Meet the Recruiters '26

Most mortgage professionals don't know they could be forced to move with zero warning.Every year, we bring in the best recruiters in the mortgage industry for one unfiltered conversation — and this episode delivered. Andi Arroyo of CONVERT, Noah Zimmerman of Z-Talent, and co-host Justin Neal joined Fobby Naghmi on Laugh, Lend & Eat for 50 minutes of real talk on mortgage recruiting, what loan officers are getting wrong, what companies are hiding, and why most recruiters are playing the game backwards.If you're a loan officer, a mortgage recruiter, or a lending company trying to grow, this episode is for you.🔑 IN THIS EPISODE✅ Why loan officers should stop hanging up on recruiters✅ The "Achilles heel" conversation every honest recruiter should have✅ How to secret shop a company before you sign✅ Why leading with comp is the #1 recruiting mistake✅ The difference between convincing and aligning✅ Why the best hires take years — not weeks🕐 TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro & dance moves (don't skip)03:00 — Fobby's RICO story & why lawsuits hurt the little guy05:12 — The new credit score changes & what LOs should do07:00 — Meet the recruiters: Andi, Noah & Justin19:55 — How social media builds trust before the conversation starts21:09 — "You don't have them" — Andi's reframe on candidates going dark23:12 — Noah's pizza table story & the real weight of a career move25:00 — The fishing line analogy — when to let them run27:00 — Why producing managers struggle to recruit42:41 — What companies are doing wrong43:00 — Rapid fire: one mistake companies make when recruiting44:55 — What loan officers should demand but never ask for45:13 — Get a lawyer before you sign anything47:20 — Justin's wife's voicemail & the power of persistence47:56 — Stop convincing. Start aligning.49:55 — Final thoughts & how to connect with the guests📲 CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTSAndi Arroyo — convertrecruiting.comNoah Zimmerman — ztalent.orgJustin Neal — Summit Mortgage Corporation🎙️ ABOUT LAUGH, LEND & EATLaugh, Lend & Eat is the mortgage industry podcast that doesn't take itself too seriously — but takes the business seriously. Hosted by Fobby Naghmi, SVP at AnnieMac Home Mortgage, and co-host Justin Neal. New episodes every week.