On today’s episode of The Big Picture with Rich and Rob, featuring the legendary Steve Richman, we kicked things off by diving into Donald Trump’s recent comments about releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship. That lit the fuse for a broader conversation about the GSEs’ outsized profits and the increasingly vocal commentary from housing advocate (and Twitter flamethrower) Bill Pulte, who called for the "obese GSEs" to hit the treadmill and took a direct shot at FICO in the process. Rob offered sharp insights from MBA Secondary, covering where capital markets sentiment sits today and how secondary leaders are interpreting the political noise heading into summer.
Then we welcomed Steve Richman, who took us inside his journey as a professional speaker in the mortgage space, breaking down what messages are landing with audiences in today’s climate of fatigue, fear, and cautious optimism. Steve shared what’s shifted in originator mindset, why storytelling matters more than ever, and the common traits he sees in top-performing LOs across the country—from relentless preparation to unshakable belief in the value they bring. It was part motivational masterclass, part market therapy session, and one of our favorite episodes yet.
