Lending Thoughts

Bekim Merdita
Lending Thoughts

Welcome to the Lending Thoughts podcast, a Canadian Mortgage Broker’s top source for timely, industry-leading insights to help you become a better mortgage professional. Join Bekim Merdita, a trusted name in mortgages and the EVP of Rocket Mortgage Canada, as he hosts conversations with industry experts and leaders to keep you informed on the latest and greatest in the Canadian mortgage landscape. Let the Lending Thoughts podcast be your guide to growing your tactics, expertise, and ultimately, your business, in this highly competitive mortgage market.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    5: Professionalism Over Politeness with Rocket Mortgage Canada's Alex Meloche

    WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, Bekim is joined by Alex Meloche. Alex is the Divisional VP of Sales at Rocket Mortgage Canada. He has been with the company since May of 2020. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario and coming from a big family, Alex picked up strong communication and story-telling skills from a young age, and has parlayed that into a very successful career in sales. With a professional life spanning the past 2 decades in industries such as debt and legal collections, dental, office & furniture, and now mortgages, Alex has continued to build his sales and leadership skills from amazing mentors, and hopes he can open the doors for the next generation.   Alex is here to discuss:→ His professional career and why he wanted to join Rocket Mortgage Canada, the legacy he wishes to leave, and staying motivated with 1, 100, and 1000 day goals.→ What makes a great salesperson, transferable sales skills across all industries, and the building blocks of sales and leadership, effective communication and confidence.→ The importance of running a professional process/system, using conversion metrics through your process to level up your skills, and why professionalism over politeness is the way to win clients and be a great friend.   Alex Meloche's LinkedIn: @AlexMeloche ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Lending Thoughts Podcast: @lendingthoughts 📺 Lending Thoughts Podcast YouTube: @LendingThoughtsPod 📸 Lending Thoughts Podcast Instagram: @lendingthoughtspod ⏰ Lending Thoughts Podcast TikTok: @lendingthoughtspod 👥 Lending Thoughts Podcast Facebook: @LendingThoughtsPodcast ***   CONNECT WITH BEKIM 📸 Bekim Merdita's Instagram: @bekim_merdita 📋 Bekim Merdita's LinkedIn: @BekimMerdita ***   CONNECT WITH ROCKET PRO CANADA 🔗 Rocket Pro Canada Website: www.rocketpro.ca 📸 Rocket Pro Canada Instagram: @rocketprocanada 📋 Rocket Pro Canada LinkedIn: @RocketProCanada 👥 Rocket Pro Canada Facebook: @RocketProCanada ***

    35 min
  2. NOV 13

    4: Building Lasting Referral Relationships with 8Twelve Mortgage's Gary Fooks

    WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, Bekim is joined by Gary Fooks. Gary is the Co-Founder & CEO of both 8Twelve Mortgage & 8Twelve Financial Technologies from Toronto, Ontario, who stumbled across the mortgage industry at the end of 2014. From working on Wall Street to scaling sales organizations with technology, it only took Gary 3 years to hit $100M in yearly mortgage volume, with 99% of it coming from referrals. Gary parlayed that success into Co-Founding 8Twelve Mortgage in 2018, leveraging technology and automation to implement his proven, proprietary 8-step process, and usher along a new era of mortgage professionals.   Gary is here to discuss:→ What brought him to mortgages and the founding of 8Twelve, opening their network to and supporting independent Agents, and how he finds the right fits for the brokerage.→ How to build a referral based business with lifelong relationships, the biggest mistake people make when pitching potential referral partners, and building mutually beneficial Broker and lender partnerships.→ Tech's purpose in your business, what AI is going to transform in the mortgage industry, and how AI can be used to find holes in your client journey process and lead to improvement.   8Twelve Mortgage Website: www.8twelve.mortgage 8Twelve Mortgage Instagram: @8twelvemortgage 8Twelve Mortgage LinkedIn: @8TwelveMortgage 8Twelve Mortgage YouTube: @8twelvemortgage 8Twelve Financial Technology Website: www.8twelve.tech Gary Fooks' Instagram: @gfooksy Gary Fooks' LinkedIn: @GaryFooks ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Lending Thoughts Podcast: @lendingthoughts 📺 Lending Thoughts Podcast YouTube: @LendingThoughtsPod 📸 Lending Thoughts Podcast Instagram: @lendingthoughtspod ⏰ Lending Thoughts Podcast TikTok: @lendingthoughtspod 👥 Lending Thoughts Podcast Facebook: @LendingThoughtsPodcast ***   CONNECT WITH BEKIM 📸 Bekim Merdita's Instagram: @bekim_merdita 📋 Bekim Merdita's LinkedIn: @BekimMerdita ***   CONNECT WITH ROCKET PRO CANADA 🔗 Rocket Pro Canada Website: www.rocketpro.ca 📸 Rocket Pro Canada Instagram: @rocketprocanada 📋 Rocket Pro Canada LinkedIn: @RocketProCanada 👥 Rocket Pro Canada Facebook: @RocketProCanada ***

