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Total Expert provides a customer engagement platform for financial institutions to guide customers through complex financial decisions by combining digital communications with human interactions. The platform builds dynamic, cross-channel profiles by continuously aggregating behavioral, demographic, and financial data, enabling highly personalized content and product offers delivered at the right moment. Unlike static CRMs, its profiles power targeted messaging and recommendations, leading to higher loan retention (over 60% vs. the industry 18%) and improved sales, marketing, and compliance productivity (around 20%). The platform is used by more than 200 financial institutions, and the goal is to help banks and lenders grow revenue, expand wallet share, and strengthen customer retention through personalized, data-driven engagement.
Industries
Data & Analytics
Enterprise Software
Fintech
Financial Services
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$75.3M
Headquarters
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Founded
2012
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Total Funding
$75.3M
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Total Expert has launched its Customer Operating System, declaring the end of the traditional CRM era. The Minneapolis-based company's platform combines contextual intelligence with automated action, where AI agents handle routine tasks whilst involving human loan officers only when expert advice is needed. The system uses Customer IQ and AI Sales Assistants to continuously monitor customer data and behavioural signals. According to founder and CEO Joe Welu, one top 10 lender generated over 1,000 new HELOC originations in six weeks using the platform. The technology aims to free customer-facing teams from repetitive tasks like lead follow-up and customer nurturing. It enriches customer profiles with real-time data to identify key moments such as tappable equity or rate opportunities for mortgage lenders.
Beyond speed to lead: how USA Mortgage built a $60M opportunity pipeline with ai-enabled Automation. 5 mins read July 23, 2026 Mike Waterston The best leads aren't always new leads. In fact, they're hiding in the database every loan officer already has, waiting to be noticed. That's the insight USA Mortgage discovered when they partnered with Total Expert to transform how their originators identify, nurture, and convert past customers into new opportunities. The result? ~$60 million in funded loan volume in just six months, plus another $175 million in pipeline. But here's what's really interesting: the technology wasn't the bottleneck. It was the process. The problem: leads disappearing in the middle. Walk into any mortgage lender, and you'll find the same story. Loan officers are smart, they work hard, and they have plenty of leads coming in from multiple sources: referral partners, purchased leads from Zillow and LendingTree, and their own past customers. But somewhere between the lead arrival and the follow-up, opportunities vanish. USA Mortgage's VP of Sales and Customer Experience, Alec Picinich, described the friction this way: "We had strong loan officers and plenty of lead activity, but the handoff was the issue. There was no uniform system in place. Most producers had their own system - reminder-based inbox notifications, spreadsheets, personal call lists. The lack of centralization was the biggest issue. The gap was in the middle, where the opportunities kind of just disappeared." All those disconnected systems led to inconsistent follow-up and limited visibility into what was working and what wasn't. And with no way to nurture borrowers who weren't quite ready today but might be ready next month, those opportunities got buried deeper and deeper under waves of new leads. The result was predictable: lost deals, confused teams, and a corporate support function with limited ways to help scale best practices across the organization. The Solution: one source of truth. Rather than layering on more tools, USA Mortgage decided to consolidate. They brought all their leads from referral partners, purchased sources, and past customers into a single unified platform: Total Expert's Lead Management. But consolidation was just the first step toward preventing leads from slipping through the cracks. The real shift came when they connected three capabilities: 1. Customer IQ: identifying opportunities in your existing database. Most loan officers don't excel at proactively reaching out to past customers. They're focused on today's purchase business, and without a system to surface opportunities, past borrowers fade into the background. Customer IQ changes that. It's a contextual data system that continuously monitors and enriches every contact record in your database. When a borrower experiences a life or market event that creates an opportunity such as a rate drop (refinance window), a credit inquiry from another lender, a debt threshold crossed, a marriage or divorce, Customer IQ spots it and brings it to your team's attention. At USA Mortgage, this meant monitoring 