In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Mike Vough, Head of Corporate Strategy at Optimal Blue, to pull back the curtain on the secondary mortgage market. Mike breaks down how secondary departments protect profitability, manage risk, and ultimately shape the rates offered to borrowers. From global events and regulatory changes to the role of technology and AI, Mike explains the forces driving rate volatility and why transparency and communication between loan officers, secondary teams, and investors are more important than ever. He also shares exciting innovations at Optimal Blue, including a breakthrough in direct lock technology, and looks ahead to how non-QM lending and digital assistants could reshape the mortgage landscape. A huge thank you to our friends at Capacity for sponsoring this conversation! Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending. So tell us, how are you lending it forward?