Join Michael Neef every week on Mondays as he interviews professionals in and around the Mortgage Industry. Our goal is to talk about the challenges that Loan Officers and other business leaders face every day, and ways to overcome those challenges to improve your business.
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Unlocking the Mystery of Mortgages: Join us as we explore the ins and outs of one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. From understanding interest rates to navigating the home buying process, we'll help you make informed choices about your mortgage. Tune in for expert insights, practical tips, and much more.
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Join me as I kick off my YouTube and podcast journey to share insights from my life as a wife, mom, mortgage broker, and COO. My goal? To bring you candid advice, real-life experiences, and a little inspiration along the way. So, let’s get started—thanks for being here, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you!
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Learn the steps of how to patent your invention, from initial concept to issued patent. Host and registered patent attorney, Adam L. Diament, J.D., Ph.D., guides you through the complicated process of patenting your invention. This podcast starts from the beginning of what to do when you first have an idea, all the way through the steps that lead to an issued patent. Other intellectual property areas will also be covered, such as trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licensing. Adam Dia ...
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Welcome to The Smart Homebuying Podcast! This is the podcast for parents who are ready to create a lasting foundation for their family. If you’re dreaming of a safe, stable home that you can truly call your own, where your kids can grow up with confidence and security, you’re in the right place. I’m Laura—a mom of two, a proud homeowner, and a dedicated homebuying coach here to help you achieve more than just a house. This journey is about building a secure future, investing in generational ...
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Lululemon Sues Costco - A Fashion Lawsuit You Can’t Just Downward Dog Out Of. EP159
13:55
13:55
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13:55Lululemon wants Costco to stop selling its copycat couture. In this episode, I cover the juicy new lawsuit between the premium yoga brand and the king of bulk, breaking down Lululemon's patent, trademark, trade dress, and unfair practices claims against Costco for selling lookalike fashion. What's actually protectable in fashion and why is winning …
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The Pre-Patent Power Play: Can I License My Invention While It’s Still Patent Pending? EP158
9:43
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9:43Can you really license your invention before your patent is granted? In this episode of The Patenting for Inventors Podcast, I break down the risks, rewards, and real-world strategies behind licensing a patent-pending invention. Whether you’re an inventor looking to monetize early, or a company weighing the value of exclusive rights before the ink …
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EP 21: Mastering the Discovery Call: Save Time, Find the Right Clients
5:20
5:20
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5:20Episode 21: Mastering the Discovery Call: Save Time, Find the Right Clients Take the time to hone this skill — because it’s one of the most important in your business. Your discovery call is where everything starts. It’s how you figure out what your client really wants. It’s how you qualify, build trust, and protect your time. When I started gettin…
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EP 20: Social Media is a Tool to Grow Your Mortgage Business
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5:38
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5:38Episode 20: Social Media is a Tool to Grow Your Mortgage Business I built my mortgage business on social media—and not by going viral, but by showing up consistently and being real. I get asked all the time how I did it, and the answer is simple: social media is just another tool to help people know, like, and trust you. I’m breaking down exactly h…
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EP 19: Master Pre-Approvals to Protect Your Time and Build Client Confidence
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8:32Episode 19: Master Pre-Approvals to Protect Your Time and Build Client Confidence A strong pre-approval sets the tone for everything that comes next — for you and for your clients. I’ll walk you through why it’s important to collect all the documents right away, how showing clients both their best- and worst-case numbers helps them stay realistic, …
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EP 18: Every Market Is Hard. Positivity Is Your Power Play.
