Home to Broker to Broker, Broker Power-Up, and The Women’s Mortgage Network Podcasts. The AIME Podcast Network is the wholesale industry’s go-to hub for unfiltered strategies, high-energy sales training, and real-talk leadership insights to help brokers close more loans.
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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 energized but overwhelmed, the neuroscience behind burnout, and what it really takes to build a sustainable
Episode 256 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Jason Kindler (President of First Coast Mortgage Funding) This week’s episode features Jason Kindler, a 25-year mortgage veteran who started as a broker, moved to retail, and came back to the broker channel with a fresh perspective. Jason shares why independence was the catalyst for his return, how brokers can successfully compete with builder financing, and his simple approach to AI that anyone can implement. He also discusses his coaching philosophy and why focusing on your strengths beats forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
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 in a processor, including communication, problem solving, and daily file touches. – How to help a clien
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 women can build business in a way that feels natural, through connection, not transactions. She also open
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 Vantage scores are worth adding to credit reports, and why “heads we win, tails we tie” applies here. Sales T
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 becoming a top producing loan officer and leading AIME. They dive into why community matters, the power of ac
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 protecting your company is non-negotiable. – How to expand a one-man shop to bring on other loan officers, incl
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 estate. But her story goes far beyond mortgages. She shares how a decision she made five years ago to plan
Episode 255 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: John McLaughlin (Broker & Owner of McLaughlin Mortgage) This week’s episode features John McLaughlin, who started in real estate as a top 1% agent before transitioning into the mortgage space. After two years in retail lending, John made the jump to the broker channel and hasn’t looked back. He shares how he built his tech stack from the ground up, why treating realtor partners as valuable assets is key to long-term success, and how the Brokers Are Best community has been instrumental in his growth as a broker owner. Key Takeawa
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 line. Broker Buzz – Whether a conventional loan can close with a DACA borrower whose documents have ex
Episode 254 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Joseph Dionne (Managing Partner at appli Home Loans) This week’s episode features Joseph Dionne, who took a job out of college as a real estate assistant and built it up into a thriving mortgage brokerage. It wasn’t always easy! His turning point came after a car accident left him with a broken back and a choice to make. Let the injury define him or push past every limitation being placed on him. Joseph shares how ultra marathon training taught him discipline, consistency, and the importance of surrounding himself with people wh
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 redemption is worth pursuing, and why red flags are everywhere. – FHA guidelines for employment gaps due t
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 generational wealth. They talk about the importance of mindset, setting clear financial goals, and cre
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 appraiser’s determination matters. – HELOC options for a home already listed for sale, including bridge lo
Episode 253 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Kathy Dey (Director of Operations at Apex Processors) This week’s episode features Kathy Dey, a mortgage operations veteran who started her career in telemarketing at 16 and has since held roles in origination, compliance, underwriting, and processing management. Now leading operations at Apex Processors, Kathy shares her unique perspective on the broker-processor partnership, why contract processing is changing the game for LOs at every production level, and how finding the right “work spouse” can transform your business. Key T
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 must sell their current home with a reverse mortgage before closing. – How to handle a self-employed roo
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 the mark, how to train an LOA who actually understands what you’re asking of them, and the one thing t
Episode 68: Adaptability, Resilience, and Leading Through Uncertainty with Christine Beckwith Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, and Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager, featuring special guest Christine Beckwith, CEO of 20/20 Vision for Success Coaching & Consulting. Jonathon and Tommy are joined by Christine Beckwith for a deep conversation about what it takes to survive and thrive in any market. Christine shares her journey through multiple industry cycles, the importance of adaptability, and why the ability to pivot is the single most important skill you can develop. B
Episode 67: “This Happened. Now What?” Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, alongside Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon shares a deeply personal story about his great-grandmother, who lost everything and still found a path forward. Her motto, “This happened, now what?” became the foundation for a three-step framework that applies to sales, business, and life. Broker Buzz – Whether a mortgage debt can be excluded from DTI if someone else has been making payments for three years, and why being on the original note is the key. – How sellers can requ
What if the hardest thing that ever happened to you was actually the thing that set you up for your greatest success? In this episode, Amanda LeDuc sits down with Allison Thenhaus for a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and building a business that truly fits your life. Allison shares her remarkable journey from a life changing detour in her twenties that forced her to rebuild, to becoming a thriving mortgage professional who now travels seventy days a year with her daughter to horse shows while closing over one hundred loans annually. She also gets real about the fear of letting go
Episode 252 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Christine Beckwith (CEO of 20/20 VSC) This week’s episode features Christine Beckwith, a mortgage industry veteran with decades of experience in roles like executive leadership, origination, and master coaching. As the CEO of 20/20 VSC, Christine has built a comprehensive coaching platform designed to help originators and leaders reach new heights. In this episode, she offers a strong perspective on the current economic climate, highlighting what has changed in the refi market and how originators can put themselves in position t
Episode 66: Controlling the Conversation Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, alongside Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy break down advanced sales techniques for taking control of conversations with clients, agents, and team members. Jonathon shares a six step framework that moves beyond basic objection handling and into true conversation leadership. Broker Buzz – The best tools for seamless team communication, including Slack and Roam, and how to set up channels that reduce noise and prevent burnout. – The good, the bad, and the ugly
Episode 251 Host: Marc Summers (AIME’s Founding President) Guest: Ryan Whitfield (Home Loan Specialist at C2 Financial) This week’s episode features Ryan Whitfield, who spent a decade as a pastor before transitioning into the mortgage industry. Ryan shares how his background in building trust and connecting with people became the foundation of his lending business. From struggling with internet leads to building a referral based model around first time homebuyers, Ryan offers a refreshing perspective on partnership, family, and finding your true value add. Key Takeaways: How his previous caree
Episode 65: Leading the Conversation with Confidence Hosted by Jonathon Haddad, AIME’s Chairman & CEO, alongside Tommy Golightly, AIME’s Marketing Manager. In this episode, Jonathon and Tommy share practical strategies for taking control of sales conversations without being aggressive or rude. Drawing from lessons learned in his grandmother’s home, Jonathon explains how to be direct, kind, and effective all at once. Broker Buzz – Whether a property inspection report can be transferred like an appraisal, and what happens when Freddie Mac’s AUS findings change. – How to handle a borrower with pa
In this episode, Julie Yarbrough sits down with Elizabeth Cassidy, an Air Force veteran, military spouse, and mother of four who also happens to be one of the most outspoken and successful VA loan officers in the country. Elizabeth shares what it really means to fight for veteran families, from the moment a listing agent told her an amputee from Afghanistan didn’t have “enough skin in the game” to the cease and desist letters she’s turned into paper airplanes. She also talks about balancing a two hundred unit per year business with cooking dinner every night, cheering on her competitive cheerl
