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What if lending felt personal, clear, and even a little fun? We sit down with Michael Fithian, founder and CEO of Lone Inc., and Connor Durant to unpack how an AI-powered, direct-to-consumer lender wins the old-fashioned way: by building real relationships, mastering the phone, and obsessing over client experience. No fluff—just systems, habits, and mindset from people who’ve seen 2005’s boom, survived 2008’s crash, and are thriving in a tougher cycle.
Michael shares the origin of Lone Inc. and why he traded product-chasing for operational excellence and transparency. Connor brings the perspective of entering the industry during a slow market and explains why that’s a gift: it forces better prospecting, deeper follow-up, and a relentless focus on value. Together we dig into practical tactics—daily call blocks, clear asks, warm introductions, and events that attract the right partners. We explore how AI streamlines speed and clarity without replacing the human craft of teaching, tailoring, and taking control so clients learn something new, not just confirm what they already think.
Mindset and culture run through everything: “consistency over perfection,” “one more” reps, turning rejection into a game, and removing emotion before responding. We talk about finding your tribe through shared interests—golf, tennis, clean food, coaching youth sports—and how those genuine connections spill into business. The goal isn’t to be everything to everyone; it’s to be indispensable to the right people by delivering a memorable, low-stress mortgage experience that stands out long after closing.
If you’re in lending, real estate, or any sales role, you’ll walk away with playbook-level ideas you can use today. Subscribe, share this with a teammate, and leave a quick review telling us the tactic you’ll try this week.
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