October 22, 2026 · Deena Sisson
8 Questions Every Top-Producing Loan Officer Should Ask Before Signing an Offer
A great offer and a great opportunity aren't always the same thing. Here's what to ask before you commit.
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Blog
Market commentary and hiring intel.
Original analysis — not regurgitated industry press releases.
May 28, 2026 · admin
Signs It’s Time to Make a Move in Your Mortgage Career
This is one of the most common conversations I have with mortgage professionals: “I think I want to leave — but I’m not sure if I’m just burned out or if it’s really time to go.” It’s an honest and important question…
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April 25, 2026 · admin
The Hiring Mistake Mortgage Companies Don’t Realize They’re Making Until It’s Too Late
There’s a pattern I see pretty often when I’m working with mortgage companies. They need to hire. They move quickly. They find someone with strong production numbers, a solid resume, and experience in the industry — and…
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November 21, 2025 · admin
The Q4 Dilemma: Thinking About a Job Change During the Holidays
The holidays tend to stir up a lot of emotions for mortgage professionals. People are closing out the year, dealing with family obligations, juggling stress, and quietly wondering what next year will look like. And for…
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October 11, 2025 · admin
Why Top Loan Officers Are Leaving — And How Smart Companies Keep Them
I see it all the time: a high-performing LO gives notice. They’ve built pipelines. They’re closing loans. Yet something shifts — and they leave. Sometimes to a competitor, sometimes out of the business altogether. As…
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September 27, 2025 · admin
Culture Fit vs. Culture Add: Which One Really Matters in Mortgage Recruiting? When I talk with mortgage companies or LOs looking for roles, this is one of my favorite topics: “culture fit” vs “culture add.” On its face…
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August 28, 2025 · admin
7 Separate Days of Mortgage Mental Health Check-In for Mortgage Professionals/Leaders
I’m Seeba “Wendy” Sattam — former psychotherapist turned coach, consultant, and recruiter in the mortgage industry — and I created a 7-Day Mortgage Mental Health Check-In for professionals who want to lead with clarity…
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August 21, 2025 · admin
The Future of Mortgage Recruiting in 2025: What Companies and Candidates Need to Know
The mortgage industry never stands still. Markets shift, regulations tighten, and technology keeps changing how we all do business. Recruiting is no different — the way companies hire and the way professionals look for…
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January 6, 2022 · admin
Letting go of the Negativity
Are you experiencing negative energy from 2021? Perhaps guilt? Shame? Anger? Grudge? Resentment? Did you make a New Year goal that you would put that negative energy behind you, and start the new year fresh, yet it is…
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January 8, 2021 · admin
MTN Holiday Party Kickoff Celebration Video Rework
FIND YOUR GREATNESS! Enjoy our Mortgage Talent Network Holiday Party Kickoff as we celebrate the best year of our life, yet to come: 2021!
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January 5, 2021 · admin
Living in the Now
LIVING IN THE NOW As I think about what to focus on in this week’s blog, I’ve realized how important January is… We all think about using January as a reboot month, a way for us to start over. And in a way, it can…
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December 29, 2020 · admin
New Year, Same Me
NEW YEAR, SAME ME As 2020 comes to an end, and 2021 rises to take its place… I’ve realized that this year really set the bar rather low! ANYTHING can be better than the craziness that was 2020. Whether your job…
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November 20, 2020 · admin
Pressure to be Great
PRESSURE TO BE GREAT Recently, I met with a friend and started pouring my heart out to her about all the things going on in my life. I told her about issues in my career and how I felt like I would never reach a point…
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November 18, 2020 · admin
Understanding Your Purpose
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE Mark Twain said it best: “The 2 most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why.” We all want the same thing- we want to be happy. We want to live a…
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November 10, 2020 · admin
Starting Fresh
Starting Fresh Lately, I have loved buying fresh flowers. It fills my house with a surplus of different aromas that make me enjoy my first steps as I walk through the door! There is just something about fresh flowers…
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October 29, 2020 · admin
Don’t Stop
DON’T STOP “We all know that we only live once… but if we do it right, once is ENOUGH!” When I read this quote I immediately fell in love with it. I am in awe of it still… Two things: 1. Many of us use the…
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October 20, 2020 · admin
The Great Divide
THE GREAT DIVIDE A few years ago I had the privilege of hiking through the Colorado mountains for 6 days. No bedroom, no shower, no kitchen… just our bodies and a 50 lb backpack strapped to our backs. Half way…
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October 15, 2020 · admin
Letting Go of Comfort
LETTING GO OF COMFORT Have you ever walked into a hair salon to get your regular trim and decide to do something different? You say, “I think I want to go short this time”… The stylist gives you exactly what you…
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October 5, 2020 · admin
The Minimalist
THE MINIMALIST “We spend so much time on the hunt, and nothing quite does it for us…and we get so wrapped up in the hunt that it makes us miserable.” – Dan Harris “I had everything I ever wanted. Everyone around…
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September 26, 2020 · admin
Living in the Now
LIVING IN THE NOW “Enjoy the space between where you are…and…where you are going” So many of us latch on to the idea of something better around the corner, that we forget to see the value in the now. Most of…
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September 17, 2020 · admin
Dynamics of Change
DYNAMICS OF CHANGE Recently, I had to analyze the dynamics of change for a particular subject. What are dynamics for change you might ask? Well, Dynamics for Change are issues that have been identified and are expected…
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September 11, 2020 · admin
Shine On
SHINE ON “Its okay to be a glow stick : Sometimes we have to break before we shine” – Jadah Sellner What a beautiful quote… Lets read that again, “Sometimes we have to break before we shine” Wow, I especially love…
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September 3, 2020 · admin
Your Biggest Investment
YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT What is most important to you? Put yet another way, what is your biggest investment? If I asked most people, they would say their family, their children, their home, having a college fund or even…
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August 26, 2020 · admin
Cognitively Present
COGNITIVELY PRESENT My sister and I were in deep conversation recently, and she said to me “Rachel, have you ever heard of the cognitive triad?” I immediately responded with a questionable no… And she went on to…
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August 19, 2020 · admin
The Concept of Motion
THE CONCEPT OF MOTION Have you ever been to a movie theatre, sat in the PERFECT seat, feet up on the back of the seat in front of you, and then someone sits Right. In. Front. Of. You? This might be a little dramatic…
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August 12, 2020 · admin
More Yes, Less No!
