Best Team ACUMA Podcasts (2024)

1
The Secret to Building Relationships, Both Professional and Personal 41:08

5h ago41:08

41:08

We all like to be with – and do business with – people we like, who share our values and interests, and who see as many benefits in knowing us as we see in them. That’s a simple concept but a difficult practice for many of us. Josh Tindel, SVP of Sales for Atlas Title Company, has mastered this talent through concerted effort. Where to start? Put y…

1
Fostering a Community for Credit Union Success 24:30

2h ago24:30

24:30

Community is not just a word the credit union industry throws around. It is the central embodiment of why credit unions exist. ACUMA President Peter Benjamin had the opportunity to catch up with some first-time attendees on this episode of the ONpoint Podcast. The networking, the community, the engagement, and the welcoming environment were all hig…

1
Make “Accountability” a Positive Force for Change 48:22

17d ago48:22

48:22

Accountability, both on the job and in life, is the responsibility we all have for accomplishing the tasks that we’ve chosen or have been given to us. Too often, however, the word becomes a negative used to connote failure. Sales consultant Dr. Bruce Lund knows the intrinsic power of the word “accountability” and wants to see it used on both sides …

1
AI, Housing and All that Regulatory Jazz 25:23

10d ago25:23

25:23

As November’s presidential election approaches, lawmakers are slowing their wheels in anticipation of a change in administration. Topics around housing (in particular junk fees), financial institutions' use of artificial intelligence (AI), and others are still in hot debate, but with vacations looming, Congress is literally running out of time. In …

1
Women in Finance and Housing Play a Powerful Role 45:12

24d ago45:12

45:12

Women are vital in financial services and mortgage lending, especially among credit unions. Providing both support and opportunities is critical to helping them excel in their roles and provide excellent member service, or so says Kris Kully, a partner with Mayer Brown and president of the Women in Housing and Finance Foundation. In this podcast, K…

1
Make Training Needs Known Throughout the Mortgage Lending Process 35:57

1M ago35:57

35:57

Mortgage lending is a complex business with many steps and multiple individuals involved in closing the deal for the borrower. In most cases the process follows the domino principle: When one domino falls, the rest are sure to follow. The only way to stop that from happening is to assure that all involved understand the entire process. Effective tr…

1
It’s Election Season, and This Year Housing Tops the Ticket 27:16

2M ago27:16

27:16

It’s a year of turmoil and change, but one constant shines through from many agendas: housing, housing, and more housing. From interest rate volatility to inventory shortages to mortgage fees of all types, everyone from House and Senate leaders to presumptive presidential candidates from both parties sees housing issues among the most critical chal…

1
Expect Spring Growth in Your Mortgage Loan Portfolio Provided You Plant the Right Seeds 36:37

2M ago36:37

36:37

April showers bring May flowers, but in the right environment they can also help nurture mortgage loan growth despite what are sure to be some stormy days ahead. That’s the message Patty Mason, Vice President of Real Estate Lending for American Eagle Financial Credit Union, shares with her staff when it comes to revitalizing credit union mortgage l…

1
Concocting the Magic Elixir in Economic Projection 41:50

2M ago41:50

41:50

According to Logan Mohtashami, Lead Analyst for HousingWire, economics done right is often boring. The discipline is data-driven, and understanding how to read data is the secret to understanding economic conditions, right? Well, there’s more to it than that, and often it’s the “why” and “wherefore” of that data, where it’s been and where it’s goin…

1
An Election Year Changes Everything 24:55

3M ago24:55

24:55

Like the witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the current D.C. climate may be best described as one of “double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble,” or more commonly, Election Year. It’s a time when issues old and new are trotted out by friends and opponents alike to see what’s likely to stick when the new Administration takes offi…

1
Master Best Practices in Credit Union Construction Lending 40:40

3M ago40:40

40:40

There are big differences between buying an existing home and building a new one. Likewise, there are similar differences in writing a mortgage loan on an existing home versus working with consumers to finance the various steps in the home-building process. According to Shannon Faries, Director of Risk Management for Land Gorilla, this is a market …

1
The Best That the CU Mortgage Lending System Has to Offer 41:52

3M ago41:52

41:52

Seeking graduate-level training in leading a credit union mortgage lending program? Ready to discuss everything from e-closings to improving the housing inventory to growing your mortgage loan portfolio? Look no further than Beth Eller, SVP of Mortgage Lending Truliant Federal Credit Union. She is among the “best” that the credit union mortgage ind…

1
Close Looks at D.C. Lawmaking Highlight ACUMAs New Policy Podcast Series 32:43

4M ago32:43

32:43

With apologies to whomever said it first, the theme of the latest ACUMA podcast – and the first in its monthly series on policy updates – could well be “May You Legislate in Interesting Times.” According to experts polled in this first episode, 2024 is no ordinary year, but one when not only the presidential administration may change, but how we do…

