Mortgages. Money. Life.

Most mortgage professionals don’t have a work ethic problem… they have a goal-setting problem.In this episode of Mortgages. Money. Life., Val Miller and Trevor Hammond break down the four most common mistakes loan officers make when setting goals and how those missteps quietly cap your income, your consistency, and your growth.From not setting clear, measurable targets… to aiming too low and playing small… to completely overlooking the opportunity costs tied to your ambitions—this conversation pulls back the curtain on why so many driven professionals still feel stuck.They also tackle one of the biggest silent killers of momentum: trying to chase too many goals at once.If you’ve ever felt busy but not productive, motivated but not moving forward, or successful but not fulfilled—this episode will help you recalibrate and refocus.Because the right goals don’t just grow your business… they shape your life.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why vague goals keep you spinning your wheelsHow setting “safe” goals can limit your earning potentialThe hidden trade-offs behind every goal you setHow to simplify and prioritize for real momentumWhether you’re new to the industry or scaling to your next level, this episode will challenge how you think about success, and help you build goals that actually move the needle.

In this episode, Trevor Hammond and Val Miller dive into the mindset shift that separates busy mortgage advisors from scalable business owners. We talk about setting bigger goals, visualizing yourself already operating at the next level, and then aligning your daily actions to match that future version of you.From hiring before you feel “ready,” to getting out of the weeds on individual files, to redesigning your habits so your calendar reflects growth. This conversation is all about building a mortgage business that can actually scale.If you’ve been stuck doing everything yourself, wearing all the hats, and wondering how people around you are producing more without burning out… this episode is your sign.🎯 Dream bigger 📈 Act like the business owner you’re becoming 🔑 Build habits that support growth, not just survivalHit play and start showing up as the version of you who’s already winning.

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of intentional business planning, not the fluffy “new year, new me” version but the real, measurable roadmap that actually moves your business. I sit down with Trevor Hammond to unpack how top producers think about the next 90 days, the next year, and even the vision they’re building for 2026 and beyond.We start with the big picture: the long-term vision that gives your goals meaning. From there, Trevor breaks down how to reverse-engineer that vision into actionable milestones, helping you identify the specific areas of your business that deserve your attention this quarter.Then we get tactical. Together, we walk through how to translate those big 2026 outcomes into weekly activities you can track, measure, and repeat, the kind of consistent habits that quietly compound into major results. Whether you’re refining your systems, doubling down on lead generation, or reshaping your client experience, we map out exactly how to build a Q1 plan that is clear, focused, and doable.If you're ready to stop guessing and start executing with purpose, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to build a quarter and a year you’re proud of.Have a great holiday season, MML family!- Trev & Val

Are you spending all your time in your business, or are you making time to work on your business? In this episode, we explore the balance every entrepreneur and professional faces: managing the daily tasks that drive revenue while also stepping back to focus on long-term strategy.You’ll learn why it’s essential to go beyond just getting deals done and start building the systems, processes, and vision that keep your business growing sustainably. We’ll talk about how to prioritize high-level strategy, streamline operations, and create space for the work you do best, so you can scale without burning out.Whether you’re in real estate, mortgage, or any industry that demands both hustle and leadership, this episode will help you recognize where your time is best spent and how to keep your business on track for long-term success.Thanks for tuning in, and do us a favor and send this to a referral partner or colleague that would find it helpful! - T & V

In this episode, hosts Val Miller and Trevor Hammond sit down with longtime friend and collaborator John Thompson of SMPL Mortgage to unpack the powerful (and often overlooked) relationship between mortgage professionals and financial advisors.Instead of fighting for the ever-distracted attention of real estate agents, John shares how loan officers can carve out deeper, more fruitful partnerships by aligning with advisors who are equally invested in long-term financial planning.You’ll hear:Why financial advisors make ideal partners for mortgage professionals.How to approach advisors with value first, creating win-win relationships that help both businesses grow.Actionable strategies for shifting from transactional to transformational business models.Val and Trevor also remind listeners that building wealth and serving clients well isn’t just about closing loans—it’s about creating holistic financial ecosystems.👉 If this episode resonates, don’t forget to leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend who’s ready to think bigger about their mortgage business!

