Fintech Hunting

Hosted by Hosted By Michael Hammond

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Jul 2026

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The podcast host will be Michael Hammond JD, CMT, keynote speaker, author and founder of NexLevel Advisors. Join Michael as he seeks out will tech visionaries, leading lenders, trailblazing executives, and other Financial influencers to bring you actionable insights and lead generation tactics all centered around industry greatness and success.

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August 26, 202621 min

You Bought the AI. So Where’s the ROI? | The Mortgage AI Adoption Problem

ou bought the AI. You implemented the technology. So why isn’t the ROI showing up? In this episode of The FinTech Hunting Podcast , Michael Hammond sits down with Suha Beidas Zehl, CMB, CEO of Z Technologies , for a candid conversation about one of the biggest challenges facing mortgage and financial services leaders today: turning AI investment into actual business results. The technology may no longer be the biggest obstacle. Adoption, leadership, data, governance, and organizational readiness are. Michael and Suha explore why some companies are moving from AI experimentation to measurable outcomes while others are still struggling to get employees to use the tools they already purchased. Why buying AI doesn’t automatically create ROI Why AI adoption may be a bigger challenge than AI capability The question leaders should ask before choosing an AI use case Why bad processes and poor data can undermine AI investments How small, measurable wins can accelerate adoption Why employee education and leadership matter more as AI advances How governance and organizational readiness will separate AI leaders from laggards One of the biggest takeaways: The competitive advantage may not come from having access to AI. It will come from knowing how to use it across the organization. Instead of asking, “What can AI do?” leaders may need to start with a better question: “What business problem are we trying to solve—and should AI be the solution?” If you lead a mortgage lender, fintech company, mortgage technology provider, operations team, or AI initiative, this conversation will challenge you to look beyond the tools and think harder about what actually creates transformation. 🎙️ Guest: Suha Beidas Zehl, CMB | CEO, Z Technologies 🎙️ Host: Michael Hammond | Founder & CEO, NexLevel Advisors 🎧 Podcast: The FinTech Hunting Podcast 00:00 — Welcome Suha Beidas Zehl 00:58 — What mortgage leaders are asking about AI 01:52 — The AI adoption and ROI problem 04:13 — Stop asking what AI can do 05:13 — Why AI isn’t just an IT initiative 06:40 — Where companies are seeing real AI progress 07:10 — Data, quick wins and building trust 08:58 — Why employee adoption determines ROI 10:14 — Doing more with the same 11:59 — Productivity, quality and AI slop 13:07 — Preparing leaders for 2030 14:37 — Keeping AI transformation human-centered 16:01 — From AI experiments to business outcomes 17:19 — Finding the right AI use cases 18:50 — Governance and organizational readiness 20:20 — Connect with Suha Subscribe to The FinTech Hunting Podcast for conversations with the executives and innovators shaping the future of mortgage, fintech, AI, and financial services. ### 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.

July 29, 202624 min

MISMO’s Warning: Mortgage AI Can’t Go Ungoverned

Mortgage AI is already inside lender workflows, vendor platforms and employee tools. But if a regulator, investor or business partner asked where AI is being used, who owns the risk and how those decisions are governed—could your organization provide a clear answer? In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Brian Vieaux, President of MISMO, to examine the growing gap between AI adoption and responsible AI governance in the mortgage industry. They discuss: Why lenders need an inventory of every AI use case How “shadow AI” enters organizations without leadership approval Who is accountable when a technology vendor uses AI Why existing fair lending and compliance obligations still apply How MISMO FRAME helps organizations assess and govern AI risk Why standardized mortgage data is critical to reliable AI What lenders should ask before adopting an AI-powered solution How MISMO’s new governance certifications could shape the industry MISMO FRAME—the Framework for Responsible Use of AI in the Mortgage Ecosystem—is designed to help mortgage companies move beyond vague AI policies and build practical governance around real use cases, risks and responsibilities. The uncomfortable truth is that waiting for new AI regulations is not a strategy. AI is already being used, and organizations will still be responsible for the outcomes. Watch the full conversation to learn how mortgage lenders, technology providers and industry leaders can adopt AI without losing control of accountability, compliance or trust. What is the biggest AI risk facing the mortgage industry right now: shadow AI, poor data, weak vendor oversight or lack of executive ownership? Subscribe to the FinTech Hunting Podcast for candid conversations with the leaders shaping mortgage technology, fintech, artificial intelligence and the future of financial services.