190,000 customers and turning insights into action. In just six months (January-June 2024), those customers generated: * ~$60 million in funded volume * $175 million in application pipeline (with expected 80% funding conversion) That's an opportunity that was already sitting there; it just needed to be seen. 2. Lead Management: centralized workflow and accountability. With Customer IQ surfacing opportunities, USA Mortgage needed a system where loan officers could manage those leads the same way they manage purchased or referral partner leads. Lead Management provided: * A single source of truth for all leads (past customers, referral partners, purchased leads) * Clear visibility into lead stage and action items * Consistent routing based on originator or branch * Automated nurture campaigns for borrowers who weren't ready yet * Compliance controls to ensure messaging is consistent and compliant Suddenly, loan officers could answer three simple questions about every opportunity: Who is the lead? What do they need? Why is the opportunity present right now? That context - that "why" - changes everything. It's the difference between a cold check-in call and a conversation-ready outreach. 3. AI Sales Assistant: outreach on demand & at scale. Even with a unified system and better intelligence, loan officers still can't personally call every past customer when the market shifts. If rates drop and 1,000 borrowers become in-the-money for a refi, even the most efficient lending teams can't operationalize that in the two or three weeks when the market window is open. Enter AI Sales Assistant, a human-like voice AI that's powered by Customer IQ's contextual data and trained on real-world mortgage conversations so it can answer questions, navigate borrower objections, and qualify opportunities. AI Sales Assistant acts as an extension of lending teams by: * Initiating outreach to all qualified past customers (potentially in a single day) * Personalizing the conversation based on the borrower's situation, previous transaction, and estimated savings * Handling objections gracefully (Alec shared the story of a borrower who said "I'm feeling sick, not a good time." AI Sales Assistant responded with empathy and offered to schedule with the loan officer later, which the borrower accepted) * Offering warm transfers to the loan officer for borrowers ready to talk * Scheduling meetings on the originator's calendar for qualified leads This allows loan officers to focus their time on high-quality conversations with informed borrowers, not figuring out who to call or manually working through a database. Real-world execution. One of USA Mortgage's senior regional VPs shared a success story that perfectly captures the shift: An experienced loan officer received a credit inquiry alert for a past customer; someone she hadn't worked with in years. The borrower had lost the loan officer's contact information. But thanks to the alert surfaced by Customer IQ, the loan officer reached out with context and relevance. The result? A $400K pipeline boost with minimal effort from the loan officer. This doesn't happen with a generic check-in call. It happens when the loan officer knows why they're calling and has the data to back it up so the outreach feels timely instead of transactional. The bigger picture: human + AI operating model. What USA Mortgage discovered is that the future isn't human or AI. It's human + AI. The loan officer remains the relationship owner and builder, the decision-maker, the one who earns trust. But now, they're equipped with: * Intelligence about who to engage and why * Automation handling the high-volume, time-sensitive outreach * Consistency across the entire organization * Tools that make their job easier, not harder Three takeaways. If you're struggling with lead follow-up, originators working in silos, or deals slipping out the back door, here's what to focus on: 1. Strong lead management isn't just about speed - it's about long-term nurturing Speed matters for converting hot leads, but most conversions happen in the follow-up. Build a nurturing strategy that keeps borrowers engaged from first touch through the next opportunity to serve. 2. Your database is your biggest opportunity; operationalize it like a referral partner lead If you're not connecting data intelligence with lead management, you're leaving deals on the table. Treat past-customer insights with the same urgency and structure as a purchased lead or referral partner referral. 3. Build an enterprise strategy with human + AI models Replace ad-hoc originator habits (spreadsheets, personal reminders, disconnected systems) with a unified, AI-assisted operating model. Consistency across your sales force is what unlocks scale. Watch the full conversation. Hear how USA Mortgage is using Total Expert to solve their lead management challenges, develop a better understanding of their customers, and engage opportunities at scale. Ready to explore how a human + AI operating model could transform your originator productivity and customer conversions? Reach out to your Total Expert Customer Success Manager or book a demo with its team below!
