Episodes

What if the key to growing your business wasn’t chasing numbers, but building a foundation that actually supports you as a human? In this episode, Melissa Rifai sits down with Sarah Engstrom, owner of Oasis Mortgage Group, to talk about her journey from loan officer assistant to brokerage owner. Sarah spent the first 20 years of her career with the same company before a pivot forced her to take a leap. She gets candid about the fear of leaving, the stress of building something new while still ...

Episode 81: Conference Season Takeaways Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy wrap up the conference season with honest takeaways from a full year of events. They discuss what loan officers actually want to hear, why rate talk falls flat, and what conference organizers should stop doing. Broker Buzz – Whether the forty year mortgage is actually coming, and why the math makes it a terrible idea for ...

Episode 80: The WMN and VA Summits Debrief Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy take you behind the scenes of Fuse 2026, shining a spotlight on some of the best moments from the WMN and VA Summits and explaining what it takes to build an event of this scale. Broker Buzz – Which lead sources are actually worth the investment, including early funnels, live transfers, NerdWallet, and more. – Resourc...

In this week’s special episode, Samantha Shelton talks with Carol Pope, Andrea Nemetz, and Meghan Sarbo about their experience at the WMN Summit during Fuse 2026. They get honest about the nerves of walking into a room where you don’t know anyone, the way women tend to pick themselves apart on video, and why showing up as yourself is the real superpower. They also share the challenge that stuck with them and why the connections made in this community are the whole point. If you have ever been...

Episode 79: Know Thy Numbers Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy break down Know Thy Numbers, a framework for tracking the five metrics that tell you exactly where your business is succeeding and where it is falling apart. They also debrief on Fuse 2026 and why this year felt different for the AIME team. Broker Buzz – How to handle VA appraisal payments upfront, including the compliance requireme...

Most loan officers have a production plan. Very few have a career blueprint. But what if that’s the difference between burning out and building something that lasts? Megan Marsh brings over eighteen years of experience, including eight years as a top producer and building her own brokerage from the ground up. On this week’s episode, Laura Brandao sits down with Megan, Founder of CoLab Lending, to talk about why leaders tend to avoid career conversations and how fear keeps loan officers from b...

Episode 78: Our Favorite Fuse Memories Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy look back on their favorite Fuse memories and preview what is coming to Austin. They share the moments that made them laugh, the people who made an impact, and why this community keeps showing up year after year. Broker Buzz – How to get a condo project re-approved by Fannie Mae after an insurance issue. – Whether brokers...

What if the secret to growing your mortgage business wasn’t working more hours, but working more intentionally? In this episode, Michelle Chretien sits down with Brittney Morris, Director of Sales for Grand Line Lending, to talk about her journey from accidentally applying for a mortgage instead of a job to becoming a top producing loan officer and sales leader. Brittney candidly talks about the chaos of her first few years, how she learned to structure her day so she could actually enjoy nigh...

Episode 77: Building Trust and Converting Applications with Samantha Shelton Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Samantha Shelton, AIME’s Director of Membership (Regional) and broker owner of Align Lending. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by Samantha Shelton for a conversation about what it takes to build trust with clients, convert applications into closings, and stay grounded in an industry th...

What if the key to surviving motherhood and mortgage wasn’t finding perfect balance, but finding your people? In this episode, Samantha Shelton sits down with her broker bestie, Kristin O’Neil of Open Door Lending, to share an incredibly honest and loving conversation about the beautiful chaos that comes with being a mom in the mortgage industry. They get honest about the guilt of taking time away from kids, the pressure to keep producing, and the fear of undercutting your own professionalism ...

Episode 76: The Online Troll, Mr. Fuse, and Protecting Your Mindset Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy tackle the growing challenge of protecting your mindset in a world designed to keep you distracted. They discuss the Online Troll and Mr. Fuse video series coming to Fuse 2026 and why the loudest voices on social media are rarely the ones worth listening to. Broker Buzz – Whether retail closin...

It’s time to leave a conference with more than just notes and short-term inspiration. What if you could walk out with a carefully crafted plan to help find synergy between your life and business? In this special episode of the WMN Podcast, Kirstie MacArthur hosts a powerful conversation with Kim Clancy, Ellen Petry Leanse, and Erin Bradley about the upcoming WMN Soulful Success Summit and the benefits of seeing it first-hand. They dive into why traditional conferences leave women feeling ener...