July 22, 202618 min

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.

AI-Powered vs. AI-Native: What Mortgage Lenders Need to Know YouTube Description What is the difference between AI-powered mortgage technology and an AI-native mortgage platform—and does that distinction actually matter to lenders? In this episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Brianna Lin, co-founder of Copperlane AI, to examine what AI-native mortgage origination looks like in practice. AI-powered technology typically adds AI capabilities to an existing software product. AI-native technology places AI at the center of the workflow. But the label alone means nothing unless the technology can solve real operational problems, protect borrower information, support human judgment, and improve the mortgage experience. Brianna shares what Copperlane has learned from working directly with lenders and explains how AI can help mortgage professionals reduce repetitive administrative work while giving loan officers more time to focus on borrowers, relationships, and revenue-generating activity. In this conversation, you will learn: What separates AI-powered from AI-native mortgage technology Which parts of mortgage origination are most ready for automation Why AI cannot repair a fundamentally broken workflow Where automation should stop and human oversight should begin How lenders can evaluate AI beyond time savings Why audit trails, security, compliance, and borrower-data protection matter How to build employee trust and manage AI adoption Which internal AI use cases lenders should evaluate first What questions lenders should ask before selecting an AI technology partner The biggest question is not whether AI is coming to mortgage. It is whether lenders will use it to automate outdated processes—or rethink how work gets done. This episode is for mortgage executives, operations leaders, technology teams, loan officers, and anyone responsible for evaluating or implementing AI in mortgage origination. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Brianna Lin’s path into mortgage technology 02:24 What mortgage origination is ready to reimagine 03:53 AI-powered versus AI-native technology 06:04 Why AI cannot fix a broken workflow 07:06 Where automation should end 09:42 Measuring AI beyond time savings 11:45 Change management and employee trust 13:49 The best first AI use cases for lenders 15:59 How AI can change the loan officer’s work 17:29 Connecting with Brianna and Copperlane Subscribe to the Fintech Hunting Podcast for candid conversations with the founders, executives, and innovators shaping the future of mortgage, fintech, financial services, and artificial intelligence. ### 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.

July 15, 202623 min

Stop Chasing Mortgage Leads: Your Next Deal Is Already in Your Database

Stop Chasing Mortgage Leads: Your Next Deal Is Already in Your Database YOU ALREADY HAVE THE LEAD Your next mortgage deal may already be sitting in your database. So why are so many loan officers spending more time chasing strangers than strengthening relationships they have already earned? In this episode of the FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with mortgage industry leader Kortney Lane-Schafers to challenge the mortgage industry’s obsession with generating more leads. They explore how loan officers and lenders can use existing borrower relationships, referral partners, real-time data, and AI-powered technology to uncover repeat business and create more relevant customer conversations. But this episode is not just about technology. It is about using technology to become more human, more helpful, and more valuable at the exact moment a borrower or referral partner needs you. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why your existing mortgage database may be your biggest untapped growth opportunity How to generate more repeat and referral business without constantly buying new leads How AI can identify timely borrower and property opportunities Why data is useless unless it leads to a clear next action How loan officers can stay relevant long after the closing Why technology should strengthen relationships—not replace them How personal branding, video, and authentic communication build trust How can loan officers generate more repeat mortgage business? Loan officers can generate more repeat business by consistently staying connected with past borrowers, monitoring relevant changes in their financial or housing needs, and reaching out with timely information that provides genuine value. Can AI replace the human relationship in mortgage lending? AI can help loan officers analyze data, identify opportunities, prioritize outreach, and communicate more efficiently. It cannot replace the trust, empathy, judgment, and personal guidance borrowers need when making a major financial decision. How can mortgage professionals use their database more effectively? A mortgage database should be more than a list of names. When borrower, property, market, and referral-partner data are connected, loan officers can identify who may need help, understand why the opportunity matters, and determine the most relevant next action. What is MMI One Mobile? MMI One Mobile helps mortgage professionals turn borrower, property, market, and referral-partner intelligence into actionable opportunities. It is designed to help loan officers identify potential conversations and act on them from one mobile experience. The mortgage professionals who win will not be the ones with the most technology. They will be the ones who use technology to create the most meaningful relationships. Watch the full conversation and decide: Do loan officers really need more leads—or do they need to stop ignoring the opportunities they already have? Subscribe to the FinTech Hunting Podcast for candid conversations with the leaders and innovators shaping the future of mortgage, fintech, artificial intelligence, customer experience, and financial services. Learn more about MMI One Mobile at mmi.io. ### 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.