The moving day advantage: transform closing day into a loyalty moment. July 14, 2026 Mike Waterston Meet the partner: OneSource Solutions. OneSource Solutions is a utility concierge service that simplifies one of life's most stressful moments: setting up electricity, gas, internet, water, phone, home security, and other essential services after moving. OneSource handles the legwork by identifying providers, comparing options, and coordinating setup so homeowners can enjoy the excitement of their new home instead of stressing over the logistics. With over 1.1 million connections successfully completed, OneSource has built a reputation for taking chaos and turning it into peace of mind. The moving day problem nobody's solving for. For some lenders, closing day is the end of the journey. But for their customers, it's the start of a new chapter. There's joy in owning the keys. But there's also stress. According to research, nearly 80% of Americans rank moving as one of life's top stressors. As if scheduling showings, putting in offers, and finally signing the paperwork wasn't stressful enough - now borrowers have to figure out utilities, internet options, security systems, and more. And if they're moving to an unfamiliar area where they don't know the companies and providers, they'll be making dozens of decisions with incomplete information, juggling phone calls and online portals, and trying not to miss setup deadlines. The average homeowner spends 5-6 hours just coordinating these utilities. That's time spent on friction, confusion, and often overpaying for services they didn't adequately research or compare. Lenders might walk away with a closed loan and a satisfied borrower, but they miss a critical opportunity that has a short window: Post-loan engagement. This is your chance to turn a single transaction into a lifetime of loyalty. Why this moment matters for lenders. For years, the mortgage industry has focused heavily on the pre-close experience. That's where the relationship is built, where trust is established, and where communication is constant. But once the papers are signed, that relationship often goes dormant. That's a missed opportunity on multiple levels: Retention: Borrowers who feel supported through the entire process, not just the financing part, develop deeper loyalty. They're more likely to come back for a refinance, a HELOC, or a new purchase down the road. Referrals: Borrowers who enjoyed a smooth experience talk about it. When you go above and beyond to help them through the moving process, they're more likely to become advocates and refer you to friends, family, and colleagues. Competitive advantage: In a crowded lending market, showing up in the moments that matter sets you apart. It shifts you from being a lender to being a trusted advisor. The borrower's perspective changes from "they financed my home" to "they helped me through a major milestone." Lifetime value: Today's borrower is tomorrow's repeat customer. A first-time homebuyer who closes with you at age 32 may need a refinance at 41, a HELOC at 48, and a move-up purchase at 53. That's three separate mortgage opportunities where they'll need professional help - your help if you nailed the post-close experience. The problem: fragmented solutions, fragmented experiences. Some lenders have tried to solve this by offering hodgepodge perks - a moving company discount here, a home service coupon there. But those aren't solutions. They're band-aids. Borrowers don't want more options to manage. They want fewer things to think about. They want centralized, reliable, expert guidance on something they don't know much about - and they want it to come from someone they already trust: their lender. That's where OneSource comes in. What OneSource does. OneSource removes the friction from setting up home utilities by acting as a concierge between the borrower and providers. Instead of the homeowner calling around to figure out which company services their address, comparing plans, and coordinating multiple setup appointments, OneSource does it - all in one place. The service covers: * Identifying all available providers for a specific address (electricity, gas, internet, phone, home security, television, water, trash, etc.) * Comparing options and pricing in deregulated markets where choices exist * Securing exclusive discounts not available to the general public * Coordinating setup and activation so utilities are ready on or before move-in day * Saving borrowers 5-6 hours of coordination and often hundreds of dollars in optimized or exclusive pricing For lenders, the value is even clearer: borrowers save time and money, feel supported, and associate that positive experience with the lender who connected them. Over 1.1 million homeowners have used OneSource, and adoption rates among lender partners are consistently strong. Because it's not positioned as a "perk" - it's a genuine solution to a real problem that every homeowner faces. How Total Expert and OneSource work together. Most lenders know they should be staying engaged with borrowers after closing. The challenge is execution: how do you make it seamless, scalable, and actually valuable? The integration between Total Expert and OneSource answers that question. Automated outreach at the right moment Using Total Expert Journeys, lenders trigger a OneSource connection at the perfect time - typically 5-10 days before closing when the borrower is starting to think about logistics but hasn't yet begun the chaotic work of setting up utilities. The borrower receives an invitation to connect with OneSource, all contextualized within their communications with the lender. One-click access The borrower doesn't need to sign up for another platform or navigate a new website. They receive a direct link to their pre-populated OneSource profile, so the barriers to entry are near zero. They answer a few questions about their new address and service preferences, and OneSource takes it from there. Transparent outcomes As OneSource coordinates utilities and completes activations, lenders can see that engagement happening. When utilities are activated, when issues are resolved, when the borrower has saved money - that data stays visible in the context of borrower relationships, not in a siloed system. Continuous engagement The relationship doesn't end at utility setup. By bringing this service into Total Expert Journeys, lenders can sequence follow-up touchpoints that keep them connected as the borrower moves through the post-close window. A check-in on moving day. A referral prompt once utilities are stable. A follow-up six months later when the next major financial decision might be on the horizon. It's frictionless for the borrower and scalable for the lender. The lender advantage: from transaction to relationship. For lenders, the integration transforms closing from a transaction endpoint into a relationship milestone. Instead of handing off the borrower at the finish line, lenders stay present through one of the most stressful weeks of the entire home purchase process. The outcome: * Higher engagement: Borrowers see their lender as a partner in their entire home transition, not just the financing part * Stronger loyalty: When you help reduce stress at a critical moment, that relationship becomes emotionally charged - the good kind * More referrals: Borrowers who had a smooth, end-to-end experience share that story. They refer lenders who "really took care of them" * Repeat business: Top-of-mind borrowers come back. For refinances. For HELOCs. For move-up purchases. * Competitive differentiation: Most lenders hand off at closing. You don't. That distinction registers with borrowers The real competitive advantage: showing up when it matters. The lenders winning in today's market aren't the ones with the lowest rates or the most loan products. They're the ones building deeper, longer-lasting relationships with borrowers - and that starts with showing up in the moments that matter most. Closing day is special. But it's not the end of the story. It's a milestone in a much longer relationship. OneSource helps you stay present through what comes next. Total Expert helps you scale that presence across your entire organization. Together, they transform how lenders think about the post-close window - from a time to forget about the borrower and move to the next deal, into an opportunity to build the kind of loyalty that keeps customers for life. Ready to turn borrowers into lifetime customers? The Expert Partner Network connects you with solutions designed for every stage of the borrower journey. Schedule a demo to see how Total Expert + OneSource can help you stay connected where it matters most.