    36 min
  3. NOV 6

    3: Leading Your Tribe with Tribe Financial’s Frances Hinojosa

    WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, Bekim is joined by Frances Hinojosa. Frances is the Co-Founder, Principal Broker, and CEO of Tribe Financial Group from Oakville, Ontario, who's won numerous accolades over her 30 years in the mortgage industry. A seasoned leader whose career spans from starting in the bank to running a firm and her own practice, Frances has always been a trusted resource for mortgage advice, sitting on many advisory boards, including MPC, and been featured across all forms of media, including the Globe and Mail and CP24. Possessing integrity, transparency, & heart, her passion for her craft can be seen not only in her excellent client care and impressive business numbers, but also in her efforts to mentor those across the mortgage industry.   Frances is here to discuss:→ Her journey into the mortgage industry, banking vs brokering, and her time on the board of MPC.→ The mission she has with her team/brokerage, how she's created company culture and applied core values, and the legacy she wants to leave behind.→ How we can bring change to the industry with tech & innovation and new business cycles, the difference in the next generation of consumers, and what new Agents should be looking for when they pick a brokerage.   Tribe Financial Website: www.tribefinancial.com Tribe Financial LinkedIn: @TribeFinancial Tribe Financial Instagram: @tribe_financial Frances Hinojosa's Website: www.franceshinojosa.ca Frances Hinojosa's LinkedIn: @FrancesHinojosa Frances Hinojosa's Instagram: @frannahinojosa ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Lending Thoughts Podcast: @lendingthoughts 📺 Lending Thoughts Podcast YouTube: @LendingThoughtsPod 📸 Lending Thoughts Podcast Instagram: @lendingthoughtspod ⏰ Lending Thoughts Podcast TikTok: @lendingthoughtspod 👥 Lending Thoughts Podcast Facebook: @LendingThoughtsPodcast ***   CONNECT WITH BEKIM 📸 Bekim Merdita's Instagram: @bekim_merdita 📋 Bekim Merdita's LinkedIn: @BekimMerdita ***   CONNECT WITH ROCKET PRO CANADA 🔗 Rocket Pro Canada Website: www.rocketpro.ca 📸 Rocket Pro Canada Instagram: @rocketprocanada 📋 Rocket Pro Canada LinkedIn: @RocketProCanada 👥 Rocket Pro Canada Facebook: @RocketProCanada ***