MORE YES, LESS NO! Have you ever heard of the movie “Yes man”? The description reads “Carl, a lonely man with low self-esteem, participates in a self-help program that challenges him to say yes to everything in life for…
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August 5, 2020 · admin
Let Your Bad Days Create Better Tomorrows
Let Your Bad Days Create Better Tomorrows “Let Your Bad Days Create Better Tomorrows” … Wow, what a phrase… and if we’re all being honest; that’s really easier said than done. In order to let our bad days…
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July 29, 2020 · admin
Living THE Dream or Living MY Dream
Living THE Dream or Living MY Dream “They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” – Edgar Allan Poe When most of us say, “Man, ____ is living the dream” or “In 30…
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July 22, 2020 · admin
Life, Death, & The In-Between
LIFE, DEATH, & THE IN-BETWEEN It has been one long week for the MTN family. Members of our team have lost a few close relatives and have struggled to understand the timing of it all. In moments like these, we…
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July 14, 2020 · admin
Expand Your Imagination to Achieve More
EXPAND YOUR IMAGINATION TO ACHIEVE MORE Most people do not realize how great they can be. You are what you expect. Even though it is human nature to want to strive for something and exceed it, most people do not know…
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July 2, 2020 · admin
The Risk & The Reward
THE RISK & THE REWARD A few years ago I traveled to Italy with a large group of friends for 3 months. Arriving on a Saturday, after a long 16 hour flight, many people took the next day to rest and recuperate from the…
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June 25, 2020 · admin
Sounds of the Soul
SOUNDS OF THE SOUL Do you ever listen to the radio of your favorite band and then suddenly discover a whole new world of music that you never knew existed? If you have, you then find yourself diving into a whirlpool of…
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June 19, 2020 · admin
Strategy of a Champion
STRATEGY OF A CHAMPION “He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing. He does not shy away from the sword… In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground. He cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.” – Penny Chenery Hearing…
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June 11, 2020 · admin
Succession VS. Success
SUCCESSION VS. SUCCESS In many Hollywood films, we see a never-ending depiction of a young prince who is somehow given the misfortune of inheriting his father’s kingdom; and in most cases… doesn’t even want the…
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June 3, 2020 · admin
A Broader Perspective
A BROADER PERSPECTIVE Let’s talk about the value of having perspective…I come from a highly creative background. I have a design degree, parents who love the arts, and I also have extensive knowledge of graphic…
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May 28, 2020 · admin
Up For The Challenge
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE In today’s society, being a go-getter can sometimes be a negative characteristic. Oftentimes, nowadays it is implied that if you are a so called “go-getter” you are comfortable with stepping on the…
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May 20, 2020 · admin
The Future is Digital
THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL As our economy takes a strong nose dive, many people are left with questions regarding their employment. How will I pay my bills? What do I do if I can’t go into the office? And so many more……
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September 5, 2019 · admin
The Power of Presentation
The power of your presentation comes from within but also on paper. If you are hoping to land an interview for the career of your dreams, a well-written resume and cover letter will explain key components of your skills…
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February 20, 2019 · admin
Five Attributes of a Rockstar Employee
Adaptation – If you don’t adapt to change, you’ll be left in the dust!!!! Communication – Start with a positive. Address the negative. Finish with a positive. #bekind Accountability – Be a team player and always look to…
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November 30, 2018 · admin
Succeeding in the Mortgage Industry
So many who enter the mortgage industry exit when difficult times arise. With the constant industry changes occurring internally and externally – whether they’re a loan officer, manager, or support staff … they may find…
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