1
Realtor-Partners Help You Better Meet Member Needs 37:39

4M ago37:39

37:39

The partnership between credit union mortgage lenders and Realtors is as symbiotic as it can be successful. But that success is greatest when the two professionals have a previously established relationship and understand how best to meet each other’s business needs in the process, according to Christopher Davis, AVP of Business Development with Na…

1
Choose Who You Want to Be Today 41:13

4M ago41:13

41:13

Difficult times call for exceptional leaders, those who can maximize the talents and personalities of their staff to address the needs of credit union members. How you get there from here comes through a blend of personal traits, professional training, and a positive attitude to help staff members work through their own opportunities and challenges…

1
ACUMA 2023: The Highlights and the Even Higher Lights 53:04

6M ago53:04

53:04

Looking back on ACUMA in 2023 may mean different things to different members, but it clearly meant good things – let’s say GREAT things – to the association’s powerhouse staff: Peter Benjamin, President; Krista Korfmacher, Director of Events and Member Relations; Justin Hawkins, Director of Marketing & Communications; and Camryn Hinton, Associate D…

1
Cultivating Servant Leadership 55:37

6M ago55:37

55:37

The lack of affordable housing continues to plague society’s different economic strata, but there are things credit unions can and should do to foster greater homeownership among current and potential members. To credit unions, members are more than mere transactions, and it behooves them to act as servant leaders to make the dream of homeownership…

1
Dreams + Action = Reality 45:19

7M ago45:19

45:19

Sometimes the smallest decisions we make have the greatest consequences, often defining and shaping the trajectory of our lives. For Suha Zehl, founder and senior advisor with Z Technology Solutions, understanding and seizing those pivotal moments define us and, ultimately, influence the direction and the success of our lives. This is true not only…

1
Know Your Members. Tell Your Story. 42:41

7M ago42:41

42:41

The clearest path to financial security is through homeownership, but how many of your members know your credit union not only offers mortgage loans but is sincerely interested in embarking on that journey with them? According to Wendy Dawson, Vice President of Mortgage Lending for Coastal Federal Credit Union, this awareness is especially critical…

1
Getting Back to Embracing Connections 26:13

8M ago26:13

26:13

We've all heard it at some point or another in the past few years. Face-to-face conversations have seen a large decline. Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA is coming to you live from ACUMA's Annual Conference in the beautiful Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, MD where he is joined by Kathy Weber, VP of Residential Lending at Delta Community Credit …

1
Success Turns on Trust and Accountability 48:25

8M ago48:25

48:25

How do you motivate your loan officers – internal as well as external – during difficult times? For Nestor Villanueva, AVP for Mortgage Production at Northwest Federal Credit Union, motivation and success are built on the twin cornerstones of trust and accountability. These are not processes that happen overnight, and they must create a two-way str…

1
Success Means Serving Members as THEY Want to be Served 42:23

8M ago42:23

42:23

Mortgage lending success requires different skills, abilities, and levels of awareness. Central to those is being readily available to members, Realtors, and anyone else involved in the mortgage lending process. That means being there when they call if only to let them know you’re involved and working toward a resolution. Such immediacy works wonde…

1
Capturing the Attention – and Trust – of Younger Homebuyers 43:02

9M ago43:02

43:02

The financial market is always changing, but emerging generations have difficulty distinguishing between credit unions, banks, and other lenders. When it comes to home mortgages, most don’t understand and are fearful of the process, knowing little about credit unions’ natural advantages to help first-time homebuyers achieve their personal financial…

1
Capturing the Mind of the Member and the Marketplace 46:21

9M ago46:21

46:21

Succeeding in any enterprise turns on your ability to understand the minds of your constituents. In credit union mortgage lending, your constituency starts with borrowers but stretches to include the Realtors you work with and the institutions you compete with to serve your members best. That quickly becomes a busy field of play, and ACUMA Presiden…

1
What Does It Mean to Be a Good Teammate? 42:18

10M ago42:18

42:18

Everyone talks about leadership, but little is said about being a good teammate. Good leaders know that they, of course, can’t do it alone. Great leaders know that good teammates able to work together, support each other’s efforts, fill in the gaps, and score in whatever discipline they perform are both vital to success and themselves great leaders…

1
Do the Right Thing at the Right Time for the Right Reasons 39:51

10M ago39:51

39:51

Work brings value to time, or so the saying goes. High-level credit union professionals know how to manage time productively in ways that maximize their own days and those of their staff members. But it takes a certain level of emotional intelligence to look beyond mere efficiencies and find a rationale for time management, especially as it relates…

1
Some Like It Hot (-ter Than Others) 1:02:07

10M ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Few things demand more time and energy than our professions. One of the exceptions seems to be hot sauce, especially when shared among friends. Join ACUMA staff members Krista Korfmacher, Justin Hawkins, and Camryn Hinton as they put ACUMA President, Peter Benjamin, CMB, on the hot seat about what the association has accomplished in the first 18 mo…

1
Creating Your Personal Net Worth 31:36

11M ago31:36

31:36

Mortgage lending is all about helping members build net worth through home ownership. But the most difficult lessons come from creating your net worth, not only financially, but from both a personal and professional perspective. The work is more challenging than you may think. Dale Syta, Managing Director of Bellco Home Loans, has found the key to …

