I’ve spent more than 22 years in the mortgage industry. I’ve been an independent mortgage broker, owned my own brokerage, and spent over a decade inside the retail banking channel. I’ve seen this business from every angle — and over time, one thing became clear to me:
Rates, pay, and platforms change. Values don’t.
And when a company’s values aren’t aligned with yours, everything else eventually breaks.
IMB™ exists because too many loan officers are operating inside systems that don’t respect their expertise, their relationships, or their long-term success. This is my story — and the convictions behind why we built IMB™ differently.
My First Broker Experience (2007–2009)
I originally owned a mortgage brokerage from 2007 to 2009. At the time, being an independent broker came with real challenges. The technology simply wasn’t there. You couldn’t talk to underwriters directly, communication was inefficient, and closings weren’t always smooth.
Retail mortgage banking looked like the safer option. It promised structure, support, and stability — so like many brokers still do today, I made the move.
The Retail Mortgage Banking Promise
Every retail lender recruited me the same way.
Great rates.
Strong service.
Fast turn times.
Competitive pay.
And every time, it delivered — at first.
Then, about six to twelve months in, the pattern repeated.
Rates would quietly increase.
Compensation would get cut or restructured.
Support would thin out.
And before long, I was losing deals.
The Business Model No One Talks About
What I realized over time is that once you move to a retail bank, it becomes very hard to move again.
You’ve already told your referral partners you’re there.
Your clients are inside the company’s systems.
Your pipeline is tied to their process.
Whether intentional or not, this has become a common retail model: recruit experienced loan officers with strong offers, then tighten margins once the switching cost is high.
When Rates Cost Me Trust
What ultimately pushed me out wasn’t just pay — it was credibility.
My rates were often half a point to a full point worse than my competitors. I wasn’t losing deals because of effort or service. I was losing them because pricing wasn’t competitive.
That damages trust.
With real estate agents.
With clients.
With long-term referral partners.
In this business, trust is everything — and I could feel mine slipping away.
Returning to the Broker World — and Finding Another Problem
When I gave the broker world another shot, I expected relief.
The rates were better.
The independence was real.
The flexibility was refreshing.
But I found myself on an island.
It was essentially, “Here are your lender logins — good luck.”
No structure.
No training.
No community.
That experience became the foundation for what we decided not to do at IMB™.
Why IMB™ Was Created
Those experiences — on both sides of the industry — made one thing clear to me.
If we were going to build something new, it had to be different by design.
IMB™ was created to combine the best of both worlds:
true broker independence with real service, structure, and support.
We never wanted loan officers working for us.
We wanted them working with us.
Because loan officers always have a choice — and we respect that.
Our Core Convictions in Practice
Service and Support Come First
What good are great rates or strong compensation if you can’t close on time?
At IMB™, service and support come first. We actively track lender turn times, overlays, and performance. If a lender’s service drops or pricing becomes uncompetitive, we adjust quickly — protecting our brokers and their borrowers.
That protects reputations, relationships, and long-term trust.
Choice, Not Confinement
Retail lenders offer one option.
IMB™ offers access.
With dozens of wholesale lenders, our loan officers can place each loan where it fits best — not where a retail channel forces it. That flexibility leads to better outcomes for clients and more confidence for referral partners.
Humility and Listening
I’ve worked at companies where feedback wasn’t welcome — where you were told to “stay in your lane.”
At IMB™, we actively seek feedback from loan officers, processors, and our team. And when something can be improved, we act on it quickly.
The people doing the work help shape how the company operates. That humility is intentional — and it’s one of our core values.
Community Over Isolation
Mortgage brokerage doesn’t have to be lonely.
We’ve built a collaborative community where loan officers share lender insight, deal-structuring ideas, marketing strategies, and real-world solutions. That collaboration strengthens everyone and replaces isolation with shared success.
Control, Transparency, and Accountability
At IMB™, loan officers control their operations.
Borrower-paid or lender-paid compensation.
Pricing flexibility to win important deals.
No begging management for price exceptions.
Transparency and accountability aren’t buzzwords here — they’re how trust is built.
Technology and Training That Respect Your Time
We built our internal portal to simplify decision-making, not complicate it. Lender summaries, program matrices, policy search tools, and recorded training are all available on demand.
No mandatory meetings.
No micromanagement.
No wasted time.
Guidance without control. Support without pressure.
Why Independence Works When Values Are Right
Independence doesn’t mean doing everything alone.
It means having the right support, the right tools, and the right people — without giving up control of your operations or your reputation.
When values are aligned, independence becomes an advantage instead of a risk.
That belief is baked into how IMB™ operates every day.
Why IMB™ Exists
IMB™ exists because mortgage brokers deserve better.
Better support.
Better options.
Better respect.
If you’ve ever felt boxed in by retail banking — unheard, under-supported, or limited by systems that don’t adapt — you’re not alone.
I built IMB™ for loan officers who want independence without isolation.
Because values aren’t marketing.
They’re how we operate — every day.
If you’re considering a move — or simply want to understand what independence looks like when it’s done right — we’re happy to walk you through it.
Schedule a confidential demo to see how IMB™ supports independent loan officers with real service, real options, and a values-driven approach.
