Get the insights you need to maximize your profitability this week. Welcome to OPTIMAL INSIGHTS, brought to you by Optimal Blue. Join our experts as they explore the latest real-time rate data and provide essential commentary spanning from originations to capital markets – insights you need to hear as you start your week. Designed for mortgage professionals, from originators to investors and everyone in between, each episode offers valuable information to help you maximize profitability and ...
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Vimy Podcasts
Beyond the Ridge, a series of conversations in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada, brings together Vimy Foundation program alumni and expert academics to examine knowledge of the First World War and how it relates to the Canadian experience today. // Présentée en partenariat avec l’Office national du film du Canada, Par-delà la Crête est une série de conversations qui rassemble des participant-e-s aux programmes de la Fondation Vimy et des expert-e-s dont les connaissances de ...
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History of a small town in British Columbia during the Great War with letters from the men at the front and how they saw action in all the major Canadian engagements.
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Welcome to the Mess: 150 years of Cape Breton Highlander tradition. For the last 150 years, the Cape Breton Highlanders have welcomed men and women from all walks of life into our ranks. Together, we have protected the lives and homes of Canadians across the country in conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the War in Afghanistan. We have also preserved a fierce and passionate Highland-Scot tradition through their colours, tartans, songs, and stories. The Cape Breton Highlanders ar ...
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In 1987 I committed my life to presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined. Soon after I became a Christian, I began experimenting with fresh ways of communicating the message of Jesus on the streets. It led to mobile stage vehicles and a church on wheels! In recent years, I've developed an online presence through short films that have gone around the world. I remain devoted to exploring new ways to communicate God’s rescue plan for humanit ...
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Millionaire playboy, Cranston Walker, returned from the Great War a changed man. Haunted by what he saw in the trenches, he has come to believe that a woman may hold the answers to end his suffering; a mysterious, underworld figure known as Neon Jezebel.
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WAR JUNK: THE PODCAST is based on the popular TV series hosted by Professor David O'Keefe and filmmaker Wayne Abbott. The War Junk duo will continue telling stories of war through mysterious artifacts and remnants they've found on battlefields around the world. They will also have weekly guests to discuss stories of war and rare artifacts. And as the podcast develops they will be searching for anyone with mystery artifacts or stories of loved ones who fought in battle. You can contact the te ...
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THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1940 | How the RAF halted the invasion of England during World War Two
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9:26By Steve Lee
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HOWARD CARTER OPENS THE TOMB OF TUTANKHAMUN IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS | Tombs Time Couldn’t Seal
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7:34By Steve Lee
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Post–Labor Day Market Watch: Fed Drama and Economic Signals | Sept. 2, 2025
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22:03Is the FED Cook’d? A look at rate cuts, political pressure, and market reactions. In this episode, the Optimal Insights team dives into the latest market dynamics, including the upcoming unemployment report, inflation trends, and the growing political pressure on the Federal Reserve. The conversation explores the implications of Lisa Cook’s legal b…
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Shifting Tides: Rates, Jobs, and AI Momentum | Optimal Insights | Aug. 25, 2025
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40:32In this week’s episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, James Cahill, and Kevin Foley discuss the evolving interest rate environment, labor market complexities, and the accelerating adoption of AI in mortgage technology. They share insight into how these factors are shaping the industry and the broader economic landscape. Key Topics …
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Market Trends, Consumer Sentiment & Optimal Blue’s Exciting Rebrand | August 18, 2025
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34:10Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the economic landscape and Optimal Blue’s big rebrand announcement from last week. Main Topics: Economic indicators and market analysis Federal Reserve policy and interest rate expectations Labor market trends and consumer sentiment Optimal Blue's new brand and…
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Tariffs, Rate Cuts, and the Fannie-Freddie IPO: Parsing Market Signals | August 11, 2025
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23:12In this episode of Optimal Insights, host Jeff McCarty, Alex Hebner, and James Cahill discuss the latest market developments. The team explores the economic implications of newly implemented tariffs, the Federal Reserve’s evolving stance on interest rates, and speculation surrounding a potential IPO for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Key topics includ…
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Foggy Data, Clear Consequences | Market Updates | August 4, 2025
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29:53In this episode of Optimal Insights, host Jim Glennon leads a deep dive into recent economic developments. The team analyzes the fallout from a disappointing jobs report, revised employment data, and implications for Federal Reserve policy. They explore the growing use of imputed data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the potential impact of AI on…
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Navigating the Non-QM Landscape | Market Updates | July 28, 2025
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38:48In this episode of Optimal Insights, the team delivers a timely market update and welcomes special guest Mike Vough, Head of Corporate Strategy at Optimal Blue, for a deep dive into the evolving non-QM mortgage space. The discussion covers current economic indicators, Fed policy expectations, and the growing relevance of non-QM products in today’s …
