Loan Officer Leadership

've nailed the conversation. You've followed up. But if agents still aren't calling you back, here's the missing piece: proof. In this final episode of the 3-part series, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down the third reason loan officers get ghosted… making the same promises everyone else does, without the receipts to back it up. In this episode: What agents actually mean when they say "close on time" How to show, not just say, what makes you different Why small kept promises are more powerful than bold claims Tools to present your scripts, track record, and weekly touchpoints How to leverage your team's results if you're new or just starting out Don't just tell agents what you'll do. Show them. Prove it. Then do it. Download the full 12-Week Agent Follow-Up Plan + "Why Realtors Ghost You" PDF at FreedomPlanningCall.com  

So, you had a great meeting with a qualified agent… great conversation, good connection, and then… nothing. Silence. Crickets. In Part 2 of Why Realtors Ghost You, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down the second big mistake that causes great opportunities to fade: weak or inconsistent follow-up. You'll learn: Why most "ghosting" isn't personal, it's just timing and consistency The data behind how long it really takes for agents to respond How to structure your 12-week follow-up plan (and what to say each week) The three things agents actually want from a lender… hint: it's not your fancy product flyer How to break bad habits and build new referral relationships that stick The secret isn't in what you say, it's in how long you stay consistent. Grab the free 12-Week Follow-Up Plan at FreedomPlanningCall.com and start converting more of your coffee meetings into closed deals.

Ever wonder why agents don't call you back, even when the conversation felt great? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay dig into one of the biggest frustrations for loan officers: getting ghosted by realtors. But the real issue might not be what you think. You'll learn: The #1 mistake that makes agents stop responding How to shift from product pitching to relational prospecting Why asking better questions builds trust (and gets more callbacks) The psychology behind why "ghosting" is often just a false story we tell ourselves Real-world examples of how persistence leads to big deals… even after weeks of silence Stay top of mind, follow the plan, and stop letting feelings dictate your follow-up. Ready to level up your agent conversations? Book your Freedom Planning Call and get the talk tracks, templates, and weekly action plan.

The way consumers search is changing, and AI is leading the charge. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Johnstone to unpack the new rules of getting found online. If you want to generate high-quality leads from ChatGPT, Grok, and other AI engines, this is a must-listen. We cover: Why Yelp and Reddit matter more than ever How to position your brand for AI recommendations The key differences between personal vs. business branding Ninja strategies for getting five-star reviews and Reddit shout-outs How to educate your referral partners and win the AI race together AI is the new Google. Are you showing up? Grab your free prompts at LoanOfficerBrand.com and get ranked before your competitors even realize what's happening. → Learn more or book your own strategy call at FreedomPlanningCall.com  

The last quarter of the year isn't a time to slow down, it's a time to set up your best year ever. In this episode, I sit down with Frank Garay to unpack a simple, strategic Q4 playbook that helps loan officers stay consistent, avoid burnout, and finish the year with momentum. You'll learn: • How to structure your prospecting even during holiday weeks • The one decision that separates top producers from the pack • Why planning time off in advance leads to better results • How to stack high-tech, low-time farming for consistent lead flow • The value of staying consistent when others tap out Ready to crush Q4 and make January your best month yet? Book a call with us at FreedomPlanningCall.com and let's build your plan together.

In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down one of the most overlooked keys to scaling your mortgage business: your agent list. If you're calling every Monday but not seeing results, it may not be your script—it might be your list. You'll learn: Why 50 qualified agents is the real goldmine (worth $1.8M+) How to re-evaluate your list every 90 days to stay productive What the "Rule of Two" reveals about agent referrals and lead count The right way to top-grade unqualified agents without losing momentum How tools like Model Match and high-tech, low-time farming systems keep your pipeline full If you're tired of spinning your wheels or wondering why your conversations aren't converting, this episode gives you the data, mindset, and clarity to rebuild your Focus 40 and take control of your growth. Ready to build your million-dollar list? Book your strategy call now at FreedomPlanningCall.com

Struggling to stay consistent with outbound calls? Steve Kyles shares a simple, powerful mindset shift that turned his daily call list into a million-dollar opportunity list. In this episode: Why assigning a dollar value to every relationship changes the game How Steve turned 84 agents into $1.5M in annual potential The math behind the "Great Restart" and how to stay motivated How to break past call reluctance using opportunity-based thinking More offers – more no's – more money. This episode shows you exactly how to reframe your call list and take consistent action that compounds. Want help building your opportunity list and closing more? Book your strategy call now at  FreedomPlanningCall.com