July 8, 202624 min

Waiting for Rates to Save You? KP Says Mortgage’s AI Race Has Already Started

Are mortgage lenders building for the next market—or waiting for rates to bail them out? In this episode of The FinTech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Kevin Peranio, Chief Lending Officer and Partner at PRMG, for a candid conversation on the market realities, AI disruption, and leadership decisions shaping the future of mortgage. KP does not talk about AI like a buzzword. He breaks down where the industry is already seeing ROI, why mortgage is still in the early innings of AI adoption, and why lenders who wait too long may find themselves trying to catch competitors who already learned how to use technology to grow. This conversation goes beyond rates and surface-level market talk. Michael and KP dig into the uncomfortable questions every mortgage leader should be asking right now: Is waiting for rate relief a strategy—or just denial? Can AI help loan officers become more productive without losing the human side of lending? Where should lenders invest first: sales, operations, fulfillment, or borrower experience? How should companies think about build vs. buy, vendor consolidation, and open architecture? What happens as trigger leads decline and lenders are forced back to fundamentals like relationships, local expertise, and referral strategy? And most importantly: who is actually building for the next mortgage market? If you are a mortgage executive, loan officer, fintech founder, technology vendor, or industry leader trying to understand what comes next, this episode is worth your time. The market may not save you. But the right strategy, technology, and leadership decisions might. Listen now to hear KP’s take on mortgage’s AI race—and why the lenders who move with intention today may be the ones pulling ahead tomorrow. Guest: Kevin Peranio, Chief Lending Officer and Partner, PRMG Host: Michael Hammond, The FinTech Hunting Podcast ### 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.

June 24, 202618 min

Mortgage Lenders Are Missing the Inventory Engine | Dana Georgiou on Private Lending