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Greg Sher on the Power of Connection in Lending | Market Updates | July 21, 2025
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40:04In this episode, the Optimal Insights team delivers a timely market update and welcomes Greg Sher, a leading voice in mortgage advocacy and digital influence. The conversation covers inflation trends, tariff impacts, housing affordability, and the evolving role of credit scoring. Greg shares the story behind the “All of Us” movement, his push for V…
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From Vision to Reality: Joe Tyrrell on Embracing AI and Automation | Market Insights | July 14, 2025
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1:01:21In the July 14 episode of Optimal Insights, the team discusses the latest market dynamics, including inflation expectations, tariff impacts, and the Fed’s rate trajectory. Jim and Alex unpack the administration’s pressure on the Fed, the resilience of jobless claims, and the looming August 1 tariff deadline. Later, Jim and Vimi sit down with Optima…
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Fiscal Firepower and the Future of Interest Rates | Optimal Insights | July 7, 2025
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37:52In the July 7 episode of Optimal Insights, the team discusses the latest economic indicators and their implications for mortgage rates and the broader financial landscape. They analyze the recent jobs report, which showed strong headline numbers but revealed underlying weaknesses in private sector hiring. The discussion also covers the delayed impl…
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SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE | A Catholic Priest's Sacrifice at Auschwitz during World War Two Holocaust
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10:39By Steve Lee
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Do ARMs Have Legs in This Market? | Market Insights | June 30, 2025
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35:13In this episode of Optimal Insights, the team explores the current state of the mortgage market during a short holiday week, discussing economic indicators, consumer sentiment, and the Fed’s stance on rate cuts. The second half of the episode is a deep dive into adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) – what they are, how they work, and their potential re…
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Market Pulse, Global Headlines & Behind the Scenes of the Optimal Blue Hackathon | Optimal Insights | June 23, 2025
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43:32The Fed, Iran, and... wait, what's a hackathon? In this week’s episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, Alex Hebner, and Kevin Foley discuss the Fed’s cautious stance on interest rates, labor market signals, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Later in the episode, Jim Glennon and Kevin Foley explore the outcomes of Optimal…
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The Cost of Borrowing: How Personal & Public Spending Shape Interest Rates | June 16, 2025
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32:00In this episode, the Optimal Insights team explores how rising personal and public debt levels are influencing interest rates and shaping the broader economic landscape. The discussion covers inflation trends, the Fed’s upcoming decisions, and the impact of geopolitical tensions on energy prices. The team also examines AI’s effect on electricity de…
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The Art of the Complex Loan: Vince Zenner on Non-QM Strategy | Market Updates | June 9, 2025
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39:28In this episode, the Optimal Insights team dives into the latest economic indicators, including employment data, inflation expectations, and treasury auctions. They explore the implications of recent job market trends, AI’s impact on entry-level employment, and the broader economic sentiment. A major focus is the growing momentum in the non-QM (non…
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Global Pressures, Sticky Rates: Forces Driving Interest Rates Higher | Optimal Insights | June 2, 2025
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26:48In this episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon is joined by Jeff McCarty and Alex Hebner to discuss why interest rates remain stubbornly high and what it means for the mortgage industry. The team explores inflation trends, global debt pressures, and the structural shifts reshaping the long-term rate environment. Key Topics: Market Snapshot: OBMMI…
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Market Disruptors, GSE Shakeups, and Insights from the MBA Secondary Conference | Optimal Insights | May 27, 2025
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38:12In the May 23 episode of Optimal Insights, host Jim Glennon is joined by Alex Hebner, Vimi Vasudeva, and Kimberly Melton to discuss the latest developments in the mortgage industry, including market volatility, policy shifts, and key takeaways from the MBA Secondary Conference in New York City. Key Insights: Market Update & Economic Trends Interest…
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AI Unpacked: Leveraging AI to Transform Mortgage Operations | Optimal Insights | May 19, 2025
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41:39In the May 19 episode of Optimal Insights, host Jim Glennon is joined by James Cahill, Kevin Foley, and Shawn Chandwani for a discussion on the current economic landscape and the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the mortgage industry. Key Insights: Market Update & Economic Trends Inflation Metrics: The Consumer Price Index (CP…
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Fed Announcements and Trade Deals: Seeking Clarity in Economic Uncertainty | May 12, 2025
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25:02In the May 12 episode of Optimal Insights, Optimal Blue experts Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and James Cahill discuss recent economic developments, including the Federal Reserve's latest rate decisions, the impact of tariffs on the economy, and the surprising agreement with China on tariffs. They also cover market conditions, the state of the mortgag…
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FALL OF SAIGON 1975 AND THE NAPALM GIRL | The Vietnam War and Kim Phúc’s journey to forgiveness
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7:47By Steve Lee
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Recent Trends in Mortgage Servicing and Upcoming Fed Announcements | May 5, 2025
