Send us a text

Thinking about running paid ads in 2026? Pump the brakes.

Frazier and Michael are breaking down the truth about paid advertising — what works, what doesn’t, and where most loan officers go wrong. Whether you’re sitting on a 30K marketing budget or barely spending $300 a month, this episode is a tactical deep dive into interruption vs. intent, social vs. search, and why Google still wins if you're serious about ROI.

No fluff. No theory. Just straight talk on what actually drives deals — and what will drain your wallet.

What You’ll Learn

• Why social media ads aren’t dead — but most of them are dumb
• The difference between passive brand amplification and transactional lead gen
• Why low-cost leads are usually garbage (and what actually matters)
• How intent changes everything — and why interruption-based ads have a short fuse
• What to realistically budget for Google or social ads in 2026

Real Talk Quotes

• “You don’t own the customer. You’re just renting attention.”
• “Lead cost means nothing if the leads suck.”
• “You’re never gonna get a CTC on your feelings.”
• “Intent-based leads wait for you. Interruption leads forget you.”
• “We can all get 50-cent leads. That’s not the flex you think it is.”

Tactical Takeaways

• ✅ Expect to spend $1,500/month minimum if you want transactional ROI
• ✅ Social media ads work best to amplify brand — not chase cold leads
• ✅ Google Search ads are still the king of high-intent lead generation
• ✅ YouTube & TikTok are the only social platforms with real search intent
• ✅ If you’re not following up with automation, you’re burning money
• ✅ Don’t run your own ads unless you want to waste time and budget

Why This Episode Matters

Most LOs are playing checkers when it comes to paid ads — this episode helps you play chess. Whether you’re doing consumer direct or trying to convert your social audience, you’ll learn where to invest, what to expect, and how to actually get deals from your dollars.

Want Help Running Ads That Work?

This episode is powered by Empower LO, the trusted team behind hundreds of top-producing LOs running scalable Google ad campaigns.

Learn more at empowerlo.com

Send us a text

You think that client is “yours”? Think again.

In this episode, Frazier (COVID-stricken but still showing up) and Michael (running on espresso and spite) break down a brutal but necessary truth: you don’t own the customer, you’re just renting attention.

From trigger leads to servicing transfers to Rocket buying Mr. Cooper, the guys explain why your feelings don’t belong in the pipeline and how whining about lost deals won’t get you paid. This is about controlling what you can control — and mastering retention like a pro.

If you’re tired of losing past clients and still blaming the system, this one will hit different

What You’ll Learn

• Why "owning the customer" is a myth that will keep you broke
• The real risk behind complacency and client silence
• What top producers actually do to retain business
• How to run a smarter, tighter, more memorable follow-up game
• Why you need to start investing in client retention — not just lead gen

Real Talk Moments

• “You’re never gonna get a CTC on your feelings.”
• “Valuable is valuable. Be a utility. Be unforgettable.”
• “Every loan is a rental — unless you earn the right to get called back.”

Tactical Ideas from the Episode

• Host small mixers or client events that build community
• Bake in strike-rate conversations within 30–60 days post-close
• Invest a % of every commission check into client retention
• Show up with personalized messages, not cookie-cutter junk
• Build a system that makes you the first call, not the last memory

Why This Episode Matters

If you’re getting mad about losing clients, you’ve already lost. The game in 2026 is about connection, consistency, and control — and this episode will show you how to win it.

📲 Subscribe, Share, Show Up

✔️ Subscribe to The MLO Project
📤 Forward this episode to your team or biz partner
🧠 Screenshot your favorite takeaway and tag @frazier & @michael

Send us a text

It’s a new year, which means your feed is flooded with goal-setting posts, vision boards, and all the same recycled motivation. But here’s the truth: None of that matters without execution. In this episode, Frazier and Michael torch the traditional January BS and get straight to what actually drives success in 2026.

You’ll hear why most loan officers set goals that are more about ego than execution—and how that mindset will keep you broke and burned out. We break down the difference between real commitment and performative goal-chasing, and give you the mental framework needed to stop resetting your goals and start finishing them.