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5:34Episode 18: Every Market Is Hard. Positivity Is Your Power Play. The truth is, market has its challenges—and this one is no different. But instead of waiting for things to get easier, what if you leaned in? What if you used this moment to adapt, pivot, and offer what other mortgage professionals can’t? In this episode, I am talking about how hard m…
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EP 17: What Jiu Jitsu Is Teaching Me About Business
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5:24
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5:24Episode 17: What Jiu Jitsu Is Teaching Me About Business After watching my daughters thrive in Jiu Jitsu, I jumped in too. Now I’m training regularly, competing, and learning lessons I didn’t expect—lessons about discipline, mindset, and resilience that I have been able to apply to my mortgage business. Whether it’s staying composed under pressure,…
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The Risk of Joint Ownership in Patents – And Why It’s a Trap. EP157
6:38
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6:38In this episode of Patenting for Inventors, we dive into the hidden pitfalls of joint patent ownership—and why it’s often more trouble than it’s worth. From licensing surprises to enforcement roadblocks, you’ll learn how even the best-intentioned partnerships can turn into legal landmines. Find out how to protect your rights, avoid unwanted co-owne…
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Face Value: Protecting Your Identity with Name, Image, and Likeness Rights. EP156
8:22
8:22
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8:22In this episode, we’re diving into the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights—what they are, why they matter, and how they’re shaping everything from college sports to social media and AI. Whether you’re an athlete, influencer, entrepreneur, or just someone with a digital presence, your identity has value—and the law is catching up to prot…
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Trademark Refused, Patent Approved: Illegal Intellectual Property Explained. EP155
9:53
9:53
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9:53Can you patent an illegal invention? What about trademarking a product that breaks federal law—or copyrighting something downright criminal? In this episode of The Patenting for Inventors Podcast, you'll learn about the surprising differences in how U.S. intellectual property law treats illegality. From patented bongs to denied THC trademarks, you’…
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Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) be an Inventor? Guidance from the Patent Office. EP154
8:13
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8:13Can AI be an inventor? The short answer is no—but the full story is more complex. In this episode, I break down the latest Patent Office guidance on AI-assisted inventions and what it means for inventorship. Learn when using AI still qualifies you for a patent, where the legal grey areas lie, and what to watch out for in your filings. If you’re inn…
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EP 16: Running a Mortgage Business While Raising Kids
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6:34
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6:34Episode 16: Running a Mortgage Business While Raising Kids When I started in the mortgage industry, I hid that I was a parent, afraid clients wouldn’t take me seriously. I kept my worlds separate—until I realized so many others were juggling the same chaos. Instead of hiding it, I leaned in. I took calls with kids in the background, let work and ho…
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EP 15: Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should
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4:25Episode 15: Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should I’m opening up about a hard truth in the mortgage industry: just because we can do a mortgage doesn’t mean we should. As mortgage brokers, we don’t get paid until a deal closes—but that doesn’t mean every deal is the right deal. Sometimes, the best advice we can give a client is to stay with…
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EP 14: Why Collaboration is Good for Business
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9:26
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9:26Episode 14: Why Collaboration is Good for Business I’m opening up about why I choose to share my business practices, insights, and strategies — even if it might be viewed as “training the competition.” People often ask me why I’m so open about how I run my business. But here’s the truth: when we collaborate, we all get better. I’m diving into why c…
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EP 13: Choosing the Right CRM for Your Mortgage Business
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10:39
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10:39Episode 13: Choosing the Right CRM for Your Mortgage Business Once your mortgage business gets busy, keeping track of everything becomes essential. A CRM can streamline your processes, keep you organized, and help you scale—but choosing the right one at the right time is key. I’ve spent years coaching agents on CRM selection and strategy, and in th…
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Lights, Camera, Patent! 10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Patent Holders. EP153
9:33
9:33
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9:33What do Michael Jackson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Prince, and Charlie Sheen all have in common? They all hold U.S. patents! In this episode of The Patenting for Inventors Podcast learn about 10 celebrities that you probably didn't know patented their inventions. Learn about additional celebrity patent holders and what it takes to be considered an inventor…
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Can a Fancy Leg Stand on Its Own as a Trademark? The Recent Case of In re Kason. EP152
7:37
7:37
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7:37You cannot get a design patent or a trademark registered for something that is considered "functional" -- but here's the tricky part: what counts as "functional" depends on whether you're talking about trademark law or patent law. Kason Industries Inc. recently learned this the hard way when it was denied trademark registration, but received a desi…
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Patent Me Maybe: (Carly Rae) Jepson-Style Patent Claims. EP151
7:19
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7:19There are many ways to write patent claims. One way is called a Jepson-style patent claim, where you explicitly admit what is not inventive about your claim, and then state the part or parts that are inventive. It's not named after the singer named Carly Rae Jepsen, but what if Carly Rae Jepsen wanted to patent a method to get a crush to fall in lo…
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I can’t say it enough. Read it, review it with a lawyer, ask questions, and fully understand the repercussions if you need to exit. As mortgage agents, we advise our clients to do this, so we need to practice what we preach in our own businesses. Protect yourself, know your terms and don’t sign anything you don’t fully understand.…
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EP 11: What's the Best Mortgage Product and Rate?