Cody Hardridge has seen his fair share of success; He's been on the leaderboards, he's been listed on Scotsman's Guide year after year. At this point, leadership and coaching are his passion - he has a clear enough vision that he scaled back on his own production to help other Mortgage Advisors become more successful. In this episode, Trevor and Cody talk about all of the things that make someone feel fulfilled doing what they do every day. Without a vision and a purpose of doing it, your career becomes a lot more meaningless. How do you get that vision for yourself and help it motivate you toward more impact? Cody is Mr. Discipline himself; As a Former Marine Veteran, he's wired differently than most and is extremely regimented in his life. We dive into how that plays into his Mortgage Business with system and routines that keep him on track to success. On this episode, Trevor asks Cody about his career path, how he got to be a 10+ year Scotsman's Guide winner, and why he decided to call NEO Home Loans his Mortgage "home." Thanks for joining us on this episode of Mortgages. Money. Life. - Trevor

Welcome back, Mortgage friends! One thing that Val has been challenged with is approaching partners (specifically agents) in a way that gets their guard down. It feels like you instantly become a sales person, even if you have something really valuable to help their business with. Trevor talks through how to approach these relationships in a way that shows them not only HOW you can help them, but the results that you can bring them by helping them in the first place. Thanks for listening to this episode of Mortgages. Money. Life. - send this episode to a friend if you found it valuable and think it might add value to them! 

If you're a Mortgage Pro, you have a database (we hope) - but how much are you leveraging it to get new business? Most of us don't look at clients we've worked with as a source of new business, but it absolutely can be. In this episode, we walk through the 3 different ways that you can leverage your database to generate business for yourself, business for your referral partners and ultimately, put your clients in a better position. By implementing these strategies, you will: - Send more business to CPAs, Financial Advisors and Estate Planners- Get connected with more CPAs, Financial Advisors and Estate Planners - Develop a deeper connection with your clients as you look to simply add value to them while also doing good for your own business.Listen, learn, implement! Thanks as always for listening, we appreciate you. Trev & Val

If it's not obvious already, the Mortgage industry can be a stressful environment. How can we keep ourselves from getting to the point of burnout, when it feels like there's so much to be done in your business? Coach and Industry Veteran Hope Bourman joins us to break down this topic and help those in the industry cope with and avoid burnout. How you can build your team so you're able to unplug Ways to change your perspective to not COPE with burnout, but avoid it entirelyHelping yourself fall back in love with your career in mortgage Don't get us wrong, this industry is not easy, but there is a path forward and you're most definitely not alone if you feel yourself in this position. Thanks for listening - if this helps 1 person, we're making the different we want to make. Cheers! Trevor and Val About Hope BourmanFor more than 25 Years, Hope Bourman has established a respected name branding as a savvy and driven leader with extensive background in Commercial Real Estate Finance, Mortgage Banking, and Construction Joint Venture Lending.   Throughout her career Hope has achieved success focused on Sales, Leadership and Market Share Growth serving multiple platforms including Wholesale Brokerage, Fortune 500 Companies, as well as Privately Owned Enterprises.As Founder and CEO of Signature Strategies, Inc., Hope Bourman leads a world class Private Consulting and Coaching Organization and has helped sales professionals, business leaders and executives to define vision and architect strategies to ensure measurable success worth celebrating.

For years in the mortgage industry, there have been two sides of the coin; Fast, easy and cheap vs. local, advice-based lenders. Too many times, uneducated consumers are choosing the online "click-button-get-mortgage" option, because they aren't aware of the value they're missing out on. Those years are coming to an end. Ryan Grant, Founder and President of NEO Home Loans, joins us this week to talk about the recent partnership between NEO and Better Mortgage. Since it's creation, NEO has been committed to giving consumers the best advice, guidance and ongoing education in order to change the way that mortgages are done. The antithesis of the company is the online, transactional lender. With the partnership between these two (what seems like) opposites, it begs the question; Why did these two join forces, and what does it mean for the rest of the industry?