No gimmicks. No cute quotes. Just a full-throttle conversation about what it actually takes to win this year—and why headlines might be your best strategy yet.

💥 What You’ll Learn

• Why most goals are designed to make you feel productive, not be productive
• The real reason you fall short by February
• How “headlines” are better than goal lists (and what that actually means)
• What to do when motivation fades
• The mindset shift that separates top producers from everyone else

🧠 Why This Episode Matters

This isn’t another “set your goals” pep talk. It’s the slap in the face you need to stop playing small and start leading with clarity and conviction. If you’re tired of fake progress and real burnout, this episode is your reset button.

Send us a text

In this special New Year's edition of The MLO Project, Frazier and Michael tackle two hot headlines shaping the future of the mortgage industry. From National Mortgage News’ prediction that 2026 will be the industry’s “reset year” to HousingWire’s deep dive on the growing dominance of DSCR loans—this episode is packed with straight talk, strategic insights, and zero fluff.

Frazier breaks down key takeaways from the “2026 reset” article, calling out the recycled advice on chasing shiny objects, while uncovering powerful truths about layered affordability solutions and compliance complacency. Michael fires back with a deeper look at DSCR momentum, TCPA liability, API key nightmares, and why brokers need to wake up about their exposure.

Whether you’re fired up for growth or still dragging from 2025, this conversation is your reality check heading into the new year.

💥 What You’ll Learn

• Why the “2026 Reset” isn’t a prediction—it’s overdue discipline
• The real risks behind non-compliance and liability landmines
• How DSCR loans are becoming a long-term shift, not a passing trend
• Why serial TCPA litigators are your biggest hidden threat
• How brokers are recklessly exposing client data without knowing it
• The difference between real execution and just hoping something sticks
• What loan officers must fix before it costs them everything

🧨 Hard Truths Dropped

• “You’re not getting a pass because you did it right last year.”
• “If you’re waiting for affordability to be solved, you’ll be waiting forever.”
• “There’s no silver bullet. There’s just layered solutions and discipline.”
• “Compliance isn’t your problem—liability is.”
• “Most brokers are one Zapier key away from a data breach.”

🚨 Sponsors
This episode is brought to you by:

• MLO Hub – Your all-in-one platform for community and growth
• HL4 – High-Level automation built for mortgage
• Empower LO – The growth engine behind top-producing brokers

🔗 Join the Community
Ready to cut the noise and grow with real professionals?
Join the MLO Hub community today (free to join). Links are above.

💬 Want to Be Featured or Debate a Topic?
Slide into Frazier or Michael’s DMs. This show is made for LOs who are done playing small.

Send us a text

Some of you need to hear this—not everyone in your life is helping you win.
That includes the guy on your LO team who complains every day.
That includes your "mentor" who hasn’t closed a loan since 2019.
And yes, that might even include family.

In this episode, Frazier and Michael break down a viral Growth Notes topic: removing toxic people from your business and your life. It starts with the clowns in your comment section—but it runs much deeper. From drama in Facebook groups to legacy LOs poisoning the office with fear and frustration, this episode is about cutting the cord and reclaiming your mindset.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why loan officers can't afford to keep toxic voices around
• The kind of feedback that kills your momentum
• Social media etiquette for professionals (read: stop being a hater)
• When to unfollow, unfriend, and unplug
• Why "I've been doing this for 20 years" is a 🚩 not a flex
• The subtle way negativity spreads without you noticing

Frazier’s Challenge of the Week:

✅ Audit your environment.
✅ Audit your circle.
✅ Audit your feed.

 If it drains you, it’s gone.
You can't grow surrounded by people who hate growth.

Why This Episode Matters:

Most people don’t fail from lack of skill—they fail from the wrong proximity.
Bad energy is contagious.
And if you're trying to win in 2026, you better start cleaning house now.

Ready to Replace Toxicity with Momentum?