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5:55One of the most common questions brokers get is: What’s the best mortgage product? What’s the best rate? But here’s the thing—there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right mortgage isn’t just about getting the lowest rate. It’s about strategy. Terms, penalties, flexibility, and future plans all play a role in what’s truly best for the client. A gr…
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EP 10: Track What You Take, Not What You Make
4:27
4:27
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4:27The mortgage industry loves to hand out awards for volume—how many deals you close, how much business you fund. But here’s the problem: volume doesn’t necessarily equal profitability. If you're spending massive amounts on admin, marketing and overhead, you might be making a lot less than someone funding fewer deals but keeping more of their income.…
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EP 9: Should You Start as a Part-Time Mortgage Agent?
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3:09I get asked all the time what I think about starting part-time as a mortgage agent, and here’s the truth—I started that way myself. Building a mortgage business takes time, and having another job while you grow can be a smart move. There are real advantages, like financial stability, but also challenges you need to navigate. In this episode, I’m sh…
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When I first started my mortgage business, I had to ask myself – where do I make the most impact? For me, it was sales. The more I focused on that, the faster my business grew – and the happier I was. This episode dives into the concept of Zone of Genius – that sweet spot where you’re doing what you’re best at and what lights you up. As you grow, t…
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What is Obviousness? A "Reasonable Expectation of Success," or "Predictable Results"? EP150
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7:12You cannot get a patent if your invention is obvious. This can be tricky to determine for biotech and pharmaceutical patents. There are competing standards for how this is determined. One is the "reasonable expectation of success" standard, which is a lower threshold than the "predictable results" standard. The Supreme Court refused to hear a case …
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Episode 7: Thoughts on Safety as a Woman As women in professions like mortgage brokering, real estate or financial advising, safety has always at the forefront of our minds. The days of walking into a stranger's house or meeting clients in unfamiliar places are behind us and for good reason. I am reflecting on how safety shapes our decisions as a w…
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EP 6: When Should You Hire in the Mortgage Business?
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2:59
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2:59Episode 6: When Should You Hire in the Mortgage Business? Feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle of running a mortgage business and maintaining balance? I've been there. Hiring the right support can be a game-changer, but how do you decide when and what to delegate? The strategies I’ve used to create space in my personal life, giving me the fre…
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EP 5: It's Good to be a Woman in the Mortgage Industry
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2:17Episode 5: It's Good to be a Woman in the Mortgage Industry Did you know that 92% of financial decisions are made by women—or at least shared by women in households? That means we have a unique advantage in this field! Let me tell you how. To watch the podcast, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpOQSp2QiAQ To connect with Denise, email her at d…
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Episode 4: Picking the Right Brokerage Choosing the right mortgage brokerage can make all the difference in your career. I'm sharing my tips on what to look for, from company culture to support systems and the resources that will help you grow. Whether you’re a new agent or looking to switch, let’s talk about finding a brokerage that aligns with yo…
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Episode 3: Work-Life Balance is Bullshit! Let’s get real—work-life balance isn’t always achievable, and sometimes it's just a myth. I’m sharing my honest take on what “balance” actually means, especially for those juggling demanding careers and family life. Instead of aiming for perfection, let's talk about finding a rhythm that works and accepting…
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EP 2: My Experience Mentoring New Mortgage Agents
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5:00Episode 2: My Experience Mentoring New Mortgage Agents I share my journey mentoring aspiring mortgage agents, offering an inside look at the rewarding and challenging aspects of guiding newcomers in this field. Tune in for real talk on the highs, the lessons learned, and the importance of support in the mortgage industry. To watch the podcast, go t…