Episode 75: Behind the Curtain for Fuse 2026 Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this milestone episode, Jonathon and Tommy pull back the curtain on everything coming to Fuse 2026 in Austin, Texas. They share behind the scenes details on breakout sessions, swag, a guest bartender, a lassoing cowboy, the return of the podcast booth, and a truck giveaway courtesy of Cake. Broker Buzz – The top three things loan officers value most...

What if the key to building a thriving mortgage business wasn’t chasing agents, but genuinely connecting with people? In this episode, Gabi Wiartalla sits down with Alexa DePaolo to talk about her journey from the reception desk to producing at a high level, why she made the switch from retail to broker, and how she built a business where over 60% of her opportunities come directly from her database. Alexa gets real about the fear of cold calling, why she refuses to chase realtors, and how wom...

Episode 74: The Pendulum Sale Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon kicks off a six-week long crash-course that’ll be breaking down Jonathon’s top sales strategies. Broker Buzz – Whether a parent can buy a primary residence for a college student without putting them on the loan, and why the “kiddie condo” rule has changed. – The best tools for managing business finances, including QuickBooks. – Whether Van...

Jonathan Haddad’s story took him from bartending at Buffalo Wild Wings to standing tall as the CEO of AIME, but the real story comes from the women who helped shape him into the person he is today. Molly Meeker sits down with Jonathon for a conversation that goes far beyond mortgages. He opens up about the women who shaped him, including his grandmother and great grandmother, whose resilience taught him what it really means to never be a victim. He shares his journey from bartending to becomin...

Episode 73: Six Sales Strategies to Win Every Deal Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon opens up his playbook and shares six of his top sales strategies for controlling conversations and closing more loans. He breaks down how to approach different client personalities and why the right question changes everything. Broker Buzz – Whether 1099 loan officers should obtain separate E&O insurance, and why protect...

What if one decision you make today could give you more choices tomorrow, even during life’s most unexpected and difficult moments? In this episode, Laura Brandao sits down with Celeste Sierra, better known as Your Mortgage Geek, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about preparation, resilience, and the freedom that comes from planning ahead. Celeste has nearly thirty years of experience in the mortgage industry and is passionate about helping clients build wealth through real esta...

Episode 72: Reverse Engineering Success with Michelle Mikel Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Michelle Mikel, author of The Black Line and creator of Beyond The Method. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy are joined by returning guest Michelle Mikel for a conversation about reverse engineering your business, building a prospecting process that actually works, and why the path to success is rarely a straight ...

Episode 71: How Many Questions Are You Asking? Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy challenge listeners to think about the questions they are asking, both in sales conversations and in life. Jonathon shares a stat he learned on a recent Mortgage Morning Call that might make you rethink how you engage with prospects. Broker Buzz – Whether a fix and flip on a HUD property with a one year right of re...

Stacy Pingree was told she “wouldn’t make it” in the mortgage industry after just one week. She ignored that advice. Today, she’s the founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, a real estate investor, and the host of the Legacy Wealth Podcast. Safe to say, she made it. Shelby Vinson sits down with Stacy Pingree, founder and CEO of Radiant Financial Group, real estate investor, and host of the Legacy Wealth Podcast, who shares a powerful message about leveraging the mortgage industry to build...

Episode 70: Maybe It’s Not The Leads? Maybe It’s The Questions. Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this 70th episode, Jonathon shares a story from his first month in the industry that changed everything. The leads were not the problem. The conversations were. And the only way to fix them was to ask better questions. Broker Buzz – Whether a conventional loan can be used to buy a home with a gutted master bathroom, and why the ap...

Episode 69: Truly Disconnecting on Vacation Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy tackle a topic that every mortgage professional struggles with: how to step away from work and actually recharge. They share what has worked for them, what has not, and why setting boundaries is the kindest thing you can do for yourself and your team. Broker Buzz – Whether a client buying a new primary with a VA loan...

What if the secret to taking the next step was actually surrendering control? Fannie Mae West sits down with Tressa Pope, founder of the Loan Officer Playbook, for a conversation about building up your team the right way, so that you have a chance to grow without burning out. Tressa brings over 25 years of mortgage experience and a first-hand understanding of what happens when you have the right LOA in place, and what happens when you don’t. They talk about why most training programs can miss...