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31:28In the May 5 episode of Optimal Insights, Optimal Blue experts Jeff McCarty, Kevin Foley, and Alex Hebner discuss recent economic data, including non-farm payroll numbers, GDP figures, and the Federal Reserve's upcoming rate decisions. Later in the episode, Jeff and Vimi Vasudeva discuss the latest developments in the mortgage servicing rights (MSR…
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Wells Fargo's Kevin Jackson on Tariffs, Stagflation, and the Future of Housing | April 28, 2025
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45:42In this week’s episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Alex Hebner discuss the latest market trends. Special guest Kevin Jackson from Wells Fargo joins to provide an in-depth analysis of tariffs, their impact on inflation and stagflation, and the Fed's potential responses. Key Points: Market Trends: Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner a…
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Navigating Economic Policy Conflicts: The Fed & the White House | April 21, 2025
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25:38In this week’s episode of Optimal Insights, Jeff McCarty, Kevin Foley, and Alex Hebner discuss the latest market trends, including the impact of tariffs and the dynamics between the Federal Reserve and the executive branch. They share their expert opinions and insight into how these factors are shaping the industry and the broader economic landscap…
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BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE WORLD WAR 1 | Canada’s Great Easter Battle at Vimy Ridge in 1917
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7:08By Steve Lee
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Market Update & Mastering Mortgage Closing Costs With Lodestar CEO Jim Paolino | April 14, 2025
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35:45In this week's episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Alex Hebner discuss the latest market trends and the impact of tariffs, providing crucial insights into how these factors are shaping the mortgage industry. Later, Jim Paolino, CEO of Lodestar, and Kevin Foley join Jim for a discussion about accurate fee management, highligh…
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BONUS: Navigating Tariff Changes: Impact on the Mortgage Industry With Chris Maloney
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33:15In this bonus episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Alex Hebner, and special guest Chris Maloney discuss the impact of recent tariff changes on the mortgage industry. Jim Glennon, vice president of hedging and trading and client services at Optimal Blue, hosts this bonus episode. He is joined by Chris Maloney, mortgage strategist, and Alex Hebn…
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This Week's Market Turbulence: Key Insights | April 7, 2025
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28:31Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss recent market turbulence, including significant movements in equity markets, bond rates, and energy prices. They explore the implications of new US tariffs and retaliatory measures from countries like China, discussing how these actions might affect global trad…
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Transforming Mortgage Challenges into Opportunities with Dale Vermillion | March 31, 2025
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50:27Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, join Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Alex Hebner as they discuss the current market and the potential impacts of the implementation of tariffs on April 2 (referred to as Liberation Day by the current administration). The team also discusses the monumental $9.4 billion acquisition o…
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Découvrez un premier aperçu de Mémorial de Vimy : Histoires vivantes—une nouvelle façon d’explorer l’histoire grâce à l’application mémorielle de la Fondation Vimy. Youtube: https://youtu.be/idrNMjhna9cBy Vimy Foundation
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Get a first look at Vimy Memorial: Living Stories—a new way to explore history through the Vimy Foundation’s living memorial app. Watch on YouTubeBy Vimy Foundation
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Navigating Economic Uncertainty and Rising Delinquencies | March 24, 2025
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32:20Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the latest economic trends and their impact on the mortgage industry. Host Jim Glennon, joined by experts Alex Hebner and Vimi Vasudeva, covers key topics such as the recent Fed meeting, the implications of rising delinquencies on government loans, and the effe…
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How Tariff-Induced Volatility is Impacting Market Rates | March 17, 2025
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31:49Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, Jim Glennon, Alex Hebner, and Ben Larcombe discuss the current state of the market, focusing on volatility, the impact of tariffs, inflation trends, and consumer sentiment. They analyze how these factors influence economic projections and the Federal Reserve's potential actions. T…
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Insights from Down Payment Resource CEO Rob Chrane | Current Market Volatility | March 10, 2025
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43:58Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, host Jim Glennon and cohosts discuss the past week's market volatility. They cover employment trends and rising consumer debt, providing a comprehensive overview of the current economic landscape. Later, they are joined by special guest Rob Chrane, CEO of Down Payment Resource, wh…
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WW2 DAMBUSTERS RAID | The Incredible Story of Operation Chastise, 617 Squadron and Barnes Wallis
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Market Movers: Unpacking Housing Economics | March 3, 2025
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35:11Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights! In this episode, our experts share the latest economic data and the key takeaways from the HousingWire Housing Economic Summit. We break down the current economic indicators, including a promising trend in mortgage rates, which are hovering around 6.6%, a level not seen since early this year. The …
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Economic Landscape Unpacked: Q1 2025 Review (So Far) | Feb. 24, 2025
