More than 2,000 mortgage brokers from around the country converged in Las Vegas over the weekend for AIME Fuse, the second annual national conference put on by the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME). AIME Fuse 2019 was billed as a mega event for brokers and independent mortgage professionals and, by all accounts, the experience and takeaways matched the hype.
The broker community is still buzzing on the heels of a weekend said to be filled with the sharing of best practices and networking amongst each other, as well as some significant announcements from AIME and wholesale lender partners. All of which they expect will boost channel growth efforts to even higher levels as they collectively, spearheaded by AIME, plan to surpass 50% market share in the industry.
“Fuse was a homerun event for us and for all 2,000 brokers who attended,” said Anthony Casa, Chairman of AIME. “The key to all of it is that the conference is about positioning the mortgage broker channel for sustainable success moving forward – because brokers are the best option for consumers.
“At the same time, it’s also about celebrating our community and the things that we, and all of these incredible entrepreneurs across the country have already accomplished to this point together. You could feel the excitement and the hunger that mortgage brokers have to continue improving and growing their businesses.”
In his address to a jam-packed ballroom, Casa lauded the growth the broker channel has witnessed since the launch of AIME 18 months ago, citing the more than 4,000 new loan officers who have entered the wholesale space and the latest data showing broker market share approaching 20%. He also highlighted AIME’s expanded efforts to support lobbying and compliance issues on behalf of its membership and plans to grow advanced training and education programs, as the organization continues to pave a path toward a more favorable business landscape for independent mortgage brokers everywhere.
In addition to two highly anticipated segments delivered by conference headliners Gary Vaynerchuk, serial entrepreneur and CEO of VaynerMedia, and Ryan Serhant, real estate broker and star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing NY, Fuse attendees were the first to hear exclusive announcements direct from leaders from two of AIME’s biggest wholesale lender partners – Mat Ishbia, President and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage and Phil Shoemaker, Chief Business Officer of Home Point Financial.
Ishbia announced that UWM will launch its new Brand 360 platform on Oct. 23 – an all-inclusive portal that will provide mortgage brokers in UWM’s network with an assortment of tools to support their marketing efforts and client communication needs. Brand 360 includes Client Connect, which will automatically send alerts to brokers and their past and current clients, including rate drop, credit improvements, MI drop, LTV change and more; Brand Builder, where brokers can customize their marketing materials with logos, colors, fonts, and more; and Marketing Calendar, which will allow brokers to schedule social media content up to 30 days in advance.
On the Home Point Financial front, Shoemaker, Chief Business Officer of Home Point Financial, provided a positive outlook on mortgage broker market share, as well as insight into the expansion of their Customer For Life program starting in the fourth quarter of this year. First is an industry-leading recapture performance scorecard for all approved broker partners of Home Point Financial. This will provide key data in regard to a broker’s performance up to the last five years including loans that were captured or recaptured, loans that were originated and even loans that were missed opportunities.
Home Point Financial will also be providing a strategy and structure to all broker partners when it comes to integrating them into the frequent interactions that they have with the consumer, something they are uniquely positioned to do as they keep over 95% of their loans for in-house servicing. Become a Home Point Financial partner today and see all that Customer For Life has to offer you and your borrowers.
As Casa penned in an open letter to mortgage brokers prior to Fuse, “In true mortgage broker spirit, it’s not the destination of a 50% market share that we’ll appreciate the most – it’ll be the process of serving our communities, helping consumers achieve affordable homeownership, and growing our business with local jobs that will satisfy us the most. Just the way it always has been.”
If the energy surrounding AIME’s second Fuse conference is indicative of the continued acceleration that is in store for mortgage brokers in the foreseeable future, there is indeed a bright future ahead for the broker channel.
If you missed out on attending AIME Fuse 2019, check out a quick clip below of keynote speaker Gary Vaynerchuk addressing a full room of independent mortgage brokers.