Total Expert targets lead response gap with new Lead Management tools. May 19, 2026 Enhanced capabilities aim to improve speed-to-lead, LO productivity, and borrower follow-up consistency Total Expert is expanding its Customer for Life Platform with a new enterprise-grade Lead Management solution designed for retail and hybrid lenders. The new system combines intelligent lead routing, automated borrower engagement, and full pipeline visibility into a single interface for LOs, aiming to help lenders convert more opportunities while reducing reliance on manual processes. "Modern lenders don't have a lack of leads problem; they lack consistent execution throughout the funnel," said CEO Joe Welu. "Disconnected systems and manual processes lead to inconsistent follow-through." Total Expert said the platform is designed to address speed-to-lead gaps and workflow fragmentation - two issues that have become more pronounced in a higher-rate, purchase-driven market where competition for each borrower is more intense. Key capabilities include: Get the NMP Daily Essential stories, every weekday. * Intelligent lead routing with instant notifications * Automated follow-up through personalized engagement "Journeys" * Pipeline visibility to track performance and identify bottlenecks * AI-driven prioritization using Customer IQ data * Integrated communication tools to reduce system switching The platform also integrates with Total Expert's AI Sales Assistant, surfacing high-intent borrowers and triggering automated outreach, including campaigns and AI-powered voice engagement. The company said early usage has been strong, with Lead Management seeing one of the fastest adoption curves among its recent product launches. According to Total Expert, originators are using the system as an operational tool embedded into daily workflows, rather than as a standalone CRM layer. "One of the biggest wins... is having everything in one place," said Alec Picinich, marketing manager at USA Mortgage. "Loan officers are often on-the-go, and... the ability to act instantly on a new lead is the difference between winning and losing that opportunity." For lenders, the focus has increasingly turned to: * maximizing ROI on purchased and referral leads * improving speed-to-lead performance * increasing recapture and repeat business * driving LO accountability and efficiency As acquisition costs remain elevated and refinance opportunities uneven, tools that improve follow-through - not just lead generation - are becoming central to production strategy. The release builds on Total Expert's recent rollout of Customer IQ, an AI-driven borrower intelligence platform designed to identify consumer intent signals and trigger automated outreach workflows. Together, the products reflect the company's broader push to combine borrower data, engagement automation, and sales execution into a single operational platform for lenders. Total Expert said future enhancements will include deeper integrations with LOS and POS systems, expanded support for purchased leads, and referral partner tracking and attribution.
Total Expert has announced an expanded Lead Management solution for its Customer for Life Platform, targeting retail and hybrid retail lenders. The enterprise-grade system combines intelligent routing, automated engagement and pipeline visibility to prevent missed opportunities and help originators prioritise high-value leads. The platform integrates with Total Expert's AI Sales Assistant and Customer IQ to streamline workflows and automate follow-up processes. Early results show strong adoption, with the product ranking among the company's highest adoption curves within two months of availability. USA Mortgage reported improved efficiency, with teams able to manage leads from a centralised view. Total Expert plans further enhancements including referral partner management, expanded integrations and enhanced routing capabilities. Since 2016, Total Expert has enabled over $7 trillion in funded loan volume.
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Industries
Data & Analytics
Enterprise Software
Fintech
Financial Services
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$75.3M
Headquarters
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Founded
2012
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today