Join the MLO Hub and plug into a community built for loan officers who want more: more growth, more action, more real. It’s free. It’s focused. And it's where the winners hang out.

🎧 Listen. Reflect. Take action.
This is The MLO Project.
Let’s go.

Send us a text

This one isn’t for the fragile.

Frazier comes in hot after a no-filter conversation with a loan officer who needed the truth and Michael is right there with him pulling zero punches. This episode dives deep into the entitlement mindset plaguing LOs in today’s market. Just because you used to be good doesn’t mean you still are. Nobody owes you leads, results, or respect just because you show up.

It’s about time we said it out loud:

The reason you’re losing has nothing to do with rates or realtors. It has everything to do with your standards.

From weak routines to second-guessing your own value, this episode will either shake you awake or offend you. Either way, it’s exactly what the middle of the market needs to hear.

🔥 What You’ll Hear:

• Why confidence sells before the price ever shows up
• How price objections usually come from your own doubt
• Why the market owes you nothing—and never did
• The energy transfer LOs don’t realize they’re making
• A challenge that could transform your entire week
• The problem with “average” and why most of the industry lives there

🎯 Frazier’s Challenge of the Week:

✅ One full day.
✅ 100% effort.
✅ Zero excuses.

Can you actually give all of you for just one day? If not, stop saying you want to win.

💥 Why This Episode Matters:

This market is hard. But winning is still possible.
And the ones who will win?
They’re the ones who stop whining, stop waiting, and start working like they mean it.

If this one hit you hard, that’s the point.

Tag @JasonFrazier and @MichaelMcAllister in your post.
This is The MLO Project.
Now go do something with it.

Join us in HL4 on The MLO Hub!

Send us a text

We’ve been hearing a lot of noise lately…

“AI is going to replace loan officers in 18 months.”

Cool story. Let’s talk about it.

In this episode, we go straight at the hype.
No fluff. No fear tactics. Just facts.

• Will AI change the game? Yes.
• Will lazy LOs get replaced? Also yes.
• Will high-performers get wiped out? Not a chance.

If you’re tired of the same old doom-and-gloom headlines, this is your reset button.

👉 It’s time to stop reacting and start adapting.

🎧 Listen now.

Send us a text

Zillow just got smacked with a RICO and RESPA class action lawsuit—and your favorite originator tag team isn’t holding back. Frazier and Michael go full Napoleon Dynamite-mode and break down how this case could rock the entire mortgage and real estate ecosystem.

This isn’t just about Flex. It’s about pay-to-play models, illegal referrals, and what needs to happen for real change. Should RESPA be redefined? Are MSAs dead? What does "value" even mean anymore in co-marketing? And what’s the real fix—more regulation, deregulation, or just brutal honesty?

This episode pulls no punches. We talk straight. We call out the games. And we challenge anyone in the industry to step into the ring if they’ve got a different take.

Plus:

💥 McAllister gets fired up about gray areas

👊 Why this lawsuit is just the start

🧠 The big questions around ethics, enforcement, and industry hypocrisy

⚖️ What should be legal vs. what’s actually going down

🚫 Why fines don’t change behavior

💼 And yes, Uncle Rico makes an appearance.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’re in mortgage or real estate, this lawsuit isn’t noise—it’s a seismic shift. Whether you’re team “all MSAs should die” or “leave us alone and let us market,” this conversation will challenge your thinking and sharpen your strategy.

Join HL4

Email us at [email protected]

Send us a text

In this special in-person episode of The MLO Project, Frazier and Michael sit down with Florida broker and First Coast Mortgage co-founder Jason Kindler, live from Idaho at the High Table mastermind. It’s a no-fluff conversation about leadership, building efficient operations, crushing limiting beliefs, and redefining what’s possible for mortgage companies heading into 2026.

