Start your NAMB Focus experience right! Fuel up for a powerful day of learning with fresh coffee, donuts, & meaningful connections with fellow mortgage professionals before the sessions begin.

No rush, no pressure – just coffee, connections & conversation to jumpstart your NAMB Focus journey.

Sponsored by weMLO

Keynote speaker & frequent NAMB guest Barry Habib, CEO of MBS Highway, presents a look at the Fed, interest rates & housing.

Widely credited with saving the mortgage industry in 2020 from Margin Calls due to Fed Actions, Barry is a best-selling author & go-to media resource for his mortgage & housing expertise.

During his mortgage sales career, Barry personally originated over $2 billion. He is the highest rated speaker & trainer for over 25 years in mortgage & real estate

Notable Awards

• Three-time Crystal Ball Award Winner by Fannie Mae, Pulsenomics & Zillow for the most accurate Real Estate forecasts out of 150 of the top economists in the U.S. 
• 2019 Mortgage Professional of the Year 
• Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 
• Named to Mortgage Global 100 List 
• The St. Armand Ventures Businessman of the Year 2021 
• Named to the list of 100 People to Watch in 2023

This keynote is sponsored by wemlo® processing services. Loan processing powerhouse wemlo merges human connection and user-friendly technology to help simplify the entire mortgage process for mortgage brokers and their borrowers. The company provides access to highly qualified, top-tier processing talent, and supports an extensive list of lenders and loan products to help customers get faster, more effective results. Since its inception, wemlo has been the trusted choice for nearly 600 mortgage brokerages across the country and has processed over 7,000 loans.

Meet the companies showcasing the latest mortgage industry solutions, services & technologies designed to help brokers succeed in today's market!

Neel Dhingra, CEO of Forward Academy, will break down the actual tools and tactics on how to reach more clients and partners on social media in 2024, and how to convert this into real business results.

Neel is a content marketing expert who exploded his mortgage business by creating content that gets results on social media. He also is the founder of Forward Academy, where he helps over 1000 Real Estate & Mortgage Pros learn how they can do the same. Neel hosts the annual Forward Event in Las Vegas, where LO's and agents from all over the country come to learn the latest trends in marketing.

Tyler Mount, the nation’s leading expert in personal brand building & corporate marketing, presents a powerful session where he examines losses & perceived “failures” from his past, and finds where they brought about the kind of changes he needed to create the life of his dreams.

He applies these lessons in a universal way and relates them to readily applicable marketing strategies that will leave you so f#!king excited to harness the power of your authenticity to enjoy a personal & professional life that’s distinctly your own.

As a consultant to nearly 1,000 clients in 14 countries, Mount's experience spans brand development for residential agents, national brokerages & commercial brokers in addition to new development portfolios valued at over $7 billion.

He's been profiled in dozens of reputable publications & served as a keynote speaker for marketing & real estate conferences across the country. His non-traditional, direct approach empowers business owners to take control & build empires.

Everyone prospects, but the elite know the time, place & methods that are converting in today’s markets. Expert veteran sales leader Christine Beckwith takes you on a deep dive about what profoundly sets apart those who know & those looking for the pot of gold. Find your gold with Christine's help.

Freedom Mortgage Wholesale, a supporter of the mortgage broker community, is Historically, Currently, and 4EVER Wholesale. Freedom is presenting a panel of experienced mortgage professionals sharing their unique histories, current approaches, and strategic perspectives on achieving future success. Moderated by Allen Middleman, Executive Director at Freedom Mortgage, this discussion will explore how lasting businesses come to be. Get ready for interesting conversations with actionable insights to help you build a thriving 4EVER broker business. Let’s get building!

The simple 4-step system top loan officers use to attract, capture, nurture & convert clients without cold calls or pushy sales tactics. Trevor York shares a modern approach to marketing that turns attention into deals by scaling human connection through technology.

Cap off your conference day at NAMB's signature reception event. Enjoy drinks, food & networking with industry leaders, peers & partners in a fun-filled atmosphere celebrating the spirit of independent mortgage brokering. Come ready to share stories, exchange ideas & toast to the future of our industry.

What does the economic landscape hold for loan originators in 2026? Interest rates, inflation, housing demand, and economic growth will shape every aspect of your business this year. In this session, EPM President and Partner Phil Mancuso will walk through the economic forces expected to influence the mortgage market throughout 2026—from Fed policy and employment trends to housing inventory and consumer sentiment.

Learn the key economic indicators you need to monitor, understand how broader economic conditions translate into real-world implications for your operations and client pipeline, and gain actionable insights for positioning your business amid evolving market conditions. Whether you're projecting revenue, planning staffing, or strategizing market focus, this session equips you with the economic framework to make informed decisions.

Perfect for loan originators, branch managers, and business owners looking to stay ahead of economic shifts and capitalize on opportunities in 2026.

