Some of the greatest examples of fulfillment and purpose through employment that I’ve heard about have happened for people working for small businesses.

we still see way too much of the strategy that demands mass hiring in robust markets, then mass layoffs when those market cycles change.

LodeStar is among the 5000 fastest growing private companies of 2022. Not just in the mortgage and real estate industry, but in the entire national economy. We’ve just been named to the Inc. 5000!

It’s rare that we see any type of progress—of any kind—happen in a consistent, linear fashion. That’s certainly the case with DEI efforts in our space. They’re happening. Progress is taking place.

It’s a poorly-kept secret that more than a few LOs still believe that it’s all about the rate, the rate and the rate—nothing more. And yet, somehow, the best LOs manage to produce in any market.

There are two factors that “traditionalist” employers in any industry—but especially a highly-traditional industry like ours—had better absorb quickly. First, almost half of the global workforce is thinking about quitting. Second, there’s no safety in homogeneity

The digitization of the mortgage loan process, although at times painfully slow, has come a long way. Especially in the past 10 years. And as that digital revolution has unfolded, we’ve seen a few distinctive phases.

Many of us remember the days of percentage rates in the teens. The best prepared businesses still made money. Home values weren’t even at record highs! And the sky did not fall after all.