    37 min
  4. OCT 30

    2: Launching & Learning with BRX Mortgage & ILMBs Scott Peckford

    WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode, Bekim is joined by Scott Peckford. Scott is the Founder and CEO of BRX Mortgage and both the I Love Mortgage Brokering Podcast and Facebook Group from Kelowna, BC. Being in the mortgage industry since 2006, Scott has never been scared to take risks and try new things. He's also built multiple successful businesses including the VIP Club and the 10 Loans a Month Training Academy, and is one of the most influential people in the Canadian mortgage industry.   Scott is here to discuss:→ Scott's journey in the mortgage industry, how copying businesses is actually a positive thing, and his inspirations for founding the I Love Mortgage Brokering community.→ The power of building a community and sharing knowledge, optimism as a weapon for overcoming failures, and the importance of rapid execution of ideas. → Improving the future of lending, and the impact he wishes to leave on the mortgage industry.   BRX Mortgage Website: www.brxmortgage.com BRX Mortgage Instagram: @brxmortgage Scott Peckford's LinkedIn: @ScottPeckford Scott Peckford's Instagram: @scottpeckford ILMB Podcast: www.ilovemortgagebrokering.com ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Lending Thoughts Podcast: @lendingthoughts 📺 Lending Thoughts Podcast YouTube: @LendingThoughtsPod 📸 Lending Thoughts Podcast Instagram: @lendingthoughtspod ⏰ Lending Thoughts Podcast TikTok: @lendingthoughtspod 👥 Lending Thoughts Podcast Facebook: @LendingThoughtsPodcast ***   CONNECT WITH BEKIM 📸 Bekim Merdita's Instagram: @bekim_merdita 📋 Bekim Merdita's LinkedIn: @BekimMerdita ***   CONNECT WITH ROCKET PRO CANADA 🔗 Rocket Pro Canada Website: www.rocketpro.ca 📸 Rocket Pro Canada Instagram: @rocketprocanada 📋 Rocket Pro Canada LinkedIn: @RocketProCanada 👥 Rocket Pro Canada Facebook: @RocketProCanada ***

    30 min
  5. OCT 23

    1: Why Building a Mortgage Business is Like Building a Tesla with Rocket Mortgage Canada President Hash Aboulhosn

    WATCH ▶️ Watch this episode on Youtube ***   EPISODE DESCRIPTION In the inaugural episode, Bekim is joined by Hash Aboulhosn. Hash is the President and Co-Founder of Rocket Mortgage Canada from Vancouver, BC, which originally launched as Edison Financial in 2020. Edison Financial rebranded to Rocket Mortgage Canada on August 8, 2022, doing business under the brand Rocket Mortgage™️ throughout the country. The company’s mission is to simplify the home loan process, just as sister company under the Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Rocket Mortgage, LLC, has done successfully in the U.S.   Hash is here to discuss:→ Challenges of mortgage technology in Canada, what's holding back innovation in the finance sector, and if consumers actually want a fully-automated "push button, get mortgage" model.→ How disruption and innovation are not just nice to have, they are a necessity.→ Why building a mortgage business is like building Tesla.   Hash Aboulhosn's LinkedIn: @HashemAboulhosn ***   CONNECT WITH THE SHOW 🎙️ Lending Thoughts Podcast: @lendingthoughts 📺 Lending Thoughts Podcast YouTube: @LendingThoughtsPod 📸 Lending Thoughts Podcast Instagram: @lendingthoughtspod ⏰ Lending Thoughts Podcast TikTok: @lendingthoughtspod 👥 Lending Thoughts Podcast Facebook: @LendingThoughtsPodcast ***   CONNECT WITH BEKIM 📸 Bekim Merdita's Instagram: @bekim_merdita 📋 Bekim Merdita's LinkedIn: @BekimMerdita ***   CONNECT WITH ROCKET PRO CANADA 🔗 Rocket Pro Canada Website: www.rocketpro.ca 📸 Rocket Pro Canada Instagram: @rocketprocanada 📋 Rocket Pro Canada LinkedIn: @RocketProCanada 👥 Rocket Pro Canada Facebook: @RocketProCanada ***

    31 min

About

Welcome to the Lending Thoughts podcast, a Canadian Mortgage Broker’s top source for timely, industry-leading insights to help you become a better mortgage professional. Join Bekim Merdita, a trusted name in mortgages and the EVP of Rocket Mortgage Canada, as he hosts conversations with industry experts and leaders to keep you informed on the latest and greatest in the Canadian mortgage landscape. Let the Lending Thoughts podcast be your guide to growing your tactics, expertise, and ultimately, your business, in this highly competitive mortgage market.

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