26,000,000 people filed for unemployment in the past several weeks; and it’s not over! The Coronavirus is causing serious financial issues for states. For the first time ever, independent contractors are eligible under the CARES Act , even though unemployment taxes may not have been paid in. When the states start looking at all the workers who were 1099, what action will they take? The IRS is just as interested in independent contractors, even more …
Every customer should receive a written analysis; it helps take emotion out of the equation. I do it for all my purchases and refinances. Yes, we have lots of long discussions, but hearing and seeing are two different things! The point of an analysis (particulary for refinances) is for a consumer to know the interest costs and principal reduction between a new loan and the original loan at it’s current balance. (you may need to …
Is there any good news today? I guess at least people who have filed will begin collecting some income. The mortgage world is in flux and the challenges are coming faster than we can deal with. We play a very important role as mortgage professionals by helping people make the right decisions; what’s in their best interests. This week I told three customers NOT to refinance. If you are submitting 100% of approvable files you …
If you really, really procrastinated taking 2019 CE be glad this is a leap year! Last fall the NMLS published a Notice on 2020 Late CE Course Catalog. The notice included rules in an overview, which if you are licensed MLO, you already know, right? But…since there are two whole days left, we wanted to give you one last, late chance! The Model State Law, which a majority of states adopted when passing their own …
In December, 2019 McKinsey & Company’s article “Competing on Customer Experiences in US Mortgage,” they sited reassurance, transparency, simplicity, and speed as the four dimensions of a mortgage experience. The #1 priority; GETTING THINGS RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME! Speed and simple processes are up there, but what do you have to know to get it right the first time? Consumers still like advisors; someone to run things by, ask questions, review the numbers with and rely on …
It’s a new year with all the hopes that January brings…it’s also Monday. New week, same old issues. You are in charge of “training.” You yawn, sip your coffee and try to remember where you left off on Friday afternoon. In-house training departments face many challenges. They are expensive and labor intensive. The cost to acquire, develop, maintain, update and deliver content and systems is an ongoing battle. Compliance takes over when new mortgage laws …
This is the first decade where social media found its place! While I was a bit late to the party, this year I was honored to cross paths with so many people simply because of social media; people I never would have met or had an opportunity to interact with. If cultivated, these relationship can be life-long and life-changing. Using social media to grow your business can be very effective. It can also be used …
December 18, 2020 – Did you attend one of our live seminars on the new 1003 this year? If so, we got side-railed a bit when the GSE’s delayed the implementation date. Well, it appears we are back on track. Today the FHFA and GSEs announced the mandatory deadline for using the new URLA: NOVEMBER 1, 2020. At least they gave us some time. Directly integrated lenders and software providers may begin testing the new …
If you followed our mini series on California’s latest law AB5, you know that independent contractor “1099” status just got tougher in CA. AB5 seriously increased the ability for state and federal governments to reclassify workers from independent contractors to “employee”(W-2) status. If this is not a topic you are familiar with, you may want to watch this 5 part mini-series. Episode 1The Dynamex Case Episode 2Dynamex Exemptions Episode 3Dynamex Penalties Episode 4Dynamex What You …
Mortgage professionals…you may think this doesn’t apply to you…and maybe it doesn’t. This purported gray area has caused many employees and companies to grapple with the rules with many debates on this topic. Until now! On October 8, 2019, the CA Supreme Court ruled that if companies have misclassified employees, the state can go back FOUR YEARS; to calculate back state and withholding taxes, state unemployment taxes, penalties and interest. Were they eligible for retirement …