Were solid, rounded airplane windows considered “innovation”? Indiana’s Carol K. has the answer. There’s always innovation, in this case entertaining. As Finigree, which some use for interim servicing ACH payments, is rumored to be winding down operations, companies are searching for solid, innovative companies to handle borrower’s money. Here at the FAMP’s Palm Beach Mortgage Professionals Expo, smart innovation is a topic, with lenders and vendors adding smart technology to their “tech stacks.” There are overtones of politics, and interest rates are also a topic. Though mortgage rates dropped leading up to last month’s Federal Reserve meeting, they’re up this month. Data has shown that the economy remains surprisingly resilient, the consumer is spending (albeit using credit cards), housing prices continue to motor along, and unemployment is stable and relatively low. Last month, the U.S. economy added way more jobs than expected and the unemployment rate ticked down. Strength means that the Fed is in no rush to lower rates. (Today’s podcast can be found here, and this week’s is sponsored by nCino, makers of the nCino Mortgage Suite for the modern mortgage lender. nCino Mortgage Suite’s three core products, nCino Mortgage, nCino Incentive Compensation, and nCino Mortgage Analytics, unite the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process. Hear an interview with LodeStar’s Jim Paolino on the advantages of public vendor pricing and how attendees can connect, and maybe even party, at the MBA Annual next week.)