Most loan officers overthink hiring—and end up doing everything themselves. In this episode, Steve unpacks the #1 mistake he sees when building a team and shares a simple, scalable way to get results without burning out. You'll learn: Why part-time relationship managers might be your biggest growth hack How Steve generated 2,000+ outbound calls and 29 appointments in 60 days A step-by-step onboarding rhythm that gets new hires producing fast What to say, what to send, and how to train without it all depending on you Ready to stop doing it all alone? Grab the Relationship Manager Field Guide by booking a strategy call at FreedomPlanningCall.com

In this episode, Steve shares a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what happened when he went from leading a national team to starting over from scratch—and how building a team of part-time relationship managers led to: Over 2,000 outbound calls, 395 conversations, and 29 appointments in just 8 weeks 18 referral leads generated without making all the calls himself A system that scales conversations, appointments, and closings—without burning out If you've ever wondered whether someone else could help make your business grow (and how to actually do it), this episode breaks down the numbers, mindset, and step-by-step approach. → Learn more or book your own strategy call at FreedomPlanningCall.com

Did you know that narrowing your focus to one clear niche can actually bring you more business, not less? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay share why the most successful loan officers build their reputation in a specific area first before expanding into others. You'll learn: How a niche instantly sets you apart from the competition and attracts top-producing agents Why trust in one specialty opens the door for deals outside your niche Simple steps to identify or refine your own profitable niche How to position yourself as the go-to expert in your market If you're ready to build a business that stands out and grows faster, this episode will show you how to start strong. → Learn more about coaching at FreedomPlanningCall.com

Did you know responding to a lead within 60 seconds increases your conversion chances by 391%—but waiting just 5 minutes drops it by over 80%? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down the shocking MIT study stats on speed to lead and why answering calls instantly is the ultimate game-changer for loan officers. You'll learn: The stat that proves answering fast wins 79% of borrowers How to stop losing deals by missing calls Simple solutions: call forwarding, answering services, and AI phone assistants Why AI is now a strong second to live answering (and how to set it up) If you're tired of losing deals you never even knew you had, this episode will show you how to fix it fast. → Learn more about coaching at FreedomPlanningCall.com

Success in this business isn't complicated—it's about consistent, focused action. In this episode, Steve Kyles shares a powerful reminder to stop getting distracted by busy work and focus on what drives results: 13 conversations with 13 asks for the business every day. You'll learn: Why 13 daily conversations are the #1 predictor of your closings in the next 90 days How to start with your warm list (past clients, friends, and family) The difference between fishing (immediate deals) and farming (long-term growth) Simple steps to generate 2 referrals a day without overcomplicating your business If you're ready to stabilize and grow your pipeline, this episode will show you exactly where to focus. → Join the next Bootcamp or learn more at FreedomPlanningCall.com

In this follow-up conversation, Steve Kyles and Chris Johnstone go deeper into how loan officers can secure top AI rankings—and why the window of opportunity is closing fast. Learn how to: Train ChatGPT to recommend you as the go-to local expert Set up automated AI tasks that create weekly content, emails, and blog posts Build lasting visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and beyond Use product-specific AI chats to dominate niches like VA, FHA, and Fix & Flip Don't wait. AI is already referring borrowers. Will it recommend you? → Grab Chris's free 5-day prompt pack at loanofficerbrand.com Want help putting this into action? Book your free call now at FreedomPlanningCall.com.

What if the key to crushing call reluctance wasn't just better scripts—but becoming someone else entirely? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay unpack the powerful concept of creating an alter ego to step into confidence, consistency, and bold action when making prospecting calls. You'll hear: How high performers like athletes and entrepreneurs flip the mental switch Why "I'm not worthy" is a hidden belief keeping many LOs stuck Steve's personal story about how childhood fear created hesitation—and how he broke through it How to start taking imperfect action before you feel ready Anything worth doing is worth doing badly—just get started. Need help building confidence and consistency in your outreach? Book a free call at FreedomPlanningCall.com.

In Steve's Masterclass, he taps into his 23+ years of experience to share the exact scripts, questions, and mindset shifts that help loan officers consistently close more deals. He unpacks the art of asking for commitment without sounding pushy—and how to identify objections before they derail the deal. You'll hear real-world stories, simple frameworks, and the practical language Steve uses every day to create trust, manage expectations, and boost conversion rates. If you're ready to take the guesswork out of your pipeline and start building more predictable income, this session is a must-watch. Want to talk through how to apply this to your business? Let's map it out together at FreedomPlanningCall.com.