1
Elevating the Mortgage Lending Process for Greater Success 34:49

11M ago34:49

34:49

As a credit union mortgage lender, you strive to be a more effective leader for your team and the institution it serves. What makes you get out of bed in the morning to tackle the challenging problems and vault the growing hurdles to mortgage lending success? What enables you to inspire your team to follow into the fray while better serving your me…

1
Success Stories During a Down Year and Overcoming Challenges 23:49

11M ago23:49

23:49

The ACUMA team is onsite at our FOCALpoint Workshop in Louisville, KY. Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA was joined by Carolyn Morganbesser, Assistant Vice President Mortgage Originations at Affinity Federal Credit Union, and Bernie Chavira, AVP of Mortgage Lending Originations at Define Mortgage Solutions for this special edition episode of the A…

1
What Value Am I Providing Today? 30:19

12M ago30:19

30:19

No one accidentally succeeds. No matter how big the challenge is, believing in yourself, your capabilities, and the value of your efforts is critical to achieving success. At the heart of all this lies a single word – optimism. Ali Nassirian, Vice President of Home Loans at Golden 1 Credit Union, understands the value of optimism. In this podcast, …

1
Become Your Credit Union's Advocate 45:34

12M ago45:34

45:34

Are you an active advocate for credit unions? As an active advocate, you can: Better influence lawmakers with a real-world view of the lending process. Better explain to your members what the rules mean. Better explain how they as borrowers benefit from the new rules. Elizabeth Sullivan, CUNA’s Senior Director of Advocacy & Counsel, joins ACUMA Pre…

1
Sales is Not a Dirty Word 40:07

1y ago40:07

40:07

Credit union real estate lenders too often suffer heartburn over being called “salespeople,” especially in light of serving their members, according to Dr. Bruce Lund, founder, and director of The 90-Day Sales Manager. But supporting the demand for services drives the need to occupy the sales niche when courting professional partner firms to help t…

1
Cultivating a Passion for Service 35:40

1y ago35:40

35:40

When Scott Albrecht became manager of a small credit union located within a Fortune 15 company in Columbus, Ohio, he wanted to ignite in his staff a passion for service, creating a credit union that replicated the old TV sitcom Cheers, “where everybody knows your name.” These days Albrecht serves as the AVP of Learning Development for ServiStar Con…

1
Mortgage Lending Success – It’s Matter of Both Lifestyle and Expertise 40:04

1y ago40:04

40:04

How do mortgage lenders rise to success in their industry? The most successful mortgage veterans know mastery of critical techniques is just part of the equation. Embracing the lifestyles of the members and communities they serve opens the door to new levels of understanding, and from that understanding comes mastery. In this episode ACUMA Presiden…

1
Leadership is a Privilege. Have You Earned the Right? 41:41

1y ago41:41

41:41

Effective leadership is critical to success, but leadership skills are neither a natural talent nor a career rite of passage. Good leaders earn their position. In this podcast, ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, digs deeply into the leadership question with Casey Cunningham, the founder & CEO of XINNIX. Cunningham knows that leaders must be stron…

1
Networking, Collaboration, and Sharing Ideas are How We All Succeed 24:22

1y ago24:22

24:22

There are so many different opportunities for people to continue to learn and grow within the credit union space. ACUMA’s FOCALpoint Workshops are just one of those many ways. But we are joined today, by Julie Bowering from Elements Financial and Amber Speer from Texell Credit Union just getting to know them and why they chose to attend the FOCALpo…

1
Let Education Drive Your Staff Development 39:53

1y ago39:53

39:53

True professions are defined as enterprises that actively provide training and support for those who will take the reins in the future. Unfortunately, the question of how that will happen is too often ignored. In this podcast, ACUMA Peter Benjamin, CMB, discusses staff development with Andy Woodman, VP of Mortgage Lending and Loan Trading at Georgi…

1
Follow the Market Data 29:17

1y ago29:17

29:17

Navigating the mortgage market requires vigorous attention to detail and up-to-date market intelligence to make the right decisions at the right times and for the right reasons. In this podcast, ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, welcomes mortgage industry expert Bill Bodnar, Chief Revenue Officer for Tabrasa LLC, and Chief Market Analyst for the…

1
Krista, You're a Rockstar! 20:08

1y ago20:08

20:08

If any organization has a hub around which all movement turns, it’s usually someone with integrity, influence, endurance, and, above all, energy. In this special podcast ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, honors Krista Korfmacher, ACUMA’s Director of Events and Member Relations, in celebration of her fifth anniversary with the association. Most m…

1
Clearing the Path to Better Member Service 37:14

1+ y ago37:14

37:14

Credit unions were founded on the premise of serving the underserved and people of modest means. These days those potential members are getting harder to reach amid the clatter and competition characterizing the marketplace. How do credit unions clear the path to better fulfill their mission? Join ACUMA President Peter Benjamin, CMB, on the very fi…

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