Rocket Mortgage execs share parallel journey at Lendi Group conference
Lendi Group welcomed senior leaders from Rocket Mortgage (Rocket Companies, Inc.) – the largest digital mortgage originator in the U.S. – to headline its Thrive 25 broker conference in Sydney last week where more than 900 brokers and industry leaders and partners gathered to explore the future of broking.
In a mainstage fireside chat with Lendi Group CEO David Hyman; Alexander Hamilton, Senior Director of Software Engineering. and Anna Lu, Product Manager offered a closer look at Rocket Mortgage’s transformation from digital lender to integrated property ecosystem.
The session offered a glimpse into the potential for Lendi Group’s own strategy to transform Aussie from a linear mortgage broking business into a fully integrated property ecosystem supporting Australians to Find, Buy, and Own property.
“Bringing home search and mortgage together changed perspectives on how we view our funnel,” said Lu. “Traditionally, a mortgage application was the start of the funnel. Now, with tools like home search and our Market Report, we’re engaging customers much earlier and keeping them with us longer. It creates a much stickier experience.”
Hamilton echoed this shift, noting Rocket’s redesign of its website earlier this year. “We expected the Interest Rate tile to be the most popular because its what brokers always get asked about. But the property search tile is converting customers at five times the rate. That tells us exactly where the customer journey really begins,” he said.
The fireside conversation also explored how AI is enabling more meaningful interactions between customers and brokers – an area of active investment at both Rocket and Lendi Group.
Hamilton pointed to Rocket’s conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) product, which helps triage customer needs before escalating to a broker or mortgage expert. “That extra layer of personalisation shows customers we understand their preferences. And it works — the product delivers three times the conversion rate compared to phone-first engagement.”
Hyman noted that Rocket has been an important part of the Lendi Group journey and a benchmark for innovation. In 2023, a group of Lendi Group’s Signature brokers visited the U.S. as part of a study tour that included meetings with Rocket and CoreLogic.
Hyman said that the visit left a clear takeaway, asking, “How can we take inspiration from what Rocket is doing and apply it here in Australia?”
The session reinforced for Lendi Group’s brokers in the room, and its head office staff who’re focused on developing and building these connected experiences that the future of mortgage broking lies in a fully integrated property ecosystem – one where brokers are empowered to deliver value across the full lifecycle of homeownership.
Hamilton said of the reciprocal visit to Australia, that, “It was truly inspiring to connect with another company halfway around the world, sharing parallel journeys and a passion for innovation. I enjoyed introducing Rocket’s latest products and discussing its potential impact.”
“Sydney is an incredible city, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit. Cheers to new connections and exciting opportunities ahead!” Hamilton added.
Following the Group’s broker conference last week, Co-Founders David Hyman and Sebastian Watkins have been in Canada speaking to elite brokers at M3 – the country’s #1 non-bank mortgage originator – on similar themes.
“These global peer relationships whether with Rocket in the U.S. or M3 in Canada give us a shared view of where the industry is heading and keep us thinking big,” Hyman added.
