Podcasts

Episode 592

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl shares a powerful perspective that every loan officer needs to hear. He explains why building a thriving mortgage business is actually a smarter and more profitable path than owning a franchise like McDonald’s. He compares the $2 million investment it takes to open a single McDonald’s location to the near-zero startup cost of being a loan officer and reveals how a handful of well-managed closings each month can outpace what most franchise owners earn in a year.

Carl breaks down the real numbers, lifestyle freedom, and scalability that make the mortgage business such an incredible opportunity when you follow the right systems. He also gives a nod to Kevin Gillespie and the Leadership Academy for inspiring this powerful mindset shift that could change how you see your own business.

If you’re tired of thinking you need a massive investment to make a great living, this episode will open your eyes to just how close you already are to building your own McDonald’s-level success without the grease traps or name tags.

Ready to see how simple it can be to grow your income and freedom at the same time?
Visit GetMoreLoans.com to schedule a free strategy call.

Episode 591

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this insightful episode, Carl sits down with top-producing loan officer Mike Steplowski from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, to uncover how his team is using AI to clear underwriting conditions faster than ever. Mike shares how his crew leverages a free AI tool called Perplexity to instantly find answers straight from agency guidelines, cutting out the hours of manual searching and reducing interruptions so everyone stays focused on closing loans.

Carl and Mike break down how this simple shift has streamlined communication, boosted productivity, and helped his team close 13 loans in a single month while freeing Mike from being the “easy button” for every question. They also touch on how sticking to the basics of the Daily Success Plan continues to fuel steady, referral-based growth even in a changing market.

This episode is a great reminder that technology doesn’t replace good habits, it amplifies them. When your team knows where to find answers, you stay focused on what really moves the needle: conversations, closings, and client relationships.

If you’d like to connect with Mike, click here to find him on Facebook.

Join Loan Officer Breakfast Club at LoanOfficerBreakfastClub.com where we share ideas like this every weekday morning and even send you the replays if you can’t make it live.

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Episode 590

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this heartfelt and introspective episode, Carl reflects on the recent passing of a childhood friend and the unexpected lessons that surfaced in the days that followed. What starts as a story about loss becomes a powerful reflection on grace, gratitude, and how the people we surround ourselves with can shape the entire direction of our lives.

Carl and Chris Johnstone dig into the difference between hardship and unhappiness, the quiet power of favor, and how to listen to those small nudges that push us toward meaningful connections. They explore how certain moments, both painful and beautiful, often prepare us for something greater, even when we can’t see it at the time.

This one is raw, real, and full of perspective. It’s a reminder to reach out when someone comes to mind, appreciate the journey that shaped you, and keep learning from the people who’ve crossed your path.

Click here to connect with Carl on Facebook.

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Episode 589

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl is joined by partner and friend Kevin Gillespie to unpack the hidden power of leadership culture and why it becomes the backbone of a team that scales with confidence.

You will hear how defining a clear three year vision, translating it to one year and quarterly targets, and aligning core values and hiring standards gives your people a map they can actually follow.

Kevin walks through building a simple responsibility chart and high level workflow with measurable standards, then keeping everyone on track with a steady meeting cadence and real dashboards that act like a pilot’s instrument panel.

Carl shares how celebrating wins, fostering real collaboration, and letting leaders lead creates leverage, improves retention and recruiting, and keeps you focused on driving traffic and converting loans instead of firefighting.

If you want help defining and installing a leadership culture that your team can rally around, set up a friendly strategy call at ProfitDrivenPlan.com.

Episode 588

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl is joined by his partner and friend, Kevin Gillespie, to walk through the six key systems that drive massive growth for loan officers and branch managers.

You’ll discover how a magnetic attraction marketing plan creates steady inbound inquiries, why a strong sales culture built on relationships generates consistent leads, and how delivering level 10 customer service frees loan officers to focus on sales instead of problems.