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26:38Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Alex Hebner kick things off by discussing the current mortgage rates, which have hovered around the mid to high sixes, making it challenging for any significant refinancing activity to take off. Both consumer and homebuilder sentiments have taken a hit, reflecting br…
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BONUS: Driving Profitability & Innovation at No Additional Cost – Joe Tyrrell | Optimal Blue Summit 2025
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27:54At the first annual Optimal Blue Summit, Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue, reflects on past industry challenges, the importance of preparation, and the rapid advancements in technology. He shares insights on Optimal Blue's new core competencies, including flexibility, transparency, innovation, value, and control, all aimed at increasing profitabili…
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Understanding Builder Forward Commitments in Today's Market | Feb. 18, 2025
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30:06Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. Join Jim Glennon, Ben Larcombe, and Jeff Casella as they dive into the pressing issues facing today's market, with a special focus on how high inflation is impacting mortgage rates. Jim kicks off the episode by exploring how the current economic environment is shaping builder strategies, particula…
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Essential Economic Insights | Sasha Hewlett Discusses the MBA's 2025 Focus | Feb. 10, 2025
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36:28Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner discuss the current state of the market, focusing on the recent dip in mortgage rates and its implications for all of us. Special Guest: Sasha Hewlett, associate vice president of secondary & capital markets at the Mortgage Bankers Association, joins us…
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BONUS: Optimal Blue Summit Recap: Product Launches, Key Insights, and More
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36:09Welcome to this bonus episode of Optimal Insights. Recorded on-site at the inaugural Optimal Blue Summit, Jim Glennon, Vimi Vasudeva, and Kevin Foley shared some insights from our general sessions and breakout sessions. The team also discussed the seven product announcements unveiled live at the first general session with Optimal Blue CEO Joe Tyrre…
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From Tariffs to AI Tech: What’s Shaping the Market Today | Feb. 3, 2025
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29:16Welcome to this week's episode of Optimal Insights! In this episode, our experts discuss the current state of the economy, the impact of tariffs, and the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Recent data indicates that interest rates remain resilient, and we continue to grapple with inflation—it's quite the rollercoaster ride. Join Jim Gl…
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Impact of California Fires on the Industry & Optimal Blue Summit Preview | Jan. 27, 2025
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29:32Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights! Our experts discuss the current economic landscape, the impact of the California fires on mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), and give an exciting preview of the upcoming Optimal Blue Summit. Discussion Highlights: Economic Resilience and Challenges: Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner discuss the economy's…
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WW2 OPERATION PEDESTAL | THE DARING CONVOY TO MALTA in 1942 and the SS Ohio
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Market Insights | New Market Instrument Launch: Mortgage Rate Futures | Jan. 21, 2025
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32:49Welcome to Optimal Insights. In this episode, Optimal Blue experts discuss the launch of the Mortgage Rate (OB30C) futures contract. This capital markets instrument represents a significant advancement in hedging strategies for lenders, providing a new tool that directly relates to the primary mortgage rate. Jim Glennon, Ben Larcombe, and Kevin Fol…
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Navigating the Markets: Understanding Jobs, Inflation, and Interest Rates | Jan. 13, 2025
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37:31In this episode of Optimal Insights, Jim Glennon, Alex Hebner, and Ben Larcombe discuss the latest economic indicators impacting the mortgage industry. They explore the implications of last week's strong jobs report, rising mortgage rates, and key inflation metrics, providing insights on how these factors influence lending practices and the broader…
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Economic Insights | CapitalW Collective: Empowering Women in Mortgage Finance | Jan 6, 2025
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40:50Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss current economic landscape as we enter 2025, alongside conversation with Amy Creason and Pat Peters about the initiatives of Capital W Collective, an organization dedicated to promoting gender diversity in mortgage capital markets. Jim Glennon and Alex Hebner a…
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Looking Ahead to 2025 & Year-End Market Wrap | Dec. 23, 2024
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31:48Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts offer an analysis of the economic landscape as we approach the new year. Jim Glennon, Jeff McCarty, and Ben Larcombe discuss the Federal Reserve's recent announcements and their implications for interest rates, highlighting a potential pause in rate cuts moving into 20…
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Reflections on 2024: Economic Trends and Industry Impact | Dec. 16, 2024
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36:08Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. This week, our experts reflect on the pivotal events and trends of 2024, providing a comprehensive year-in-review that touches on both industry-specific developments and broader global occurrences. Notably, they discuss the persistent high interest rates and their implications for profitability in…
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Tariff Tangle: Tracing the Impact on the U.S. Economy and Housing | Dec. 9, 2024
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29:53Welcome to this week’s episode of Optimal Insights. In this episode, our experts discuss the intricate relationship between tariffs, inflation, and the mortgage market. Jim Glennon leads a discussion with Jeff McCarty, Alex Hebner, and Kevin Foley, emphasizing how proposed tariffs could significantly impact inflation rates and, consequently, mortga…
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