The political landscape is shifting. Jonathan Jackson, NAMB's lobbyist at The Williams Group, is here to cut through the noise and give you a clear picture of what's coming in 2026. Learn which legislative priorities will impact your business, where Congress is headed, and how mortgage brokers can influence the conversation.

In an evolving mortgage landscape where every interaction matters, it's time to ELEVATE how we communicate. In this dynamic session, NAMB President Kimber White and Chief Executive Strategist Valerie Saunders will share battle-tested techniques, real transaction case studies, and immediately implementable strategies that will transform your communication from a potential liability into your greatest competitive advantage.

Stop overthinking. Stop spinning your wheels. Chris Vinson, CEO, Mortgage Division, Windsor Mortgage shows what really drives success. Walk out knowing exactly how to crush your goals in 2026 without burning out.

In this unforgettable keynote, Chris Welton brings to life the gripping journey behind One Jordan — his revolutionary strategy to connect with elite performers by sending a single Jordan sneaker & a handwritten note. What began as a daring idea soon evolved into a catalyst for meaningful dialogue, mentorships & high-impact collaborations with some of the most influential individuals in business & leadership.

Through immersive storytelling, Chris takes the audience behind the scenes of his journey — laying bare the courage, creativity & vulnerability required to step into unconventional spaces. He dissects the mindset shifts needed to approach gatekeepers & influencers with confidence, and shares the pivotal moments that shaped the trajectory of his connections. More than just a tale of networking, this session becomes a masterclass in being unforgettable.

Attendees will walk away inspired to disrupt their own routines, empowered to create their own signature approach to relationship-building, and equipped with real tools to break through noise, build authentic bonds & take their professional presence to the next level.

Most mortgage brokers are testing AI and getting mixed results. It feels impressive one minute and useless the next. In this session, Kyle Draper and Shane Kidwell with Collective Coaching will show a simpler way to make AI consistently valuable in your business without turning it into a second job. You’ll watch us build a practical AI assistant live, in person, designed to support real-world mortgage influence and follow-up. You’ll leave with a clear framework you can apply immediately to create better outputs, build instant influence, and get more time back each week.

In this plug-and-play campaign which LOs can implement immediately, Mortgage Marketing Animals' Carl White will offer:

• A 5-piece campaign (letter to send out, checklist, email to send out, video script to record, and phone + social scripts)
• Step-by-step follow-up instructions
• A walkthrough of 38+ reasons homeowners may be ready to refinance, and just don’t know it
• Messaging that helps LOs reopen doors without sounding pushy or salesy to past databases, friends & family members.

This campaign is generating 3–8 extra closings per month for many, and it’s already proven, tested & working. Normally, this campaign sells for $400, but Carl is giving it away, 100% free, to all attendees who come to the session. Printed materials & everything!

This has been one of the most-requested & highest-rated sessions at Mortgage Marketing Animals' private events. With rates shifting & Q1 around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better!

Join Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, a recognized leader in the non-QM space, for an insightful discussion with several of their trusted broker partners. Together, they’ll explore why non-QM lending continues to be a strategic choice and share practical ways to leverage these solutions in the coming year. This session will provide high-level perspectives on market trends, broker experiences, and actionable ideas for success in 2026.

NAMB proudly presents the Certified FHA Mortgage Specialist (CFMP), sponsored by Freedom Mortgage. FHA loans have been helping people become homeowners since 1934. Having the ability to provide your borrower with the option of an FHA loan is a vital tool in your arsenal of lending options.

Education offered as part of this session is similar to training offered to FHA DE underwriters.

Topics covered include:

• Origination/Processing
• Borrower Eligibility
• Occupancy Types
• Loan Limits
• Underwriting using the TOTAL Mortgage Scorecard
• Credit Review Requirements
• Evaluating Liabilities/Debt/Income
• Asset Requirements
• Acceptable Appraisal Reporting
• Programs and Products

Immediately following the class, a test will be given, and upon passing, you will be presented with your CFMP certification and all the marketing materials you need to promote yourself!

NAMB proudly announces our newest certification, the Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist (CREV)!

Our certification sponsor, Liberty Reverse Mortgage, can help you confidently add reverse mortgages to your product mix in 2025!

More than 10,000 Americans turn 65 daily, and the reverse mortgage certification will give you the information and tools necessary to successfully navigate the product, process, and conversation with potential borrowers.

During the course you will learn:

• Age/Property/Equity Requirements
• How loan amounts are determined
• The role the product type plays in how much a borrower is allowed to access
• How a credit report is viewed and its potential impact on the loan
• Sales tips and best practices for working with borrowers 62+
• Overcoming objections and working through underwriting issues
• And much more…

Immediately following the class, a test will be given, and upon passing, you will be presented with your certification and all the marketing materials you need to promote yourself!