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Episode 1: Let's Do This! Join me as I kick off my YouTube journey to share insights from my life as a wife, mom, mortgage broker, and COO. My goal? To bring you candid advice, real-life experiences, and a little inspiration along the way. So, let’s get started—thanks for being here, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you! To watch the pod…
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Homebuying Mistake #10: "Not Negotiating Your Mortgage"
12:52
12:52
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12:52Many buyers don’t realize they have room to negotiate better mortgage terms, which can save thousands over the life of their loan. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to approach lenders, compare options, and get the best rate possible. 💡 For more tips on financial do’s and don’ts, check out my Smart Homebuying Finances. Enjoy 50% off with code S…
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Homebuying Mistake #9: "Making an Offer Without Understanding Contingencies"
14:36
14:36
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14:36Not including the right contingencies can put you at risk. In this episode, we’ll talk about the key contingencies you need to protect your interests. 💡 Protect your investment with the right contingencies. My Smart Homebuying Finances Course covers this crucial step. Use code SMARTPOD for 50% off until November 30, 2024! 📲 Visit my website: lauram…
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Homebuying Mistake #8: Underestimating the Value of a Good Agent
15:07
15:07
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15:07A skilled agent can be a game-changer! I’ll explain why finding the right agent can save you money, time, and help you get the best deal. 💡 Learn how to choose the best agent with my Smart Homebuying Courses! Get 50% off using code SMARTPOD until November 30, 2024. 📲 Visit my website: lauramoreno.com 📚 Course Link: Smart Homebuying Finances 📊 Data …
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Congratulations! The Patent Office Wants More of Your Money! EP149
6:25
6:25
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6:25The Patent Office is raising its fees for patents starting on January 19, 2025! To figure out what you actually need to pay for various things can be quite confusing as there are 471 lines of fees that you could potentially owe. I go over some of the main ones that you'll encounter. I think you'll agree that this is probably the most exciting episo…
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EP 72: Financial Empowerment and Education: A Journey with Eileen Joy
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41:52
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41:52Eileen Joy, a former mortgage and real estate professional who has transitioned into a financial educator for mothers. Eileen shares her tumultuous journey through the financial services and real estate industries, detailing her rise from a receptionist to an underwriter and her pivot to entrepreneurship after personal setbacks. She now dedicates h…
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Homebuying Mistake #7: Skipping the Home Inspection
12:21
12:21
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12:21Home inspections aren’t optional! In this episode, I’ll explain how inspections protect you from costly surprises down the road. Don’t make the mistake of skipping this crucial step! 💡 Make sure your investment is protected. My Smart Homebuying Course covers the inspection essentials. Use SMARTPOD for a 50% discount until November 30, 2024! 📲 Visit…
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Homebuying Mistake #6 Not Researching the Neighborhood
17:18
17:18
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17:18A home is only as valuable as its neighborhood! Today, we’ll cover why researching neighborhoods is essential for long-term satisfaction and wealth-building. 💡 Find the perfect area for your family with tips from my Smart Homebuying Finances Course. Use code SMARTPOD at checkout for 50% off until November 30, 2024! 📲 Visit my website: lauramoreno.c…
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Homebuying Mistake #5: Skipping the Pre-Approval Process
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15:29
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15:29Skipping pre-approval can lead to heartbreak later on. In this episode, learn why getting pre-approved is a game-changer and how it gives you a competitive edge and a clear budget. 💡 Avoid costly surprises with my Smart Homebuying Course! As a podcast listener, enjoy 50% off with code SMARTPOD until November 30, 2024! 📲 Visit my website: lauramoren…
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