Welcome 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 strategic direction

Notable Insights:

• CPI and PPI data show divergence between goods and services inflation
• Tariffs are impacting producer costs, potentially affecting future CPI
• Fed rate cut expectations are high but contingent on upcoming data
• Consumer sentiment is low, indicating cautious spending behavior
• Optimal Blue's rebrand emphasizes its modern innovation and proven expertise
• New logo and tagline reflect the company's mission and future direction
• Upcoming events like the Optimal Insights Forum and Summit will showcase new branding and insights

Hosts and Guests:

• Jeff McCarty
• Jim Glennon
• Sara Holtz
• James Cahill
• Alex Hebner

Production Team:

• Executive Producer: Sara Holtz
• Producers: Matt Gilhooly, Hailey Roise, and Olivia DeLancey

Commentary included in the podcast shall not be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

Keywords: Real-time data insights, Capital markets commentary, Mortgage industry, Profitability, Lenders, Investors, Rate fluctuations, Mortgage landscape, Expert advice, Optimal Blue, Secondary marketing automation, Pricing accuracy, Margin protection, Risk management, Originators, Originations, Branding, Marketing

Mentioned in this episode:

AI at Optimal Blue – Innovation That Delivers for Your Bottom Line

Is your technology vendor selling real solutions – or just the idea of them? Too often, companies pitch big returns, offer free trials, and promise seamless automation, only to reveal during implementation that the tech doesn’t actually exist. At Optimal Blue, we take a different approach. Our AI-powered automation is already live, already delivering, and already saving lenders real dollars. We show you exactly where the ROI comes from and how it reduces risk – no vague timelines, just proven technology that’s working in production today. AI at Optimal Blue isn’t just about delivering software; it’s about empowering lenders to make smarter decisions, operate more efficiently, and stay ahead of the curve. Built around real capital markets challenges, informed by direct engagement with thousands of clients, and focused on delivering measurable value at no additional cost to clients, while others talk about AI, we’re delivering it – Innovation That Delivers for Your Bottom Line.

AI at Optimal Blue - OI

Optimal Blue Summit 2026 | February 23-25 | Scottsdale, Arizona

In case you missed it – Optimal Blue has announced the dates for its 2026 Summit! Join us February 23 – 25 at Talking Stick Resort and Conference Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a client-exclusive event packed with strategic insight and innovation. Attendees will gain early access to Optimal Blue’s latest generative AI and automation tools, dive into expert-led sessions on pricing, compliance and more, and experience hands-on demos of new capabilities. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with capital markets pros, integration partners, and mortgage insiders—all while gaining actionable strategies to maximize profitability and sharpen your competitive edge. The Optimal Blue Summit: where proven mortgage expertise meets modern innovation to