Carl and Kevin also cover how pricing and product strategy position you as the trusted choice, why leadership culture builds a team people actually want to follow, and how recruiting becomes simple when all the other systems are in place.

They share real stories of leaders who doubled, tripled, or even 5X’d their production by putting these systems together into one cohesive plan rather than scattered efforts.

If you want help installing these six systems in your branch or team, take the next step at ProfitDrivenPlan.com for a no-pressure strategy call that maps your path to franchise-level value.

Episode 587

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl sits down with Kevin Gillespie to unpack the five levels of leadership and authority that actually move teams forward: confidence, discipline, leadership, gratitude, and enjoyment.

You will hear how real confidence is a steady presence rather than bravado, why discipline beats motivation when the day gets messy, and how gratitude keeps you centered so you can lead with clarity even in tough markets.

Carl and Kevin share practical ways to build joyful cultures that attract talent, turn daily habits into long-term wins, learn faster from hard seasons, and surround yourself with people and rooms that raise your standard.

They close with simple steps to model calm, celebrate other people’s wins as your own, and use authentic enjoyment to make followership the natural outcome of how you show up.

If you want help installing these five levels through six proven growth systems in your branch or team, take the next step at ProfitDrivenPlan.com for a no-pressure strategy call that maps your path to franchise-level value.

Episode 586

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl talks with Kristin Simpson about the Coca-Cola versus Pepsi story, the rise and fall of New Coke, and the surprising truth that culture often beats product when it comes to winning hearts and market share.

Listeners will hear why emotional connection, nostalgia, and brand identity can outrun a statistically better offering, how to build a culture that attracts clients and teammates, and simple ways to show you are a real person who cares.

Carl and Kristin dig into practical plays for branch leaders and loan officers, including celebrating wins by sharing what works, making leadership accessible when issues escalate, and keeping personal notes so your follow-ups feel natural and human.

They also unpack how to avoid competitor bashing, use vulnerability the right way, and design every client interaction so people remember how you made them feel.

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Episode 585

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl talks with Amy DeBusk, a loan officer out of Northern California who went from zero closings last September to funding 12 loans this September. They dive into the structure, consistency, and discipline that turned her business around and gave her a whole new level of confidence.

Listeners will hear why tracking leads instead of just counting closings created a major shift, how Amy turned realtor partnerships, online reviews, and YouTube content into a balanced three-legged stool of lead generation, and the role accountability played in keeping her focused on the right daily activities.

Amy also shares how she uses ChatGPT (she calls it Gus) to crunch numbers, draft proposals, and stay ahead with marketing strategies, along with the simple product videos that continue to bring in leads week after week.

Check out an example of Amy’s videos here: An Example Of Amy DeBusk Videos

Schedule a one-on-one free coaching call, click here or visit LoanOfficerStrategyCall.com.

Episode 584

Welcome to Loan Officer Freedom, the #1 podcast in the country for loan officers, hosted by Carl White.

In this episode, Carl sits down with veteran loan officer Kurt Nielsen to show how you can expand your territory without packing a moving box, using smart delegation, a local presence partner, and consistent communication to serve clients across time zones.

Kurt shares how he lives in Puerto Rico while originating primarily in Hawaii, why answering the phone in real time still beats voicemail every day, and how weekly database touches and realtor value plays like marketing their listings keep him top of mind.

You will hear the simple three-highlighter exercise that forced Kurt to delegate everything outside his money-making, skill-matching, enjoy-doing lane, plus the “write small checks to cash big checks” mindset for hiring a daily success plan caller and setting up an office across from top agents.

Carl and Kurt talk about when an occasional in-person visit helps, when a Zoom coffee works better, and why today’s buyers and agents care more about speed, clarity, and execution than your zip code.

If you want a clear roadmap to build a multi-market footprint like this, grab your seat at the live 2-day event in Clearwater Beach this October by visiting MastermindRetreats.com.