New year means you're starting to set all of those big, brave goals around what you want to accomplish by the end of 2025. We're not here to say you shouldn't, but let's go a little bit farther with this one. If we set our THREE year goals, then the progress I make this year is much more likely to be in line with my "down the road" goals. This episode is not only for our Mortgage Advisors, but also for the clients that they serve. Go teach people how to set and achieve money goals, you'll set yourself apart in no time. Thanks for kicking off the New Year with us, excited to spend 2025 sharing value with you all! - T & V

Have you ever heard of the "last mile problem?" The concept is this; When it comes to online sites like Amazon, the most difficult yet most crucial part of the entire experience is the last mile. That's when the customer gets the product in their hands, and realize they're either happy or dissatisfied with the product. It doesn't matter how amazing the process was the create this product, if that last mile is unsuccessful, your product is doomed. Our last mile in mortgage is the client consultation. When you sit down with a client, are they blown away by the value you're creating for them, or are they just comparing you to the lender down the street? 

In this episode, we're joined by Craig Davis, founder of Ascend Xperience to talk about what he's seeing from a coaching perspective. We dive into what Mortgage Advisors are missing the mark on right now, where the industry is headed and his journey from Mortgage Professional to being a successful coaching entrepreneur himself. From battling cancer and losing his leadership position in the industry within 6 weeks of each other, Craig found himself at a crossroads that led him on the impressive journey he takes us on during our time together. Craig Davis has been in leadership, management, and sales for over 20 years serving the Mortgage Industry.  Early in his career, he discovered that focusing his unique talents on helping his clients and team succeed fueled his success.  He founded Ascend Xperience with that same purpose and passion as an Executive Coach, Fractional COO, and Speaker who keenly understands how to help his clients succeed on purpose, and in their design.  He is a conqueror of cancer, a family man, a buddy, and in his own words, just a good human… Connect with Craig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-davis-ascendxc/Visit Craig's website: Ascend Xperience (ascendxc.com) Follow Craig on Instagram: InstagramThanks for listening, folks!Trev & Val

1 whole year of learning, growing, and sharing concepts that don't get talked about nearly enough in our industry. We've had a BLAST over the last 365 days, so during this episode, we chose our favorite episodes to reminisce and reflect on the lessons talked about in each one. If you're a new listener, this is the perfect episode to tune in and get a high-level view around the concepts we love most. Our new season will feature some of the most impactful and trail-blazing leaders that our industry has to offer - we can't wait for you to hear more! We appreciate you being here and listening, thanks for an awesome year!- Trevor and Val

For the first time ever, we welcome on a very special guest to join the show, none other than industry legend Todd Ballenger. Todd has been a coach and mentor to Trevor for many years as you'll hear in the beginning of the episode, and someone who has instilled a lot of the concepts that we talk about today into the way Trevor has done business. Todd joins us and shares his upbringing, how he eventually found his way into the mortgage space, and ultimately the 7 steps he's identified that lead a "Loan Officer" to grow into a Mortgage Advisor and eventually a Certified Liability Advisor. Listen, learn, implement! Thanks as always for joining us - enjoy the show! - Trevor and ValTo learn more about Todd's coaching program and becoming a Certified Liability Advisor, visit borrowsmartuniversity.com, or reach Todd directly at [email protected]. 