Kindler opens up about his personal and professional journey, including surviving the crash, getting sober, and rebuilding with intention. He shares how he's preparing his team to not just survive the next boom—but scale it, stress-free. This is a raw, strategic, and transparent deep dive into the mindset and systems that separate stagnant shops from future-proof machines.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why operational efficiency isn’t optional anymore
• Building a tech-enabled brokerage that can scale without breaking
• How small brokers can compete with big retail ops
• Why speed still kills—and slow still loses
• AI, APIs, and building the “ideal” experience
• Personal resilience: Jason’s journey through addiction and recovery
• Launching a coaching portal powered by AI + years of hard-won experience
• Why most brokerages wait too long to invest in infrastructure
• Why perfect doesn’t exist—but the ideal is real

Tactical Nuggets:

• Designing operational models that absorb 40–50 loans overnight without chaos
• How to structure teams so originators get the support they deserve
• Why it’s time to unlearn what worked in the past
• How Kemmer is using two years of coaching transcripts to build a GPT-powered training hub
• Planning for efficiency now so you’re not scrambling when the boom hits

Big Quote:

“You’re 100% in control of your income. I don’t care what the market’s doing. I’ve had great years in this market—and so have others. It’s mindset and execution. Period.” – Jason Kemmer

Guest Plug:

Jason is building a full coaching platform loaded with systems, calculators, AI tools, and years of strategic content for loan officers and team leaders. Connect with him on social to learn more and get on the early list.

https://firstcoastmortgagefunding.com/KindlerCoaching

Send us a text

“Strike Rate, Stale Leads, and Regret”

In this unfiltered episode of The MLO Project, Frazier and Michael go off the rails (and the map) with a fiery breakdown of one of the most neglected goldmines in the mortgage business: your damn database.

Coming off the Accelerate session at Fuse, the guys break down why strike rate conversations are a no-brainer, why most LOs fumble their past client relationships, and why assuming someone else isn’t talking to your past client is the biggest mistake you can make.

This one’s part strategy, part mindset slap, and 100% a reality check for any LO who’s sitting on a list of names and numbers they haven’t touched in years.

💣 Topics Covered:

• Why your stale database is still your biggest asset
• What “strike rate” really means—and why you need one for every past client
• The biggest mistake brokers make with CRMs
• What Barry Habib, Jonathon Haddad, and top brokers agree on
• The “plan, not pitch” approach to reactivating leads
• How to use conversations as currency—because silence doesn’t convert
• Why assuming they’re not talking to another LO is how you lose
• Creating actual relevance in your follow-ups (no generic “just checking in” crap)

📌 Tactical Moves You’ll Learn:

• How to create personalized strike rate targets for every client
• Scripts for breaking the silence with old leads
• The “Plan on Paper” strategy (aka: the only follow-up they won’t throw away)
• How to stop asking “what should I say?” and start saying the right things
• Why every convo should create the next convo—and how to do it

🎯 Bottom line: If you're not talking to your database, someone else is.
 Start acting like your past clients are future income, not ancient history.

🎧 Powered by Empower LO & HL4

Send us a text

In this high-energy episode of The MLO Project, Frazier and Michael come in hot fresh off AIME’s Fuse 2025, breaking down lessons, laughs, and the unexpected win of a 7:00 a.m. breakout session that packed the room.

Michael shares the behind-the-scenes story of his first “legit” Fuse experience, the vibes-only navigation system through the Gaylord Opryland, and why his High-Level Blueprint session had brokers buzzing before the sun came up.

This isn’t another tech talk — it’s a wake-up call for loan officers who’ve been sleepwalking through their CRM strategy. They dive deep into:

• Why legacy CRMs are holding LOs hostage
• Why Data is THE NEW Commission
• The real leverage behind HighLevel (HL4 Mortgage Pros)
• How top brokers are using automation and AI without losing authenticity
• Why most LOs waste money on tools they don’t understand
• The right mindset for implementing any system (hint: start with the goal, not the gadget)

Whether you were at Fuse or not, this episode gives you a front-row seat to what’s coming next in mortgage tech, content leverage, and operational dominance.

🎧 Powered by Empower LO