Category: Press
Jim Clapp, Chief Lending Officer at Assurance Financial, was recently quoted in National Mortgage News discussing the challenges of mortgage recruiting and the importance of ethical hiring practices.
As mortgage recruiters ramp up efforts, many loan officers are tuning them out. Clapp believes the most effective way to recruit talent is through authenticity and long-term relationship-building.
“You can have the best sales guy recruiting for you, and he could do this or say that, but if he doesn’t have [ethics, morals, and genuineness], you’re just not going to be successful,” Clapp explains. He stresses that strong company culture and leadership—not aggressive recruiting tactics—are what truly attract top talent.
Clapp also cautions against relying too heavily on sign-on bonuses. “If a sign-on bonus is the biggest lever you have to pull, you’re going to have a revolving door,” he says. Instead, Assurance Financial rewards loan officers based on production and long-term success.
With recruiter cold calls at an all-time high, Clapp believes the key to attracting great talent is creating an environment where employees want to stay. “The good recruits are very thoughtful, but they take a while to be recruited,” he adds, reinforcing that sustainable hiring is a long game built on trust and value.
Read the full article on National Mortgage News: Mortgage recruiters are calling—but LOs aren’t picking up.
Assurance Financial made the National Mortgage News list of the Best Mortgage Companies to Work For 2025! We value our workplace culture, and it shows.
“While the mortgage industry is known for its customer service focus, prioritizing a seamless borrower experience, those considered for this year’s Best Mortgage Companies to Work For have also focused on enhancing the employee experience.
These companies have invested in innovative technology tools to support loan origination and improved work-life balance for their staff. Such perks could give mortgage shops an edge when the mortgage market heads for recovery. Mortgage lenders are beginning to adapt and stay afloat in a challenging market. Their resilience has led to 36 companies making this year’s ranking, up from 33 in 2024, a year which saw a slew of originators consolidate.
This ranking is a partnership between National Mortgage News and the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. The employee survey covers eight topics: leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training, development, and resources; pay and benefits; and overall engagement.”
Assurance Financial Names Jim Clapp
as Chief Lending Officer
October 3, 2024
Baton Rouge, LA – October 3, 2024 – Assurance Financial, a leading mortgage lending company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Clapp to the newly created role of Chief Lending Officer (CLO). With over 25 years of experience in the financial services and mortgage industries, Jim will lead Assurance Financial’s lending strategy, focusing on innovation, efficiency, and continued growth in mortgage services across the nation. In his new position, Jim will oversee the company’s strategic lending initiatives, and business development processes, ensuring that Assurance Financial continues to deliver personalized, streamlined lending solutions to its clients. His leadership will enhance the company’s competitive edge as it adapts to a dynamic mortgage market and implements innovative lending practices.
“We are excited to welcome Jim to our leadership team. His wealth of experience and strategic vision make him an invaluable addition,” said Kenny Hodges, CEO of Assurance Financial. “We are confident that under his leadership we will continue to expand our market presence and deliver exceptional value to our clients and partners.”
Prior to joining Assurance Financial, Jim held executive roles at several prominent mortgage and financial organizations, where he was responsible for strategic growth, risk management, and driving operational efficiency. His expertise in lending and leadership aligns perfectly with Assurance Financial’s mission to provide a superior mortgage experience that is client-focused and rooted in trust.
Jim Clapp’s appointment marks a significant step in Assurance Financial’s commitment to leadership excellence and future-focused lending strategies. The newly established Chief Lending Officer role reflects the company’s dedication to enhancing its service offerings and cementing its position as a leader in the mortgage industry.
For more information about Assurance Financial, please visit www.assurancemortgage.com.
About Assurance Financial
Assurance Financial is a full-service mortgage lender offering a variety of loan solutions for homeowners and homebuyers. With a mission to provide a simple and stress-free mortgage experience, Assurance Financial prides itself on providing customized loan options, superior customer service, and cutting-edge technology to meet the unique needs of each client. The company serves clients across the United States, offering a full range of mortgage products, including conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, and more.
Download the press release here. For media inquiries, please contact Lindsi Flynn, Director of Marketing at lflynn@assurancemortgage.com
Assurance Financial Awarded at Total Expert’s 2024 Accelerate Conference
July 5, 2024
We’re proud to announce that Assurance Financial has been recognized in two categories at Total Expert’s 2024 Accelerate conference.
The fourth annual Expy Awards celebrate Total Expert customers for their ability to surpass the limits of what is possible to provide unparalleled customer experiences and drive the financial services industry forward. Winners are chosen for their utilization of the platform to the highest extent to drive business growth and build authentic customer connections. This year’s winners were announced at Total Expert’s 2024 Accelerate Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where financial services leaders gathered to share winning strategies.
- The Adopter: Without universal adoption, even the most innovative technology becomes shelfware. For Assurance Financial, the universal buy-in of the Total Expert platform into daily operations was a route to business growth and overall company success. They noted substantial increases in new loans, funded loans, email click-through rates, and task completion rates correlating to a growth in customer retention
- Firestarter – Director of Marketing Lindsi Flynn: A user who embodies innovation, growth, and industry disruption within their organizations. Firestarters are at the forefront of driving positive change, sparking innovation, and propelling their companies toward a dynamic future.
“Our Expy Award-winners are some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the industry, empowering their workforce with the resources to meet growing customer expectations,” said Joe Welu, founder and CEO of Total Expert. “They are one step ahead of the industry—changing the way their teams leverage data by clearly recognizing customer needs, improving the decision-making process, and establishing more personalized customer journeys. We’re proud to celebrate their success and inspiring dedication to customer-centric innovation through Total Expert.” Learn more here.
For the second year in a row, Assurance Financial made the National Mortgage News list of the top 50 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For! We value our workplace culture, and it shows.
Consideration for this award was based on an employee questionnaire that included topics like role satisfaction, work environment, pay and benefits, training and resources, leadership, and more.
Assurance Financial Reduces Cost Per Loan and Improves Borrower Satisfaction with Appraisal Automation from Reggora
Reggora, an appraisal management software company that is modernizing residential real estate valuation for mortgage lenders, announces outstanding business results with Assurance Financial. By automating its appraisal order management process, Assurance Financial has significantly reduced operating costs and increased borrower satisfaction.
Working with Reggora’s mortgage solutions team Assurance Financial reduced their cost per loan by $150, while also resolving the borrower’s long-standing issues with the appraisal experience — paying for the appraisal, scheduling the inspection, missing escrow deadlines and more. The average turn-time to deliver the appraisal dropped by 7 days, and borrowers rated their appraisal experience an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
“Many operations managers may resist the need for digitizing the appraisal process if internal teams are effective,” said Katherine Campbell, Chief Digital Officer at Assurance Financial. “They may think, ‘There is no issue, so if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.’ However, this is the bridge that we lenders need to all cross. Regardless of how effective your team is, rote behavior should be replaced by technology. It raises the quality of the employees’ work, which often creates more satisfaction.”
Right now, mortgage interest rates are rising and every day counts when lenders are trying to secure the lowest interest rate possible for their borrowers. Assurance Financial determined that this is the perfect time to implement appraisal management technology to improve operations, reduce cost and increase consumer confidence.
“A fast, convenient digital mortgage is a key part of providing a great borrower experience and our aim is to support that through eliminating pain points in the appraisal process,” said Brian Zitin, CEO and Co-founder of Reggora. “And what’s better for the borrower is also better for the lender. We can improve margins on each loan by eliminating unnecessary costs in a lender’s appraisal operation.”
To learn more about the success that Assurance Financial achieved with Reggora, click here.