Being in an industry where people metaphorically "get naked" for us when it comes to their finances, it's very clear that we have a massive lack of financial education in our society. It can be hard to articulate all of the short comings that many people have in their financial lives, and even harder to instill some of these lessons into your client's minds during the time you get with them. Trevor has identified 4 "blind spots" that almost everything boils down to, that keep people from reaching their full financial potential, and ultimately, financial freedom. We dive into these 4 blind spots and how to have conversations with your clients that are 10x more impactful. Listen and absorb the information for yourself, and ask yourself which blind spots YOU experience in your own life. This will make it that much easier to articulate and relate to your clients. Thanks for listening!- T & V

We set BIG goals - everyone likes big goals, right?But what happens when we don't reach them in the time limit we set for ourselves? We beat ourselves up, we deem it a failure, and we have less confidence than before. What if we aimed to accomplish those goals over a 25 year time span? How would that change our perception of ourselves and our successes?Of course, we have to set goals within that 25 year timespan, but they're all leading up to our main objective that we decide for our next 25 years. Listen to this episode if you're feeling too hard on yourself and need a perception shift - that's what we're here for!- Trevor and Val

Stress & Mortgage?! Can't have one without the other - but are you managing it in a way that allows you to operate at the highest level and actually use your stress as an advantage in your business?The first step is acknowledging your stress and the relationship you have with it. During this episode, Trevor and Val talk through how to view the feelings you're going through and effective ways to manage them. This business IS stressful, but there are good, healthy ways to cope and use stress to your advantage. Thanks for listening, send this to your stressed-out friend who needs to hear this!- Trevor & Val

It's easy to intake an application, calculate DTI and hand out a Pre-Approval letter based on income, assets and liabilities. What moves you to the next step of being a Mortgage Advisor is finding out if that mortgage or home is suitable for the client. What are their current and long-term goals with finance and real estate? Do they have kids they want to send through college in the next few years? Is this loan helping them with the leverage and financing they need to achieve those goals?Going from a place of eligibility to suitability will, rest assured, move you closer to being a Mortgage Advisor rather than just another Loan Officer. During this episode, we talk about the different aspects that take a client from eligibility to suitability and how you can start to implement these things into your mortgage practice. Like, subscribe and leave a review - we'll read it live on our next episode! Thanks for listening, Trevor & Val

You get on a new kick - you want to implement something new in your business, achieve a new big goal in your personal life, or start a healthy habit. You think about it for a week or two and nothing ever gets implemented or changes in your life. Enter the 4 C's!This way of thinking about starting anything new will make you more intentional and change the way you look at many new things in your life. If you follow this framework, you're far more likely to see change and stick to habits that you were never able to stick to before! Along the way, you'll start to see how you've been implementing this framework.Thanks for listening, we're glad you're here!- Trevor & Val

There's no better feeling than crossing something off of your "to-do" list; Or is there?Creating a "NOT to do" list could be the freedom you need in your business to focus on the things that are the highest and best use of your time. Whether it means eliminating these items altogether, or collaborating with someone else in order to get it off your plate, it's well-worth the time and effort to grow your business. During this episode, we'll talk about how to identify something that should be on your NOT to do list, and the process to create freedom by removing it. Thanks for listening!

We hear it as Mortgage Advisors all the time...- I'm trying to be debt free- I'm trying to be mortgage free - I'm working toward financial freedomWhat is the goal of any of these objectives? It's to increase our net worth. When we look at decisions that our clients, and even some of us, are making, many times they are not leading us to increase our net worth. They're trying to avoid paying interest on one thing, when they could be making a greater return somewhere else. Or they're putting all their money toward a mortgage, so it sits there and generates no return. Let's dive in to the "money games" and common decisions that people are making that may NOT be the best decisions to get them to where they want to go. We need to be the ones to guide and advise them to get there. Thanks for listening?

