What the M

Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

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What the M

Episode 21 - Michael Merritt

October 13, 2023 • Season 2 • Episode 21

It’s that time again… for a new episode of "What the M," Kent McPhail and Steve Hladik's podcast about the default mortgage servicing industry!

This week, Kent and Steve discuss the continuing surge of the post-COVID “work from home” movement. Their guest on the topic, Michael Merritt, is the Senior Vice President of Customer Care and Default Mortgage Servicing at BOK Financial.

Michael attended Arizona State University, where he got his BA in Organizational Leadership (Go Sun Devils!) He then received his MBA from Texas Tech and his Master’s Degree in Legal Studies from Texas A&M. Michael worked at Nationstar Mortgage and Goldman Sachs prior to moving over to BOK. Having been in the mortgage servicing industry for over two decades, Michael has valuable insight to share on the benefits and drawbacks of remote work culture, how companies can get the best work from remote or hybrid-remote employees, and how a company culture can be successfully built around this new model.

Welcome to What the M, Michael!

What the M is hosted by Kent McPhail and Stephen Hladik. Production and editing by Sarah Noel Sheffield.

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A huge thank you to our Season 2 sponsor, Guardian Asset Management -

Guardian Asset Management is *the* one-stop shop for lenders, servicers, hedge funds, residential and commercial property investors, and government entities that need a full suite of property management solutions under one roof.

People on this episode

Kent D. McPhail

Co-host

Stephen M. Hladik

Co-host