Mortgage lenders keep talking about the housing inventory problem. But what if they are ignoring one of the most important engines helping create that inventory? In this episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast, host Michael Hammond sits down with Dana Georgiou, Chief Revenue Officer of Dunmore, to unpack one of the most overlooked shifts in mortgage and real estate finance: the rise of private lending as a serious force behind housing inventory, real estate investment, construction, and community growth. Dana makes the case that private lending is no longer a niche corner of the market. It has matured from local fix-and-flip capital into a more sophisticated lending ecosystem supported by institutional capital, securitization, investor demand, and a growing need for faster, more flexible financing solutions. The big question this episode asks: Are traditional mortgage lenders underestimating the very lending channel that helps create the homes their borrowers want to buy? Dana explains why real estate investors, builders, and developers play a critical role in bringing inventory to market, why traditional lenders need to better understand private capital, and how responsible private lending can support both business growth and housing supply. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping lending operations, where automation can improve speed and efficiency, and why human judgment still matters when making credit decisions in a complex private lending environment. What You’ll Learn What private lending is and why it matters to mortgage professionals Why housing inventory often starts with investors, builders, and developers How private lending has evolved from a niche product to an institutional market Why traditional lenders may be missing a major opportunity How private lenders balance speed, risk, and responsible credit decisions Where AI can help private lenders scale smarter Why AI should support, not replace, human judgment What Dunmore is building in the private lending space Why ground-up construction, multifamily, and DSCR lending are gaining attention Featured Guest Dana Georgiou Chief Revenue Officer, Dunmore Dana Georgiou is a revenue leader, author, AI advocate, financial literacy advocate, and private lending executive helping shape the next chapter of real estate finance. Host Michael Hammond Host, The Fintech Hunting Podcast Founder & CEO, NexLevel Advisors 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. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dana Georgiou 00:55 What mortgage leaders are underestimating about private lending 01:49 Why private lending is becoming central to housing finance 03:31 What traditional mortgage professionals misunderstand 05:27 Balancing speed, risk, and responsible lending 06:56 Biggest opportunities in private lending right now 07:56 Why AI is a business shift, not just a tool 11:17 What AI should never replace in private lending 13:15 Where lenders should start with AI 15:35 The Dunmore story and private lending model 17:28 How to connect with Dana and Dunmore Key Questions Answered What is private lending in mortgage? Private lending provides financing for real estate investors, builders, and developers. These loans often support fix-and-flip projects, bridge loans, ground-up construction, multifamily projects, and DSCR rental property financing. ### 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.

June 10, 202624 min

AI Won’t Replace Relationships — But It Will Expose Who’s Been Faking Them | Fintech Hunting Podcast

What happens when borrowers stop Googling you and start asking AI who they should trust? In this heartfelt episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond welcomes back industry thought leader, recruiting expert, media partner, taco aficionado, and dear friend Dalila Ramos for a real conversation about the future of visibility, trust, AI, and human connection in mortgage and financial services. Fresh off the Insellerate Experience Summit, Michael and Dalila unpack one of the biggest shifts facing the industry today: buyers, borrowers, lenders, and referral partners are no longer just searching for links. They are asking AI for answers. And if your brand, your expertise, or your company does not show up in those answers, you may become invisible before the conversation ever starts. But this episode is not just about AI. It is about the people behind the posts. The trust behind the transaction. The laughter, faith, friendships, tacos, car rides, conference moments, and real-life connections that technology can support — but never replace. Michael and Dalila explore: How AI search is changing borrower behavior Why GEO and AEO matter for loan officers, lenders, and mortgage technology companies Why “AI slop” is damaging trust and making brands sound the same How to use AI as a tool without losing your voice Why video, authenticity, and consistency are now trust signals How real relationships are built in the small, unpolished moments Why the winners will combine AI-powered visibility with genuine human connection Dalila shares a powerful reminder that the best content often comes from simply showing up as yourself — candid, consistent, imperfect, and human. Michael reinforces why the future belongs to those who can answer real questions clearly, build authority intentionally, and still care deeply about the people they serve. This is a conversation for every loan officer, mortgage executive, fintech founder, recruiter, marketer, and industry leader asking: How do I stay visible in an AI-driven world without losing what makes me human? Watch now and rethink what it really means to be found, trusted, and remembered. ### 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.

May 27, 202624 min

Mortgage Has an AI Problem Nobody Wants to Admit | Trish Maraski

Everyone in mortgage is talking about AI. Far fewer are asking the harder question: Are we using technology to create a better borrower experience—or just automating the same broken processes faster? In this episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast, Michael Hammond sits down with Trish Maraski, Vice President of Product and Strategy at Moder, for a candid conversation about what innovation in mortgage should actually look like. After nearly three decades in the industry, Trish has seen technology cycles come and go. Her perspective is refreshingly direct: AI may make transformation faster and more accessible, but it cannot replace strategy, clean processes, good data, or the human judgment required to serve borrowers well. This conversation explores: Why automating a flawed process can create bigger problems, faster Where mortgage innovation is real—and where it is still just talk Why the people closest to the work must be included in transformation How lenders can use AI without losing the human experience What still makes the mortgage industry deeply meaningful This is not a conversation about chasing the next technology trend. It is about whether mortgage leaders are willing to fix what is broken before AI exposes it. Watch now and decide: is your organization truly innovating—or simply automating? ### 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.