Partnering with Financial Advisors can be a very lucrative route that produces high-quality leads for your business. The problem is, not many have done it at a level that actually produces value for both you and the Financial Advisor. In this episode, we walk through what these professionals value in a relationship, how to speak their language and relate to their business in a way that creates connection and ultimately how to create more stickiness for a partnership that benefits all parties involved. This was a fun one!If you liked this episode, leave us a review and we'll read it live on the next podcast! Thanks for listening. - Trevor and Val

Welcome to the nebulous world of KPIs! Key Performance Indicators show you the most important figures in your business and if you're doing the work necessary to keep growing and improving. The challenge is, what do we measure when there are SO many metrics in our business? These are the 4 most important things I've discovered will accurately measure your success as a Mortgage Advisor. Act. Measure. Repeat.Thanks for listening!

Less folks wanted to buy homes, WAY less wanting to refinance, so where do you, as a Mortgage Professional, focus your time? If you want to drive more conversations, be more of an advisor for your clients and set yourself up to be the go-to for all things Finance and Real Estate - talk about MONEY. In this episode we talk through the conversations you should be having with your prospects, past clients and Realtor partners to continue educating and having a reason to reach out to anyone, even if they're not in the market to buy or refinance. As always, thanks for listening!- Trevor & Val

In a position where you're not guaranteed a paycheck, it's crucial to manage your income in a way that gives you a cushion for when times are tough. If you find yourself in this market stressed about money, use the 3-Bucket Technique to not only prepare yourself, but also learn how to teach your clients how to prepare for the unexpected expenses that life brings. Thanks for listening to Mortgages. Money. Life. If you find value in the content, leave us a review and we'll share it on our next episode! - Trevor & Val

Do you feel so "in the weeds" of your business, with no freedom to take weekends or vacations off? You deserve time away from the day-to-day to truly rest and recharge in order to be the best version of yourself.In this episode, we dive into the key hires that you can make to take work off of your plate and give you freedom to 1) focus on your "genius zone" and 2) have the freedom to step back while your business continues to run smoothly. Listen as we break down the 3 hires that will make your business infinitely scalable.Thanks for joining us as always, if you enjoy the content, be sure to leave a review and we'll read it LIVE on the podcast!

The Mortgage industry is notorious for working into the ground until there's no proof of a social life that existed for any Mortgage Professional. What if we told you it doesn't have to be that way?Trevor has been taking 150 unplugged days off for the past 10 years, some of which he was running the top branch in the country. There has to be intentionality behind this in order to keep your business running well, and part of that starts with structuring your weeks to set you up for success. We talk through Trevor's time management system to get more done in less time, and have the ability to unplug from your business. Whether it's a free day, a busy day or a buffer day, make everyday count with this time management system!Thanks for listening!- Trevor & Val

You probably hear on a regular basis "just 1% every day" or content around setting small goals to eventually achieve big results. What if we told you growing your business or getting better by 10X is easier than improving it by 10%?In this episode we talk about what it takes to rethink everything in your business including the way that you set goals for yourself. Getting in this mindset will make you question every decision, every partnership, process, etc. currently in place for your business. Thanks for listening! 

The Mortgage space is one of the most emotionally-driven industries out there. You're helping clients make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives while their emotions are out there searching for a place to call home for their family. It's a recipe for disaster if their emotions win and logic takes a back seat. The concept of "house vs. home" take a very complex concept and makes it simple for the consumer to understand. When they begin thinking in terms of "home" when they're in "house" territory, it becomes very easy to reign them in and keep their logic front of mind. Listen to the full episode to learn how to implement this concept for yourself! 

Our industry is notorious for having the value proposition of "Service, Speed and Low Rates." What if I told you that's your job and not a value that sets you apart?In this episode we break down how to be truly valuable for your clients and solve problems that they might not even know they have. It takes a lot of questions - good questions - and building that trust with your clients will pay off 10x over. The best part? This is a simply 10-minute conversation that can completely transform your relationships and processes. Thanks for tuning in and we hope this makes you and your business 10x more valuable!

