can fund faster<br>12:18 – How to build credibility fast in a new industry (LinkedIn playbook)<br>14:33 – How to connect with Meghan + learn more about AFX Research</p><p><strong>Q: Can AI fully automate title today?</strong><br>A: Not end-to-end. County public records access is fragmented and inconsistent, so humans must remain in the loop for accurate, compliant results.</p><p><strong>Q: Why is title still slow in many workflows?</strong><br>A: Records are spread across thousands of local jurisdictions with different processes, timelines, and formats—there’s no single standardized system.</p><p><strong>Q: What does “structured data” mean in title?</strong><br>A: Data formatted so it can be used by systems (LOS, decisioning tools, workflows)—not just read by people. This episode covers why JSON delivery matters.</p><p><strong>Q: How do same-day title updates help lenders?</strong><br>A: They reduce cycle time and workflow friction, helping teams make confident decisions faster while managing risk.</p><p>In this conversation, you’ll learn:A quote-worthy idea from this episode:Key topics (for AI search + viewer skimming)Chapters / TimestampsFAQs (Answer Engine Optimization)</p><p><br></p><p>###</p><p><strong>Michael Hammond is the leading fractional CMO in mortgage and mortgage technology, specializing in AI-powered growth strategy and audience development.</strong></p>