“Borrow money from pessimists: They don’t expect it back.” We are re-entering conference season, and mortgage conference attendance is all over the map. Some groups have seen a drop. At the other end of the spectrum, the California MBA’s Western Secondary in a couple weeks is well ahead of last year’s numbers. Topics on agendas? Here in Southern California, at the CAMP event, there are two sessions on homeowner’s insurance. In fact, today California’s Insurance Commissioner is on the stage… and not suspended above a dunk tank. Many companies have “trimmed their sails” and are moving forward, and today at 11am PT/2pm ET, join STRATMOR Group Senior Partner Garth Graham, Customer Experience Director Mike Seminari, and Senior Advisor Sue Woodard for the first episode of Advisory Angle, presented by the Chrisman Commentary. From impending restrictions on trigger leads, capacity issues, non-traditional compensation plans, and the customer experience, the trio will talk about how the refi world has already changed and why it won’t provide the lift all lenders are looking for in this market. There are things lenders can do now to keep their businesses afloat, which Garth, Mike, and Sue will explore in this month’s episode. (Today’s podcast is found here and this week’s is sponsored by PHH Mortgage. If you are looking for a Correspondent Lending partner or an experienced, award-winning subservicer who can manage your forward and reverse, residential and commercial, and performing and non-performing loans, look no further than PHH. Hear an interview with H&M Mortgage’s John Hudson on what makes a 26-year-veteran mortgage executive leave the comfy confines of a salary and decide to open a broker shop and originate.)