When a client comes to you, are you spitting rates and terms at them, or having intentional conversation around money, strategy and what their goals are? There's a harsh reality at a very early point in one's Mortgage career that you realize how little our society is taught about real estate, money, mortgages, etc. and if anyone is going to teach it to them, it just might have to be us as Mortgage Advisors. That's where the Cash Flow Priority Model comes into play. Teach your clients that paying off the mortgage, most times, SHOULDN'T be their first priority. We walk through the levels of priority and how to frame this to your clients in a way that makes them realize their wealth is nearly untouchable once it becomes home equity. Listen, learn, teach, repeat! Thanks for tuning in!

Are you in the weeds of your business and not focusing on the high-level things that you should be as a leader trying to grow a business? This is a pain point of Mortgage Professionals everywhere as they try to maintain control of their business while also trying to focus on growth. Until today...In this episode, Trevor talks about what it takes to find your "genius zone;" The area that gives you the most return on both investment and energy within your business. How can you identify that for yourself? What's the process to delegate the rest and work toward a business model where that's the ONLY activity you focus on? Tune in to this episode of Mortgages. Money. Life. to find out for yourself and work toward a better version of yourself! 

If you're a Mortgage Professional, you've probably created a year-long, 2024 business plan. You've set goals you want to reach, created milestones so you know you're on the right track and are welcoming the new year with a plan to make it happen. The problem is, we often wait until the year is over to look back on if we were successful or not - what if we shortened that timeframe to 90 days and reflected on our success 4 times throughout the year? By creating a goal for your next quarter rather than next year, it allows you to adjust and recalibrate in order to reach, and exceed, your business goals. Tune in to this episode of Mortgages. Money. Life. and get started on your 90-day business plan today!

"I'm focusing on doing the activities while the market is tough, when business shifts, I'll be in good shape." - Every Loan Officer that doesn't have a planDuring a market when business is slower than usual, how are you keeping your confidence up while still measuring your success? This is the message you NEED to hear right now - redefining what success is, could save your business and your sanity. It's about focusing on the activities, while measuring the success of those activities and readjusting accordingly. It's not going blindly through a dark tunnel in hopes that there's light at the end of it, while you had a flashlight in your hand the whole time. During this episode, Trevor talks about how he's coaching his Mortgage Advisors through this time in order to set them up for wins that bring confidence, while they're doing the activities that yield more business. Thanks for joining us for Mortgages. Money. Life. This is the podcast for the Mortgage Professional who wants it all! 

First things first; What in the world is a Certified Liability Advisor?It's changing the conversations you have with clients from "How much do you want to put down for a home?" to "Here are ways your wealth can be safe, generate a return for you, but also be more liquid and accessible than equity in your home." It's helping them realize that paying more on their mortgage every month might NOT be the best use of their money. It's opening the client's mind to more than just a Mortgage.In this episode, Trevor breaks down the 7 steps or concepts that go in to being a CLA. These 7 steps should be worked into all of your conversations with clients, and once you do, there's no looking back. Thanks for listening! 

We hear countless titles for Originators in the Mortgage business . What should we be calling ourselves, and more importantly - WHY? What does a Mortgage Advisor do that a Loan Officer doesn't? And who threw Certified Liability Advisor into the mix? During this episode, we break down the differences between levels of professionals and how they're portrayed to the consumer. Trevor shares how much easier it becomes to overcome objections when you have something to talk about other than price or rate, and what those other conversations can be with clients. Join us to become one with your career title and fill those big shoes you're standing in, today!

For the modern Mortgage Professional, all you know is being swept up in the "grind," taking no days off and working for money that makes you increasingly more miserable. What if I told you that doesn't have to be the case? What if I told you there's an entirely different side to the industry that creates MORE freedom, makes you MORE money and leads you to a life that's more fulfilling than you could imagine? All we have to do is pivot the way we're approaching the business. Mortgages. Money. Life. is here to help you do just that. In this episode, we learn about the background of Trevor Hammond and the climb to being #1 in the country, and why it made him rethink everything. Now, he has built a business he can completely unplug from 150 days out of the year. We'll talk about what it takes to shift your mindset from where you are, to living a life of freedom.