May 20, 202620 min

LinkedIn Isn’t Broken. It’s Deciding Who Still Matters. | Fintech Hunting Podcast

Why is LinkedIn showing you posts from two or three weeks ago? It feels frustrating. It feels outdated. It feels like the feed is broken. But what if LinkedIn is not broken at all? In this episode of the Fintech Hunting Podcast , Ashley Gravano turns the tables and interviews Michael Hammond for a timely, honest conversation about the shift happening on LinkedIn—and why mortgage, fintech, and financial services professionals need to pay attention. Michael explains why LinkedIn has moved from a feed built around recency to one increasingly shaped by relevance . That means the posts that keep getting surfaced are not always the newest. They are the ones LinkedIn believes still matter because people are engaging, saving, reposting, and spending time with them. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone using LinkedIn to build visibility, credibility, relationships, or pipeline. Because the real question is no longer: “Did I post today?” It is: “Did I create something worth resurfacing?” A big thank you to Ashley Gravano for hosting this episode, flipping the script, and leading such a genuine, curious, and timely conversation. Why LinkedIn is resurfacing older posts What the shift from recency to relevancy means Why surface-level content is losing power How deeper, more useful posts can keep gaining reach Why saves, reposts, comments, and dwell time matter How mortgage and fintech professionals should rethink LinkedIn Why your content strategy must build trust before the sales conversation ever starts If you are a mortgage professional, fintech leader, vendor, loan officer, marketer, or executive trying to stay visible in a noisy market, this conversation will challenge how you think about LinkedIn. The future of visibility belongs to the people who create content with substance, clarity, and staying power. For more insights on AI, LinkedIn, mortgage marketing, fintech growth, and audience development, visit nexleveladvisors.com and explore the NexLevel Advisors Resource Center . Subscribe to the Fintech Hunting Podcast for conversations with the leaders, operators, and innovators shaping the future of mortgage, fintech, and financial services. In this episode, we cover:

May 6, 202613 min

Your Loan Officers Can’t Sell What They Can’t See | Non-Agency Lending’s Execution Gap

Most lenders say they have access to non-agency products. But access does not mean your loan officers can confidently sell them. In this episode of The Fintech Hunting Podcast , Michael Hammond sits down with Eloise Schmitz, CEO and Co-Founder of LoanNEX , to unpack one of the biggest hidden growth problems in mortgage lending today: lenders are missing qualified borrowers because their teams do not have the visibility, workflow, and execution certainty needed to compete in non-agency lending. This is not just a product problem. It is a confidence problem. It is a workflow problem. It is a revenue problem. Eloise explains why non-agency lending can no longer be treated like a side-door solution for unusual files. In a market where affordability is tight, rates remain elevated, and borrower profiles are changing, lenders need more than a long product menu. They need a clear way for loan officers to identify options, trust the pricing, explain the solution, and deliver what they promise. In this conversation, Michael and Eloise discuss: Why access alone is not a competitive advantage How lenders unintentionally hide viable options from loan officers Why “simple” product menus can actually create more friction The borrower segments lenders are missing in today’s market Why execution certainty matters more than ever How LoanNEX helps lenders create confidence in non-agency lending Why the future belongs to lenders who can make complex products easier to sell The big takeaway: If your loan officers cannot see the right options, they cannot sell the right solutions. And in this market, that may be costing lenders more than they realize. Guest: Eloise Schmitz, CEO & Co-Founder, LoanNEX Host: Michael Hammond, The Fintech Hunting Podcast Learn more about LoanNEX: Contact: sales@loannex.com Subscribe to The Fintech Hunting Podcast for more conversations with the leaders, founders, and innovators shaping the future of mortgage, fintech, lending, and financial services.